Romance isn't dead, but you probably need to book a restaurant in advance this Valentine's Day...
If love is in the air around Valentine’s Day, it can perhaps best be enjoyed when breathed in during a romantic dinner in a good restaurant, with attentive service to match.
London has a fine selection of restaurants for dining à deux, and many mark the occasion with special Valentine menus. So, whether you want to dine in Michelin-starred splendor or share a plate of spaghetti in a neighborhood trattoria, there will be a dinner to suit the mood.
Here the MCC team has put together a list of suggestions.
- Call our Bookings service, or message a member of the team via WhatsApp on +966 533 633 607 to make a booking
Sucre
Argentinian chef Fernando Trocca has brought his Buenos Aires restaurant to London and opened in the lofty space of a former concert hall. The decor is opulent, the atmosphere fine-dining, the menu short but full of flavorsome dishes with many cooked on the open fire – and the restaurant has made it to the Michelin Guide.
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Call: +44 20 3988 3329
Address: 47B Great Marlborough St, Soho, London W1F 7JP
Oxo Tower Brasserie
The OXO Tower, once a wharfside home to the meat cube company of the same name, now hosts shops and restaurants and its eponymous restaurant bar and brasserie are operated by Harvey Nichols. The Brasserie, with a lovely garden terrace and stunning views, is just the spot for casual dining, with occasional live music and special events, and has earned a Michelin Green Star.
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Call: +44 20 7803 3888
Address: Barge House St, Southwark, London SE1 9PH
Boca di Lupo
This small but polished Italian restaurant opened in 2008, has since received many awards for the dishes it sources from all of Italy’s 20 regions, and is mentioned in the current Michelin Guide. If they can make an item themselves they do so, and the rest is sourced in Italy. The menu is sophisticated and imaginative and the decor smart contemporary.
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Call: +44 20 7734 2223
Address: 12 Archer Street, Soho, London W1D 7BB
Hakkasan
The original Hakkasan - there’s a sister restaurant in Mayfair and both have Michelin stars - has intimate, atmospheric decor and a modern Cantonese menu prepared with exceptional care. It has a price tag to match its reputation, but does offer a tasting menu of small plates to whet customers’ appetites for more.
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Call: +44 20 7927 7000
Address: 8 Hanway Place, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1HD
Sushi Samba
Sushi Samba’s unique fusion of Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian cuisine is served with jaw-dropping views, courtesy of its location at the top of the Heron Tower in the City of London. Expect uber-cool decor, insanely-good food and a price tag to match. It’s well worth it, though. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.
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Call: +44 20 3640 7330
Address: London Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY
Daphne's
This popular Italian restaurant has been a fixture since the 1960s, opened by vivacious casting director Daphne Rye, who made it a hub for film and stage luminaries. Today it carries on with a traditional, authentic Italian menu served in what it terms a ‘glamorous but informal’ setting.
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Call: +44 20 7589 4257
Address: 112 Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, London SW3 3AE
Bob Bob Ricard
For an eyeful of atmosphere, uniformed staff in this all-booth Anglo-Russian restaurant in Soho serve a diverse but decadent menu of re-imagined classics in luxury surroundings. Caviar and truffles abound; traditional Russian dumplings take on a new twist, as does macaroni and cheese, this time with lobster. Mentioned in the Michelin Guide.
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Call: +44 20 3145 1000
Address: 1 Upper James St, Soho, London W1F 9DF
L’Oscar
Set within the luxury boutique hotel of the same name, this French-style restaurant offers an international menu for all-day dining - including afternoon tea - in elegant surroundings.
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Call: +44 20 7405 5555
Address: 2-6 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4AA
Muse by Tom Aikens
Boasting a Michelin star, this fine-dining restaurant from British chef Tom Aikens is set in an elegant converted mews house, offering top-class tasting menus in a small, intimate setting with just 23 covers.
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Call: +44 20 3301 2903
Address: 38 Groom Place, Belgravia, London SW1X 7BA
Il Borro Tuscan Bistro
An offshoot of the Il Borro estate, owned by the Ferragamo family, this smart, upscale Tuscan restaurant has high standards and prices to match, but it has a mention in the Michelin Guide for its authentic cuisine.
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Call: +44 20 3988 7717
Address: 15 Berkeley St, Mayfair, London W1J 8DY
Sparrow Italia
This modern Italian restaurant serves classics from all around the Mediterranean, with a few contemporary twists to vary the menu. Pasta is made in-house daily and many dishes are cooked in traditional wood-fired ovens.
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Call: +44 20 3089 9501
Address: 1-3 Avery Road, Mayfair, London W1K 4AJ
Sketch
With three Michelin stars under its belt, this super stylish yet quirky 18th-century townhouse has become a destination for food, music and art. The decadent and unique interiors are worth a visit alone – all picture-worthy, even the bonkers egg-shaped toilets – with each room in the house unveiling a personality of its own. The afternoon tea is a memorable experience, while the Parlour is perfect for breakfast. Book the Glade for drinks or a quick bite, and the Lecture Room and Library for a proper sit down meal.
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Call: +44 20 7659 4500
Address: 9 Conduit St, Mayfair, London, W1S 2XG
Andrew Edmunds
With its old school Soho vibe and intimate, candle-lit atmosphere, this restaurant is ideal for romantic dinners. Hearty modern European dishes are served up within the walls of the cosy 18th-century townhouse with its shabby chic furnishings and handwritten menu. Diners have been coming here since the mid eighties. Booking is essential.
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Call: +44 20 7437 5708
Address: 46 Lexington St, Soho, London, W1F 0LP
The Ledbury
Australian chef Brett Graham has reopened his Notting Hill restaurant, having closed it during lockdown. Now it’s back with its famed tasting menu – which kicks off with Cornish crab with cultured cream and frozen citrus – and is proving hugely popular with its loyal fans.
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Call: +44 20 7792 9090
Address: 127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AQ
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
With two Michelin stars and a setting in the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel at Hyde Park, top chef Heston Blumenthal’s London creation is a celebration of British food over the centuries with very old recipes embellished by his signature hi-tech twists.
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Call: +44 20 7201 3833
Address: 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
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