First Date Restaurants in London

With its huge, Parisian-style bar and intimate booth seating, Balans Soho Society in Stratford has date night written all over it. Head to the gothic restaurant for an evening of locally-sourced global eats, including curries, burgers and tacos, alongside cocktails and fine wine.

Stylish, relaxed and cool as hell: The Little Blue Door is your flat outside of your flat. With chilled vibes, great food and a mischievous party spirit, the Fulham beauty will keep you and your date chatting and dancing after the sun goes down.

Perfect for a fun first date meal in London, Blues Kitchen nails that balance between indulgent food, potent cocktails and live tunes. Get stuck into stacks of the juiciest Texan BBQ bites going whilst sampling some of the bar's 100-strong collection of bourbons.

With venues across the city, Dirty Bones is one of the best first date restaurants in London. As well as boasting chic interiors, a great happy hour and delicious American-inspired eats, this NYC-themed bar and eatery also has a killer playlist.

Cheese-filled tequenos, fried chicken cornbread and home infused old fashioneds... sounds like a fun first date idea to us. If that wasn't enough, Venezuelan kitchen Arepa & Co has an outdoor terrace for the summer months and one of the best brunch menus in London.

Covent Garden's Cinnamon Bazaar is combining contemporary techniques with traditional flavours to create an incredible menu of Indian plates. All this is topped off with gorgeous interiors, making it a great London restaurant for a first date.

Perfect for a playful first date meal in London, Inamo's interactive tables are brilliant ice-breakers. As well as watching the kitchen team do their thing via chef cam, you can also play games with each other whilst waiting for your incredible pan-Asian meal.

Take a fond trip down memory lane with an evening at The Schoolhouse. Already one of the most popular restaurants in Battersea, the nostalgic and playful space has over 60 craft beers alongside weird and wonderful cocktails, making for an entertaining evening with your boo.

After a charming first date restaurant? Oozing rustic vibes, Maremma is the place for you. Named after the Tuscan region, this Brixton gem cooks up traditional delicacies and pasta made in-house daily, all topped off with delicious wine handpicked from small producers.

After somewhere with the wow factor? Make your way to this romantic restaurant where you'll be greeted by dazzling interiors and plush seating for you to get cosy in. The food and drink are just as good as the space, so you'll be guaranteed a pretty feast.

No.197 Chiswick Fire Station has got to be one of the best restaurants for a first date in London. Alongside a signature cocktail menu, Antipodean-inspired dishes and seriously suave interiors, the West London bar and kitchen has also been awarded three stars by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Vagabond's urban wineries are ideal for an evening of wining and dining over a bottle and sharing plates. Offering a stunning array of handpicked vinos in undoubtedly sleek surroundings, it's no surprise that this is one of the city's best places for a first date. 

Taking inspiration from New Orleans, Stillwater serves up unforgettable nights out to Wandsworth's crowds. Tuck into an enticing menu of Cajun food whilst sipping on a carefully created line-up of traditional concoctions that can compete with any in London. 

The Breakfast Club is a top-notch first date restaurant in East London. With wall murals, colourful furniture and tasty brunch fare served all day long, it offers the perfect mix of fun and comfort food for you to get to know one another better.

Fancy showing off your wine knowledge? This unique Bank bar will do the job nicely. Tappit Hen stocks an extensive selection of beautiful wines, alongside a fantastic food menu that is sure to keep you and your date quenched and sated as you whisper sweet nothings to each other.

Located in Hackney, Mare Street Market is a seriously cool venue, touting a bar, open kitchen, cafe, vinyl shop and florist. But, it's not just a pretty face; it also has you covered for everything from light bites and evening drinks to weekend brunch and Sunday roast.

With a buzzy atmosphere and a massive selection of dishes and drinks, Mercato Metropolitano tops the list for first date ideas. Share a pizza on the food hall's communal tables, slurp down ramen in the outdoor terrace or seek out the intimate den and turn on the charm over a bottle or two.

Hidden in the heart of Stoke Newington, Victory Mansion provides a gorgeous setting for meeting someone for the first time. Begin your evening with one of their world-class cocktails before tucking into a range of Asian-inspired tacos and small plates.

This eclectic Shoreditch eatery is a great first date restaurant in London. With seasonal small plates to dine on, delicious cocktails and even a spot or two of live music, Iron Bloom is a perfect way to impress a potential love interest.

Located in the oh-so-trendy area of Farringdon, Firebrand Pizza promises to deliver on your first date. As well as toting some pretty impressive interiors, their affordable pizzas, pastas and other Italian dishes will sweep your partner off their feet.

With aqua-blue walls and pop art pictures, Ceviche Soho is bringing the sunshine vibes of South America to Central London. Join them for a delicious menu, from fresh seafood to moreish tapas, accompanied by a range of pisco sours.

The definition of eye candy, Circolo Popolare has garnered masses of social media attention for its swoon-worthy interiors and theatrical dishes. Opt for one of their showstopping sharers - we're thinking le gran carbonara, served in a whole round of pecorino - for a memorable first date meal.

Andina is a hot Peruvian eatery complete with a pisco bar and private games room. From the mind behind the popular Soho restaurant, Ceviche, this Shoreditch beauty is whipping up corn fritters, grilled octopus and cassava fries, all washed down with beers and signature tipples.