Clos Maggiore

Clos Maggiore could fill a cabinet with its ‘most romantic restaurant’ awards. Why all the accolades? This is one of London’s plushest, prettiest spaces: a roaring fire, a canopy of white blossoms, pillars of real evergreens, and a glass roof that floods the room with light. No wonder they get ‘1-2 proposals’ a week. Dial quick: it's a Valentine winner.

Clos Maggiore, 33 King Street, London WC2E 8JD. 020 7379 9696; closmaggiore.com

Duck and Waffle

The 40th floor of one of London’s tallest buildings is home to one of its best restaurants. Everything about the Duck and Waffle experience screams hot date: the excitement (and vertigo) of the outdoor lift, the 360°C views, and sharing dishes like the unforgettable ox cheek doughnuts. Duck and Waffle is open 24 hours, making it perfect for late-night assignations, but early birds get the oh-so-romantic violet sunsets over the city.

Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY, 020 3640 7310, duckandwaffle.com

Riding House Cafe

So you want a romantic dinner, but not in a couples-only ghetto? Riding House Cafe promises to be as buzzy and fun as ever on Valentine’s Day, as tables for two will share the room with larger groups and Riding House’s wooden communal table. The restaurant is running ‘sharing specials’ like tempura oysters, rack of lamb with truffled mac ‘n’ cheese and a milk chocolate fondue with skewers of marshmallows, honeycomb and berries to dip.

The Riding House Cafe, 43-51 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7PQ. 020 7927 0840; ridinghousecafe.co.uk

The Lockhart

Imagine a restaurant where you can eat caviar AND crispy fried chicken. It exists, it’s called The Lockhart and both dishes are on the Valentine’s menu (which they’ve nicknamed ‘Beauty and the Beast’). The restaurant, all exposed brick walls and dimly-lit bar, is perfect for US-food lovers who want something smarter than a burger for V Day: chef Brad McDonald puts a refined spin on Southern classics like gumbo and Bananas Foster.

The Lockhart, 22-24 Seymour Place, London W1H 7NL. 020 3011 5400; lockhartlondon.com

The Drapers Arms

This Islington gastropub is a regular haunt of food writers and chefs, who love its seasonal, British dishes. For a second year running, The Drapers is giving 100% of its Valentine’s Day proceeds to the charity Refuge,refuge.org.uk and promises 'lobster and sharing dishes like Beef Wellington' but without the obligation of a pricey set menu. The upstairs dining room, a check-floored parlour with chandeliers and plenty of small tables, is the pub’s most romantic spot.

The Drapers Arms, 44 Barnsbury Street, London N1 1ER. 020 7619 0348; thedrapersarms.com

One Leicester Street

Drink Champagne, eat a Michelin-star dinner, and then stumble upstairs to bed: this is our idea of Valentine’s heaven. You can do just that at One Leicester Street in Chinatown, which is offering all this in its V Day package, plus brekkie in bed the next morning. The rooms are plush and contemporary (all-white walls), and head chef Tom Harris will be at the stove in the restaurant downstairs.

One Leicester Street, 1 Leicester Street, London WC2H 7BL. 020 3301 8020; oneleicesterstreet.com. Doubels from around £140, B&B