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Romantic Valentine's venues in The City
Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday this year, which means, for those struggling to sever the cord from their desks, date night is going to have to be a post-work affair. Whether you’re romancing a long-term flame, or igniting something with a co-worker, here are some suggestions from Social Concierge for where to make sure sparks fly.
Basement romance at Blixen
5A Brushfield St, E1 6AA
First up is a Spitalfields brasserie with a laid-back basement bar to escape big City boozing. Book in advance and wrap yourself around an exceptional wine list in one of the snugs at the back of the room. If you’re expecting things to go well, book a table upstairs in the restaurant for later on. But if it’s casual, order some salty fries, truffle popcorn and chorizo bites to soak it all up. blixen.co.uk
Views at City Social
25 Old Broad St, EC2N 1HQ
Seasoned daters know all about Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social, often described as one of the best restaurants in London. The lesser-known City Social has a scenic sky-high bar with a touch more subtle elegance (and heaps less frantic Instagraming) than Sushisamba and Sky Garden. Leave the sit down meal to corporate meetings and just book a table at The Social Bar for stiff Martinis and a view. And for a laugh, make your last order a round of Gold Plum-Sachs (rum, raisons, plum, amaro and chocolate bitters). citysociallondon.com
Sit Down at M Threadneedle Street
2-3, 60 Threadneedle St, EC2R 8HP
An award-winning restaurant, known for its raw bar and steak skills, this is a solid three-course meal affair. There are no time limits placed on tables so you’re positively encouraged to nurse a cocktail before diving into cured red prawns and Wagyu beef. This is a crisp white shirt and LBD affair, and not the place for those who don’t want to whack down a decent wedge at the end. mrestaurants.co.uk
Light Bites at Yauatcha
15-17 Broadwick St, W1F 0DL
Yauatcha in Soho has long been a dim sum dating institution, with its low lights and sexy fish tanks. The Broadgate Circle version is a little more low key but still has the romance-inducing requirements of strong cocktails and bite-size food, like their famous venison puffs and pork and prawn shui mai. This is the place to take someone more interested in an in depth chat and exceptional feeding, rather than a ‘session on’. yauatcha.com
Helpful Distractions at Flight Club
2 A Worship St, EC2A 2AH
For some, an activity on a date is just the thing to calm the nerves and fill an awkward silence. Enter the “Darts Date”. On the edge of the City, Flight Club is the scene of many the group date and team night out but is also a fantastic place to take someone you don’t want to scare off with an overly romantic venue. This is loosen-the-tie-release-the-ponytail sorta fun. Order a Lady Killer or Cupid’s Arrow and have the anti-Valentine’s time of your young life. flightclubdarts.com
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