Whatever your budget, London is full of special spots for special occasions. We’ve tried and tested some of the city’s best restaurants for romance, so whether you’re on a first date or are just trying to spice things up with your other half, this list should be just the ticket. So, without further ado – here’s our rundown of 26 of the most romantic restaurants in London:
1. Oxo Tower, Southwark
This institutional eatery boasts one of the best city views in the capital, making it the perfect place to switch on the romantic charm. The Oxo Tower is one of the most famous restaurants on the Thames, steeped in history connected to the Royal Mail, and more famously the Oxo beef stock cubes, in which the restaurant gets its name. Chow down on elevated cuisine that celebrates local, British produce, all while enjoying stellar views of St. Pauls and beyond.
Speaking of the food, expect beautifully presented dishes with influences from across the globe. We recommend making a sunset reservation to make things extra romantic, or head here later in the evening to watch the London skyline twinkle under the moonlight. There’s also a fantastic afternoon tea and rooftop bar.
📍You’ll find The Oxo Tower on the Thames at Barge House Street, SE1 9PH.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Southwark.
2. La Poule au Pot, Belgravia
When it comes to the world’s most romantic destinations, Paris is the city that traditionally tops the list. But what if we told you you needn’t queue up for the Eurostar at St. Pancras in order to experience the passion of Paris – or even Provence for that matter? Sounds too good to be true, right? Luckily for you, Belgravia’s own La Poule Au Pot – one of the most romantic restaurants in London – is here to curb your continental cravings.
A hidden gem in the heart of Belgravia, this quaint French establishment is guaranteed to bring out your inner romantic. Transporting you back to an era of candlelit dinners and roaring open fires, you can’t help but fall a little in love with this cosy corner of London. They’ve also got a special Valentine’s Day menu this year with their namesake ‘chicken in a pot’ as a standout. Three courses are £75.
📍You’ll find La Poule au Pot at 231 Ebury Street, London, SW1W 8UT.
🚇 Nearest station is Sloane Square.
3. Clos Maggiore, Covent Garden
There’s a reason this French restaurant is continuously voted the most romantic restaurant in London. With a glass roof showing off a starry night sky and enough twinkly lights and greenery to make you feel like you’re eating in a fairy kingdom, it’s not surprising that a meal at the Covent Garden-based Clos Maggiore often ends with an engagement ring… no pressure. When you book, be sure to specify if you want to be seated in the fairy room, else you could end up disappointed.
📍You’ll find Clos Maggiore at 33 King Street, London, WC2E 8JD.
🚇 Nearest station is Covent Garden.
4. Kitty Fisher’s, Mayfair
This tiny 30-seater restaurant is a former 17th-century basement bakery and ever since it opened its doors in 2014, it’s been dealing with a back-log of hungry customers, all desperate to get a taste of its delicious wood grill. There’s a low-key elegance to Kitty Fisher’s: no rooftop views or pop-up gimmicks, just classic British sophistication. It couldn’t be a better date spot — but you’ll have to make sure you book ahead and join the waiting list.
📍You’ll find Kitty Fisher’s at 10 Shepherd Market, London, W1J 7QF.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
5. The Holborn Dining Room, Holborn
As one of London’s most beloved brasseries, don’t skip on the opportunity to dine at The Holborn Dining Room. With its grand and striking interiors, the restaurant beautifully blends vintage charm with some modern flair thanks to the reclaimed oak, antique mirrors, and the romantically red leather banquettes.
When it comes to their food, expect tremendous twists on British and French classics, with an undeniable commitment to serving up delicious dishes with locally sourced ingredients and produce. From seafood and charcuterie to the perfect pies, you’re spoilt for choice at this central hotspot for date night.
📍You’ll find The Holborn Dining Room at 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN.
🚇 Nearest station is Holborn.
6. Bob Bob Ricard, Soho or The City
There are ‘Press for Champagne’ buttons at every booth in Bob Bob Ricard, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about these Russian x British ‘grown-up clubs’ in Soho and the City. It’s a lavish affair, with caviar and oysters on the menu and polished metals, mahoganies and marbles that exude ’20s opulence. Unashamedly flashy and really deserving of its place on this romantic restaurants in London roundup, if you normally shy away from extravagance then this might not be your cup of tea but if you’re looking to impress, then you couldn’t really ask for more.
📍You’ll find Bob Bob Ricard at 1 Upper James Street, London, W1F 9DF.
🚇 Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus.
7. Bravas Tapas, St. Katharine Docks
Once you’ve marvelled at the magnificent sight of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, head to St. Katharine Docks to escape the hubbub and enjoy a nice, quiet supper amidst an impressive collection of ridiculously expensive boats. A beautiful exception in this otherwise chain-ridden area, Bravas Tapas is a lovely family-run Spanish restaurant serving up excellent, authentic tapas. The food is fantástico and we recommend a whole variety of dishes: starting with the Moorish Spiced Lamb Chops and the classic Brava Potatoes (up there with the best Alioli you’ve ever tasted).
📍You’ll find Bravas Tapas at St. Katherine Docks, East Smithfield, London, E1W 1AT.
🚇 Nearest station is Tower Hill.
8. Bleeding Heart, Farringdon
The Bleeding Heart Bistro is a wonderful authentic French restaurant tucked away just off a busy Farringdon street. It exudes classic French charm, creating the dreamiest ambiance (the French accent is mandatory). The rather delightful wine list offers over 450 bottles, so you’ll be feeling un petit peu éméché in no time. C’est l’amour!
📍You’ll find the Bleeding Heart Bistro at 3 Bleeding Heart Yard, London, EC1N 8SJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Farringdon.
9. Sketch, Mayfair
Sketch serves Michelin-starred food in absolutely breathtaking surroundings. A magical forest. Chairs wearing ballet shoes. Hot pink sofas as far as the eye can see. If a restaurant had just one of these things, we’d be pretty intrigued. But when that place has all of these things, and a Mayfair postcode to boot, we’re practically straining at the leash to get inside.
Sketch is the creation of restaurateur Mourad Mazouz and celebrated chef Pierre Gagnaire, and every inch of it practically begs to be Instagrammed. Also, the toilets–or should we say futuristic space pods–are famously fabulous.
📍You’ll find sketch at 9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, W1S 2XG.
🚇 Nearest station is Oxford Circus.
10. Suvlaki, Soho
Situated slap-bang in the middle of Soho, this one-room restaurant is all about the flaming robata-style grill and graffiti-scribbled walls. As you would expect from a restaurant named after the country’s national street food, the menu is fairly limited. You can indulge in souvlaki skewers and wraps, with added gigantes beans, greek salad and oregano chips on the side.
But the real star of the show here are their two signature dishes – a chicken kebab with fresh tomato and olives and spicy lamb chops with tzatziki and healthy spanakorizo. And why is it romantic we hear you ask? Well all the dishes are ripe for sharing, and there’s nothing more romantic than sharing food right?!
📍You’ll find Suvlaki at 21 Bateman Street, Soho, London, W1D 3AL.
🚇 Nearest station is Tottenham Court Road.
11. Blanchette, Soho
All the most romantic restaurants are French, and that’s no coincidence – they just have a certain je ne sais quoi. Well, actually, we do know what: they’ve got Parisian charm, they’ve got cheese, they’ve got mussels, they’ve got an incredible wine list and a portrait of the late queen Marie Antoinette. It’s the perfect setting for a romantic rendez-vous! Just try not to lose your head like Marie…
📍You’ll find Blanchette at 9 D’Arblay Street, London, W1F 8DR.
🚇 Nearest stations are Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road.
12. London Shell Co., Paddington
London Shell Co. is the restaurant that will truly transport you… from Paddington to Camden and back again. Set aboard the Prince Regent, this fine barge hosts about 40 guests for a waterborne feast. It then embarks on a gentle cruise along Regent’s Canal while you have dinner. Their speciality is great British seafood, with all your courses paired with a wine chosen and enthusiastically served by chap-in-charge Harry.
📍You’ll find London Shell Co. at The Prince Regent, Sheldon Square, W2 6PY.
🚇 Nearest station is Paddington.
13. Minnow, Clapham
Everything about Minnow is just bloody lovely – even their website is a delight to visit. Think pastel colours, Parisian-style café tables and plenty of flora. The food is simple yet complicated in a way that is difficult to explain, but there’s no doubt that it’ll have you coming back for more. Plus, the menu is always changing so there’s always an excuse to go back! The whole place oozes romance, so it’s a surefire way to impress your s/o.
📍You’ll find Minnow at 21 The Pavement, London, SW4 0HY.
🚇 Nearest station is Clapham Common.
14. Hakkasan, Mayfair
Hakkasan is not your average Chinese restaurant. In fact, it’s not your average restaurant, full-stop. Dinner at Hakkasan falls squarely into the ‘special occasion’ bracket (unless you’re the lucky sort who does this on the regular), with faultlessly attentive service, cracking cocktails, and refined Cantonese cooking making it very special indeed. Great if you’re looking for a date night restaurant then!
📍You’ll find Hakkasan at 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 6QB.
🚇 Nearest stations are Green Park and Bond Street.
15. Bateaux, on the Thames (temporarily closed)
Nothing says romance quite like a boat trip on the Thames. Combined with fresh food, live entertainment and incredible views of London’s major landmarks, it’s the perfect soppy date.
📍Bateaux departs from Embankment Pier, Victoria Embankment, WC2N 6NU on Thursdays through to Sundays.
🚇 Nearest stations are Embankment and Charing Cross.
16. Delamina EAST, Spitalfields
It’s turkey, but not as we know it. Delamina EAST’S menu is full of healthy, hearty Eastern Mediterranean dishes that are just made for the gram. Despite the name focusing on its signature turkey, they also have an amazing selection of veggie dishes here too. The charred cauliflower with lemon zest infused creme fraiche and pomegranate will exceed so many of your expectations (who knew cauliflower could taste so damn good?) and the manchego, mint and quinoa fritters are out of this world. If you want a visual taste of what’s to come, have a little scroll through Instagram. You won’t be able to resist…
📍You’ll find Delamina East at 151 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
17. Megan’s, various locations
Megan’s is a party of picture-perfect restaurants. While their King’s Road branch boasts a stunning garden that’s open all year round, and their Parsons Green offshoot is classically Instagrammable with its floral, fairy-lit canopy – it’s the olive tree inside their Clapham branch that really gets us going.
📍You’ll find Megan’s at various different locations in London. You can find out more here.
18. The Ledbury, Westbourne Park
We’re getting proper posh here, with two Michelin Stars on board, crisp, white tablecloths and a mainstay on several ‘World’s Best Restaurants’ lists. The service here is impeccable, and with just 45 covers, you’re guaranteed a personal experience. There’s everything on the menu from Cornish lobster to wild Chinese water deer (!), and tasting menus cost £195 per person, so this is one for really impressing your date. Wash it down with a crisp glass of Reisling and you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in town. Perfect if you’re looking for a romantic dinner in London then.
📍You’ll find The Ledbury at 127 Ledbury Road, London, W11 2AQ.
🚇 Nearest stations are Westbourne Park and Royal Oak.
19. The Clove Club, Shoreditch
The Clove Club is housed in Grade II-listed Shoreditch Town Hall. They’ve perfected the classic, laid-back East London vibe, matched by casual, but not at all inattentive, service. They serve a constantly evolving tasting menu of eight dishes for £195, or a shorter tasting menu of six dishes for £155. Both menus also offer wine pairings for an additional cost.
With a focus on modern British food, and seasonal produce, you might not know what’s on offer until you arrive, but you’ll be in very, very good hands. It’s also thoroughly romantic – particularly if you share one of their delectable desserts.
📍You’ll find The Clove Club at Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT.
🚇 Nearest stations are Old Street and Shoreditch High Street.
20. Galvin La Chapelle, Spitalfields
Another one of the most romantic restaurants in London here, Galvin La Chapelle is characterised by cavernous arched windows, high stone ceilings and elegant interiors. Awarded a Michelin Star in 2011, it offers a menu of polished French cuisine, combining the freshest seasonal produce with some real exceptional flair.
Options on the menu here include pan-fried halibut with Jerusalem artichokes and fallow deer with Guinness-glazed potato, with oysters and fondant cep. It’s often billed as the best French restaurant in London, and it’s easy to see why.
📍You’ll find Galvin La Chapelle at 35 Spital Square, London, E1 6DY.
🚇 Nearest stations are Liverpool Street and Shoreditch High Street.
21. Gloria, Shoreditch
Another Shoreditch establishment here, Gloria isn’t exactly subtle. It’s where old-school charm meets ridiculously indulgent food – add in some glamorous décor and mountains of delicious food, and you’ve got one hell of a romantic spot here. Inside, the dining room is lavished with Italian marble, vintage lamps, and a mirrored ceiling, all of which evokes the style of 70s Capri. But the food is the real star of the show here – go for the mighty lemon meringue pie and you’ll see why.
📍You’ll find Gloria at 54-56 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3QR.
🚇 Nearest stations are Shoreditch High Street and Old Street.
22. The River Café, Hammersmith
Another romantic joint that’s earned itself a Michelin Star, they only allow a select amount of people at a time to wine and dine here and are open for lunch and dinner every day of the week. While this legendary joint is not exactly cheap, they do justice to every dish served, and stick to seasonal vegetables. Don’t miss their gorgeous seafood risotto, which is served with clams, zucchini flowers, and winter-specific greens during the Winter months.
Wooing diners for over three decades now, it also has lovely views of the River Thames and an outdoor terrace, so if the weather’s playing ball, then this one is definitely worth a visit.
📍You’ll find The River Café at Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London, W6 9HA.
🚇 Nearest station is Hammersmith.
23. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Knightsbridge
This romantic restaurant in London is for those that are really looking to splash the cash – but it’s all worth it trust us. Winner of two esteemed Michelin Stars and established by the legendary experimental chef Heston Blumenthal, Dinner is a contemporary spot designed around Blumenthal’s fascination with historic gastronomy (with a contemporary twist of course). There’s everything here from a five-course tasting menu to a set lunch and even a chef’s table behind-the-scenes experience too.
📍You’ll find Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at 66 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7LA.
🚇 Nearest station is Knightsbridge.
24. The Ritz Restaurant, St. James’s
Definitely a contender for one of the most romantic restaurants in London here, The Ritz is one of the big smoke’s most celebrated and opulent hotels – and it’s got a bloody great Michelin Star restaurant too. Decked out with sparkling chandeliers, towering marble columns, and vast floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Green Park, it’s a charming spot which is often billed as being one of the most elegant dining rooms in the world – high praise indeed then! The menu uses only the best of seasonal British ingredients, and there’s also live music and entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays.
📍You’ll find The Ritz Restaurant at 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London, W1J 9BR.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
25. The Cinnamon Club, Westminster
London foodies are sure to be wise to The Cinnamon Club, one of the staples of Indian fine-dining in the capital for the best part of two decades. As if this prestigious spot didn’t sound intriguing enough already, sitting between the walls of the Grade II-listed old Westminster library, they’ve gone and added a hidden underground cocktail bar to their oeuvre. With ambient touches from both British and Indian culture, you’ll be bowled over by the Inopera terrazzo bar, curved archways and alcoves; as well as the plush seating and satin brass trim tables. The cocktails whipped up here are all bloody delicious, and the food upstairs is nothing short of legendary. Make sure you go and see what all the fuss is about!
📍You’ll find The Cinnamon Club at The Old Westminster Library, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BU.
🚇 Nearest station is St. James’s Park.
26. The Gallery at Sketch, Oxford Circus
Another Sketch entry here. A vibrant gastro-brasserie, The Gallery is well-loved by London’s foodies for its striking appearance. Once clad in a full on pink proliferation, a redesign from British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare and architect India Mahdavi in 2022 saw the venue take on a warm yellow, gold, and copper colour palette. This is complemented by site-specific artworks created specially for the space that evoke a touch of Africa in the space.
These include hand-carved wooden masks and framed quilts, modelled after African masks collected by Pablo Picasso. Main courses on offer here include sautéed squid with ink, parmesan crisps and aubergine ‘caviar’ and even breaded frogs legs (!), and they also do a mean afternoon tea here too.
📍You’ll find The Gallery at Sketch at 9 Conduit Street, London, W1S 2XG.
🚇 Nearest station is Oxford Circus.
27. Brasserie Zedel, Soho
Towering marble pillars, gilded ceilings and Art Deco paintings make up the surroundings inside Brasserie Zedel – the final entry onto our roundup of the best romantic restaurants in London. Situated just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus, this traditional brasserie might look unassuming from the outside but the 1930s building spares no expense when it comes to truly extra decor. Hell you’ll even think you’re actually wining and dining in Paris – oh darling! The food is, as you’d expect, absolutely delicious and there’s a mighty vino list here too. Cheers!
📍You’ll find Brasserie Zedel at 20 Sherwood Street, London, W1F 7ED.
🚇 Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus.
28. Archway, Battersea
Tucked away under an old railway arch in Battersea, and a stone’s throw away from the iconic Battersea Park, the restaurant offers a relaxed and intimate candlelit dining experience right in the very heart of Battersea. The eclectic menu boasts a selection of old and new world wines as well as a range of seasonal dishes designed to be shared – the perfect spot to take a loved one or a date we’d argue!
📍You’ll find Archway at Arch 65 Queen’s Circus, Nine Elms, London, SW8 4NE.
🚇 Nearest station is Battersea Park.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best romantic restaurants in London. So if you’re wanting to really pull out all the stops and impress your partner or date, then you know where to head!