When I was brought to the Artisan of Clerkenwell on a date last week I was expecting a trendy but typical bar. But after spending the evening there, I have to admit that it is much more. To start with, I instantly liked the look of the place. The funky industrial decor is interlaced with vintage touches; I particularly liked the teacup candles on all the tables.
I’m not a massive fan of the city so I was unsure to be brought to Liverpool Street on a recent date. But hidden down a tiny alleyway is this beautiful Italian restaurant.
We were seated on a little candlelit table next to the window and I was instantly impressed by the welcoming wait staff and stylish Italian feel that the restaurant had. Being an Italian wine bar, there was an extensive choice of wines. Admittedly, I don’t know much about wines so I let my date decide. Luckily he choose a delicious bottle of red which was the perfect start to our evening.
Though I’m not a vegetarian I tend to prefer dishes that don’t include meat so I was delighted to be taken to Vanilla Black for Valentines Day, a Michelin recommended vegetarian restaurant near Chancery Lane.
This restaurant is seriously well hidden – despite using my iPhone and following Google maps we ended up going in a big circle and taking multiple wrong turns so we turned up a little late for our booking. We were warmly welcomed though when we finally arrived and given a choice of tables. This place is sophisticated but understated class, with stylish yet muted décor and romantic low lighting.
