Electric Birdcage

Bird of Paradise or ugly duckling? It’s hard to tell. This new Soho bar – think Alice in Wonderland meets the Venice Carnival – really does have to be seen to be believed, & preferably through dark designer shades. A short wine list kicks off with Italian white & red at £15, with entry-level bubbles (Moet) at £42. Dim Sum, curries, stir-fries & noodles are served by waitresses wearing stylised 1950s air stewardess outfits. Classic cocktails at £7.50 or thereabouts are joined by on-theme creations such as Kamikaze Bluebird, Flamingo Punch & Road Runner (from a section of mocktails entitled ‘Faking It’). And fake might just be the word to describe the plumage on some of the birds you’ll spot in this cage: fake tans, fake nails, fake hair.