Overlooking the water in Canary Wharf, with views stretching across to Greenwich, Songbird is a contemporary British restaurant and bar set right beside the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, making it a natural choice before curtain-up, as well as a destination in its own right. The dining room leans smart-casual, with warm lighting and polished, theatre-inflected décor that suits everything from a relaxed lunch to a special-occasion dinner or date night.
The kitchen takes a seasonal, modern approach to British cooking, opening with nibbles like beef dripping popcorn and devilled eggs with miso mayonnaise and trout roe, before moving into small plates such as smoked salmon with a celeriac and Granny Smith remoulade, or a braised beef rarebit built on a slow-cooked beef cheek crumpet. Mains run from a dry-aged Wagyu burger and heritage breed pork chop to pan-roasted cod with an English sparkling wine butter sauce, alongside a well-reviewed wild mushroom pot pie for those eating plant-based. Sandwiches, sides and a British cheese board round things out, and vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options are all catered for. Dessert brings a properly shareable moment in the Songbird Sundae, served tableside in a birdcage.
Behind the bar, the drinks list is just as considered, with a signature cocktail menu - think a Yorkshire Negroni or Smoked Old Fashioned - sitting alongside English sparkling wine, a broader wine list and draught beer and cider, making the space just as suited to a standalone evening of drinks as a full meal.