London’s most romantic restaurants

With Valentine’s Day coming up, Square Meal has selected London’s most romantic restaurants for all occasions, from first dates to proposals to anniversaries. Secure a second date at intimate venues such as Chabrot Bistrot d’Amis or Arbutus, or plan for a ‘yes’ to that all-important question at the sophisticated splendour of Corrigan’s Mayfair or The Ritz. When love is in the air, let Square Meal help guide Cupid’s arrow…

Best for a first date

The best way to wow your beloved on a first date while maintaining that all-important sense of intimacy is to do your research and book a venue that only scene-savvy diners would think of. Thankfully, Square Meal has taken the research out of your hands and come up with a handful of safe bets to ensure a first date comes back for seconds.

Arbutus, Soho

This fine-dining trailblazer paved the way for many an imitator by serving top-quality wine by the carafe and applying Michelin-level techniques to cheaper cuts of meat. The result is top-notch food and service in an unfussy environment.

Chabrot Bistrot d’Amis, Knightsbridge

This gem of a bistro, tucked away in upper-crust Knightsbridge, is a perfect find with an intimate and friendly atmosphere and gutsy Gallic food that presses all the pleasure points. A stellar wine list earns the restaurant yet more brownie points.

Galvin Café à Vin, Whitechapel

This casual offshoot of Galvin La Chapelle keeps its sibling’s efficient staff, smart air and irresistible food but offers it up in a more pared-back, informal setting. Seasonal food, biodynamic wines and a fabulous head honchette in the form of Sara Galvin are all plus points.

Les Trois Garçons, Whitechapel

An accessible and long-standing City restaurant whose interiors combine flamboyant taxidermy and antique gilt interiors, Les Trois Garçons will certainly prove a talking point – and the French food is more than up-to-scratch for the occasion.

Polpetto, Soho

Pint-sized Polpetto draws diners into its Venetian bacaro conceit with a carefully curated interior and top-notch nibbles. Very cute, very cosy, and very keenly priced, it’s a great spot for a first date – just remember to book in advance.

Best for proposals

If the only way to get an ‘I do’ from your intended is to get down on bended knee in front of an audience, then you must choose the perfect venue for your gesture. Grandes dames of the London dining scene provide the perfect backdrop for such a momentous occasion, as do restaurant experiences that will linger long in the memory even after the wedding bells have faded. Here are Square Meal’s best bets.

Clos Maggiore, Covent Garden

‘Nothing short of magical’, this French failsafe’s pièce de résistance is a pretty conservatory decked with fake blossoms, twinkly fairy lights and an open fire (pictured, left). It’s pot luck as to who gets to dine in this intimate grotto, but if you’re planning to pop the question, do your best to coerce staff to save you a space there.

Corrigan’s Mayfair

Richard Corrigan and his team turn out exquisite posh tucker that delivers every time in terms of both style and substance. What’s more, the flagship Mayfair gaff has a sterling buzz and sufficiently grand interiors for a promising proposal.

Galvin at Windows, Mayfair

Chris Galvin’s lofty dining destination has stunning wrap-around views of the metropolis – enough to dazzle your date from the get-go. Impeccable service and Champagne-bearing trolleys add to the sense of occasion, paving the way for romantic clinches and promises of everlasting love.

The Ritz Restaurant, Mayfair

If you’re going to pop the question, do it at one of London’s most evocative addresses. The ornate dining room and assured service raise your expectations for a glamorous experience, and chef John Williams’ food does not disappoint.

Sketch: Lecture Room & Library, Mayfair

This insanely elegant pleasure dome serves executive chef Pierre Gagnaire’s unique dishes – sometimes wacky, always exciting – in a setting of head-spinning luxury. All this comes at a price, but serves to heighten a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Best for an anniversary

Long-term couples tend to have their own favourite spots to celebrate a special occasion. However, if a surprise or a change of scene is the order of the day, pick a restaurant whose food never falters and that stakes its romantic reputation on its ambience – be it cosy or buzzy.

The Belvedere, Kensington

Overlooking the plush lawns and rose gardens of Holland Park, this elegant space is a suitably romantic setting for a special-occasion dinner. The main menu offers British food injected with French refinement, and a list of mainly Gallic wines completes the picture.

La Poule at Pot, Belgravia

Another French favourite – this one endearingly rustic and outrageously atmospheric, with hearty plates of big-flavoured food that combine peasant wholesomeness with bourgeois detailing. A must for loved-up francophiles.

Le Gavroche, Mayfair

The holy grail for devotees of classical French cuisine, Le Gavroche is the standard-bearer for French restaurants in London. The food is insanely rich and proudly old-fashioned, the impeccable front-of-house service is renowned, and the romance factor is sky-high.

Magdalen, South bank

Run by a band of chefs with a frighteningly impressive collective CV that runs from The Fat Duck to Waterloo’s Anchor & Hope, unshowy Magdalen draws praise for its quiet intimacy, warmth and friendliness – which is why diners keep coming back time after time.

Oxo Tower Restaurant, South bank

The view from this fine-dining spot at the west end of the Southbank is proven to have quite an effect on real-life diners set on romance. Riverside tables can’t be booked, so arrive early for the best seats – although the smart leather lounging chairs allow you to relax wherever you’re sitting.

Best for making up

When it comes to restaurants in which to tell your loved one you’re sorry, there are two routes to successful grovelling: either secure a longed-for and hard-to-come-by booking at one of the capital’s restaurants of the moment, or pay through the nose at an old favourite. Ask for a quiet corner table to spare your blushes.

Chez Bruce, Wandsworth

This fabulous neighbourhood restaurant is jolly, welcoming and classless, yet has sufficient gastro-clout to make it fit for a special occasion – or a super-sized ‘sorry’. Chef/owner Bruce Poole’s take on European food oozes panache, and there’s an excellent French wine list, too.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Knightsbridge

Nobody will turn down an invite to the most talked-about restaurant of 2011, and Ashley Palmer-Watts’ superb menu and smooth and sophisticated dining room – with its views over leafy Hyde Park – will work their charms on even the most crabby of couples.

The Ledbury, Notting Hill

Brett Graham’s fantastic Notting Hill restaurant is laden with accolades, from the BMW Square Meal Restaurant of the Year 2010 to the highest new entry in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards 2011. It’s hard work getting a table here, so your date is sure to appreciate your efforts.

Nobu Berkeley St, Mayfair

Fashionable, glitzy and super charged, Nobu Berkeley St is a true treat – and a dead cert for celeb spotting. The famously high prices, sleek service and sexy dining experience should smooth ruffled feathers and get things back on track.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Chelsea

The ultimate London dining experience, Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road flagship will give your loved one a lunch date to remember. The food is exquisite, staff are beyond charming, and everything is set up to make you feel extra-special. Argument? What argument?