This month, the city’s finest eateries are in the mood for love! Here’s just a slice of the culinary offering that awaits you for a deliciously romantic Valentine’s Day date…
Top image by Ben Carpenter
1. Gonville Hotel
Gonville Place, Cambridge
Here, the hotel’s Gonville Kitchen restaurant is laying on a special three-course dinner specially for Valentine’s Day. Prepared and presented with serious attention to detail, the dinner is designed to be enjoyed together – and it’s perfectly paired with a glass of Chapel Down Brut and a red rose on arrival. Available on 13 and 14 February, it’s priced at £69 per person. For a daytime treat, there’s a Valentine’s Day afternoon tea available from 13 to 15 February – and to extend the celebrations, a special overnight package in the hotel! gonvillehotel.co.uk
2. Margaret’s
18 Chesterton Road, Cambridge
On 13 and 14 February, Margaret’s is offering a limited-edition Valentine’s Day menu at £105 per person, with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. The evening begins with a freshly baked sourdough baguette, followed by a roasted chicken and winter truffle soup. For mains, it has glazed halibut with blood orange, celeriac and hazelnut, before a barbecue sirloin of Yorkshire Longhorn beef. For a rich and indulgent finale, Tomlinson’s Yorkshire rhubarb sorbet leads into an Araguani 72% dark chocolate fondant. margaretscambridge.co.uk
3. The Varsity
Thompson’s Lane, Cambridge
At The Varsity Hotel and Spa, you can enjoy an exclusive Valentine’s set menu amid panoramic views of Cambridge, from the comfort of a cosy pop-up igloo dome on the Roof Terrace! Back by popular demand, these domes really are a wonder to behold, encircled by the bright lights of the city with starry skies overhead. Beginning with a glass of fizz and an amuse bouche, the specially curated set menu is brought to your dome from the hotel’s Six Brasserie. Highlights include tempura prawns with ginger and soy sauce, 32oz tomahawk steak to share and hazelnut chocolate brownie with salted chocolate sauce and mascarpone. The Valentine’s set menu is priced at £78 per person, with igloo dome reservations subject to a hire charge. thevarsityhotel.co.uk
4. Browns Brasserie & Bar
23 Trumpington Street, Cambridge
For Valentine’s Day, Browns Brasserie & Bar promises a refined menu that celebrates elevated brasserie classics, generous sharing dishes and limited-edition cocktails like the Strawberry Kiss, which combines Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial champagne, St Germain elderflower liqueur and strawberry. Tuck into the Browns Seafood Sharing Platter, 10oz rib-eye steak with béarnaise and lobster linguine, among other choices. Or try a melt-in-the-mouth 16oz Chateaubriand (£8 supplement per person). To finish, there’s Bramley apple and rhubarb crumble and champagne sabayon, or a chocolate trio of millionaire’s chocolate fondant, dark chocolate torte and raspberry and white chocolate ice cream. Available from 7pm on 13 and 14 February, three courses are priced from £50 per person. browns-restaurants.co.uk
5. North Star Restaurant
37 Trumpington Street, Cambridge
It’s an extra-special month of love for North Star Restaurant – having opened its doors in early summer 2025, this will be its first-ever Valentine’s Day dinner menu! In addition to extensive à la carte choices, this indie eatery will be offering a Valentine’s sharing menu (priced from £49 per person) that allows guests to choose between a classic Chateaubriand steak or sumptuous lobster seafood platter. The mains will be preceded by half a dozen Carlingford oysters to share, and followed by a cafe gourmand selection of sweet treats. With a cosy, romantic ambience and a cultured location opposite the Fitzwilliam Museum, it’s a great shout for an intimate celebration. northstarrestaurants.co.uk
6. Cambridge Chop House
1 King’s Parade, Cambridge
Suited for a pre- or post-theatre meal, Cambridge Chop House will be serving both its à la carte menu and some specials for Valentine’s Day on 14 February. Guests can enjoy a sharing charcuterie board of cured, sliced meats, cheddar, sun-blushed tomatoes, olives, fig chutney and sourdough bread; a sharing 21oz rib cutlet with mixed leaf salad; grilled monkfish tail on the bone with bacon mash, garlic buttered Tenderstem broccoli and black garlic cream sauce. For dessert, a sharing pudding comprises fully loaded brownie, lemon posset with lemon drizzle cake and strawberries and cream shortbread. At time of writing tables were almost fully booked, so be quick! cambridgechophouse.co.uk
7. Midsummer House
Midsummer Common, Cambridge
Set in romantic surroundings beside the tranquil River Cam, Midsummer House is inviting guests to celebrate this Valentine’s with an elegant tasting experience curated by chef-patron Daniel Clifford. Showcasing the finest seasonal ingredients through refined technique and delicate creativity, each dish on the menu is designed to take diners on a journey of flavour, balance and beauty. The experience begins with a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée 170th Edition on arrival, and optional wine pairings will be available on the day. Availability is limited for both lunch and dinner on 13 and 14 February, so early reservations are recommended. midsummerhouse.co.uk
8. The Lodge, Duxford
Ickleton Road, Duxford
A little out-of-town escape is just the ticket for a Valentine’s Day celebration – especially when the destination is a boutique hotel! The Lodge, Duxford is treating guests to an intimate evening with an exclusive Valentine’s menu on 13 and 14 February, featuring dishes created with seasonal ingredients (two courses £40, three courses £48). You can even make a night of it with the hotel’s full romance package. Priced from £350, enjoy the three-course Valentine’s dinner for two plus an overnight stay, bottle of champagne and handmade chocolates, with early check-in and late check-out for optimum indulgence! thelodgeduxford.co.uk
Make an evening of it
The Candlelight concert series will be bringing a Valentine’s Day Special to the Cambridge Union Society on 14 February, in which a string quartet will perform timeless love songs such as Unchained Melody, La Vie En Rose and My Heart Will Go On in an intimate candlelit setting.
Find out more at feverup.com/m/531116
