The UK’s top romantic restaurants

Panoramic 34, Liverpool

Panoramic 34, is 300 feet above sea level on the 34th floor of the West Tower, and its breathtaking view of the whole city beneath it is heart-stopping. The room itself, with its under tabletop lighting, plush seating and panoramic windows is suitably romantic for a lovers’ dinner – and then there’s the food: which is perfectly balanced and showcases impressive techniques and flavour combinations: think halibut with warm tartare or a steak tartare made meatier by pickled mushroom and Marmite. Service is superb and cocktails are a touch of Liverpool dining at its finest.

Frenchie, Covent Garden, London

Frenchie is Gregory Marchand’s London location (the restaurant also has more than one Parisian branch), and its magical combination of informal service, warm lighting and inventive menu screams romance to us. With its bare bricks, marble tables, and and downstairs open kitchen, the restaurant has old-school class, but with a menu full of ideas you won’t have seen before. Their most famous dish, the bacon and maple syrup scones served with clotted cream are a knock-out way to start your romantic feast, and you can then make your way through head chef Ivan’s menu of seasonal greatness, think Cornish monkfish with yuzu and saffron, or Delia pumpkin gnocchi with chestnuts and wild mushrooms.

The Three Chimneys, Skye, Scotland

Whatever the Hebridean weather is doing outside, cosy up at Skye’s The Three Chimneys. Low-ceilinged, art-filled dining rooms have views over Loch Dunvegan, and the menu may include super-fresh oysters, langoustines and Black Isle beef, making the most of Scotland’s sea and land produce. Take care to book well in advance, and consider staying over in the House-Over-By, to use this as a base for exploring the island.

Clos Maggiore, London

This restaurant is set in a sumptuous Georgian townhouse in the heart of Covent Garden. It’s strongly influenced by the stylish country inns of Provence and Tuscany, with dark panelled rooms, muted lighting and open fires. At night the stunning conservatory room is lit by candles, starlight and a crackling fire. Quality and simplicity is key to the cuisine and the menus are designed to tempt and excite. With the likes of Chargrilled wild scallpos, leek fondue and winter truffle on the menu, alongside Oven-roast Weymouth sea bass, cabbage, potato and chorizo, it won’t disappoint.

Pensons, Herefordshire/Worcestershire border

Pensons has it all. The Michelin-starred restaurant is headed by chef Chris Simpson and team source most of their veg from the nearby Netherwood Estate farm. There are rooms for an overnight stay, and the restaurant has the the kind of twinkly and gorgeous atmosphere that a romantic meal demands. As well as the food and rooms, guests can tour the kitchen gardens, and visit Pensons’ Concept Store which has a lovely range of handmade artisanal products.

Photo credit: David Loftus.

The Cottage in the Wood, Braithwaite, Cumbria

With such a fabulous location, deep in England’s only mountain forest, this unassuming restaurant-with-rooms has high culinary ambitions and jaw-dropping vistas. Head chef Ben Wilkinson makes the most of local Cumbrian produce, using classic techniques to showcase top-quality ingredients often sourced from the nearby valleys or Whinlatter Forest.

Restaurant Tristan, Horsham, West Sussex

Tucked away on the first floor of a sixteenth-century building, the pitched roof and beams of the dining room make for a strikingly intimate ambience, but smart table settings and contemporary touches pave the way for modern culinary delights.

Photo credit: XA Digital.

Rhubarb at Prestonfield, Edinburgh, Scotland

It’s not exactly a castle, but this extravagantly modernised baroque pile certainly doesn’t lack splendour. Magnificenty fashioned interiors make their own design statement, but the cooking really turns heads.

Six By Nico, various locations

Theatre in food: that’s how we’d describe Six By Nico, the new collection of restaurants taking over the UK food scene. After an incredibly successful launch in Glasgow, followed by Edinburgh, Nico Simeone opened up restaurants in Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester and London. The restaurants completely re-invent the dining experience with an entirely different six-course tasting menu every six weeks (now you get the name!) and each menu is inspired by places, memories and ideas. This is a great date-night restaurant as each course gives you so much to talk about and you can have a couples’ argument over your favourite dish!