The Islington wine bar that is officially the best date spot in London for Valentine’s Day 2026

PSA! Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Now is the time to make plans before London’s most romantic spots are all booked up. The city is full of lovely, low-lit bars primed for Londoners to get their flirt on. But you want to treat your partner to the absolute best, right? 

Whether you want to turn your situationship into something more or bring back a spark with your long-term lover, we’ve got just the spot. London’s best bar to book for a hot date right now is Godet in Islington.

Sat in a nineteenth century pub, the wine bar is hip without being pretentious, sultry without being intense and low-key without being boring.

Time Out contributor Daniela Toporek paid Godet a visit back in October. She said that Godet ‘can easily be spotted by its peachy-pink exterior and checkered curtains’ and that, inside, the ‘the vibes ridiculously cool’, with vinyl DJs playing funk, soul, disco and house at a reasonable volume (one that doesn’t force you to yell at one another in a deeply unromantic way).

For drinks, Godet has a constantly rotating menu of French reds, whites and oranges as well as flutes of champagne for £14 a pop. The food is courtesy of nomadic Cantonese-inspired kitchen Ling Ling’s, which will call the Islington bar home throughout 2026.

Time Out’s food and drink editor Leonie Cooper gave its dishes five stars and called it ‘one of the best places to eat in London right now’. Think things like hot and spicy tartare, Sichuan hibiscus octopus and turnip cakes, mala beef ragu with udon noodles, and steamed prawn, chicken or Thai basil wontons. For afters, there’s a matcha and white chocolate tiramisu – the most romantic of all desserts. 

Read Time Out’s full list of London’s best bars for a date here. 

Plus: Get more Valentine’s inspiration from our guides to the city’s most romantic restaurants and Valentine’s Day events.