Bruno's

Prepare to be wooed, charmed, and seduced by Bruno’s before you even sit down. It’s from the folks behind bistro restaurant Caravel (a.k.a “London’s most alluring floating fire hazard”) and located inside the adjacent barge on the Regent’s Canal in Islington. Sink into a plush, pink velvet armchair, made for hushed tête-à-têtes over sweet rum and pineapple cocktails, or snag a high stool for a pre-dinner grapefruit-spiked negroni. The soft lighting, steamy windows, and chilled-out playlist set the mood to cosy-luxe—ideal third date territory when you want to whip out the “I know this little place” line. Equally, if there are a few of you who want a beer somewhere nicer than your local, there’s squirrelled-away, corner sofa seating under the stairs. Whoever you bring will be utterly charmed.