The Best Restaurants for a Romantic Valentine's Day
Go big this Valentine's Day with our collection of the best restaurants in the North East and Yorkshire
Hide
If you and your partner are more early birds than night owls, head to Hide for the brand new breakfast tasting menu. Seven courses are kicked off with a smoothie, before smoked salmon crumpets topped with caviar, beef fat hash browns with black garlic, Comte and truffle and coffee pannacotta are served. We can guarantee you won’t find a more special brunch than this.
237 Chillingham Road, Newcastle NE6 5LJ
0191 429 5219
hideinthenorth.com
Sonnet
Alnwick’s Sonnet serve a tasting menu using ingredients which are either in season or have been preserved from the previous one. Dining here is truly special as only 14 guests are served the 14-course menu during the three-hour dining experience (though the table is yours for the whole evening, so no rush). The wine list is small but carefully curated, and a six-wine flight is available, with each glass served alongside a complementary snack.
41 Bondgate Without, Alnwick NE66 1PR
01665 517628
sonnet.restaurant
Faru
Choose from a five or 10-course tasting menu of flavour-led food from Faru’s open kitchen. The menu changes seasonally, but guests can expect the likes of yuzu lobster, Hen of the Woods mushroom with dashi and pak choi, and a blueberry, chamomile and macadamia dessert. A supplementary cheese course can be added (as can the paired wine flight) for the full Faru experience.
29 Silver Street, Durham DH1 3RD
0191 380 5451
faru.co.uk
Sycamore
In Corbridge’s former town hall building, Sycamore are all about relaxed, gastro-style dining. Their chateaubriand for two is perfect for date night, coming with four sides (think truffle parmesan fries, caesar salad and roasted root vegetables) and two sauces. For something sweet, the Sycamore sphere is the perfect celebratory dessert.
2 Town Hall Buildings, Princes Street, Corbridge NE45 5AD
01434 239582
sycamorecorbridge.com
Hotel du Vin
French is the language of love, so where better to celebrate Valentine’s Day than Hotel du Vin’s bistro? From steak tartare to confit duck, this is classic French cooking at its finest. A sommelier will be on hand to advise on the perfect wine pairing for your chosen meal, or choose from their range of classic, wine and Champagne-based cocktails, including a three-drink negroni flight.
Allan House, City Road, Newcastle
NE1 2BE
0191 389 8628
hotelduvin.com
Jesmond Dene House
Fern dining room at Jesmond Dene House hotel has been awarded two AA Rosettes, making it a special choice for Valentine’s Day. With a focus on dishes inspired by the rhythm of the seasons, Fern showcases simplistic yet skilful cooking, employing modern cookery techniques. Expect to find Lindisfarne oysters and tender steaks from the grill alongside a range of tempting sides on the carefully-curated menu.
Jesmond Dene Road, Newcastle NE2 2EY
0191 212 3000
jesmonddenehouse.co.uk
Origin Social
A vibey small plates restaurant in a relaxed space, the chefs at Origin recommend choosing two to three plates per person. With delicious offerings such as yellowfin tuna tostadas, spiced pepper and mozzarella arancini and black pudding Scotch eggs (plus charcuterie boards and oysters) you’ll be spoilt for choice. Their real ale and craft beer taps are constantly rotating, and they have an impressive list of gins.
Friarage Street, Northallerton DL6 1DP
01609 775900
originsocial.co.uk
Jasper’s Bistro
An intimate bistro serving the freshest seafood, Jasper’s is an underrated coastal gem. The menu is ever-changing, with the catch of the day and specials written on a blackboard, though steamed mussels, Lindisfarne oysters and their signature fish pie frequently make an appearance.
8 Bridge Street, Amble NE65 0DR
07853 449465
jaspers-bistro-amble-resos.com
The Impeccable Pig
Good, honest food in a cosily-lit bistro is what The Impeccable Pig does best. Offerings include pizzas, burgers and steaks from a Spanish Josper grill, cooked over lump wood charcoal. The wine menu blends crowd-pleasing classics with quirky and interesting finds, so you’re sure to find something you like here.
Front Street, Sedgefield TS21 3AT
01740 582580
impeccablepig.co.uk
St Vincent
A buzzy wine bar in Newcastle city centre, St Vincent is a trendy spot for cool couples, where moody lighting illuminates the wine bottle-lined walls. Small sharing plates are the way to go here, perfect for an intimate date. The wine menu is extensive, made up of small independent producers, and their orange wine in particular isn’t to be missed.
29 Broad Chare, Newcastle NE1 3DQ
0191 232 1331
stvincentnewcastle.co.uk
The Bay Horse
Michelin Guide-recommended The Bay Horse is an elegant pub restaurant in a former 15th century coaching inn, where they’re committed to giving classic dishes a modern twist. Expect pheasant breast and beef Wellington on the menu for main, and go for the tasting plate for dessert – a little taste of every dessert on the menu, perfect for sharing.
45 The Green, Hurworth DL2 2AA
01325 720663
thebayhorsehurworth.com
Bouchon Bistrot
Be transported to Paris (the most romantic city on earth) at Hexham’s Bouchon Bistrot. It doesn’t get more authentically French than this – think herby, garlic buttered escargot, Comte cheese soufflé and moules marinière served with frites. For dessert, there’s vanilla crème brûlée, chocolate orange fondant with Grand Marnier creme Anglaise and apple tarte tatin.
Gilesgate, Hexham NE46 3NJ
01434 609943
bouchonbistrot.co.uk
The Cove
A brand-new tapas bar in trendy Tynemouth, The Cove is the choice for the couple who’ve seemingly been everywhere else. Menu highlights include crispy belly pork, scallop Thermidor and panko-coated padron peppers stuffed with goats’ cheese and mascarpone, accompanied by excellent wines and show-stopping signature cocktails.
31 Front Street, Tynemouth
NE30 4DZ
0191 258 3350
cove-tynemouth.co.uk
Pearly Cow
Housed in a stunning Georgian building, the menu here is full of imagination and split into sections like ‘ice’ (think North Sea oysters, gin-cured salmon and tuna tartare), and ‘fire’ (salt-aged duck, wild mushroom Wellington and guinea fowl with parsnip). Can’t decide? Get their spectacular seafood platter to share.
1 Clifton, York YO30 6AA
0330 055 4531
pearlycow.co.uk
Hansom
The first solo venture of Darlington-born chef Ruth Hansom (the former executive chef of Samuel’s Restaurant at Swinton Park), Hansom in Bedale specialises in contemporary dining, offering seasonal tasting menus and an excellent collection of small places for a more laidback dining experience (baby Dover sole with lemon, brown butter and capers –yes please!).
7–9 North End, Bedale DL8 1AF
07938 708604
hansomrestaurant.co.uk
The Plough
An award-winning pub in the quaint North Yorkshire village of Wombleton, The Plough is run by a husband and wife team who have been in the industry for years. Here you can expect a menu filled with hearty dishes with their own personal twist (and plenty of Yorkshire produce). Slow roast beef, treacle-cured salmon and chocolate mousse are just some of the delights diners can tuck into.
Main Street, Wombleton YO62 7RW
01751 431356
ploughwombleton.uk
The Old Liquor Store
You can find this cosy little neighbourhood restaurant (bar and wine shop) by the old Terry’s chocolate factory on the outskirts of York city centre. Inspired by classic Italian small plates and sharing boards, the charcuterie boards here are fabulous and the dinner menu is truly indulgent (king prawns are always a winner, but when paired with salsa verde butter and smoked cod’s roe, you’re really in for a treat).
Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 1FT
01904 950147
theoldliquorstore.co.uk
Chartwell
Aldwark Manor’s fine-dining jewel, Chartwell secured a place in the Michelin Guide less than a year after opening. Playful yet refined (with a secret hidden bar), the restaurant also holds three AA Rosettes and the tasting menu is unbelievably good, taking guests on a journey of modern British cuisine.
Aldwark, Alne, York YO61 1UF
01347 838146
aldwarkmanorestate.co.uk
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Mysé
This 19th-century country pub has been elevated by the work of chef Josh Overington and wife Victoria. Opening in 2023, Mysé rose to prominence at dizzying speeds, earning a star within less than a year of welcoming its first diners. The dining space is Scandi-minimalism at its best, but the portions are done the proper Yorkshire way.
Mains Street, Hovingham YO62 4LF
restaurantmyse.co.uk
Assembly Bar & Bistro
A snug, late night dining spot perfect for a romantic get-together, the menu here is packed with hearty, comforting classics like braised beef, Whitby crab cakes and sticky toffee pudding.
Mill Lee Road, Low Bradfield S6 6LB
0114 285 1920
theschoolrooms.co.uk
Skosh
With space for even more guests after an expansion in 2024, Skosh raised the bar yet again by achieving its third AA Rosette. The menu takes a small plates approach (with plenty of opportunities for snacks) and is as playful as it is innovative – spiced beef dumplings in black truffle broth, barbecued monkfish cheeks, and salted duck egg with roast garlic and chestnuts have all featured on the ever-changing menu.
98 Micklegate, York YO1 6JX
01904 634849
skoshyork.co.uk
Bavette
Inspired by classic French bistros, this unassuming neighbourhood eatery which opened in early 2024 takes its menus seriously, earning the title of the UK’s Best Local Restaurant shortly after opening. Food here is simple, seasonal and unpretentious and the wine list (supplemented by the owners’ families’ vineyard in France) is a particular highlight.
4–6 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RJ
bavettebistro.com
Fifty Two
Led by top chef Adam Degg (an alumnus of the Great British Menu), Fifty Two at Rudding Park is an immersive culinary experience unlike any other, where guests are invited to explore the kitchen garden with a welcome drink before taking their seats to watch the magic unfold in the open-plan kitchen over a series of carefully planned courses. There’s no menu here, so come prepared for surprises, and aprons are at the ready for any brave diner wanting to get involved.
Follifoot, Harrogate HG3 1JH
fiftytworuddingpark.co.uk
Rhubarb
A swish recent addition to Harrogate’s dining scene, Rhubarb opened quietly in early 2024. Chef Varun Khanna (who has previous experience at the two Michelin star-awarded Sat Bains) has designed a menu filled with reinterpreted modern British cuisine. Past seasonal highlights have included beetroot cured salmon, wild Yorkshire duck, and barbecued Jerusalem artichokes.
Cheltenham Crescent, Harrogate HG1 1DQ
01423 787654
rhubarbharrogate.co.uk
Hern
Flying under the radar for most outside the area, nevertheless ask any local chef where they’re eating on their night off and they will say Hern. A dinner-only bistro (with an impressive selection of natural wines), on Wednesday diners can enjoy a la carte options, or a set menu on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
5 Stainbeck Corner, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PG
0113 262 5809
hernrestaurant.com
Rafters
Named after its beautiful exposed wooden beams, Rafters sits in a quiet Sheffield suburb and serves smart, contemporary food using the best of seasonal, local ingredients. A tasting menu-only restaurant, tuck into everything from venison loin and pumpkin to bramley apple rice pudding. For a front row seat to the action, try the Kitchen Bench which puts guests right beside the open-plan kitchen where the chefs are happy to answer any and all questions.
220 Oakbrook Road S11 7ED
0114 230 4819
raftersrestaurant.co.uk
The Box Tree
An icon of West Yorkshire’s food scene, The Box Tree has been welcoming guests for more than 60 years – but don’t assume they’re old school. The menus here are kept fresh and interesting by the talented chefs at work behind the scenes like head chef Brayden Davies who joined the team last year, and has brought an Australian influence to the menu from his homeland.
35–37 Church Street, Ilkley LS29 9DR
01943 608484
theboxtree.co.uk
