Valentine’s Day in London curated by Nestor

Home » Blog » Valentine’s Day in London curated by Nestor

Planning Valentine’s Day in London?

Whether you’re travelling with someone special or taking the weekend for yourself, here’s how we’d spend a thoughtful few days in the city,  with great food, unhurried moments, and proper rest at the centre of it all. Because at Nestor, Sleep is Always the Best Date.

Your Valentine’s Weekend Itinerary

DAY 1: Arrival & Evening

3:00pm – Check In & Reset the Vibe

First rule of a weekend away: no rush.

Drop your bags. Put your phones down. Open the windows.
Play something that makes you feel like you’re in a film.
Make yourself a Arro coffee or a cup of tea.

This is your base for the weekend.

4:30 PM – Romantic Walk

No plan. No pressure. Just walk, talk, stop for coffee, maybe hold hands if you’re feeling cinematic.

Here’s your neighbourhood, depending on where you’re staying:

If you’re at The Regency (Victoria / Belgravia)

• If you’re at The Regency (Victoria / Belgravia)
  Wander through Belgravia’s white stucco streets and Elizabeth Street.
  Elegant, peaceful, and effortlessly liveable.
  Bonus: sunset at St James’s Park.
  
• If you’re at The Warwick
  Stroll through Pimlico, then head toward the Thames.
  Peaceful streets. Skyline views.
  Big Ben casually in the background
  
• If you’re at The Carlyle, The Courtfield or The Knaresborough (Kensington)
  Walk through Kensington Gardens or drift to Notting Hill.
  Pastel houses, coffee stops, soft main-character energy.
  
• If you’re at Bakery House (White City)
  Head to Holland Park (Kyoto Garden = hidden gem).
  Or wander into Notting Hill.
  Quiet base, romantic surroundings.
  
• If you’re at The Hermes Hotel (Kingston)
  Walk along the Thames in Kingston.
  Golden hour. Riverside cafés. Slow weekend energy.
  Solo tip: Great playlist optional, the city is its own soundtrack.

7:30 PM – Dinner

Valentine’s dinners in London range from lively and atmospheric to intimate and understated. We recommend booking in advance for the weekend.

Here are a few favorites:

• For modern, vibey Italian
  Gloria (Shoreditch) — chaotic in the best way. Big plates, loud room, very date-night coded.
  Padella (Borough) — small, romantic, pasta that makes you emotional.
  
• For cool sushi energy
  Sushi Atelier (Fitzrovia) — intimate, minimalist, effortlessly impressive.
  Dinings (Marylebone) — date-night but low-key.
  
• For fun, flirty sharing plates
  Kolamba (Soho) — Sri Lankan, cosy, candlelit.
  Brat (Shoreditch) — wood fire, natural wine, cool crowd.
  
• For natural wine + small plates
  Cadet (Newington Green) — tiny, cool, feels discovered.
  Goodbye Horses (De Beauvoir) — buzzy but intimate.

Valentine’s suggestion:

 Order something you wouldn’t normally choose.
 Say yes to dessert.

10:30pm – An Evening Out

Something relaxed, but a little special.

• For rooftop energy (without tourist chaos)
  The Standard Rooftop (King’s Cross) — skyline views and lively atmosphere.
  Frank’s Café (Peckham, seasonal) — open-air setting and city lights.
  
• For creative cocktails
  A Bar with Shapes for a Name (Shoreditch) —considered drinks in a dim, intimate setting.
  Satan’s Whiskers (Bethnal Green) — no menu, just trust them.
  
• For wineand conversation
  10 Cases (Covent Garden) — cosy and charming.
  Planque (Haggerston) — design-led and comfortable.

If the evening runs late, don’t worry. You’ll return to a Nestor home designed for proper rest.

DAY 2: Slow Morning & Afternoon

9:30 AM – Best Sleep of Your Life

This is what makes Nestor different: you wake up actually rested. 
Couples: One makes coffee, the other stays cozy. 

11:00 AM – Brunch Worth Leaving For

London does brunch properly.

Options:

1. Sunday in Brooklyn – Notting Hill

New York energy, big fluffy pancakes, buzzy but still cute.
Order: Hazelnut maple praline pancakes. Obviously.

2. E5 Bakehouse – London Fields

Sourdough royalty. Proper bread, seasonal plates, zero pretence.
Feels local. Because it is.

3. Farm Girl – Notting Hill / South Ken

Light, bright, aesthetic but still actually good.
Rose lattes, avo toast, relaxed date vibe.

4. Granger & Co – Notting Hill / Chelsea / King’s Cross

Ricotta hotcakes. Soft scrambled eggs. Always reliable.
Classic brunch date energy.

5. Layla Bakery – Notting Hill

Small, cool, bakery-first.
Go early. Get pastry. Be smug.

6. Caravan – Exmouth Market / King’s Cross

Big room, loud energy, great coffee.
Good if you want a “fun couple” vibe.

7. Rochelle Canteen – Shoreditch

Hidden, minimalist, very London.
Feels like you discovered it.

8. Brunswick House – Vauxhall

Antique-filled, dramatic, slightly chaotic in a good way.
Brunch but make it interesting.

9. The Wolseley – Piccadilly

If you want elegant, old-school, dress-up brunch.
More timeless romance than cool-kid energy.

Take your time. Order too much. Split everything.
Solo tip: Bring a book or just people-watch. Brunch alone is peaceful.

1:00 PM – Choose Your Personality

This is where the weekend splits.
Are we relaxing? Are we cultured? Let´s just pretend we live here?

Pick your energy:

The Spa Couple

You booked ahead. You planned this. You’re glowing.

• Aire Ancient Baths (Covent Garden)
  Candlelight. Thermal pools. Silence.
  It’s intimate without being awkward.
• ESPA Life at Corinthia (Whitehall)
  Big spa floor, sleep pods, full escape mode.
• Bulgari Spa (Knightsbridge)
  Sleek, moody, very “quiet luxury”.
  

 The Art & Culture Couple

You walk slowly. You discuss things seriously.
You both nod at abstract art.

• Tate Modern (South Bank)
  Free, iconic, and you can wander for hours.
• The Wallace Collection (Marylebone)
  Smaller. Romantic. Old-world interiors.
• Saatchi Gallery (Chelsea)
  Contemporary, clean, easy to explore.
• The Courtauld Gallery (Somerset House)
  Impressionists + one of the prettiest settings in London.
  
  Finish with coffee somewhere nearby.
  Debate your favourite piece.

The “Let’s Just Explore” mood.

No tickets. No schedule.

• Walk through Columbia Road.
• Browse Daunt Books (Marylebone).
• Wander Holland Park & Kyoto Garden.
• Stroll Regent’s Canal from Little Venice to Camden.
• Explore Coal Drops Yard (King’s Cross) for design stores + wine stops.

Why Solo Valentine’s in London Works

London solo on Valentine’s? Actually perfect.

• Move at your own pace
• Bar seating welcomes solo diners
• Museums are better explored alone
• The evening is entirely yours
• Return to Nestor for the night that matters most

Because here’s the truth: romance is nice, adventure is fun, but nothing beats waking up after a genuinely great sleep.

We hope you LOVE your NESTOR stay.