If the reality of your romantic meals out typically involves a wilted bouquet from the petrol station and a stilted evening in your local pizzeria, it’s time you injected some spontaneity into your evenings out. With summer promising lazy days and balmy nights, get a taste of holiday romance by whisking your lover for an amorous weekend away. These intriguing restaurants promise to serve an experience to remember.

Archaion Gefsis

To know your restaurant experience was orchestrated by philologists and archaeologists wouldn’t normally instil dining confidence, but as the only restaurant in the world solely offering cuisine from Ancient Greece, Archaion Gefsis needed to ensure accuracy. Potatoes, rice and sugar are banned from the menu – they didn’t exist in Ancient Greece – so instead expect nutritious, tasty dishes like pork stuffed with plums or sweet pancetta in a honey and chickpea sauce. True timeless classics.

www.arxaion.gr

Three-course meal for two and a bottle of wine: €62

Solo Per Due

One of the world’s smallest restaurants, Solo per Due (Only for Two) accommodates only two people at a time so there’s no chance of nosey neighbours listening in as you whisper sweet nothings. Service is discreet, with waiters only appearing if you ring a bell, and should you wish to really impress your date, they can arrange a private fireworks display to conclude your meal.

www.soloperdue.com

Three-course meal for two and a bottle of wine: €500

Hospitālis

We don’t know anyone who eats hospital food out of choice so ‘Hospitālis’ is a courageous concept. Luckily this hospital-themed restaurant is staffed by waitresses who know how to entice reticent customers through the door. They’re dressed as sultry nurses and encourage diners to try the clinic’s inventive specialties. Options from the restaurant’s ‘crazy’ menu – such as rare Argentinean steak – may not seem overly romantic, but the quirky décor is a definite conversation starter.

www.hospitalis.lv

Three-course meal for two and a bottle of wine: €80

Garlic & Shots

Although perhaps unsuitable if you’re hoping a first date might go a little bit further, Garlic and Shots is an interesting proposition for couples that are truly comfortable with each other. Every dish on the menu includes the pungent ingredient, so while staple dishes such as garlic bread are to be expected, banana Congo coffee garlic brownie and the like may require you to be somewhat more adventurous.

www.garlicandshots.com

Three-course meal for two and a bottle of wine: €74

Dans le Noir?

Whether you want a blind date with a difference or can just no longer bear the sight of your partner, Dans le Noir? has you covered. Served by blind waiters, diners here eat in complete darkness. Although disorientating at first, visitors’ temporary loss of vision causes other senses to become heightened, and with the concept growing in popularity, this is fast becoming the restaurant to be seen in. (Figuratively rather than literally that is.)

www.danslenoir.com

Three-course meal for two and a bottle of wine: €100