Winter is coming.
Which might be bad news for the inhabitants of Westeros, but is very good news for Londoners. Because with the chillier weather comes a whole load of suitably snug date ideas to counteract it. And if you want to escape the mayhem of Central London, there’s a beautifully festive wonderland awaiting you on the Elizabeth Line – and to help you make the most of it, we’ve put together a list of irresistibly cosy date ideas in Canary Wharf.
Happy holidates.
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1. HIT THE ICE
Canary Wharf’s gorgeous, totally covered ice rink is back for another year, and just in case clinging onto your beloved for dear life as you whizz beneath the city’s glittering skyline wasn’t romantic enough, there’s a whole programme of events lined up too, including live music nights, and the Off-Piste bar for rinkside hot chocolates afterwards.
Details: 22nd October – 25th February 2023 | Ice Rink Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14 5AB | £17.95p
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2. GO ON AN OLD-SCHOOL FAIRGROUND DATE
Fairgrounds: classic date territory. Less so in winter of course, when you’ll inevitably end up with cold feet. So it’s extremely timely that Canary Wharf is now home to Fairgame, an activity bar built around nostalgia-laden carnival classics, from whack-a-mole and the Grand National to basketball hoops and shooting galleries. The kicker? There’s street food, and a bar serving a little newfangled invention they’re calling prosecco candy floss… because that’s what it is.
Details: Open Tuesday – Sunday | 25 Fisherman’s Walk, London E14 4DH | From £13pp
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Dishoom’s chosen Canary Wharf for the sixth glorious addition to their burgeoning London empire. Here, you’ll be able to feast on spice-dusted prawn koliwada, gunpowder potatoes and the house black daal famous up and down the country in a glamorous, beautifully lit restaurant inspired by the metropolitan bustle of 1970s Bombay. And yes, there will be a bar attached, perfectly positioned for pre- or post-dinner drinks like the Permit Room Old Fashioned and Sober Negroni. And yes, they are taking bookings now.
Details: Opens 30th November | 13 Water Street, Canary Wharf, E14 5GX | Book here
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4. SIP LIQUID MAGIC AT THE COCKTAIL CLUB
After opening ten successful bars in London alone, we’re pretty sure The Cocktail Club team vaguely know their way around a cocktail shaker. And with the ‘World’s Hottest Happy Hour’ taking place here every day until 7pm (with 2-4-1 on every drink on the menu), it would be rude not to take someone along with you to take advantage of it…
Details: Open daily | 9 Cabot Square, E14 4EB | Book here
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Speed dating works for a lot of people. And there’s no faster place to do it than at Capital Karts, which is literally the fastest indoor go-karting track in the entire country…
Details: Open daily | Level 4, Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, E14 4QS | From £28.50pp
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6. LISTEN TO LIVE JAZZ IN A SUBTERRANEAN VINEYARD
If you’re a fan of neo-soul, jazz, blues or acoustic guitar, then dip beneath Mercato Metropolitano on Wood Wharf to discover the Temple of Art and Music – a low-lit subterranean bolthole filled with chintzy vintage lamps, mismatched furnishings, and, er, grapes growing all around you. That live music? You genuinely will be hearing it through the grapevine.
Details: Open daily | Below Mercato Metropolitano Wood Wharf, 10 George Street, E14 9QG | See what’s on
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7. ENJOY A DINING EXPERIENCE AT M
With over 400 wines in the cellar; a grill menu built around coal, wood, smoke & ice; riverside views and welcome drinks on the house every Friday, technically any visit to M Canary Wharf is a dining experience. But they also offer more literal Experiences, where you can book in to explore (at least a fraction of) those wines on a guided regional tasting; enjoy a St. Tropez-inspired bottomless brunch with endless top-ups of Mirabeau; or discover the highest grades of Kobe beef with their exclusive wagyu tasting menu…
Details: Open daily | 10 Newfoundland Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4BH | From £60pp – book here
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8. HOLD A SHUFFLEBOARD TOURNAMENT
Enter a neon-lit, postmodern steampunk-styled activity den where, over the course of an hour, you and your date will battle it out across a shuffleboard lane over four innovative, tech-enhanced mini-games. You’ll compete for lane ownership in Territory, play a twist on boules in Eclipse, and win the good old-fashioned way in Amplifier… Of course sustenance is key, which is where the pizza paddles come in – delivered direct to your table – and not one but two cocktail bars.
Details: Open daily | 10 Cabot Square, North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, E14 4EY | Book here
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9. GO ON A BREAKFAST DATE
Dinner dates are sooo last night. Canary Wharf’s laden with exceptional brunch spots, from Caravan’s freshly roasted coffee and legendary fried jalapeño cornbread, to the veritable cornucopia that is the Full English Breakfast at The Ivy in the Park. Or, you could always stop by Feels Like June for California-inspired brunch burritos, green eggs and smashed avo on toast or a hefty stack of banana buttermilk pancakes with crème fraiche, macadamia nuts, and maple syrup. This breakfast date might turn into a lunch date..
10. OR CUDDLE UP IN A SUMPTUOUS CINEMA
Sure, you could do movie night at home. Or you could descend into the plush, velvet-lined, beautifully retro screening room at the Everyman Cinema in Canary Wharf to enjoy freshly baked cookie dough, customised sundaes, and dry-aged beefburgers delivered right to your seat… oh, and a film.
Details: Screenings daily | Crossrail Place Level -2, Canary Wharf, E14 5AR | £19.10+ | Book here
Looking for more inspiration? Discover more of what Canary Wharf has to offer here.