London's Ultimate Valentine's Guide: Unique Spots Beyond Clichés
Welcome to The Slice, your exclusive weekly guide to London's vibrant scene, delivering trusted reviews, sneak previews, and unbeatable deals. This week, Pancake Day and Valentine's Day vie for attention, but why choose? We've curated inspiration for both, whether you're a Valentine's cynic or a hopeless romantic. Explore a bookshop crawl, visit the relaunched Little Sourdough Kitchen, or dive into Tooting's Food Festival. The Slice newsletter has a fresh look but remains your go-to for the capital's best eats, drinks, and activities. Sign up for early access and exclusive offers with Time Out.
Top Activities in London This Week
Looking for weekend plans? Here are 12 standout dining, drinking, and activity spots across the capital.
1. Indulge in Artisan Pastries at Little Sourdough Kitchen
By Catrin Picton. Little Sourdough Kitchen brings sunshine to Fulham's Munster Road with its relaunch. This neighborhood café elevates everyday croissants, coffee, loaves, and tarts using English and heritage flours. Eco-friendliness drives the revamp, featuring monkey bread from croissant off-cuts and shelves from fallen London trees. Head Baker Ben Costello minimizes waste, offering croissant crisps and caramelized pain au chocolat slices. For Valentine's weekend, try the Chocolate choux bun with buckwheat Creme Diplomat and salted caramel (£4.70) or an iced vanilla shortbread (£2). Pastries from £2. 237 Munster Rd, Fulham, SW6 6BT. Walk-ins welcome.
2. Savor a Valentine's Menu at Sticks’n’Sushi
By Lola Christina Alao. Sticks’n’Sushi combines affordability with high-quality sushi. Their Koibito menu, available February 12-15, features a Temaki Mori with salmon and tuna, plus Ebi panko with tempura shrimp and avocado. A delicious, budget-friendly option at £55 per person. Various locations. Book in advance.
3. Win Hearts at These Romantic Spots
The Mulwray: Tucked above The Blue Posts in Soho, this intimate wine bar offers a Labels of Love flight (£25 per person) with three rare wines inspired by romances. Add a cheeseboard for £5 or snacks like duck sausage. 28 Rupert Street, Soho. Book online.
Sprout: In Earl's Court, Sprout's Market Stall menu transforms humble ingredients into playful cocktails. Their Love Potions menu in February features daring drinks like the Celeriac Milk Punch. Cocktails from £12. 15 Templeton Pl, Earl’s Court. Reservations recommended.
Franco Manca x MOTH: This collaboration offers a Spicy Margherita pizza with MOTH's Spicy Margarita in a heart-shaped box (£14). Available at Franco Manca locations and delivery apps until February 28. A low-effort, high-reward option with zero clichés.
4. Enjoy a Luxe Brunch at Burger & Lobster
The High Street Kensington branch serves a standout brunch with dishes like Lobster Benedict on brioche or sourdough, and a breakfast smash burger. Service is swift, with Virgin Mojitos that taste authentic. Brunch from £8, available Saturdays 11:30am-2pm. 222 Kensington High St, W8 7RG. Book ahead.
5. Celebrate Lunar New Year at Noisy Oyster
Noisy Oyster partners with Brisbane's sAme sAme for a pop-up featuring Thai dishes like prawn betel leaf. Available February 17-18. Book for Lunar New Year festivities.
6. Relish Pancakes at Dishoom
By Maicey Navarro Griffiths. Dishoom offers twice-stacked pancakes with chai-spiced syrup, vanilla cream, and berries. Perfect for Pancake Day. Available at their locations.
7. Dive into Bottomless Pancakes at Boundary Shoreditch
On February 17, Boundary Shoreditch serves 90 minutes of American pancakes with toppings like bacon, berries, or caramelized banana for £12 per person. A challenge for pancake lovers.
8. Make Your Own Pancakes with Milk Balham's Recipe
Create cult-favorite buckwheat pancakes with white balsamic strawberries and miso caramel using Milk Balham's recipe from the ORDER UP! cookbook. Sales support Hospitality Action charity.
9. Explore Tooting's Food Festival
This community festival features local traders, live performances, and a token system for sampling dishes. A cultural celebration through food.
10. Visit the FREE Share Your Heart Exhibition
At Saatchi Gallery until February 15, see over 70 heart-themed artworks supporting children's charity Chain of Hope. Admission is free.
11. Join a Bookshop Crawl
From February 13-15, the London Bookshop Crawl challenges visitors to explore multiple bookshops, discovering new reads along the way.
12. See Guess How Much I Love You? at Royal Court Theatre
By John Nathan. This play explores a couple's resilience amid a pregnancy crisis, with powerful performances by Rosie Sheehy and Robert Aramayo. Tickets £15-£74.50, running until February 21.
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