Here are Leam’s best last minute Valentine’s Day spots

Couples snogging excessively in the streets? People rushing to grab the last bunch of red roses from Tesco Metro before they sell out? Queues outside the Royal Prior’s Ann Summers? I guess it’s that time of the year again.

With Valentine’s Day literally tomorrow, it can be pretty stressful trying to find bookings or table reservations for two if you haven’t already got it sorted. Maybe you’ve left it till last minute to find a date spot, or you’ve just completely forgotten (in which case, shame on you for being a poorly-organised S.O). 

But you’re in luck, because I’m back! Due to popular demand, I’ve returned to my calling as a professional Warwick Tab food connoisseur and found six new brunch/dinner date spots that won’t break the bank – but this time, it’s our last-minute Valentine’s Day edition! So what are you waiting for, get off your arse and get booking.

1. Hart + Co

Food: 8/10

Instagrammability: 10/10

Service: 7/10

Now, my last article only went through dinner date spots, but this time I’ve decided to include some romantic brunch places too – because these spots are super cute and deffo worth visiting for V-day.

Hart + Co is the most aesthetic, gorgeous and pinkest place to have brunch, and they serve gargantuan portions. We ordered a selection of mouth-watering, maple-syrup covered pancakes that came with a whole assortment of fruits and berries, along with a full savoury English breakfast served inside a huge croissant – further stuffed with cranberry sauce and brie cheese. 

This place is perfect for Valentine’s because of its edgy, romantic vibe – they also serve cocktails and shots too, and continue to also serve brunch up until dinner time. FYI, you have to make bookings by DMing them on insta @hartleamington.

2. Gusto Ricco

Food: 8/10

Instagrammability: 9/10

Service: 8/10

This brunch/dinner cafe has cute small-town in Italy vibes, and their whole aesthetic makes you really feel as though you’re on holiday (despite being stuck in Week six of Term two).

For decent prices, you can either order Grande Bruschetta with a wide variety of toppings for brunch (my go-to order is the one with gorgonzola, mushrooms and parma ham), or some delicious, authentic Italian pasta if you’d rather come in the evening (again, their carbonara is rich and creamy and very, very filling).

The cafe also serves hot drinks and cakes for dessert – and it’s just off the Parade so definitely easy to get to.

3. Villa Capri

Food: 9/10

Instagrammability: 9/10

Service: 9/10

Now for dinner, my number one spot is definitely Villa Capri – I literally want to gatekeep it but apparently that defeats the point of this article. Whilst it may be on the slightly fancier side of restaurants, it definitely has a special spot in my heart – all because of its beautiful cocktail bar. 

Situated in central Leamington just before the Parade, the romantic vibes here are immaculate. It’s one of those restaurants where you have to dress up a little to visit, but at the same time won’t break your bank account. 

For dinner, we ordered risotto and seafood pasta, and later finished it all off with chocolate ice cream and mousse. But the main attraction was honestly their cocktail bar – when we visited, it wasn’t too busy, so we actually had the whole bar to ourselves before the meal. 

4. Thai Elephant

Food: 9/10

Instagrammability: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Next, we have Thai Elephant in North Leam – a stunning, authentic Thai restaurant that is beautifully decorated and perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner date.

When we went, we booked in advance so we were seated in a private area at the back that was closed off and very cosy. We ordered a whole variety of Thai curries and their coconut rice which was absolutely delicious – I never thought I’d end up enjoying plain rice as much as I did! 

The only thing is that it’s probably just more on the pricier side – but it’s totally worth it because the food was genuinely so good and our waiter was very friendly. 

5. Turtle Bay

Food: 7/10

Instagrammability: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Turtle Bay is a classic, and their Bottomless Brunch is definitely something I would recommend. We all know their cocktails are amazing – but this time, I want to talk about their food! 

A brilliant Valentine’s spot in North Leam, Turtle Bay’s food is just as addictive as their cocktails. The atmosphere is usually always immaculate, helped by their unique Caribbean decor, but their selection of burgers and curries often goes overlooked. I ordered their Curry Goat Hash, and it was amazing. 

On top of this, it certainly helps that they have two for one cocktails. But you already knew that – it’s an ideal spot to have dinner and drinks, so get booking ASAP!

6. Giggling Squid

Food: 9/10

Instagrammability: 9/10

Service: 8/10

Last but not least, it wouldn’t be a Leamington Spa restaurant review if I didn’t talk about Giggling Squid at least once. Most people know this restaurant already – but if you don’t, hear me out. 

It has such romantic vibes; the flowery decorations and grand pillars make it a gorgeous Valentine’s date spot. They even have this stunning section in the middle that looks like a fancy bird cage which you can ask to sit in before you book. 

Their food is also delicious- we ordered their Thai Red curry (chicken and vegetarian) with a glass of sparkling wine, and it was fantastic!

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• Here are the top six Leamington Spa dinner date spots that won’t break the bank

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• A completely plant-based Warwick is not the way to go