Bluebird: From Chelsea to White City
Even in the golden times when the BBC had its headquarters here, London’s White City used to be a real backwater for wining and dining.
But what a difference a few years (ok, a decade or so…) can make!
An extended Westfield shopping mall is now the biggest in Europe and the Television Centre on the other side of the street is one of London’s hottest new developments with a price tag of £8 billion.
Even Bluebird, Chelsea’s iconic dining institution has branched out here from King’s Road with a first ever second location.
Bluebird Café White City opened this spring onto a piazza overlooking the Television Centre’s famous circular-shaped buildings and offers an all-day drinking and dining experience.
The 5000-square-foot space houses a café, bar and all-year-round terrace and serves a modern European cuisine.
The 1960s inspired interior is relaxed and cheerful with a variety shades of pink, blue and purple, green plants and some fabulous lighting above the bar that emits warmth and reminds me of macaroni…
We start our evening with a nice glass of Malbec feeling cosy in birdcage seats by the window and watch the world go by.
There’s quite a bit of a party atmosphere out on the terrace with people enjoying the sunshine and cocktails, created especially for this place: BBC Collins, TVC Sour, East to West, White City Fashioned.
We move to a table deeper into the café and tuck into Stone bass Ceviche, Salt & pepper squid and a lovely plate of Cornish chorizo nicely pared with pickles.
All three starters are delicious, fresh and full of flavours.
For the mains we choose the café’s signature dish – Calabrian ‘nduja crusted yellow fin tuna with grilled onion and green sauce and grilled sea bass with spring onions, ginger and greens.
As a dessert, we share a glorious and quite generous portion of Chocolate & raspberry pavlova, one of my favourite sweet treats in the world that’s definitely worth every calorie.
On a short taxi home, I have to close my eyes when we travel through Wood Lane and North Pole Road, as that part of town is still quite industrial and not very pretty, but – a sigh of relief – now White City has gems worth travelling to.
By Vilma Darling.
Bluebird Cafe White City
If you liked this review of Bluebird Cafe White City, read some of our guides including the best alfresco restaurants in London and the best rooftop bars in London.
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