Dating in Covent Garden
London may not sell itself as one of the great romantic cities of the world – our twin traits of cynicism and drizzle put paid to that – but Covent Garden actually happens to be full of places where sparks can be made to fly. Here are a few.
Ah, je t’aime
Clos Maggiore was voted one of the top five most romantic restaurants in London by the Harden’s guide, picked as one of the top three most romantic dining spots in the UK by Top Table and praised by the Zagat guide for its “exceptionally romantic atmosphere” – you get the picture. Clos Maggiore is the Charles Aznavour of Covent Garden dining – small, French and self consciously devoted to the art of love. The setting is stunning – dusky, intimate and tasteful with dark wood, low lighting and beautiful flowers. The wine list is exceptional, the food is good and the service is Continental and charming. It’s the kind of place when men feel compelled by their surroundings to draw their partners’ chairs out for them. If Clos Maggiore doesn’t bring out the Gallic charmer in you, give up.
The back row
A night at the movies used to be one of the most romantic dates possibly – back in the days when films didn’t star Vin Diesel and cinemas weren’t soulless plastic multiplexes. The Covent Garden Hotel’s regular Saturday film club puts a touch of class back into the movie-going experience. For just £35 per person, you get to enjoy an intimate two course meal and a glass of wine in the lovely surroundings of Brasserie Max, followed by a film in the kind of small, luxurious screening room you can imagine being installed in the mansion of a Hollywood producer or a top ranking Mafioso. The pictures on show are a combination of classics and relatively recent releases, and the whole experience is comfortable, relaxing and mercifully free from the lingering stench of cheap hotdogs and sweet popcorn. The other benefit is the close proximity of beautifully appointed double bedrooms should the sheer romance of the whole evening leave you feeling overwhelmingly, erm, sleepy.
More than a tenor
There are few things more romantic than going for a night at the opera, all dressed up in your finery, oozing sophistication. Equally, there are few things less romantic than drooling on the shoulder of your partner, snoring like a hog, while waves of soporific noise wash over you in a foreign language, your knowledge of which extends no further than ordering two beers and asking for the bill. Which is why the Coliseum is the perfect place for impressing your latest squeeze. As all operas performed by the English National Opera are sung in English, you won’t have to pretend to your date that you’re following the plot, because you almost certainly will be. The productions are modern and imaginative and the atmosphere is resolutely unstuffy, making the whole experience a vibrant and exciting one.
Cheap, cheerful, under the stars
One of the most romantic sights on a June evening in Covent Garden is that of the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House – an elegant public space surrounded by beautiful neo-classical architecture. During the warmer months of the year, the courtyard plays host to choreographed displays of 55 water fountains, rising and falling in lovely, hypnotic patterns. In the evenings, as long as there’s nothing else on, these displays are enhanced by the addition of coloured lights. Pick up a picnic from one of the nearby delis in the Opera Quarter then wander hand in hand across the Strand to Somerset House and have yourself a fantastically cheap date. Those of a mature bent can sit back and gaze in awe at the beauty of the display. Those whose courtship approach is still fairly schoolyard in style can impress their dates by pushing them into a fountain then running away laughing.
What’s this ‘dating’ lark all about anyway?
Let’s be honest – the whole concept of ‘dating’ is a bit alien to our native culture. Long before glossy American films and TV shows first introduced the idea of arranging to do something specific with somebody you quite like, the British had been quite happy just drinking far too much and then seeing what happened. Covent Garden is still a great place for this more traditional form of courtship. There are warm, welcoming pubs like the Coach & Horses or the Lamb & Flag for those who like an unpretentious evening in snug environs. Those in search of something more sophisticated than a pint and a pie might wish to assess the aphrodisiac qualities of an expertly made cocktail at The Detroit Bar or Dirty Martini. And for those who like their men urbane and finely toned, but who also happen to be men themselves, there’s the relaxed atmosphere and famously buff bar staff of the Box Bar.
This article was written by the team at Covent Garden Journal, your free guide to everything that is anything in Covent Garden. Covent Garden Journal is available from the Covent Garden Market Building.
