Special anniversaries, birthdays or just because, there are plenty of reasons why you may wish to spoil your loved one with a special treat, and from gifts to one-off experiences, there are myriad ways in which you can do this.
Whether you want to purchase a piece of beautiful jewellery, whisk your other half off on a surprise holiday, send flowers in the UK to their home or workplace, treat them to a special meal in London, or something else, they will surely be left grinning by your efforts.
A weekend trip to London is a fantastic way to celebrate your love, with a great selection of five-star hotels, spas, shops, cultural sights, historical monuments and other ways to spend your time in abundance, whatever your interests are. To anchor your weekend, why not book yourself a meal at a top-notch restaurant, where you can reminisce while enjoying some of the finest food the country has to offer?
Look to the Michelin Guide for a selection of tried and tested restaurants where tough criteria separate the excellent from the rest. Allow yourself to enjoy an unforgettable dinner at one of the best restaurants in London, which has been deservedly awarded a Michelin star or two (or three). Here, you can enjoy exquisite dishes, world-class culinary masterpieces, as well as food that has been awarded prestigious awards in the pub category.
Below, we highlight ten of the most romantic London restaurants that are featured in the esteemed food guide book.
Barrafina
This cosy Spanish restaurant in Soho will leave you wishing you had ordered the entire menu with its delectable array of tapas treats. Take a seat at the long bar and tuck into a selection of dishes to share with your loved one, such as prawn and piquillo pepper tortilla or gambas rojas, while toasting with a glass of sherry, wine, Cava or Champagne.
Cornerstone
Great seafood in a relaxed atmosphere from chef Tom Brown, Hackney Wick’s Cornerstone is a restaurant that celebrates simplicity. Uncomplicated yet oh-so delicious, the menu here focuses on flavour and includes dishes like sea bream tartare, egg yolk and soy. For a treat, try the eight-course chef’s selection for £80 with a complementary wine pairing for an additional £75.
Elystan Street
A cool, contemporary eatery in Chelsea, Elystan Street is a neighbourhood restaurant from chef Phil Howard and restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas offering a set lunch, a la carte and tasting menus. Make it a special occasion to remember and devour the wine-paired tasting menu for dinner. May’s offering includes a terrine of Dover sole, skate and smoked eel with tarama, pickled cucumber, sea beet and lemon oil, and ‘milk many ways’ with Yorkshire rhubarb.
Evelyn’s Table
An experience you won’t forget in a hurry, Evelyn’s Table offers two sittings a night with the menu served to all diners at the same time, so don’t be late! Great British ingredients are prepared with Asian notes making for delightful dishes and the lower ground floor setting offers an intimate atmosphere that you and your partner will no doubt enjoy.
The Clove Club
The first two-Michelin starred restaurant on our list so far, The Clove Club in Shoreditch – sitting in the historic rooms of the town hall – offers creative cookery using ingredients from all over the UK and presented artfully on the plate.
Galvin La Chapelle
Classic French cooking takes a lot of beating and so it’s no surprise that this French restaurant with its exquisite presentation of food makes it onto this list. Bold flavours on the plate and a characterful setting make this place great for a date. Opt for the tasting menu to sample the very best.
Harwood Arms
If great food in a more casual pub setting is more your thing, then head to Harwood Arms for the likes of a venison scotch egg, warm pumpkin tart with goats’ cheese and thyme, loin of Iberian pork or a custard flan. Expect tasty, hearty, pub-like portions in an easy-going setting.
Five Fields
Chelsea’s Five Fields restaurant is the ideal place to take your loved and marvel at the intricate and delicious dishes being served up here, it’s a real experience. Chef-owner Taylor Bonnyman skilfully serves up delicate and stunning plates of food from the restaurant’s kitchen garden alongside some fantastic wine options.
Jamavar
Us Brits love our Indian food and Jamavar in Mayfair is a prime example of how to elevate such gorgeous cuisine. Head here for flavourful small plates, gorgeous tandoor treats and a tasting menu which will delight, Jamavar certainly deserves its star.
La Dame de Pic London
Works of art make their way onto the dishes at this two-Michelin starred La Dame de Pic London. Modern French cuisine is displayed in this Four Seasons Hotel-based restaurant by Anne-Sophie Pic and the wines will delight couples with a penchant for great wine, too.
