London’s Best Restaurants For A Valentines Day Dinner

The combination of memorable food, sweet service and a relaxed atmosphere often make for the best nights. Case in point, Bonnie Gull’s discrete Soho bolthole, which is set up perfectly for dinners at the restaurant’s small-but-perfectly formed dining room, or impromptu bar drop-ins. Start with oysters and a glass of prosecco, before moving onto the impeccable seafood dishes (get the fritto misto and bouillabaisse). Finish with a stroll through the Soho streets—perfect.

It’s difficult not to fall for Naughty Piglets’ neo-bistro vibes, Brixton camaraderie and excellent French cooking. The lighting is intimate, the seating is cosy, and the wine is natural—in other words, great for a relaxing date or getting loose with a bottle of something delicious. The burrata and crab dishes are classics, but in truth, just about everything on the menu is great.

Neptune’s dining room is rather pretty—we’re talking sumptuous banquettes, soaring ceilings and Art Deco flourishes. Matched with a brilliant seafood-centric menu, an all-natural wine list and a splash of effortless service, the final result is date night catnip that’s neither too spendy nor stuffy. £40 gets you three courses of dishes like hand-dived scallop or day-boat fish with beurre blanc and artichokes, with macarons to finish—an easy call.

Take everything wonderful about an intimate Parisian wine bar—the perfectly-pitched bistro dishes, the bonhomie and, of course, vino—and transfer it to 2019 Shoreditch. Ed, the restaurant’s effervescent owner, pours the wine and provides the banter, while chef Sam Kamienko’s food always hits the spot. Leroy nails the tricky balance between elegance and exuberance, making it an excellent proposition for a date or casual hangout. For bonus points, book the seats at the bar.

Pique-Nique is a French establishment that’s difficult not to love; that is, it reminds diners precisely why they fell in love with the classic French bistro in the first place. The location in a quiet Bermondsey park and rustic-chic interior are part of the appeal, and the classical cooking more than stacks up to the atmosphere. The restaurant will have a four or five-course Valentine’s menu for £55 on the night, and the bar is a perfect for lingering with a drink afterwards.

The location may be Mayfair, but Chucs’ Dover Street flagship channels a strong Amalfi coast vibe. The restaurant’s raison d’être, of course, is Italian luxe, with a buzzing dining room decked out with smart wood panelling, comfy leather banquettes and chandeliers. The food and wine is a gimme—everything from the home-made pasta to classics like vitello tonnato and grilled fish are outstanding.

You know what isn’t hot? Overeating and rolling home with your (presumably successful) date, before passing out on the sofa, glass of wine in hand. The lighter—and infinitely more chic—option is to roll up to Sager and Wilde’s Hackney Road bar for a glass of something delicious and a few plates to share. Punchy reds, an impressive list of low-intervention wines by the glass, and a crowd of clued-up East London regulars make for an electric atmosphere and entertaining evening.  

Stem’s GM Emma Underwood said it best: “the most important important thing is the person sitting opposite.” Set in a Grade-II listed Mayfair townhouse, dinner at Stem is a cosseting and luxurious experience, and the restaurant offers a £75 ten-course tasting menu on the night, with a glass of sparkling rose on arrival. The only choice to make is whether to plump for the wine pairing (the answer, of course, is yes)—all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the pleasure of your date’s company.

The classic dinner and drinks one-two punch is a tried-and-tested combination because it works. At Albertine in Shepherds Bush, have drinks downstairs at the buzzing wine bar to warm up, before heading upstairs for a relaxed dinner in the restaurant’s pretty dining room. There’s an impressive list of wine available by the glass, and the Mediterranean-inflected cooking is easy to love.