6Paris, France
There is no surprise in seeing Paris in this list. It is still one of the most romantic cities in the world, also famed for its cuisine.
Where to go for an interesting and romantic first date?
Le Sergent Recruteur
In a modern-day gastronomic and architectural fairy tale, avant-garde Spanish designer Jaime Hayón and chef Antonin Bonnet, formerly of Mayfair’s The Greenhouse, have rescued a former pub on the Ile St Louis from a future of tourists and bad beer and turned it into a princess among restaurants. Stone walls and a medieval-inspired décor are finished with modern white and green touches that work with the changes in daylight, bright and clean during the day and romantic and sophisticated in the evening.
Le Train Bleu
This listed dining room – with vintage frescoes and big oak benches – exudes a pleasant air of expectation. Don’t expect cutting-edge cooking, but rather fine renderings of French classics. Lobster served on walnut oil-dressed salad leaves is a generous, beautifully prepared starter, as is the pistachio-studded saucisson de Lyon with a warm salad of small ratte potatoes.
