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Restaurants in Folkestone, Canterbury and Orpington named best places for romantic meal in UK

Four restaurants in Kent have been named among the top 100 romantic restaurants to visit for Valentine’s Day.

Diners in Folkestone, Canterbury and Orpington made the cut, as OpenTable analysed 1.1 million reviews.

Sotirio's Bar and Restaurant in Folkestone. Picture: Google
Sotirio's Bar and Restaurant in Folkestone. Picture: Google

The online booking service also examined which restaurants had been described as “romantic” in the reviews.

Chapter One in Orpington, a modern European restaurant with three AA Rosettes, made the list.

After a major refurbishment in early 2019, Chapter One relaunched with a more modern approach, tempting guests with greater variety and quality.

This long-standing restaurant, which has a 4.8 star rating on OpenTable, serves modern European dishes, and the Michelin guide says chef Andrew McLeish's cooking is "light and delicate, mixing classic and modern flavours".

Also making the list is Firepit Restaurant at The Cave in Canterbury, which has a 4.6 star rating.

The Firepit restaurant at The Cave offers a unique sharing-plate experience and world cuisine
The Firepit restaurant at The Cave offers a unique sharing-plate experience and world cuisine

The Firepit offers contemporary dishes from all over the globe, and diners can tuck into shared plates.

After opening in 2019, chief executive Jonathan Callister said he hoped to create the ultimate in comfort and convenience "at an affordable price”.

The site has become popular among celebrities attracting the likes of former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson and ex-glamour model Katie Price.

Closer to the coast, Rocksalt and Sotirio’s Bar and Restaurant in Folkestone have made the top 100.

Lucas Sotiriou runs Sotirio’s alongside his brother Alex and father Costas, who has been operating restaurants in Kent for more than 35 years.

Rocksalt in Folkestone is one of the top restaurants to visit for Valentine’s Day, according to OpenTable Picture: Rocksalt
Rocksalt in Folkestone is one of the top restaurants to visit for Valentine’s Day, according to OpenTable Picture: Rocksalt

Family values and loyal staff form the backbone of the restaurant, with staff having been with there for more than 60 years combined.

The site, which has a 4.9 rating, was named one of the best in the UK of 2023, again by OpenTable, leaving staff “over the moon”.

In 2022, Harbour restaurant Rocksalt was named by The Times as one of seven ‘destination’ restaurants with a view.

The restaurant has become a town landmark since it opened in 2011 with bosses saying they pride themselves in using “the finest local produce”.

In July, a garden was added to Rocksalt, which overlooks the English Channel and has views of the popular harbour area.

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