Date Night
Best Date-Night Restaurants in London
Lively, characterful rooms for a date that is meant to be fun, not just romantic.
In short: our top picks are Brat, Barrafina and Bocca di Lupo. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Not every date wants candlelight and hushed voices. Sometimes the better evening is loud in the right way: a counter seat, a glass of something cold, plates arriving fast, and a room with enough going on that the conversation never stalls. These are the restaurants for a date that is meant to be fun, not just romantic.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Brat | Shoreditch | £££ |
| Barrafina | Soho | ££ |
| Bocca di Lupo | Soho | £££ |
| Kiln | Soho | ££ |
| Gloria | Shoreditch | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
Brat
Why we pick itWood-fired everything in a buzzy first-floor room above a Shoreditch pub. The whole roast turbot is the showpiece, but the energy is the real draw.
Worth knowingSkip it if you want a quiet room or a quick dinner
For energy and a showpiece dish to share.
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Barrafina
Why we pick itThe original Barrafina, and still the only one that takes no reservations at all. A standing bar serves drinks and snacks while you wait, and a covered, heated terrace at the front is seated first come, first served. It is worth the queue; arrive early rather than late.
Worth knowingWalk-in only, so managing the wait is part of the evening.
The best counter date in Soho.
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Bocca di Lupo
Why we pick itRegional Italian small plates at a lively counter facing the kitchen. Sit at the bar, order broadly, and let the room carry the evening.
For variety and a lively bar seat.
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Kiln
Why we pick itA narrow Thai BBQ counter where you eat at the pass watching the fire. Loud, fast and exciting, as good for a first date as a tenth.
Worth knowingSkip it if you want a quiet table for a long conversation
Fast, fiery and genuinely exciting.
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Gloria
Why we pick itAn over-the-top, knowingly camp Italian where the room is half the point. Big, theatrical and fun, for a date that wants to laugh.
When the date should be fun, not formal.
Before you book
Sit at the counter if you can; watching the kitchen gives you something to talk about and these rooms are built for it. Many are counter-only or no-reservations, so go early or be ready to wait with a drink. And pick character over expense: a buzzy room does more for a date than a hushed one.
Common questions
What are the best date-night restaurants in London?
Brat is our editor's choice: Wood-fired everything in a buzzy first-floor room above a Shoreditch pub. The whole roast turbot is the showpiece, but the energy is the real draw. Brat, Barrafina and Bocca di Lupo lead the guide, with 5 places in total, all chosen on merit.
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