Dining
Romantic Restaurants in London
The rooms we send people to when the night matters, from a quiet first date to an anniversary you cannot get wrong.
In short: our top picks are Clos Maggiore, Andrew Edmunds and Bob Bob Ricard. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Romance in a restaurant is mostly about engineering. Low light, a table you are not straining to hear across, staff who read the evening and then disappear. London has hundreds of good dinners and far fewer rooms built for two people who would rather not be interrupted. These are the rooms we send people to when the night matters.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Clos Maggiore | Covent Garden | ££££ |
| Andrew Edmunds | Soho | £££ |
| Bob Bob Ricard | Soho | £££ |
| Helene Darroze at The Connaught | Mayfair | ££££ |
| Galvin La Chapelle | Spitalfields | £££ |
| Sketch, The Glade | Mayfair | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
Clos Maggiore
Why we pick itAsk for the conservatory at the back, where the ceiling is covered in blossom and a fire runs in winter. Regularly called the most romantic dining room in London.
The benchmark for a high-stakes occasion. Book the conservatory specifically.
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Andrew Edmunds
Why we pick itA candlelit Georgian townhouse with tightly packed tables and a handwritten wine list with real bargains. Private because it is small.
The antidote to grand, and the best on this list for a first date.
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Bob Bob Ricard
Why we pick itGold table buttons marked press for champagne, in use since 2008
Worth knowingNot cheap outside the off-peak pricing, and the deliberately over-the-top format will not suit anyone after understated fine dining.
For a date that wants theatre without being stiff.
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Helene Darroze at The Connaught
Why we pick itA three Michelin star room in a hotel that understands discretion, with service that anticipates rather than hovers.
When budget is not the constraint and you want the evening handled flawlessly.
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Galvin La Chapelle
Why we pick itSet in a soaring former chapel with stone arches and tall windows, dramatic without being cold.
For impact on a saner budget than Mayfair.
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Sketch, The Glade
Why we pick itA dreamlike forest themed room. Choose The Glade for romance over the louder pink Gallery.
For a date with a sense of humour and a room people talk about afterwards.
Before you book
Book the specific room, not just the restaurant. Reserve the earlier sitting to talk, the later one for atmosphere. Mention an anniversary or proposal when you book, because the good rooms quietly do more with it. On a first date, choose Andrew Edmunds over the grand options.
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