London Date Ideas – Blues Kitchen, Rib Room, WICKED & The Athenaeum

Every week on 30 Dates I showcase different date ideas in and around London.

This week I’ve checked out venues as far afield as Shoreditch and Knightsbridge.

Blues Kitchen, Shoreditch

If you want to feel like you’re dining in the deep South, but can’t afford to leave Central London, look no further than the Blues Kitchen.  The restaurant/bar has a relaxed, unpretentious feel, with an incredible menu packed full of authentic Southern treats.  I genuinely stared at the menu for 15 minutes because I couldn’t decide what to choose.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the live music.  A great option for a first date, or your regular date night with your other half.

Rib Room, Knightsbridge

If you’re looking to impress, the Rib Room at the Jumeirah Carlton hotel could well be the spot!  Incredible food, staff on hand for your every need, and one of the best wine lists in London.  Ask for a booth by the window for a perfect, intimate date setting.  And if you go this month, check out the beautiful pop-up Blooming Brilliance bar for a pre or post-dinner drink.  The room is a beautiful little garden of eden in the middle of the city.

WICKED, Victoria

Hands down my favourite musical, last week I took the Rugby Boy along to watch it live at Victoria, as a birthday surprise.  One of the best parts of living in London is that musicals here are a lot cheaper (and easier!) to see than in America, where Wicked tickets are sold out weeks in advance.  If you haven’t yet seen Wicked, I can’t recommend it more.  Arrive half an hour early, and enjoy a pre-show glass of Prosecco in the bar beforehand.

Afternoon Tea at The Athenaeum

If you’re bored of dinner or drinks date, how about afternoon tea? And what better place than The Athenaeum?  The central London hotel offers three different sorts – a traditional ‘Evergreen’ version, a meaty ‘Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea’ and the special Madhatter’s Tea, pictured above.  I tried out the Madhatter’s tea – and on arrival was presented with a variety of crazy hats to try on and take pictures with during tea!  For me, two things are necessary for a good afternoon tea.  1) Enough food and 2) A great location.

So how was the afternoon tea at the Athenaeum?

1) I loved the fact the waiter came back with sandwich and cake refills, and that even once we’d finished everything on our cake stand, there were more cakes to come.

2) The setting is really relaxed, with large scale booths, which means you’re seated well away from other diners.

As for the tea … well I’ve never been a tea fan, so that part is never an issue for me! But … the champagne was spot on! 😉

Go for a lazy afternoon date with your other half, and maybe combine with a show or an escape room!