Life & Style
Date-Night Dining
Sublime cuisine, seductive company and a mood that suggests anything might happen… Great restaurants are so often the starting point for our greatest romances, so we asked a few friends to share the date-night destination of their dreams.
Jonah Hauer-King, actor
Mountain
“My favourite date spot is probably Mountain in Soho. The food is out of this world and Tomos Parry and the whole team make it feel so special every time. I love sitting at the bar counter and watching the magic of the restaurant unfold!”
Candice Brathwaite, author
Park Chinois
“For a date night I would recommend Park Chinois. It has a moody vibe so if it’s early on in the relationship you get to feel less self-conscious. The customer service is impeccable and, of course, the food! Not only does it taste incredible, the portion sizes are healthy, so no need to stop at KFC on the way home.”
Rosemary Ferguson, wellness expert
Locanda Locatelli
“My all-time favourite place to eat with my husband Jake is Locanda Locatelli. It is super-intimate, the service is bloody brilliant and the food is stunning. We always have a good time when we visit – sometimes too good! It is where we go to celebrate and I love it.”
Imogen Kwok, food-based creative
Lisboeta
“This restaurant is home to tasty and wholesome Portuguese food, with a slight contemporary take on traditional dishes. Most of the mains are intended to share, which is perfect for two people. Either the bar downstairs or a banquette nook upstairs would be sweet for a date — the lighting has a flattering amber tone and the two floors are equally buzzy.”
Nicky Haslam, interior designer
Manzi’s
“I suggest dining at the romantically decorated Manzi’s in Soho and holding hands having ordered the fish pie (you only need one hand to eat it). After a lip-smacking peach melba, toddle up the road to Ronnie Scott’s and snuggle down in the upstairs bar where they play the coolest jazz.”
Henry Holland, designer and ceramicist
J Sheekey
“The low lights and the central location make this the perfect dinner destination. It’s where my husband and I went on our first date, so it’s extra special. Book a table in the back room.”
Pixie Geldof, musician
Campania
“I love Campania in East London. It’s small and completely cosy. The food is delicious and there are always great sharing plates. It’s also down a little cobbled street, which feels so romantic.”
Roksanda Ilinčić, fashion designer
Rita’s
“Regardless of whether it’s Valentine’s Day or any other occasion, a good restaurant is all about its food and atmosphere. Rita’s in Soho is top of my list of recommendations. I love it not just for its excellent food and even better cocktails (its signature margaritas are a personal favourite) but for its laid-back, artisan atmosphere, making it the perfect place for any date.”
Xanthe Ross, chef
Brutto
“An Italian trattoria is generally my favourite kind of restaurant. I visited Brutto recently for the first time and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. The food, the wine, the atmosphere… it feels so informal at the same time as feeling really special, and the ambiance is so romantic. I went with friends and it was the perfect place to spend an evening catching up. I can’t wait to go back, and I’d definitely choose it for or a date night with anyone I love.”
