London Valentine’s Day Restaurants: Editor’s Guide

Valentine’s Day in London is less about spectacle and more about choosing the right setting. The city offers no shortage of tasting menus and celebratory formats, but the most successful evenings tend to be those where food, pace and atmosphere align without forcing the occasion.Below is a curated selection of restaurants approaching Valentine’s Day through technique, setting and service — from Michelin-level dining rooms to skyline restaurants and late-night addresses.

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester

For diners who value precision and quiet formality, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester remains a reliable reference. On February 14, the restaurant serves a five-course tasting menu designed for two, with dishes such as hand-dived scallops with caviar and beef fillet finished with Périgord truffle. The room itself — candlelit and composed — reinforces a sense of continuity rather than occasion-driven excess.

Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

Hélène Darroze approaches Valentine’s Day through a structured fine-dining lens. The menu moves from caviar paired with sea urchin and dashi jelly to black truffle with egg, Dover sole from Cornwall and veal from Corrèze. Desserts are served as a two-part finale. The setting remains understated, favouring intimacy over display.

Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London

At Raffles London at The OWO, Mauro Colagreco presents a six-course tasting menu paired with Billecart-Salmon rosé. The kitchen leans toward seafood — oysters, monkfish — before moving into more personal dessert compositions. A graphologist offering handwriting-based compatibility readings adds a discreet layer of interaction without dominating the evening.

The Lecture Room & Library

Sketch’s three-Michelin-star dining room frames Valentine’s Day as a cultural evening. Lunch and dinner are offered as set menus, paired respectively with Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle and Dom Pérignon 2017. In the evening, live operatic and musical performances accompany service, extending the experience beyond the table while maintaining formality.

Kioku by Endo

High above Whitehall, Kioku by Endo marks Valentine’s Day with a curated tasting menu highlighting lobster, wagyu and yellowtail. The restaurant’s strength lies in its calm, elevated dining room and clear Japanese technique, supported by views that become more prominent after dark.

SOMMSSI by Jihun Kim

SOMMSSI approaches Valentine’s Day through precision and restraint. Chef Jihun Kim’s cooking draws on Korean technique filtered through a contemporary tasting-menu format, where fermentation, temperature and sequencing take precedence over overt narrative. The room remains calm and controlled, making it a suitable choice for couples who prefer focus and pacing to overt celebration.

A Wong

At A Wong, Valentine’s Day unfolds across a tasting menu that traces regional Chinese cuisines with method and clarity. The experience is structured rather than theatrical, with dishes progressing through contrasting textures and temperatures. Service is measured, and the dining room retains an intimacy that suits couples looking for depth and concentration rather than ceremony.

Dinings SW3

Dinings SW3 offers a quieter register for Valentine’s Day. The menu centres on Japanese technique with contemporary framing, moving between raw preparations, charcoal-grilled elements and composed plates. The setting is understated, favouring conversation and continuity over occasion-driven formatting, which makes it well suited to couples seeking a low-key but technically assured evening.

Carbone London

Carbone offers a more theatrical register. Valentine’s Day is marked with a special menu that opens with burrata and caviar, followed by tableside Caesar alla ZZ and shared plates such as spicy vodka rigatoni. Mains include Dover sole piccata, veal parmesan or beef fillet. The atmosphere is animated but controlled, suited to couples who enjoy ceremony with their classics.

Dovetale

At Dovetale, Chef Tom Sellers presents a four-course menu from February 13 to 15. Dishes include panko-fried oysters or dressed Dorset crab to share, followed by a Valentine’s-only main and a reworked knickerbocker sundae. Service extends to the hotel’s winter terrace, with music providing a steady backdrop rather than distraction.

Trishna

In Marylebone, Trishna offers a five-course tasting menu focused on the coastal cuisine of western India. Dishes include lobster cafreal, tandoori lamb chop and Malabar crab cutlets paired with Oscietra caviar. The room remains intimate, making it well suited to couples who prioritise flavour over formality.

Amazónico London

Amazónico approaches Valentine’s Day with a set menu served across February 13 and 14, opening with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Rosé. Small plates include truffle pão de queijo, scallop tiradito and akami nigiri, followed by a choice of wagyu or monkfish. Desserts lean tropical, and the champagne list remains extensive for those extending the evening.

Hutong

Set on the 33rd floor of The Shard, Hutong combines skyline views with a Valentine’s menu built around Chinese classics: dumplings, slow-cooked wagyu, kou shui chicken and half-roast Peking duck. Rose-shaped dim sum and optional champagne pairings underline the occasion without altering the restaurant’s established identity

Aqua Shard & Aqua Kyoto

For those drawn to height and perspective, Aqua’s restaurants offer contrasting approaches. Aqua Shard focuses on modern British plates paired with Champagne, while Aqua Kyoto presents a Japanese-leaning set menu with sushi, sashimi and wagyu tartare. Both maintain strong beverage programmes and views that shape the evening as much as the menu.

Holborn Dining Room

For a more relaxed format, Holborn Dining Room serves limited-edition pies for Valentine’s Day, including lobster and scallop for mains and a raspberry dessert pie. The Art Deco room supports a quieter, less ceremonial celebration.

abc kitchens London

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s London outpost marks Valentine’s Day with a set menu and an unusual gesture: a seasonal vegetable bouquet to take home, paired with a recipe. Dishes include beet carpaccio, grilled octopus and John Dory, served in a dining room overlooking Hyde Park.

The Twenty Two

At The Twenty Two, Valentine’s Day is marked with a special menu beginning with champagne and amuse-bouches of oysters and caviar. Mains range from grilled sea bass to beef fillet or ricotta ravioli, with desserts served to share. Earlier in the day, a chocolate tasting pop-up adds a quieter prelude.

The most successful Valentine’s dinners in London tend to avoid novelty. Whether through established fine dining, skyline settings or well-paced contemporary rooms, these restaurants prioritise structure, service and atmosphere — allowing the occasion to emerge naturally rather than be imposed.

Valentine’s Day Dining in London — FAQ

When should Valentine’s Day reservations be made in London?

For sought-after dining rooms and tasting-menu restaurants, reservations are typically secured three to four weeks in advance. Michelin-starred restaurants and skyline venues often release Valentine’s menus earlier and fill first, particularly for dinner on February 14.

Is Valentine’s Day dining limited to February 14?

Increasingly, no. Many restaurants extend Valentine’s offerings across two or three days to accommodate demand and provide more flexibility. This often results in a calmer atmosphere and better table availability on adjacent dates.

Which restaurants suit couples seeking a quieter evening?

Dining rooms with controlled pacing and smaller rooms — such as A Wong, Dinings SW3, SOMMSSI by Jihun Kim, or intimate Michelin-level restaurants — tend to prioritise focus and conversation over spectacle.

Where to go for atmosphere and music?

Restaurants that integrate DJs or live performances — including Sketch, Amazónico, Hutong, and The Twenty Two — offer a more animated setting while maintaining structured service.

Do restaurants accommodate dietary requirements on Valentine’s menus?

Most do, but advance notice is essential. Restaurants generally adapt vegetarian or pescatarian courses, while more complex dietary needs should be flagged at the time of booking.

Is lunch a good alternative to dinner on Valentine’s Day?

Lunch services tend to be less formal and less crowded, often offering the same menu at a lower price point or with a reduced wine pairing. It is a practical option for those prioritising food over occasion.

Should couples expect longer dining times on Valentine’s Day?

Yes. Service is often paced deliberately, especially for tasting menus. Guests should allow at least two to three hours for dinner, particularly at fine-dining restaurants.

What matters more on Valentine’s Day: menu or setting?

In London, the most successful Valentine’s dinners balance structure, service and atmosphere. A composed room and steady pacing often define the experience more than the number of courses.