In many ways London has an ongoing love affair with its world-class portfolio of internationally inspired restaurants. From dinner above the city skyline at the iconic Galvin at Windows and the electric ambience of City Social to falling in love at Florentine, hidden subtly within Park Plaza London Waterloo – make this Valentine’s Day extra special with our pick of some of the capital’s most romantic (and delicious) spots to book with your significant other.
If music is the food of love head to Galvin at Windows
Galvin at Windows have decided to roll out the red carpet for a whole Valentine’s week – after all, they are one of the most romantic restaurants in London. For seven love themed days they will be serving menus featuring some of the most sensual dishes created by head chef Joo Won. Starting on Monday 10th February, they will be offering a range of very special dishes for two to share. This menu will be valid up until 16th February. On Friday 14th and Saturday 15th February enjoy a special three-course menu inclusive of a Kir Royale for £95 per person.
Conjuring 1930s glamour from its cosmopolitan bar to its stunning dining room, since its opening back in 2006, Galvin at Windows has built a reputation for itself as one of London’s premier fine-dining restaurants. Allowing both those who are visitors to the city as well as locals a true taste of London, Galvin at Window’s stunning views showcases some of the capital’s most iconic sites such as the London Eye, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and Wembley Stadium.
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Address: 22 Park Lane, London, W1K 1BE
Phone: +44 (0)20 7208 4021
Website: galvinatwindows.com
Instagram: @galvinatwindows
Fall in love at Florentine
Impress your special someone at Florentine with their decadent truffle and chocolate specials, exclusively available only on Valentine’s Day. With dishes such as beef carpaccio with black truffle, girolle mushrooms; braised ox cheeks with cacao sauce, parsnip puree, wild mushrooms and black truffle; and game-changer chocolate mousse for two with passion fruit with champagne sauce, you’re in for a real flavour explosion. Every customer who book will also be entered into their competition to win a one-night stay at Park Plaza London Waterloo, with a bottle of prosecco upon arrival with breakfast the next morning.
Steps from Lambeth North tube station, Florentine may not directly pass many by, but is well worth the visit. A real people pleaser featuring carefully executed dishes complete with international inspiration, Florentine cleverly doesn’t pigeonhole itself meaning there’s always a reason to visit, whatever your schedule may be.
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Address: 6 Hercules Rd, Lambeth, SE1 7DU
Phone: +44 (0)203 146 5800
Website: florentinerestaurant.co.uk
Instagram: @florentineldn
Valentine’s dinner with a view at City Social
With floor to ceiling windows, glamorous 1920s style furnishing, and panoramic views 24 floors high across the capital, Jason Atherton’s Michelin starred City Social is offering the sexiest offering in town. For £125, guests can indulge in dishes such as Jerusalem artichokes, quail egg and black truffle; beef wellington, celeriac, wild mushrooms, truffle; and dark chocolate, raspberries and rose all topped off with a glass of Rosé Champagne.
Positioned in the City of London’s epicentre, Social 24 stands tall among London’s many other skyscrapers that rise from the pavements and is one of the few places in the capital that offer a Manhattan-like setting with a backdrop that exudes a magnetic buzz 42 floors up.
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Address: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HQ
Phone: + 44 (0) 20 7877 7703
Website: citysociallondon.com
Instagram: @citysocial_t42
Romance with a twist at Shoryu
Authentic tonkotsu ramen bar, Shoryu Ramen, will deliver dishes straight from Hakata in Japan with a very different Valentine’s offering with their Dates and Mates Valentine’s Set Menu. This includes three mouth-watering courses including some of their firm-favourites such as Shoryu Ganso Tonkotsu ramen, topped off the choice of a matcha cheesecake heart of lovely matcha tiramisu.
From the team behind Japan Centre, Shoryu Ramen first launched back in November 2012 and since has been recommended in the 2014 and 15 Michelin Guide. Proudly dishing out their niche Hakata tonkotsu ramen recipe that has been designed by executive chef Kanji Furukawa who was born and raised in Hakata, Shoryu provide the UK with highly crafted and genuine tonkotsu that is rarely found outside Japan. Adding to the southern Japanese authenticity, Shoryu’s owner Tak Tokumine is also a native of Fukuoka city and along with Kanji is dedicated to championing his hometown’s local speciality.
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Address: locations across London include – Covent Garden, Regent Street, Soho, Carnaby, Liverpool Street, New Oxford Street and Shoreditch
Website: shoryuramen.com
Instagram: @shoryu_ramen
Truffle Menu for two at Cocotte
Cocotte will bring back their popular truffle menu for two and will offer x2 complimentary glasses of their Valentine cocktail (Prosecco, raspberry, fresh mint) for each table of two dining from the menu.
A French farm-to-table free range chicken rotisserie, Cocotte offer healthy, delicious homemade dishes including sauces, sides and salads made out of fresh, farm-grown ingredients, available both to eat in or takeaway. The Cocotte chickens are free range and sourced direct from an independent farm in Evron, in the Loire Valley region of France. Each chicken is marinated in Cocotte’s secret blend of herbs and spices for 24 hours before being slowly cooked on a traditional rotisserie spit. As well as delicious healthy dishes, Cocotte offer a number of independently sourced French wines and an extensive cocktail range including refreshing Spritz cocktails.
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Address: Locations in Notting Hill and Shoreditch
Website: mycocotte.uk
Instagram: @cocotterotisserie
Sophisticated and romantic dining at VyTA Covent Garden
Celebrate this Valentine’s Day at VyTA and be in with a chance of winning a flight to the stunning region of Lombardy, Italy and the prestigious wine producing house of Ca’ Del Bosco. Priced at £55 per person, VyTA’s indulgent three-course Valentine’s menu is served with a glass of Ca’ Del Bosco Franciacorta Cuvee Prestige on arrival. What better way to start the night, and who knows you could end up in Italy by the end of it!
With the famous Italian passion running through the veins of VyTA, it is also a place where design is in their DNA. Whether it’s the care they put into the creation of their food and wine menu that sings in harmony, or to the attention to detail, everything at VyTA has been designed to fulfil an authentic experience.
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Address: 21 The Market, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8RD
Phone: +44 (0)20 7654 3030
Website: vytacoventgarden.co.uk
Instagram: @vytacoventgarden
Glamourous Dining at Harry’s Bar
Celebrate Valentine’s day at Harry’s Bar, James Street and share the soon to launch romantic ‘Harry’s Toadstool in Love’ with your date. Head Chef Simon Gregory has given a romantic twist to one of the restaurant’s most popular desserts, with the pink toadstool featuring a ‘white chocolate dome with Mascarpone cream, strawberry jelly and meringue, toasted almond and oat crumble base, finished with lashings of strawberry coulis.’ Available from Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th February.
Set in glamourous 1950s style surroundings just off Oxford Street, Harry’s Bar offers Italian favourites from dawn until dusk, serving a slice of the ‘Dolce Vita’ in the heart of the West End.
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Address: 30, 34 James St, Marylebone, London W1U 1ER
Phone: + 44(0) 20 3971 9444
Website: www.harrys-bar.co.uk
Instagram: @harrysldn
