4 Sexy Date Spots in London to Charm Your Beau
You’ve asked for their number. You’ve survived the texting test. You’ve managed to charm them enough to meet you in person. The hard part’s over, right? Wrong. Now comes the real exam: where, in the sprawling jungle that is London, are you going to take them? There are too many options — and not all of them are good. It’s a minefield.
But don’t panic. I’ve got you. I’ve curated multiple lists of tried-and-tested date spots, handpicked for their atmosphere and the exact vibe you’re trying to create — whether you’re looking for the love of your life or just one blissful evening to look back on in years to come…
This week, we’re going sultry, alluring and oh, so sexy. Think low lighting, lush interiors, and a heavy dose of tension in the air. These are the kinds of intimate spots that dial the mood all the way up. The drinks are sumptuous, the energy is charged, and don’t be surprised if it all ends with a hot-and-heavy makeout in the Uber home. You’re pulling out the big guns and making a memorable first impression.
Sessions Arts Club
Clerkenwell
Here’s a place that casually says:
“I’m very fancy. I spend all my time doing delightful things with my impeccable taste and mysteriously never-ending credit allowance. Oh, this spot? Yeah, I come here pretty often—the staff all know me, but it’s chill.”
The food here? It’s fine, but honestly, don’t come for that. Pricey, and in my opinion, not quite justifiable. The cocktails, service, and interiors are what make Sessions Arts Club worth the visit.
It’s refined, but not in a try-hard way. Everyone around you is dressed in that subtly fashion-forward style—think vintage tailoring, avant-garde shapes, soft neutrals. Even the staff uniforms are geometric and a bit off-beat, somehow both coordinated and individual. You get it. This is a cool restaurant.
Your date’s going to be quietly floored by how understatedly gorgeous your taste is. Even the bathroom is worth ogling.
You’ve nailed it.
The evening will be exactly as follows (and you can quote me on this):
You ring the buzzer on the hidden red door, the staff take your coats and you glide up in the 1920s-style lift. You emerge into a space of soaring ceilings and candlelit glow.
They gasp — and breathlessly ask:
“My place or yours?”
Space Talk
Farringdon
It’s a bit cheeky that I have photos from inside Spacetalk — they do have a no-photography policy, which they gently remind you of on your first visit. (Say you’ve been before, and they don’t mention it — a classy touch.) The rule sets the tone perfectly for this vinyl-listening, cocktail-sipping (get the Fennel), sushi-serving den hidden behind a heavy velvet curtain: sexy and secret.
Your date is impressed you even know about such an elusive spot.
The plush interiors are ’70s-themed in the most modern way: semi-sunken seating, burnt orange walls and upholstery, low amber lighting, and a haze of spicy, smoky aromas, all centred around the main DJ station. The soundscape (that’s the sort of semi-pretentious language you have to embrace, if you’re going to enjoy it here) ranges from upbeat salsa, chilled hip-hop, to what can only be described as the ambient backing track they play in the zoo’s bird enclosure. The one that’s meant to convince you there really are toucans in there. Squint harder.
Every time I’ve been (a fair few — it’s just a couple of doors down from my favourite restaurant, St. John, and perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks), the vibe has shifted musically, but the swanky, low-key atmosphere always holds. Sharply dressed young people lounge around sipping cocktails, pretending that the monkey screams are totally normal listening material.
It’s retro-futurism at its finest — strange, stylish, and unforgettable.
Your companion never knew you were this eclectic.
Goodbye Horses
De Beauvoir Town
I brought one of my best friends here the first time I visited this wine bar/restaurant. Weeks later, while reminiscing about the evening, they described Goodbye Horses as “incredibly horny.” Their exact words — and honestly, they weren’t wrong.
Presenting itself boldly and without over-explaining, this wine bar wraps you in its smouldering atmosphere like a haze the moment you walk in. They take reservations, but don’t worry if you can’t get one — they always leave room for walk-ins, and even on a busy Saturday night, you won’t be waiting long.
The wine itself is reasonably priced, by the bottle or the glass — and if you ask, your server will offer an excellent recommendation that won’t have you clenching your cheeks when the bill comes.
“It’s my treat,” you say in passing, as you and your evening partner make your way to the table. Effortlessly suave.
Wine is the focus here, but there’s a robust enough food list to support it. The bread and butter (£3) is excellent for soaking up the multiple glasses you’re inevitably going to have, along with some other items on the menu that fit it’s laid-back theme. (There’s a cheese toastie (£14) that is maybe best saved for a different occasion.)
Bare concrete and scattered candles adorning the space, crowned by the minimalist but colourful pop of the moon mural above the bar, leave room for the tension between you and your date to swell — you can’t seem to look away from each other across the close-knit, communal tables. You may be in a relatively small room filled with cool strangers and a warm atmosphere, but this is the perfect setting to feel like it’s just the two of you in your own intimate bubble.
Your date finds themself wondering if your eyes have always sparkled like that…
SOMA
Soho
SOMA is the spot I recommend to anyone visiting the city who wants an understated and sensual London cocktail experience. And it never fails to impress.
In the middle of Soho, you might easily pass this unassuming doorway without realising there's even a bar behind it—if not for the hour-long queue of those in the know that begins to form once the evening begins. (I highly recommend booking ahead on Fridays and Saturdays).
But you’ve prepared for this date, of course, so you saunter past the hopefuls lining up, praying they’re not stuck on this slightly dank West End street for much longer.
You’re met by a terse and watchful doorman who sizes you up before radioing inside when you announce your reservation. Our stony-faced gatekeeper eventually lets you through, and down the stairs you descend—into the depths.
Perhaps for a moment, your companion is wondering what kind of shadowy dive you’re leading them to… until all doubt is swept away upon entering. It’s dark, yes—but far from dreary. Walls like inky midnight and softly glowing globe lamps, suspended from the ceiling and scattered along the walls, create the perfect, moody glow—like stepping into a moonlit summer evening.
As for the cocktails, that’s where SOMA’s quiet confidence really shines. While the decor stays minimal, the drinks dazzle with complexity, keeping the experience balanced and intriguing. Presentation aligns with the bar’s understated aesthetic, but the flavour profiles are vivid—each sip unfolding in intricate layers inspired by Indian ingredients, inviting you to slow down and savour. The cocktails, named with elusive single words (like Leaf—a standout), offer a refreshing twist on your go-to classics, which they’ll happily make on request.
Seating options include the long, sleek bar stretching beneath those moon-like lamps, or the intimate alcove beyond it: dimly lit, lined with plush sofas, and the tables just a tad small enough to give you both an excuse to slide in closer…
Your date takes a sip of the drink you recommended (the aforementioned Leaf, of course).
Wow, they think. You really do have impeccable taste.
There you go. Whichever spot you choose, you’ve impressed. Your date will be brimming with excitement as they dream about your next steamy encounter.
Now… where to go for date number two?
