Aviary

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a great experience at The Aviary. While the venue itself is stylish, the space was extremely crowded and noisy, making it hard to hear each other and enjoy the meal. The ambience felt more chaotic than relaxing. I ordered the seafood pasta, but from the very first bite, the tomato sauce tasted unpleasantly acidic, so I had to send it back. I replaced it with the sea bass, which was a decent dish, but the wait for it was so long that my family had already finished eating by the time mine arrived — it really spoiled the flow of the lunch. They would’ve had to eat cold food if they’d waited for me, so I asked them to go ahead. Another disappointment was the so-called “large octopus salad,” which cost £23. It came with just five small pieces of octopus, no dressing, and very little flavour — definitely not worth the price or the name. I did raise the issues with the manager, who politely apologised and offered a dish replacement, but that had already been done. She also suggested we try the terrace for a drink — not complimentary, of course. I want to be clear that I wasn’t looking for compensation, but I would’ve appreciated a more thoughtful response, especially since these kinds of mistakes can affect a special occasion. Overall, it felt like a place more focused on image than experience. I left disappointed and wouldn’t be in a hurry to return.

Good selection of drinks The Montcalm hotel’s rooftop bar, good atmosphere and panoramic views of the city skyline. The seating strikes the perfect balance between comfort and style. Good selection of drinks. Ahmed provided exceptional service throughout our visit, maintaining just the right level of attentiveness without being intrusive.

Spent a nice evening at the Aviary. Professional grouping for drinks and chat at summary evening. The views over Finsbury Quare are fantastic The place was packed and warm inside. DJ playing ensured good vibes but chitchat was harder indoors. Far better table outside in hotter weather. Food was OK and drinks were even better. Service was kind but slow with very busy restaurant. Still, overall the setting and experience were great. Would love to visit in different times when not as busy.