On the hunt for restaurants with summer terraces, we made the most of this fine weather dining in the sunshine at Bonfire in Barbican. Located on the first floor of the iconic Barbican Centre, Bonfire is the brainchild of the guys behind the UK’s premier Champagne bar group, Searcys, with a gorgeous view overlooking the Barbican lake. This industrial-chic eatery has a much more casual vibe, with rustic woodwork, and serves comfort food that focuses on utilizing seasonal, good quality ingredients.
The bar offers a range of bespoke cocktails, wines and bottled beers, including premium craft Freedom Beer available on tap. I went for my usual summer favourite, Aperol Spritz, and the Pimm’s Cup was really fruity and refreshing too – if you’re looking to catch some sun and top up your tan, they also have some cool beanbags to lounge on which would go perfectly with an Aperol Spritz in hand.
We ordered a variety of dishes to share alongside out burgers, which included the Cheddar cheese croquettes, and the Buffalo hot chicken wings that was served with a blue cheese dip.
They do beef (100% Hereford cattle), chicken (100% free range), and veggie burgers so there is sure to be something for everyone: we tried the Cheeseburger which was juicy and I liked the flavour combination of the Montgomery Cheddar cheese with their Bonfire relish. The buttermilk fried chicken breast in the Fiery chicken burger was coated in Buffalo hot sauce, sandwiched together with a layer of blue cheese mayonnaise. It wasn’t quite as crispy or spicy as I had expected, but it had nice flavours nonetheless.
If you’re looking for a lighter option, they do salads as well where you have the option of adding bacon or chicken.
And let’s not forget the fries that all sounded really tasty. I was really tempted to order ‘The Works’ which is skinny fries topped with melted cheese, bacon bits and onions, but instead went for the sweet potato fries that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Remember to save space for their indulgent desserts. We ordered the classic ice cream sundae to share, because you can’t go wrong with a classic. Packed with rich and gooey chocolate brownies and drizzled with plenty of chocolate sauce, this is definitely one for the sweet-tooths out there.
Whether you’re in search of a quick bite before your show, a leisurely lunch with colleagues, or a drink on the terrace, Bonfire is definitely one to check out this summer.
- I was a guest at Bonfire, but all photos and views remain my own.
