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10 Most Romantic Restaurants in London For A First Date

More than once, I’ve looked up the “best romantic restaurant near me london” on Google. More than once, I’ve found some cool cosy restaurants where the food was absolutely incredible and the atmosphere was quiet and laidback. I’ve already talked about some of the best Thai restaurants in London or Indian restaurants where you can have a really nice evening (and included halal restaurants in there). But today’s all about the fancy charm of romantic vegan restaurants in London, high end halal restaurants, and I’ve even included some romantic cheap eats too.

The Most Romantic Restaurants in London For A First Date

Isn’t excellent food and amazing service what we’re all looking for in the most romantic restaurants in London? I know that’s what’s on my radar. I’ve decided to talk about romantic nights out in London and the best first date restaurants today. However, they remain perfect restaurants for dates any time of the year (obviously).

As always, I have included at least a halal and a vegan option, because I don’t see why folks couldn’t enjoy the best romantic vegan restaurants London, or some fancy halal places to eat out with their partner.

Namely, I know that a lot of you are looking for great posh halal restaurants in Mayfair and around South Kensington, Chelsea, and Knightsbridge, and I’ll deliver today. The most romantic London restaurants offer a service that can’t be equaled – it’s part of the atmosphere, it’s part of the fancy dinner vibe in London.

Sometimes, you’d like to go to romantic spots like the most beautiful landmarks in England to mark an important date. But it’s not always possible to get out of the city on short notice. So if you’re looking for cute restaurants in London for a date, you’ve knocked at the right door. I’ll be talking about some classy London restaurants and nice dinner places where you can really dress up and feel like a princess/prince for the evening.

10 Best Romantic Restaurants in London for a First Date (With Vegan and Halal Options)

When you type “date night London restaurants near me”, you can find lots of cosy restaurants in Central London, and even on the outskirts. But I want to focus on the best first date restaurants, actuall classy restaurants in London where you can really spend an unforgettable moment. Luxurious restaurants, glazed meats, crunchy veggies and taste all around – is it what you’re looking for?

If so, keep reading – I’ll make your restaurant date night in London research that much easier!

Sticky Mango

sticky mango restaurant best romantic restaurants in london for a first date halal vegan
Photo: Sticky Mango

For a first date London restaurant, I have to say that Sticky Mango is one amazing choice. Not only do I feel like it’s one of the most beautiful restaurants in London, but their delicious food is a keeper.

It’s a nice, cosy, romantic restaurant in Central London, just a stone’s throw away from Waterloo Station and South Bank. I love walking up the riverside, and if you’re like me, you’ll love the romantic atmosphere of Sticky Mango after a refreshing walk there.

The chef, Peter Lloyd, is one figure that makes Sticky Mango one of the most romantic restaurants in London. His modern take on South East Asian cuisine is baffling and inspired by his travels to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

If you’re looking for special restaurants in London that offer quite traditional halal Asian food with a subtle twist, that’s a place I definitely recommend. That might not be a fancy halal restaurant in Central London, however, there is far more than one option on the menu for anyone to enjoy. The variety of tender and juicy meats, and delicate fish makes it a really nice place for a dinner date in London – and even for Valentine’s Day dinner – no doubt about that.

Coco Restaurant London

Dining and lounging – that’s how Coco Restaurant London defines its premises and menu. One of the most romantic London restaurants, it triggers the palate with some almost magical dishes. Most importantly, it’s one of the finest romantic restaurants in London with a view. And we all know how important the view is when you’re looking for cozy restaurants for a date in London.

The Coco Bar & Grill is one of the very fancy restaurants in London, and they also offer options that everyone can enjoy, just like Sticky Mango I’ve just mentioned. When you’re looking for restaurants for a date, the Mediterranean-flavored dishes will convince you.

Don’t trust me – trust the menu, full of fresh, seasonal produce, and halal certified meats. That’s right. Coco Restaurant is one of the best halal fine dining restaurants in London, an amazing dress up restaurant where your palate will taste the finest elements of the pantry.

That’s a very fancy restaurant where you can take your other half on a date night, or even your family for great occasions – or a simple treat, just because.

Mr Beast Restaurant London

How funny that I would choose MrBeast restaurant London as part of this list of date night London restaurants, right? Not that funny. While some people type in “5 star halal restaurants in London”, “luxurious restaurants near me”, or “romantic vegan restaurants London”, some just want a good ole burger for their date night.

And that’s more than okay. Usually, date night London restaurants are posh, fancy, and offer fine dining that forces you to dress up. Sometimes, you just don’t want to dress up. That’s when you turn to cheap romantic restaurants in London for your date night.

MrBeast is far from being a dress up restaurant, and far from being a classy London restaurant. However, the brand created by the eponymous YouTuber is all the rage right now. Why? Because of the delicious stacked steaks, fresh tomatoes, and crunchiest fries you’ll ever taste. Plus, it offers delicious fried chicken.

Date night doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have dinner at the fanciest rooftop restaurants with a view in London. It means enjoying a real quality moment with your partner. I don’t see why you couldn’t turn away from “nice dinner places in London” to ordering in from this cool restaurant in Shoreditch and have a Harry Potter movie marathon.

Dans Le Noir Restaurant London

dans le noir restaurant london romantic date best fine dining
Photo: Dans Le Noir

If you’re not too sure which is London’s most romantic restaurant, I’d venture a guess with Dans Le Noir? This is far from being one of the cheap romantic restaurants London, but damn. That’s one very fancy place to eat in London for a first date, and it gives another dimension to fine dining.

The sensory experience is described as unique, and how could it not be since you’re eating your meal in the complete darkness? This romantic restaurant in Central London has been offering gourmet and creative dishes since 2006. More than a connection with your date, it’s also a connection with yourself and the world that you build when you sit down at one of their seats.

Read: 8 Mouthwatering Halal Restaurants in Covent Garden London

Rightly so, Dans Le Noir? is ranked as one of the most original restaurants in London, and one of the most unusual places to eat in the entire world. Most of their fruits and vegetables are organic, and precise care is given to the traceability of meats, fish, and other high-quality ingredients.

Definitely one of the most special restaurants in London, Dans Le Noir? will open a sensory escape game that follows the restaurant’s concept in January 2022. I, for one, won’t miss it.

Best Greek Restaurant London: Daphne

daphne best greek restaurant in london camden romantic places to eat
Photo: Facebook

For my folks who keep looking for “cheap romantic restaurants in London near me”, I’ve got the best Greek restaurant in London for you. It’s far from being one of the classy London restaurants since the menu is much more “family” and “homemade” oriented.

And that’s more than enough. I love going halal fine dining London, or finding vegetarian or vegan luxurious restaurants near me. But sometimes, all I am looking for is a simple romantic restaurant near me for date night.

You can’t say Daphne isn’t a cozy restaurant, because it really gives you a family atmosphere kinda vibe. It can still be a dress up restaurant if you want, and in my opinion, the excellent service makes it one of the best first date restaurants ever.

They even offer a set lunch menu for around a tenner only, making it an amazing mid-week treat, even solo. One of Camden’s best hidden restaurants, family-run, delish, relish. If you want to get lost in another culture and still feel at home with super cheap food and treated like a king/queen, Daphne is the best romantic restaurant in London you could find.

Seabird Rooftop Restaurant London

seabird rooftop terrace restaurant london fine dining romantic
Photo: FT

Romantic restaurants in London with a view can’t get much better than Seabird Rooftop, in my opinion. When I look for restaurants for romantic nights out in London, I love knowing that the food will be excellent and that I will be able to enjoy fresh air on a terrasse or rooftop.

Seabird Rooftop is definitely your dress up restaurant, one of London’s classy places to eat the freshest seafood ever. Okay, it’s not one of the 5 star halal restaurants in London, but the menu revolves around seafood, so we’re pretty set if you’re looking for luxurious restaurants.

If you’re still looking for something meatier, I have mentioned a really nice dinner place for a halal steakhouse in London in my restaurants in Covent Garden post. Still, as far as seafood cosy restaurants go, you can’t go wrong with Seabird. It’s definitely a luxurious place where you can dress up all nice and fancy. If you want to find the best sushi in London, that’s not the place, but I guarantee a fine dining experience there.

The Mantl: Romantic Halal Restaurants in Mayfair – Knightsbridge

the mantl romantic halal restaurants in mayfair knightsbridge
Photo: Feed The Lion

If you like Turkish food, The Mantl is one of the luxurious restaurants you really don’t want to miss. Every place of meat, fish, and veggies is carefully crafted to elevate the ingredients to unreached levels. I have to admit I don’t often look for Turkish food when I am planning romantic nights out in London.

Still, sometimes, you need to look for special, unusual restaurants for date where you can feel cozy and learn something new. If you want to get your tastebuds dancing, The Mantl is a fancy restaurant in Knightsbridge London whose menu is fully halal. If you’ve been spending the day shopping in nearby Harrods, you’ll deserve a fine dinner at The Mantl.

Fancy halal dining has never reached these heights of refinement. Cocktails include agave syrup, lime juice, maple syrup, and other interesting combinations. Glazed, dried, smoked, juicy – the dishes are well-crafted and thoughtfully built.

I have personally never seen such a halal fine dining restaurant in Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Chelsea, and all the West London type of areas. Heritage, fancy dinner dates and hearty food will make you fall in love with Turkish cuisine (again).

Best Filipino Restaurant in London: Bintang

bintang best filipino restaurant in london camden kentish delicious romantic
Photo: Bintang

I consider Bintang as one of the top cheap romantic restaurants in London for a beautiful date night. It doesn’t really matter to me to eat only at posh romantic restaurants in the city. I’m looking for the cosy vibe, the fancy atmosphere, and if the bill doesn’t go over a hundred for two people, it doesn’t really matter. If you like losing yourself in another culture, Bintang is one of the best first date restaurants in the city.

Not only that, but it’s one of those cosy restaurants where food is homemade and you can really taste it. Also, if you were looking for the best halal places to eat in London near Camden Town, spot on. It might not be halal fine dining London food, but it sure is one of the best restaurants for fancy, cheap, romantic moments.

Read: 10 Best Pizza Places in London for Authentic Margherita under £9

Bintang is a Filipino Pan-Asian fusion restaurant established in 1987, and it feels like home from the moment you first step foot there. I love the fact that all the meat is halal, but vegan folks can also book there for a cozy restaurant date night. I can only promise one thing: this Malaysian and Indonesian restaurant in Camden will make you beg for more.

Nusr-Et Salt Bae Restaurant London

nusr et salt bae restaurant london romantic places to eat
Photo: NusrEt

For a fancy, romantic restaurant where to eat in London, Salt Bae restaurants are always a cool option. Salt Bae, aka Nusret, is one of the most famous chefs in the world. His fancy restaurants are also some of the most famous, with endless options for steak and meat lovers.

Notably, Salt Bae restaurants are famous for their gold-covered steaks that can reach hundreds of pounds’ worth. The Park Tower restaurant in Knightsbridge is one of the most romantic and flashy restaurants in London. The meat is delicious, juicy, melting in your mouth and you couldn’t ask for a more delicate service. It has got to be the best steakhouse in London, and the perfect fancy restaurant for date night if you’re looking to really impress.

By the way, that’s also one of the best halal steak places to eat in London.

Salt Bae Steakhouse London Address: The Park Tower, 101 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7EZ London

Bonnington Café: Best Romantic Vegan Restaurant in London

bonnington cafe best romantic vegan restaurants london
Photo: Nine Elms

If you’re looking for the best romantic vegan restaurants in London, you cannot miss Bonnington Cafe. It has got to be the cutest restaurant in London, to start with. Located in Bonnington Square, it is a co-operatively run vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Vauxhall.

Bonnington Cafe is one of the very cheap romantic restaurants London, and it’s a peaceful restaurant with a very special atmosphere. It is one of London’s hidden gem restaurants, opened in the early 80s. The most romantic restaurant in London for vegans used to be a squat cafe that offered cheap eats to Londoners.

Not much has changed. Laidback, chill, bohemian – Bonnington Cafe is a very particular place to eat in London where you can have candlelight dinner. And who doesn’t love candlelight dinner for date night in London?

The cooks come from all around the world and so, the menu and dishes vary very regularly. For a first date London restaurant, you need to be sure that your date is into vegan and bohemian lifestyle. Bonnington Cafe is one of the cheapest romantic restaurants in London with starters priced at maximum £4, mains at £9, and desserts at £4 tops. For vegan food, that’s actually really fancy, is it not?

Not a fine dining restaurant in London, not a posh place, but a hearty restaurant that will offer the highest-quality food at the best price. A special place for special people.

10 Best Romantic Places To Eat in London on a First Date

Have you found the best romantic restaurant in London on this list? Let me know! I’ve included the best halal fine dining London, some cozy restaurants here and there, and one of the most romantic vegan restaurants London.

It’s crucial to have a healthy date night a week – at least. Whether you’re choosing a cheap romantic restaurant or something luxurious and breathtakingly fancy, the end goal with to go to a nice place with an atmosphere.

It’s always so satisfying to go to a dress up restaurant – 5 star or painstakingly cheap – and only have to worry about the great conversation you’re having with your other half.

Of course, I themed this post “romantic places to eat in London” but I see no reason why you should not enjoy a fancy restaurant in London whenever you want.

There’s always a good reason to find nice places to eat out in London, and I wouldn’t want you to miss either the fancy restaurants or the coolest cheap eats! In the meantime, if you’re a fan of Asian food, I recommend trying out one of the best spots for Japanese food in London or these 3 best Asian cheap eats in Chinatown!

Sam