London’s Best Date Night Restaurants For £60 Or Less
London has some of the most romantic restaurants in the world, and sometimes you want a good night out while still remaining budget-friendly. We’ve put together a list of restaurants that will still deliver a memorable meal, that you can also escape from for just £60 or less between the two of you. For that price, you can still head to one of London’s best Italian restaurants, sample one of its best wine collections, try out its most famous dish, and much, much more. Here is our pick for the best date night restaurants on a budget.
Smoking Goat
Smoking Goat is one of the best affordable date spots in London because it feels exciting without ever feeling formal. A couple of cocktails, fish sauce chilli wings, smoked meats and a few small plates can comfortably come in under budget, especially if you lean into sharing. Loud, lively and perfect for a Friday night in Shoreditch.
Where: 64 Shoreditch High St, E1 6JJ
Website: www.smokinggoatbar.com
Not only is this my favourite date spot, but it is my favourite restaurant. I think about the wings daily, plus the cocktails are so well priced.
Mallory, Junior Food & Drink Editor
Agora
Agora is one of those rare London restaurants where you can split several beautiful plates, drink wine and leave feeling pleasantly full without financial regret. The menu leans Greek and charcoal-led, with skewers, dips and grilled vegetables designed for sharing across a tiny table while conversation stretches long into the evening.
Where: 4 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
Website: www.agora.london
Bao
Few date nights feel more joyful under £50 than a BAO date. Pillowy buns, crispy fried chicken, noodles and soft serve make it easy to build a genuinely memorable meal without overspending, while the intimate, buzzy dining rooms naturally do half the work for you. Order more baos than you think you need.
Where: across London
Website: www.baolondon.com
For an affordable date night spot, in my opinion Bao perfectly fits the bill. Among my menu must-haves are the prawn buns and their wagyu beef rice.
Amelia, Culture & Lifestyle Writer/Creator
Padella
Nothing says romance like an Italian, and lucky for us, one of London’s best is also one of its most affordable. This pasta bar serves fresh, hand-rolled pasta with delicious sauces and fillings. A pasta dish will set you back between £9-15, while a Negroni is cheap for London standards at £8.50, and you can get an authentic Italian espresso for just £2.
where: Borough Market, Soho and Shoreditch
website: www.padella.co
Honest Burgers
There’s something deeply reliable about an Honest Burgers date. Burgers, rosemary salted chips and a couple of drinks still manage to feel like a treat without becoming painfully expensive, and the atmosphere always lands in the sweet spot between casual and cosy. Particularly good for early-stage dates where nobody wants too much pressure. Plus, it won Burger of the Year this year at The National Burger Awards.
Where: across London
Website: www.honestburgers.co.uk
Crisp Pizza
‘London’s best’ anything is always a great date idea, but its best 12 inch pizza for roughly £17 each? That’s a no-brainer. Crisp sailed to the top of most people’s personal lists almost immediately after opening, and yes, it’s as good as people say. If you don’t mind the queue, this is a must-try. Plus, it’s located in a nice pub, so you can stay for a few drinks afterwards.
where: 24 N. Audley St, Mayfair, W1K 6WD
Website: www.crispmayfair.com
Noble Rot
This London institution has one of the best wine offerings in the city (voted the very best in 2019), and it is also one of its coolest. Their spring set lunch menu in Soho sits at £24 for two courses or £28 for three, which is an absolute steal for the quality you get in return.
where: 2 Greek Street, London W1D 4NB
website: www.noblerot.co.uk
Maremma
A neighbourhood Tuscan restaurant in Brixton, Maremma is focused on simple and seasonal regional specialities with fresh pasta made in-house daily and meat and fish cooked on the charcoal grill.
Wines, salami, cheese and olive oil are imported directly from Tuscany – what could be more romantic than that? Plus, all cocktails are £8 on Sundays.
where: 36 Brixton Water Ln, London SW2 1PE
website: www.maremmarestaurant.com
Liu Xiaomian
Finding an authentic Sichuan noodle spot that is cheap, in the basement of a mews pub, and in central London feels like the type of place you dream about but doesn’t actually exist.
This gem sits underneath The Jackelope pub in Marylebone and serves up a small menu of delicious spicy noodles that won’t set you back more than a tenner. You can either eat in their downstairs restaurant or upstairs in the main pub with a pint. Either way, it doesn’t get much better at this price.
where: 43 Weymouth Mews, London W1G 7EQ
website: www.liu-xiaomian.com
Eat Tokyo
Eat Tokyo remains undefeated when it comes to value for money in London. Huge bowls of ramen, generous sushi platters and crispy katsu sets arrive quickly and without fuss, making it ideal for low-pressure date nights that still feel satisfying. You can eat genuinely well here for surprisingly little.
Where: Across London
Website: www.eattokyo.co.uk
Manzi’s
Manzi’s feels like a time machine. It is a throwback to Soho in the 60s, located in one of those atmospheric back alleys just off the square. The interior design is lush and maritime-themed and feels intimate and bustling all at once. Head here before a night at the theatre and you won’t be disappointed as the evening theatre menu is 3 courses and a glass of wine or beer and sits at £29.50.
where: 1-8 Bateman’s Buildings, London W1D 3EN
website: www.manzis.co.uk
Andrew Edmunds
Long considered one of London’s most romantic spots, this Soho gem is surprisingly affordable. The menu changes regularly, but mains hover around the £25 mark and can be anything from a mushroom ragu to chicken supreme Milanese. A real chef’s favourite, the quality of food is exceptional.
A real chef’s favourite, the quality of food is exceptional.
where: 46 Lexington St, London W1F 0LP
website: www.andrewedmunds.co.uk
Quo Vadis
Most of these suggestions offer you some choice, but this is a very specific recommendation. Go to Quo Vadis, order the smoked eel sandwich – which comes with spicy horseradish and bright pink pickled onions – at £18.50, a glass of wine each, and enjoy arguably London’s most famous dish. Huge brownie points for being in the know.
Most of these suggestions offer you some choice in the matter, but this is a very specific recommendation
where: 26-29 Dean St, London W1D 3LL
website: www.quovadissoho.co.uk
