Fans of birds and cocktails, this is the place for you. Fnarr fnarr. Located on London’s Petticoat Lane Market, The Holy Birds is the latest offering from The Hoxton Pony’s Calabrese brothers; and if you can ignore the cringey punnery that declares it ‘London’s best-dressed bird’, there’s plenty here for fans of mid-century retro.
The puns are rooted in what the Calabreses call ‘London’s first poultry dining experience’, and are accompanied by over 60 cocktails (created by their father and legendary cocktail shaker Salvatore Calabrese); set over two floors — each inspired by London’s 1960s music and art scene — the bar/restaurant is not short on mojo.
Upstairs, The Holy Birds restaurant serves locally-sourced, free-range birds (think chicken; duck; grouse; wood pigeon; quail and pheasant) along with a selection of tantalising sides; duck dripping potatoes, and cabbage and grapefruit salad particularly droolsome highlights. Whilst downstairs sees The Mule Bar featuring a cocktail lounge and private rooms — the Negroni and Manhattan Room — complete with enough space for patrons to enjoy regular DJs and live performances.
Furniture and fittings throughout have been hand-picked by the Calbrese brothers, and are inspired by the 60s Danish modernist movement; diners watched over by a mammoth art deco Murano glass chandelier, and sent on a psychedelic trip by some splendidly swirly carpets. Yeah baby, yeah.
