DATE NIGHT IN CHINATOWN
A recipe for a great date night in the West End starts in London's Chinatown, from a bubbling hot pot for two to indulgent desserts perfect for sharing, read our guide to how to spend the ultimate date night under the lanterns
FROM DUMPLINGS TO DUETS
As the sun sets on the city, Chinatown comes alive for a night of cocktail shaking, incredible food and late-nigh karaoke, the perfect recipe for an unforgettable date night.
Whether you're planning a first date where you want to impress, celebrating a special anniversary or just wanting to switch up your regular data night, the best way to experience London's best Asian food in Chinatown is to make an evening of it.
MADE FOR SHARING
There's a reason sharing food works so well on a date, giving you something to discover together and talk about with of course, the chance to order far more of the menu.
Not sure where to start? Dim sum is calling and Plum Valley is the perfect first stop for small plates. From their contemporary interiors and classic Cantonese menu, order a selection of har gow siu mai, cheung fun and buns.
For something with a little more pace, head to Speedboat Bar on Rupert Street. Inspired by Bangkok's own Chinatown, it's bright and buzzy, with punchy Thai dishes, cocktail and even a pool table upstairs for once the plates are cleared and you're ready to challenge your date to a game - a little friendly competition never hurt anyone.
TURN UP THE HEAT
Hidden below street level, Noodle & Beer is concealing a secretly seductive basement dining room and cocktail bar. Wrapped in rouge walls, plush velvet seating, drapes and low lighting, this Wardour Street spot feels more like a late-night lounge than a traditional noodle restaurant.
The menu continues to bring heat with a line-up of chilli-laced flavours of Sichuan cooking, hand-made noodles, spicy dumplings and its signature braised beef rib with wide blanket noodles. Pair your order with an ice-cold beer or playful cocktail, this Chinatown restaurant is well suited to a date night that you don't want to end after dinner.
FIRE UP THE GRILL
For an interactive date night, make it Korean BBQ. Choose your cuts, cook together and allow the dining experience to become the entertainment. Build each bite with punchy sauces, kimchi and plenty of banchan on the side.
For an evening of retro neon lights, K-Pop music, tabletop grills and a lively atmosphere, head to Pochawa Grill. After the grills have cooled down and dinner is wrapped up, head downstairs into the private karaoke booths, hidden in the basement.
For something a little sleeker, Shaftesbury Avenue is home to Olle, a more polished take on the Korean BBQ experience, made for cooking premium cuts of meat including Wagyu beef and Iberico pork, alongside Korean stew and traditional sides.
SAVE ROOM FOR SOMETHING SWEET
A Chinatown date should never end with the bill so be sure to take a walk towards Newport Court, better known as Chinatown's Dessert Alley. The street brings together East and Southeast Asian sweet treats from Filipino ube ice cream at Mamasons to delicate Japanese patisserie at Kova.
For something you can sit down over, Candy Café is hidden upstairs on Macclesfield Street and serves Asian desserts - Think mango sago, Taiwanese shaved ice and plenty of bubble tea drinks made for two straws.
END THE NIGHT ON A HIGH NOTE
If neither of you are ready to call it a night, karaoke could be calling. An important part of Chinatown's after-dark scene, with private KTV-style rooms across the neighbourhood.
Dumplings' Legend is a strong contender for dumpling feasts and duets. This Gerrard Street favourite is best known for its xiao long bao and extensive dim sum offering but there's more happening beyond the dining room with not one, but three VIP karaoke rooms.
Plum Valley combines Cantonese dining with private karaoke rooms, making it easy to go from dim sum to the microphone without leaving Gerrard Street. Pairing fiery Sichuan flavours with dedicated KTV rooms, JinLi is popular spot for a sing-a-long.
AFTER-DINNER DRINKS
Part of the appeal of date night in Chinatown is discovering what's behind the unassuming doors. Once dinner is done, skip the obvious and seek out of the neighbourhood's hidden cocktail bars.
Behind a discreet jade door, Opium unfolds a collection of atmospheric drinking spaces inspired by 1920s Shanghai. Settle in for inventive cocktails, late-night dim sum plates and intimate areas tucked behind red curtains.
Just a few doors down, discover the iconic Experimental Cocktail Club. Climb the stairs and hear the bustle of Chinatown's streets disappear and the live music and DJs turn up the energy. With moody lighting and mirrored details, this hidden bar is split across two floors and makes for the ultimate secret drinking spot.
Together these two bars make the perfect date night finale for your last nightcap.
