Date spot in Notting Hill and Kensington
Akira at Japan House
Book a refined Japanese dinner in the calm first-floor restaurant at Japan House on Kensington High Street.
Kensington High Street, Kensington
Address: Akira, Japan House, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Why it's a good date: It's quiet and beautifully done, with careful service and lovely tableware. Look round the free Japan House gallery downstairs before you eat.
More from our Notting Hill and Kensington guide
Six Portland Road
Portland Road, Holland Park
Address: Six Portland Road, 6 Portland Road, London W11 4LA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book a small, seasonal British dinner and something good from the wine list at an intimate restaurant behind Holland Park.
Why it's a good date: There are only a handful of tables on a quiet residential street, so it feels like a secret you're in on together. Book ahead, especially at weekends.
Min Jiang
Kensington High Street, Kensington
Address: Min Jiang, Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Big night
Have a Chinese dinner high above Kensington Gardens at the tenth-floor restaurant of the Royal Garden Hotel, known for its wood-fired duck.
Why it's a good date: The floor-to-ceiling windows look across the park to the London skyline, and it's especially lovely at sunset. Ask for a window table when you book.
Holland Park and the Kyoto Garden
Holland Park, off Kensington High Street
Address: Holland Park, Ilchester Place, London W8 6LU- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Wander Holland Park's woodland paths to the Kyoto Garden, a Japanese garden with a tiered waterfall, a koi pond, stone lanterns and maples.
Why it's a good date: It's one of the calmest corners of London, and the maples turn red and gold in autumn. Look out for the peacocks that wander the park.
Photo: Roger Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
