The Bar at Bluebird Chelsea

Following a punchy summer 2016 revamp by owners D&D, the lounge bar at Bluebird is at the forefront of SW3’s social scene. The industrial edge on the first floor of this 1920s former garage has been softened by a pleasing Raoul Dufy-esque colour palette of mandarin, pomegranate, pinks and blues. Celia Birtwell prints, jazzy rugs, mismatched 1930s-style furniture and lush green ferns do their bit too. Sit at an art deco stainless-steel island bar to sample wine from £19 and an intriguing range of well-made, reasonably priced crustas, cups, cobblers and twisted classics including Gingerbread Mojito, Beaufort Beauty (pisco, dessert wine, passion fruit and sloe gin), and aged Old Fashioneds and Negronis served from (nice touch) miniature petrol pumps. Snack on tiger prawns aïoli, barbecued quail and guacamole, or olive and artichoke tapenade with croûtons – or simply gossip over G&Ts. Buzzy, brash and brilliant, Bluebird is back with a vengeance.

Bluebird really does have it all: the more relaxed, family-friendly Café & Courtyard on the ground floor, and the more refined restaurant and bar on the first floor. Nestled in the heart of Chelsea on the King's Road, Bluebird has become a staple of the local and wider community. Quirky interiors accompany dishes from all over the world with a wine list to match and playful house cocktails, making this the perfect setting for pretty much any occasion.

Those looking to catch up over a drink, or settle in for more than one or two are best catered to in Bluebird's upstairs bar, which comes with its own menu of delights. Signature cocktails include the Lavendar (Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or, Aperol, Hennessy V.S., agave, lemon juice and grapefruit bitters) and a smoked negroni, made with Campari infused with cardamom and Villa Ascenti gin. There is even a separate subsection dedicated to Cointreau based cocktails, such as the white lady (Sipsmith, Cointreau, lemon, sugar syrup and egg white) or the royal sidecar (Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, Cointreau and lemon juice). 

Alternatively, guests can enjoy their chosen spirit straight and as such, there is a huge amount of choice for each, including whiskies, blended scotch, Irish whisky, rum, tequila and mezcal, American whiskeys and bourbons, gin, vodka, cognac, Armagnac and liqueurs. Wine is available by the glass or bottle, with plenty of bubbly options for celebrations. 

To soak up the excellent selection of drinks, there are of course bar snacks available, including the obligatory marinated olives and crudités, along with truffle fries, salt and pepper squid with chipotle mayo, shrimp mayonnaise on brioche, oysters, duck liver parfait with fig chutney, beef tartare with smoked mayo and pickled shallots and Brindisa Iberico Paleta (shoulder ham). For more decadent bar visitors, there is also caviar available, served with blinis, creme fraiche and chives.