Aviary

We came here on a Saturday evening and can say im surprised this place doesnt have solid 5 stars. Absolutely lovely place. The venue is very nice, decor is stylish but subtle. Views are amazing outside too. Staff were all very friendly and service was great. But the food, that was the best part. Really impressed with the flavours of both the mains we had, lamb and the pork. Even the side dishes were amazing! Fries and the potatoes. Eton mess was nice although the chocolate dessert was nicer I think. Cocktails were great flavour too. Obviously price is higher than some places here but id say its worth it considering the quality.

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.

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.