An opportunity for mass consumerism? Perhaps. Nonetheless, Valentine's Day in London is as beautiful as it is burdensome, chucking a blanket of romance over what would otherwise be a cold, dark February. This year, the day of love falls on a Saturday, so there's really no avoiding it. Plus, London is brimming with restaurants decked out in pink and reds for the occasion. So many, in fact, that the limitless choice can be somewhat overwhelming. Fear not. We don't think the 14th of February should be a chore, so we've hand-picked our favourite places to spend Valentine's Day in London to help you out.
For a Mexican Valentines Dinner in London
At King’s Road restaurant Ixchel, Chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez is presenting a menu rooted in traditional Mexican technique, and we couldn't think of a better place to spend Valentines Day in London. The setting is effortlessly atmospheric, with low-lighting and vibrant colours setting the stage for a four-course dinner menu that leans into romance through vivid presentation, layered flavours and a sense of indulgence. Begin with fresh scallop and prawns served in a rosy hued strawberry aguachile, followed by a pink mole served with grilled chicken and roasted salsify. For something more decadent, guests can opt for wagyu chuck eye finished with chilmole jus and white truffle shaving alongside crispy potatoes and sweetcorn esquites. As a final flourish, look no further than Mexican chocolate tamales, steamed in corn husks and served with roasted corn ice cream. The Valentine’s dinner menu is priced at £125 per person including a glass of crémant rosé.
Fun Valentines Day Ideas in London
Coq d'Argent's Live Portrait Painting
Coq d'Argent are marking Valentines day in London with a six course menu that moves from refined opening courses through to a Black Angus sirloin steak to share, finishing with dessert and petits fours. If you feel somewhat constrained by a set menu, you can also order from the à la carte. However, what really marks it as an extra fun valentines day idea, is the option to have a live illustration portrait done while you eat. What better keepsake to remember that particularly special Valentine's evening spent dining with views of London city?
Plus, for those who take Valentines Day very seriously, you can even book one of the Lodge d’Argent chalets on the rooftop. Each chalet offers a covered, heated space for up to eight guests, ideal for drinks or dining with added privacy.
The Brush East London Grand Cafe's Valentine's Dinner & Movie
For a more casual affair- what better pairing than a dinner and a movie? The Brush in Shoreditch are hosting a two-course dinner across Valentine's weekend, crafted by Executive Chef Ryan Matheson. The menu will feature Potato Sourdough with smoked sea salt butter, Pan Roast Beef Fillet with polenta and port jus, and a Baked Alaska to share. Following that, diners head into the cosy cinema room with popcorn and a limited-edition Valentine’s cocktail, Mon Cheri which blends Havana 7yo rum, blackcurrant, vanilla sherry and Telmont Reserva Rosé Champagne. The movies screening will be 10 Things I Hate About You, Dirty Dancing, When Harry Met Sally and The Notebook, all the timeless romance stories we know and love.
For a Michelin-Starred Valentines Day Dinner in London
Any Food Network fan will be familiar with the icon that is Michel Roux. However, this time the focus is on his daughter, Emily, who is following in her father's footsteps and continuing the Roux legacy. Located in the heart of Notting Hill, Emily Roux’s Michelin-starred Caractère is a family-run restaurant that balances comfort and elegance with a calm, contemporary aesthetic that reflects the personality of its founders. On Feb the 14th, there will be special Valentine’s Lunch and Dinner menus, carefully devised alongside husband and Executive Chef Diego Ferrari and Head Chef Gaetano Farruci. The three-course lunch will be priced at £130pp with an optional £60pp wine pairing from sommelier Marco Nardi, while the four-course dinner menu with an additional glass of bubbles on arrival will be priced at £175 with an optional £80pp wine pairing. Highlights on the menu include the Sicilian Red Prawn Tartlette and Rhubarb and Vanilla Entremet.
Nothing says I love you like a meal at Michelin-starred restaurant. So a meal at one with two Michelin-stars makes quite a statement. Head Chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal have created the only two-star restaurant in the country that doesn't serve a tasting menu, nor does it entertain the concept of small plates of shareable dishes. Instead, Trivet serves a traditional three-course menu to be enjoyed individually. Reigniting the romance of classic dining, Trivet exudes occasion and class- a must-book restaurant for Valentines Day in London. Current menu highlights include Pigeon and Persimmon, Tandoori Monkfish, and to finish, a Guanaja chocolate mousse with spiced pumpkin, passionfruit consommé and chocolate sorbet. The meal is to be enjoyed with a glass from Isa Bal's extraordinary wine collection, championing Georgian, Armenian and Turkish wines that have previously not been available in the UK.
Intimate and deeply immersive: Blue Mountain School’s Cycene is the Michelin-starred restaurant in the heart of Shoreditch. Head Chef Taz Sarhane invites guests on a thoughtful (and whopping) nine-course tasting journey beginning in the sleek yet atmospheric ground floor bar, where a considered list of apéritifs, minimal-intervention wines and house-made kombuchas set the tone for what’s to come. Upstairs, the dining room, home to just six tables, feels calm and cocooned, dressed in white linen tablecloths and the soft glow of candlelight. It’s a setting which expertly weaves together food, art, design and culture for an intimate and unforgettable dining experience for two.
Quirky Valentine's Dinner Ideas
Khao Bird, the latest Northern Thai BBQ restaurant to join Soho, is offering it’s ‘First Kiss’ set sharing menu for two, and for £54 per person, it could be one of the best-priced Valentine's Day menus in Soho, if not in London! The menu consists of hors d'oeuvres and starters to share, followed by a selection of punchy curries packed with flavour, served with unlimited rice, and a duo of desserts to share, including a rich burmese polenta cake, and savoury fruit granita with fried shallots and kefir lime. Luke Larsson’s Valentine’s Day menu will also debut new Khao Bird dishes, including Hung Ley Curry, Fish Tartare and Spring rolls with Chiang Mai Tomato Relish.
Godet, also known as London's only wine-pub, will be serving a selection of special dishes available for one day only alongside Ling Ling’s regular menu. These include Hash browns with Sichuan tofu cream and fish roe and an extravagant version of Ling Ling’s tiramisu with white chocolate & Chinese hawthorn topped with fruits. Grab a cozy nook in the pub, order a spread of plates to share, and sip on their selection low-intervention wine (or a pint, it is a pub after all).
This year, why not spend Valentine's Day in a sea container? It may not sound particularly romantic, but trust us when we say that Lyaness is the place to be for pioneering cocktails, stylish decor, and a vibrant atmosphere. Carefully curated by the world’s most decorated bartender Mr Lyan (aka Ryan Chetiyawardana) and his team, the menu at Lyaness is driven by innovative ingredients and techniques, featuring cocktails including the legendary Unfiltered Martini. This Valentine’s Day, the bar will offer 2 for 1 Blood Orange Bubbles from the Special Editions menu, with a menu with the likes of oysters, olives, and tacos to keep the hunger pangs at bay.
Valentines Dinner in London with a View
This Valentine's Day, Chefs Ben Boeynaems and the renowned Jean-Georges Vongerichten will add a touch of luxury flare with a special menu to mark the occasion. Served within the contemporary and vibrant space, with a glass façade offering views over Hyde Park, abc kitchens offer an intimate ambiance, that sets the stage for a perfect Valentine’s Day. Start with the Heirloom beet carpaccio with avocado purée, before tucking into abc classics including Charred grilled octopus or the South Coast John Dory. No Valentine’s Day meal would be complete without dessert, finishing up with Dark chocolate and passion fruit pudding with chocolate custard cake, bitter caramel and passion fruit sorbet.
Another spot high above the City, Wagtail sets the scene for a Valentine’s Day with sweeping views and an atmosphere that builds from romantic to celebratory. The night begins with live music to accompany the dining experience, and when the evening sets in with a backdrop of London's glowing skyline, the DJ takes over, turning the rooftop into a place to linger. The stars of the show are the baked scallops, fallow deer with pickled blackberries and celeriac purée, and a baked Alaska to share. Guests can choose from a three-course menu at £65 or a five-course experience at £95, which includes Champagne and oysters.
Above Finsbury Square, Aviary offers an intimate take on Valentine’s Day in London, with skyline views and live singing, flowing conversations and clinking glasses in the background. Guests can enjoy dishes including sea bream ceviche with cucumber consommé, Barbary duck breast with potato gratin and cherries, and pan-fried lemon sole with capers, parsley and burnt butter. Baked Alaska seems to be the Valentine's Day dessert of 2026, this one served with yuzu cloud and meringue to bring the evening to a close. Menus are available as three courses for £55 or five courses for £85, with Champagne and oysters included in the five-course option.
Kitty Hawk’s skyline terrace and stylish interiors make for the perfect setting for an evening with views of Trafalgar Square. Soaring above the West End, Kitty Hawk is ideal for couples heading out before a show or simply dressing up for a special night together, with a live singer and a DJ taking over later in the night. The menu include dry aged chateaubriand to share with bearnaise sauce and triple cooked chips and beef wellington with truffled mash potato and cavolo nero. To finish, Chocolate fondant with coconut Chantilly. Guests can enjoy three courses for £55 or five courses for £85, with smoked salmon blinis included in the five-course menu.
Food Network Approved: Our Favourite Restaurants for Valentine's Day in London
The ultimate destination to dine in style- head to the sultry depths of The Aubrey, the Japanese restaurant hidden beneath Knightsbridge’s Mandarin Oriental hotel to really impress your lucky date. The space is meticulously designed, adorned with over 250 pieces of Japonistic art and a saké bar focalpoint. The glamorous Valentine's Day menu is composed of champagne, sushi, and a Surf & Turf of cod with red miso and Irish beef with truffle ponzu. To finish the evening, share the special Valentine’s Day dessert, Sakura Heart, created just for the occasion. Set in a sakura shell, this cheesecake is filled with vanilla sponge, mango purée, and meringue textures to make a bright pink, heart-shaped pudding executed with the finesse and panache synonymous with The Aubrey.
Finally, with the success of its stint in Peckham, Kudu recently relocated to merge all four concepts of its restaurants under the one, plush roof in Marylebone. As one entity, Kudu Marylebone provides the perfect setting for a romantic evening; warm tones, flattering lighting, and a menu based on the traditional South African braai style of cooking over open flame. This Valentine’s Day, Head Chef Patrick Williams has created two special dishes to woo your significant other, with Magret duck cooked over open flame to perfection with Delica squash, sancho pepper, and catalogna. End on a sweet note with the Camomile pavlova, served with blush pink poached rhubarb and white chocolate. For a tipple, the Uthando Martini (translating to the 'love' martini in Zulu) will be on pour. Perfect for Valentine's Day and beyond, Kudu impresses every time.
