The most romantic restaurants to book in London this Valentine's Day

Trendy restaurants come and go, but La Poule au Pot is something of an institution, having occupied its charming corner spot in Belgravia since the 1960s. Gloriously rustic in its décor, with exposed brickwork, wooden furniture and higgledy-piggledy artworks on the walls, it is the perfect destination for a rendezvous with a loved one: simply settle down in one of the quiet nooks and toast your mutual good taste with a glass of Crémant. The menu reads like that of your favourite French bistro: the quiche lorraine is legendary; the signature ‘poule au pot’ dish of stewed chicken is delightfully wholesome; and the mashed potato is made with satisfyingly Gallic volumes of butter. Before you leave, make time to share a tarte tatin (and a goodnight kiss) with your beloved. Frances Hedges

La Poule au Pot, 231 Ebury Street, London SW1W 8UT

If you're looking for a Soho-based date spot, then Yasmin could be The One for you. The discreet rooftop bar is hidden away at the top of the 1 Warwick members' club (but is open to the public) and has become a favourite haunt for Bazaar team members. The executive chef Tom Cenci has devised a menu of Istanbul-inspired dishes, including a whipped sheep's cheese and hot honey dip (which is not to be missed), crisp aubergine with muhammara, and buttermilk and harissa bavette steak. Signature cocktails include the Grand Bazaar – Yasmin's take on an Old Fashioned. The space itself is elegant and intimate, and currently features an impressive floral display suspended over the bar. It's part of the restaurant's romantic 'Yasmin Ever After' winter campaign, which also invites guests to discover the 'lost keys of Soho'. Select a golden key, try it in the lock of the mystery box, and see if you manage to unlock a romantic surprise for two... Sarah Karmali

Yasmin, 1 Warwick St, London W1B 5LR

If you want a date to be equal parts sophisticated with a side serving of East London cool, Kaso is a must-try. Located on the top of the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel, the dimly lit bar and restaurant offers an array of Greek and Mediterranean small plates and dishes perfect for a pair to share; meat lovers should certainly opt for the melt-in-the-mouth soft lamb fritters or tender beef shish. Cool cocktails complement the meals on offer, and are perfect to sip on as you also drink in the spectacular views of London and beyond. If you fancy a dance after your date, DJs spin the decks from 9pm onwards at weekends. Kimberley Bond

Kaso, 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ

Ravinder Bhogal is the chef-patron of Jikoni, the prettiest restaurant in London. Every aspect of this establishment is touched with her innovative and warm spirit: the warmly-spiced cross-cultural dishes, the green endeavour (it’s carbon neutral), the familial atmosphere. Whether you pop in for an illicit lunch (with an entirely vegetarian menu) or an intimate dinner, you will always be well looked after by the Jikoni team. I absolutely recommend finishing any meal here with the banana cake with miso butterscotch, peanut brittle and ovaltine kulfi – it's on another level of heavenly. Helena Lee

Jikoni, 19-21 Blandford Street, London, W1U 3DH

A bijou 46-seat oasis at one end of Soho’s busy Poland Street, Firebird creatively combines Mediterranean flavours with the smoky charring from its woodfire. Come for the caramelised scallops served on buttery mashed potato and the choux buns delicately filled with silky cep parfait – but stay for the potent cocktails (don’t leave without trying the Old Fashioned shaken with chestnut liqueur and chocolate bitters). Its décor is reminiscent of a vine-framed Italian terrace, with exposed concrete and brick walls, terracotta tiles and rattan chairs, and the open grill in the middle of the restaurant conjures an intimate backdrop for any amorous occasion. Brooke Theis

Firebird, 29 Poland Street, London W1F 8QR

A former laundrette may not immediately bring to mind a magical setting for supper on a winter’s night – but having created a cult restaurant, Primeur, in an old car garage a few miles away, the founders of Westerns Laundry have proved they have form in this field. On the long tables, your name and reservation time are written in chalk, a crisply drawn line indicating where your table starts and ends, alongside jugs of beautiful flowers (their style a mix of hedgerow and extravagant). Once a glass of their natural Lambrusco has been poured, the general effect, in the dusky candlelight, is that of being in a contemporary Dutch master oil painting. In February, the excellent, ever-changing menu will be riffing on combinations such as sheep’s curd and radicchio, cuttlefish and aioli, and meringue with blood orange. Charlotte Brook

Westerns Laundry, 34 Drayton Park, London N5 1PB

The second restaurant from the team behind the award-winning Kitty Fisher's in Mayfair, Cora Pearl is just as sexy, cool and inviting. Named after the infamous 19th-century courtesan who lived close by, the restaurant serves elevated British comfort food – think chargrilled sugar pit bacon chop and a darkly dangerous chocolate marquise – alongside devilishly good cocktails ('The French Blonde', with gin and elderflower, is a winner). It's the perfect choice if you like your romantic dinners dimly lit, decadent and delicious. Clara Strunck

Cora Pearl, 30 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8NA

The opulent Mayfair eatery boasts the glamour and decadence of 1930s Shanghai, with its impressive lavish interior only outdone by just how superb the food on offer is here. The duck is the star of the menu; made to be shared, the hearty portion comes served with pancakes, baby cucumber and spring onions for diners to create the most sumptuous spring roll they've ever had the pleasure of tasting. Caviar can be added for those searching for even further luxury. Dinner can be enjoyed in the intimate Salon de Chine, where those eating can be serenaded by a live jazz band, or the lower ground Club Chinois, which offers a lively cabaret show to make for an enthralling evening. KB

Park Chinois, 17 Berkeley St, London W1J 8EA

Each dish at Charlotte Street’s Sicilian trattoria tastes as good as it sounds – spaghettini fritters coated in a thick dusting of parmesan shavings; orecchiette with kale, smoked anchovies and pine nuts, scattered with moscato-soaked raisins; robata-grilled seasonal fish with capers, parsley, chilli and lemon butter – each perfectly executed by the head chef Giovann Attard. Norma was the vision of Ben Tish (the author of the cookbook Moorish), who wove Moorish influences into both the dishes and interior design: inside you’ll find Moroccan tiles, cosy banquettes and sultry low lighting. Dessert is unmissable: try the blood orange granita or the wam, salted chocolate tortino with coconut ice cream. BT

Norma, 8 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2LS

Truly one of the city's loveliest restaurants, Daphne's never disappoints – since 1964, this stalwart has been a regular and much-loved haunt for the South Kensington set. The design is elegant, feminine and oh-so romantic; try to get a table in the conservatory if you can. As for the food, you cannot go wrong with the veal Milanese (some of the thinnest and crispiest I've ever tried) or the wonderfully creamy wild mushroom risotto. For Valentine's Day, Daphne's are offering a shared shellfish risotto for two, alongside a ‘Petalo Rosso’ cocktail made with Malfy Rosa and adorned with rose petals and hearts – whoever said champagne was the only option for paramours? CS

Daphne's, 112 Draycott Avenue, London SW3 3AE

A luxury restaurant, hotel and private club on swish Grosvenor Square, The Twenty Two is guaranteed to impress any date. The pretty, classic dining spot – all pastel blue walls and checkerboard marble floor, with sumptuous velvet chairs you could sink into all evening – puts a Mediterranean slant on British fare. The whole menu is committed to minimal intervention and dishes are, like the décor, light and bright: fresh salads (fennel, tardivo and blood orange with merlot dressing, for example) meet pastas (try the crab linguine) for a meal that's romantic without being overwhelmingly rich. CS

The Twenty Two, 22 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6LF

Given it was in these gleaming, mirrored environs that Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier first set eyes on each other (prompting Leigh to immediately announce she would marry him one day), it’s little wonder that The Savoy Grill remains a perfect pitstop on the road to romance. With its crisp, white tablecloths, twinkling jazz music and classic à la carte menu containing caviar, Beef Wellington and an immaculate Dover sole, dinner in this historic, high-ceilinged dining room is a transportive step back in time in the most spectacular sense. The aperitifs bridge the past and present: you may wish to start the evening with 'The Churchill', a whiskey cocktail inspired by the former Prime Minister. For obvious reasons, anything cooked over the wood charcoal grill comes recommended, though the côte de boeuf for two is a suitably collaborative choice with your companion, possibly followed by a truly delightful sticky toffee pudding. CB

The Savoy Grill, 100 Strand, WC2R 0EZ

For a seriously show-off date, this elegant venue in the historic setting of a Grade II-listed, 18th-century courthouse in Clerkenwell should be top of your list. Serving as a restaurant, a bar, and an art and performance space, it puts a cultural twist on dining out, and is constantly evolving along with its programme of curated events and exhibitions. The beauty of the original building has been preserved in the interiors, which feature soaring arches and intricate cornicing, yet the vibe is one of refined modernity. The cooking is similarly superb: recent highlights of the seasonally changing menu include eel, potato, crème fraîche and nasturtium, and a tart rosehip crème caramel – all dishes that will give you and your paramour plenty to talk about. FH

Sessions Arts Club, Old Sessions House, 24 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0NA