Restaurants for Valentine's Day in London

Paladar in Elephant and Castle brings Latin American warmth to south London with inventive small plates and a relaxed, colourful setting. The LGBTQ-friendly space doubles as a wine shop and art gallery, with bright murals and a leafy courtyard that's ideal for a slower Valentine's weekend dinner. Chef Jose has put together a sharing menu with tantalising dishes like shredded beef criollo corn empanadas, green herb steamed rice with fried garlic, and purple corn churros, with optional wine pairing.

Plume works well for Valentine's Day if you want something intimate without being OTT. The basement space, with its dim lighting and peacock-feather mural, feels date-friendly without tipping into cliché, while the upstairs bar keeps things lighter and more social. Wine is the focus, with plenty to explore by the glass or bottle, and the food is casual enough to share without turning the evening into a formal sit-down affair.

If you'd rather skip the usual roses and chocolate, Porte Noire is a lovely place for a Valentine's drink or dinner. The wine list is broad enough to make the evening feel a bit special, with everything from natural bottles to older pours via Coravin, and the sharing-style French and European dishes make it easy to linger. The warm room inside the old gasholder feels tucked away without being overly formal, and you can always grab a bottle from the shop to take home for later.

If Valentine's Day set menus aren't your thing, Trinco offers a more laidback option. With Sri Lankan-inspired food, wine, and often music-led evenings, both locations feel celebratory without being forced. You can eat, drink, and stay as long as you like, rather than working through a rigid tasting menu. It's better suited to couples who prefer to share plates and conversation.

This Valentine's, Madison is serving romance with a side of skyline. Perch on the rooftop and tuck into a special menu featuring Margarita lobster tacos, Chateaubriand, and lobster to share, plus desserts that make your sweet tooth very happy. For the full wow factor, grab a window table and watch London twinkle as you dine. Tables are limited, and window seats are going fast, so don't miss your chance to make it a Valentine's night to remember – good food, drinks, and city views all included.

This Valentine's, Chef Alexis Gauthier is taking vegan fine dining to the next level with an exclusive tasting menu in Soho. Think crisp nori canapés, black truffle ravioli, a tin of Gauthier pearl caviar “pour deux,” and golden turnips Marseillaise, finished with indulgent puddings like Mon Cheri and tropical pineapple roll. Whether you're vegan, testing Veganuary, or just want something a bit different, this menu is all about creativity, flavour, and a memorable night out, with all dishes completely plant-based. Perfect for a date that's as thoughtful as it is delicious.

This Valentine's Day, No. Fifty Cheyne in Chelsea is serving romance on a plate. Executive Head Chef Iain Smith has crafted a special menu featuring highlights like Perigord truffle linguine, Cornish lobster with Osietra caviar, and Belted Galloway fillet, plus decadent desserts like dark chocolate mascarpone mousse and poached pear with Pedro Ximénez syrup. From grill favourites to elegant seafood and vegetarian dishes, there's something to impress every palate. With the sparkling chandeliers, crisp white tablecloths, and attentive service, it's a classic Chelsea setting for a night that's equal parts indulgent and memorable.

Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden has been voted London's most romantic restaurant on many occasions, and it's easy to see why. The decor and atmosphere are inspired by the sophisticated inns of the South of France and Tuscany, with dark wood paired with florals and walls of glass-filled cabinets. For Valentine's Day, they offer both a set lunch menu and a tasting menu experience featuring dishes like lobster ravioli or butter-poached halibut.

Housed in a beautifully restored former chapel, Galvin La Chapelle is one of London's most romantic places to dine. The soaring ceilings, arched windows and candlelit elegance set the scene perfectly for Valentine's Day. Michelin-starred chef Jeff Galvin has created a refined three-course French menu that feels special without being overdone. Expect a canapé and a glass of champagne to start, seasonal dishes made with care, and a relaxed finish with coffee and handmade petits fours. It's an effortlessly romantic way to celebrate.

Andrew Edmunds Restaurant is a Soho bastion of candlelit romance and unpretentious European cuisine – famous actor Stanley Tucci even proclaimed it the most romantic restaurant in London. Their Valentine's Day dinner menu features a selection of contemporary dishes, such as dressed crab with fennel salsa and lemon mayonnaise, and Cornish lamb rump with charred purple sprouting broccoli and anchoïade. An impressive array of international fine wines provides the ideal accompaniment.

This Valentine's Day, guests can enjoy a delicious tasting at Elystan Street, designed to be shared with someone special. The dining experience begins with sourdough bread and a choice of Porthilly oyster with caviar or salt-baked white beetroot. Next, enjoy a wild mushroom tea with a truffle croustade, followed by a carpaccio of Orkney scallops or an aged fillet of beef. The main course offers a fillet of line-caught Cornish sea bass or loin of fallow deer, finishing with a rhubarb, clementine, vanilla, and sauternes trifle.

The couple behind the much-loved Honey & Co. group, Sarit and Itamar, are kicking off 2026 with a Valentine's showdown as part of their supper club series. On Saturday 14th February, the Valentine's-off returns, with Sarit and Itamar going head to head, each creating their own Valentine's menu designed to win hearts (and votes). Guests will be invited to mix and match each course to build their ultimate Valentine's dinner – perhaps Sarit's starter, Itamar's main, and a hotly contested dessert. Very much in love and equally competitive, the couple will tally the choices throughout the evening and reveal whose dishes proved most popular at the end of the night.

The La Mia Mamma restaurants are celebrating Valentine's Day with a special Italian set menu served from 7pm. The evening begins with a welcome glass of prosecco and a stuzzichino, followed by a generous mixed starter board featuring a rotating selection of homemade regional dishes cooked by the in-house Mammas. Guests will then share two pasta dishes, choose a main to enjoy together, and finish with a dessert made for two.

Pivot Bar & Bistro in Covent Garden offers a romantic Valentine's Day sharing feast for two, curated by award-winning Chef Mark Greenaway. Available exclusively on 14th February, couples can enjoy a charcuterie board with baked Camembert, British cheeses and savoury bites, followed by an indulgent dessert board featuring chocolate-covered strawberries and sweet treats. Overlooking the iconic Piazza, it's the perfect intimate way to celebrate with great food, wine and cocktails.

Roketsu invites couples to celebrate Valentine's Day with an intimate six-course kappo-style tasting menu for two, available exclusively on Friday 14 February. Inspired by the restaurant's Prime Kappo experience, the refined menu features seasonal Japanese dishes, binchōtan charcoal-grilled highlights and elegant sushi, designed to be enjoyed unhurriedly together. Set within Roketsu's serene, softly lit Marylebone dining room, it's a calm and romantic lunch or dinner experience. 

Noodle & Beer in Chinatown is turning up the heat this Valentine's Day with London's hottest set menu, available exclusively on 14 February. Guests can choose between two or three courses, starting with Sichuan dumplings before moving on to the fiery 5/5 chilli-rated Xian-Jiao Niu Rou noodles, and finishing with a cooling icy jelly dessert. With optional wine pairings and a sultry red-lit setting, the restaurant promises a seriously spicy Valentine's celebration.

High above the City, Wagtail leans into Valentine's Day with big views and a night that gently shifts gears as it goes on. An acoustic singer eases things in over dinner before a DJ takes over later, making it as suitable for lingering over dessert as it is for a post-meal drink. Menus come in three or five courses, with options like baked scallops, fallow deer and seabass, plus a baked Alaska designed for sharing.

Aviary's rooftop above Finsbury Square offers a calmer, low-key Valentine's option, where skyline views do most of the heavy lifting. A live singer provides a relaxed backdrop while guests work through a seasonal three- or five-course menu featuring dishes such as sea bream ceviche, Barbary duck breast, and lemon sole. It's a fab choice for couples who want good food, good wine and space to actually talk.

With views over Trafalgar Square and a dining room designed for a night out, Kitty Hawk suits couples fully leaning into the occasion. A live singer sets the tone through dinner before the DJ steps in later, making it a solid pre-theatre pick or a reason to dress up midweek. Expect lots of crowd-pleasers on the menu, from chateaubriand to share to beef Wellington and chocolate fondant.

A Chelsea favourite, The Botanist Sloane Square, goes all out on Valentine's with candlelit tables, live music and a menu that balances comfort food with celebration. The three- and five-course options include seared scallops, lamb rack and a baked Alaska made for sharing, alongside signature cocktails that keep the evening ticking along. Best suited to couples who like their romance with a bit of buzz.

The Jugged Hare takes a food-first approach to Valentine's Day, centred on wild British game and classic technique. Valentine's specials like venison Wellington and North Sea halibut sit alongside the restaurant's regularly changing menu, making it a good option for couples more interested in what's on the plate than what's playing in the background. 

This Valentine's Day, Doughnation at 3 Henrietta Street is serving the Fond Of You Fondue Pizza, a maximalist number designed for serious cheese pulls. The base is loaded with crème fraîche, wholegrain mustard, cheese fondue and fior di latte, then finished with a baked Camembert right in the middle. The Valentine's specials run beyond 14 February too. Throughout the month, Doughnation's Sexy Set Menu includes the fondue pizza to share, two sides and a bottle of wine for £50 (serves two).

This Valentine's Day, Sam's Riverside in Hammersmith and Sam's Waterside in Brentford offer two ways to celebrate by the river in West London. Sam's Riverside serves a set menu with a glass of Gusbourne Brut Reserve on arrival, featuring starters like Carlingford oysters, sea bream ceviche or beef tartare, followed by mains including a Hereford aged T-bone to share, halibut, lamb rump or a vegetarian pithivier, plus classic desserts. Sam's Waterside takes a more relaxed, sharing-led approach, with oysters, beef carpaccio and scallops, followed by BBQ sirloin steak, steelhead trout or pumpkin agnolotti. Both venues will also serve a Valentine's cocktail.

Belly in Kentish Town brings a bit of energy to Valentine's Day, blending Filipino flavours with the easygoing feel of a neighbourhood bistro. Start with cocktails like the Tita's Spiked Atchara or a Pandan Negroni, then lean into sharing plates such as steak tartare with nori-seasoned chips, cured scallops with chilli and coconut cream, or the much-loved pandesal cod tempura slider. Mains keep things bold, from oak-smoked tinola herb chicken to wagyu picanha with bistek sauce. Finish with the pink-and-purple ube tiramisu – reason enough to book ahead.

If set menus aren't your thing, Cocotte keeps things flexible with its all-night à la carte offering across five London locations. The rotisserie chicken is the main event, best paired with sauces like chicken jus or nduja, but there's plenty worth ordering around it too. Start with chicken and truffle croquettes or a warming bowl of chicken soup, then load up on sides such as creamed spinach or celeriac remoulade. Desserts range from the much-loved vegan chocolate cookie to pear frangipane tart, all backed up by a strong wine list and solid cocktails.

For a Valentine's Day that's more relaxed than romantic, Shrimp Shack in Camden or Streatham is a great choice for anyone looking for something low-key. The Shack Savers Selection comes in at £19.95 per person, or you can lean into the restaurant's cult seafood boils or build-your-own shrimp platters. It's not all shellfish either – steaks and lobster are available if you're looking to upgrade, alongside plenty of veggie sides. A solid choice for couples who care more about eating well than dressing up.