We all know the feeling – you’re super excited for your date but you have no idea where to go. You want the food and drink to be enjoyable, fairly priced and the restaurant to have the right kind of buzz to set everyone at ease and in the right, romantic mood.
Sure, not everyone enjoys eating on their dates but if you’re both fellow foodies, then I’ve listed a few restaurants I’ve visited recently that have inspired ‘date vibes’ in my brain. While I may have just been dining with friends or family, I’ve made mental notes to return on other occasions. It never hurts to have a few in the bank…
Best restaurants for Date Night in London
Pizzaro, Bermondsey
Pizarro Bermondsey is José Pizarro’s second London restaurant and can be found just next door to José’s original tapas bar. Serving up a number of small tapas style dishes, as well as larger plates, there’s good food, wine and atmosphere.
In addition to pan con tomate and the daily-changing croquetas, guests should make sure they order the cod in a traditional Catalan sauce with sautéed baby spinach and presa ibérica.
Christina’s, Shoreditch
Its cosy atmosphere emphasised by the mixture of sofas, cushions and seats at the bar, Christina’s offers delicious snacks and carefully curated cocktails for guests to enjoy.
The banana espresso martini is a must-order and both the wild apple spritz and fig leaf colada are the sweet treats you could be looking for. Nibble on cheese and charcuterie boards and the new freshly-baked open sandwiches as you enjoy your drinks.
Ziggy Green, Mayfair
It could just be me but being taken out for tacos could just be the most perfect dinner date there is. Pair them with a watermelon margarita that comes out of the fruit itself and you’ve got yourself a fun night ahead.
There’s popcorn prawns and jackfruit pibil nachos to start and then you can devour on the likes of lamb barbecoa, barbecue tofu and citrus pork tacos. There’s also corn ribs – whether you choose to eat them on your date or not.
Chotto Matte, Marylebone
Eclectic food, drinks and decor is what the Soho venue is known for and now Chotto Matte has opened up a second London location in Marylebone. The dark atmosphere and dim lights offer the perfect ambience for a romantic dinner.
What to order? Wagyu beef gyozas, king crab tacos, red prawn truffles and spicy tuna crispy rice bites are the perfect small plates to start off with – before moving onto sea bass ceviche and various sashimi cuts. The snow crab California and the Sato (sea bass and salmon tartare) rolls are great sharing options, too. While the miso marinated black cod never fails to impress the senses and the stomach, the slow cooked braised beef and crispy duck in honey orange ponzu are also crowd-pleasers.
IT London
For those who enjoy the finer things in life, this Mayfair establishment, featuring a menu from two Michelin-starred chefs, could be the ultimate way of impressing a date.
It’s rare for me to hype up a classic margarita but the one at IT London is done very well, although those with a more adventurous sense of taste can opt for seared wagyu with teriyaki sauce, veal cutlet Milanese and Josper grilled scallops, too.
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