The most romantic restaurants in London, England for the loveliest lovers on date night

As cliche as it sounds, London truly is a melting pot of culture. One-third of its residents come from outside the country. So it’s safe to say that these plates are packed with authenticity. Add to the fact that Central London and beyond is dotted with some seriously swanky districts, lined with restaurants for the perfect date night. Candlelight, shareable treats, and fine wines are just the icing, and since romancing can too veer on casual, we’ve added brunch and tea spots to the mix. Here are the most romantic restaurants in London, across all budgets, for any occasion.

The best romantic restaurants in London

1. Pavyllon London

One of the world’s most decorated living Michelin-starred chefs, Yannick Alléno, opened his first UK restaurant in 2023 within the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, and already acclaim has snowballed. Pavyllon’s a multi-layer experience comprising a restaurant, bar, and expansive al fresco terrace, with the heart of it all facing the open kitchen mastery.

Begin with a soulful sip from the Ikigai menu at Bar Antoine, before your voyage together on the main lounge side. A six-course immersive Mayfair menu showcases Alléno’s sauce, which always hits the spot, on the Confit Pollack Basquaise Style, and the Roasted Duck Magret especially. If Ikigai’s Japanese for “reason to live”, Pavyllon invigorates every fibre of being.

Find out more about Pavyllon London

2. The Palomar

Serving the cuisine of modern Jerusalem, The Palomar has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2014. Every dish here is not only scrumptious but also feel-good. Ingredients are locally and sustainably sourced and made from scratch, including bread which is baked in their kitchen daily.

Start with their warm falafels, savour the tender Chicken Labanieh, and seal it with an ice cream sandwich, featuring baklava of course. This intimate Soho restaurant is ideally located before an evening of theatre and is sure to impress.

Find out more about The Palomar

3. Ormer Mayfair

It’s about time Ormer snagged a Michelin star, though the hungry waitlist of this Mayfair darling was formed long before the accolades. Chef Sofian Msetfi’s seasonally changing tasting menus ensure every patron who makes it to the front will want to rejoin the queue right after.

Opt for regular, pescatarian, vegetarian, or vegan five-course (£79pp) or seven-course (£115pp) tasting menus, each spotlighting the best of British, including signatures (you’ll maybe sample) such as warm Ibérico ham jelly with Parmesan, Bramley apple and nasturtium; and the cured Cornish mackerel with sesame, kombu and spiced nage. Exquisite wine pairings round off a perfect evening.

Find out more about Ormer Mayfair by Sofian

4. Jacuzzi

Romance bubbles at Jacuzzi, an unashamedly opulent and ostentatious display of an Italian restaurant (the website reads ‘crazy trattoria’ if you want the official description). Couples: you’re entering a fantasy Venetian villa, stacked floor on floor with climbing plants, chandeliers, statues, art, antiques and even swimwear. It’s easy to forget you’re on High Street Ken.

Untangle yourselves out of the fresh handmade spaghetti, share a truffle-laden pizza, and end with the grandma-style tiramisu. Of course, everything’s best accompanied by Italian wine. Mamma Mia to that.

Find out more about Jacuzzi

5. Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay

For a Michelin-starred date night let Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay give you something to remember. The French fine-dining restaurant’s seasonal menu includes artfully designed and perfectly cooked delights ranging Cornish Turbot, Native Lobster to Smoked Eel and 100 Days Aged Cumbrian Blue Grey. Every plate (literally, the dishware is incredible) is a masterpiece. Wine pairings here are also thoughtful and luxurious.

Find out more about Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay 

6. Kanishka by Atul Kochhar

Kanishka serves a 360-degree sensory experience where gastronomy and art dance for couples seeking a feast beyond their plate. The restaurant is helmed by Atul Kochhar, best known for Benares, and is a Mayfair venture that celebrates pan-Indian cuisine.

Currently, Kanishka has partnered with renowned artist Zara Muse. Her work adorns the walls which Atul believes ‘creates an environment that fosters a dialogue between food and art’. The pieces beautifully express female beauty through a rich and mixed medium of colours on canvas. The Resilience is particularly transfixing. Dine and discover from now until May 2024.

Find out more about Kanishka by Atul Kochhar

7. El Norte

Tapas-plus restaurant, El Norte, brings the very best of Spain to  Mayfair. Lovers will feast on shareable selects, including the Pulpo A La Brasa, grilled octopus with lentils and chimichurri; and Pluma de Cerdo Glaseada, a sweet glazed Iberian pork reminiscent of Char Siu. Around six to eight dishes are plenty to feed two, but if you’ve got the space, go loco for the big plates of paella.

Find out more about El Norte

8. L’Atelier Robuchon

From the esteemed Joël Robuchon International Group, L’Atelier Robuchon pays homage to the legend’s classics, elevating the experience with fresh seasonal ingredients and a mighty wine list that includes small family-owned producers alongside the greats. Sip cocktails upon entry at the marble countertop bar, then follow with a stream of haute delicacies, such as La Caille, a tender quail with foie gras and mashed potatoes.

Find out more about L’Atelier Robuchon

9. YOPO

Tucked within The Mandrake in Fitzrovia, YOPO serves South American-inspired cuisine within an art-filled trove. It’s bold flavours of Lima and Buenos Aires with indigenous Amazonian ingredients. Repeat visits are always a treat thanks to seasonal changes, pop-up collaborations, and a happening Sunday brunch, and the YOPO bar is perfect for a pre-drink. Note the smart casual dress code (no ties, hoodies, or sports shoes).

Find out more about YOPO

10. Benares

Benares Mayfair is the first place Londoners think of when it comes to Indian fine dining; the restaurant opened in 2003 and has held a coveted Michelin star for over 16 years. Chef Sameer Taneja’s menus are based on clean, precise cooking, using premium British ingredients with a dazzle of French flair. The food is creative yet retains authentic holy city notes, such as on Samosa Ragda Tartlet and the Lamb Chop Pulao With Good Old Indian Staples. The Madagascan Vanilla Rasmalai is sweet heaven. Benares has four private dining rooms, ideal for couples seeking engagement or reception venues.

Find out more about Benares

11. Park Chinois

Impress your date with dinner and theatrics, Park Chinois is a glamorous boudoir by French designer Jacques Garcia. Inside there are two distinct dining experiences: Salon de Chine and Club Chinois. One is a plush dining space strumming live jazz seven days a week, whilst the other is a supper club and cabaret stylized as a 30s Shanghai speakeasy. We love the Prix-Fixe menu for the dim sum selection. Say yes to a glass of Moulin Rouge, or anything else from the bar: Park Chinois recently won a Michelin Award for their cocktails.

Find out more about Park Chinois

12. Amazónico

Guests enter a mythical jungle beating with live music, rainforest décor, and Latin cuisine that romances Asia in homage to the communities that inhabit the Amazon region. Try the Pastel de Choclo, a Peruvian corn cake made with Scottish lobster and Oscietra caviar, or Picanha Rodizio, a Brazilian-style grilled rump steak. Adventurous couples, how about Ancas de Rana – spiced fried frog legs? A secret cocktail bar beneath the restaurant, OCTO, is where to polish the night off.

Find out more about Amazónico

13. Mallow

These sleek plant-based restaurants (one in Borough Market, one in Canary Wharf) are from the team behind Mildred’s. Serving seasonal, sustainable dishes inspired by cuisines from all over the world, the menu items include pumpkin pani puri and roast pepper sweet potato laksa, all beautifully arranged. A date night that leaves you feeling oh-so-good, even if you both go down the cocktail route.

Find out more about Mallow

14. Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal

How about a double helping of Michelin stars for that special someone? Alex Dilling At Hotel Café Royal is magic at every turn. Enter the iconic Hotel Café Royal, frequented by VIPS throughout history, and inside you’ll find an intimate 34-seat boudoir helmed by the acclaimed British chef. Tasting menus harness ingredients of the season, providing a modern take on French gastronomy. Sample tasters include Shetland Cod with black winter truffle, Creedy Carver Duck, and Scottish Blue Lobster. 

Find out more about Alex Dilling At Hotel Café Royal

15. Sketch: The Lecture Room & Library

Situated in a 1779 grade II listed building, Conduit Street’s three Michelin-star restaurant is all opulence. The first-floor Lecture Room & Library houses a kaleidoscope of celebratory art and colour, and you’ll dine on seasonal menu that’s more of a course selection rather than a single plate. The result is a feast for all the senses. The wine list is impeccable, especially the by-the-glass options which span rarities. Afterward, stick around for a drink at one of Sketch’s revered drinking dens, such as The Glade, The Parlour, or The East Bar beneath the iconic space pod bathrooms.

Find out more about Sketch: The Lecture Room & Library

16. Sky Lounge at Shangri-La The Shard, London

How about a brunch date with a view? It doesn’t get any better (or higher) than Sky Lounge at Shangri-La The Shard, London. The recently launched brunch session serves a feast in the clouds. Each Sunday, from 12 pm to 4 pm, diners can enjoy Asian-inspired a la carte goodies, like the confit salmon with rainbow radicchio and the Vietnamese-style sea bass with glass noodles, alongside a market-style cheesemonger and all-you-can-eat dessert treats. That’s British cheeses, tiramisu, and even a chocolate fountain using artisanal melted Original Beans chocolate, paired with fresh fruit for dipping. Add 90 minutes of free-flowing Veuve Cliquot to the mix for the best brunch date you’ll ever have. 

Find out more about Sky Lounge

17. Spring Restaurant

Guide your love back in time to a quaint 19th-century drawing room within Somerset House: Spring’s a fairytale from the outside in. The seasonal offerings are wholesome and produce-driven; great for sharing, and even better with a premium glass of Bordeaux. Think: Crab croquette with heirloom tomatoes, or monkfish and clams with tomato, almonds, and aïoli, to name but a few sample items. The romantic Thames River calls for a post-dinner stroll.

Find out more about Spring Restaurant

18. Searcys Helix Restaurant at The Gherkin

Contemporary dining and majestic views soar at the top of The Gherkin, where Searcy’s Helix Restaurant is the summit of special occasions.  The menu is quintessentially British with close collaboration alongside British farmers and local producers. So expect UK-reared fresh meat, flour milled in England, free-range eggs, milk from Red Tractor-certified farms, and responsibly sourced seafood. We love afternoon tea sessions—£60 for tiered treats and a glass of Searcys bubbles is the best £60 you could spend in Aldgate, especially when you factor in an observatory experience.

Find out more about Searcys Helix Restaurant at The Gherkin

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