Londoners planning Valentine’s Day celebrations have a record 38 restaurants to choose from after the capital dominated a national list of the most romantic dining destinations in the UK.
The venues featured on OpenTable’s 2026 ranking of the country’s 100 most romantic restaurants, with dining data showing Brits are expected to increase spending on the occasion by 44 per cent compared to last year.
Valentine’s Day falls on Saturday, February 14 this year, with restaurants across the city preparing special menus and experiences for couples. Bookings have surged following a 27 per cent rise in Valentine’s dining in 2025.
Sky Garden is hosting events on February 13 and 14, offering complimentary Moët & Chandon champagne with standing access or upgraded window tables featuring sharing boards and full bottles of champagne. The venue’s restaurants, including Fenchurch, Darwin Brasserie and Larch, will serve special Valentine’s packages with views across London’s skyline.
Michelin-starred venues are presenting exclusive tasting menus for the occasion. Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London will offer a six-course menu with Billecart-Salmon rosé champagne, while guests receive handwriting-based compatibility readings from graphologist Emma Bache throughout the evening.
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught has prepared a menu beginning with caviar paired with sea urchin and dashi jelly, followed by black truffle with cacklebean egg, Dover sole from Cornwall, and veal from France. Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester will serve a five-course tasting menu featuring hand-dived scallops with caviar and beef fillet with Périgord truffle.
The English Grill at The Rubens at The Palace Hotel is charging £249 for two people, including five courses with wine pairings selected by the sommelier. Dishes include beef Wellington, butter-poached halibut and chocolate fondant.
Alternative dining experiences are also available across the city. The Landmark London’s Winter Garden restaurant will serve Valentine’s-themed afternoon tea between February 9 and 15, with live piano performances and roaming ballet dancers on February 14 itself. Rosewood London’s Holborn Dining Room is offering limited-edition lobster and scallop pie topped with heart-shaped lattice lids.
For budget-conscious diners, No 1 Duke Street in Richmond features affordable menus with chicken schnitzel, sea bass fillet and roasted celeriac, with sister venues in Chiswick, Clapham, Battersea, Wimbledon, Ealing and Canary Wharf.
Research from OpenTable indicated that 49 per cent of Brits plan to dine out on Valentine’s Day, with the occasion now expanding beyond romantic couples to include celebrations with friends and family. Thirty per cent of respondents said they would consider double dates, while 51 per cent of singles would consider a first date at a restaurant on February 14.
The research identified being rude to staff as the top red flag on a romantic meal, cited by 81 per cent of respondents, followed by poor table manners at 78 per cent.
Bookings for Valentine’s weekend can be made directly through restaurant websites or via dining reservation platforms.
