The Best Date Night Restaurants in Cheltenham — and Why Nagomi Tops the List
Cheltenham has a genuinely impressive restaurant scene for a town of its size. But when it comes to date night — an evening where the experience matters as much as the food — the options narrow down quickly. You want something that sparks a conversation, not just fills a table.
Here are some of our favourite picks across the town, followed by a little more detail on why our guests consistently rate Nagomi as their top choice for a date.
Great Date Night Restaurants in Cheltenham
**Nagomi — 1B Crescent Place, GL50 3PG**
An interactive Japanese and Korean table-grill and hotpot restaurant. You cook together, share everything, and the evening builds its own rhythm. The wagyu is extraordinary. The cocktail list is unlike anything else in the Cotswolds. Uniquely intimate in an unusual way — the shared grill creates a natural reason to lean in, pay attention, and laugh together.
**Restaurant Journey — 4 Clarence St, GL50 3NX**
A tiny, reservation-only space with a focused menu and a strong wine list. Excellent for a quiet, considered dinner with impeccable service.
**No.131 The Promenade — 131 The Promenade, GL50 1NW**
A beautifully appointed boutique hotel brasserie on Cheltenham’s most iconic street. The menu is European and confident, the room is warm and candlelit, and the bar is one of the best in town. A strong choice for a relaxed but special evening.
**The Ivy Cheltenham Brasserie — The Promenade**
A reliable national brand in a beautiful building. The room itself does a lot of the work — impressive without being intimidating.
**The Wild Duck — Ewen, near Cirencester, GL7 6BY**
A Cotswolds inn with a warm, atmospheric dining room and a menu built around local seasonal produce. Worth the short drive out of Cheltenham for a date night that feels genuinely away from it all.
Why Nagomi is Our Top Pick for Date Night in Cheltenham
Nagomi works as a date night restaurant for one simple reason: **the experience gives you something to do together.**
Most date night dinners follow the same arc — you sit down, order, and wait. The conversation has to do all the work. At Nagomi, you’re grilling together, sharing dishes, debating which dipping sauce works best with the pork belly, and probably competing to cook the A5 Wagyu to perfection without overcooking it (it takes about 30 seconds a side — this is a source of genuine tension and great fun).
The interactive format breaks any awkwardness. You don’t need to maintain eye contact across a white tablecloth for three hours. You’re doing something together.
Ready to Book Your Date Night? Nagomi is Cheltenham’s most unique dining experience — and one of the most talked-about date nights in the Cotswolds. Grill A5 Kobe Wagyu at your own table, share a Korean hotpot, and let the evening take care of itself. Bookings fill fast on Friday and Saturday evenings.
What to order on a date at Nagomi
– Start with a round of the Korean corn dogs (cheesy, spicy, absurdly good — impossible to look composed eating them) and edamame
– The Wagyu Set Menu (£55 per person) includes A5 Kobe Wagyu — one of the best things you can eat in the Cotswolds
– Order the Plum Spritz or the Shochu Espresso Martini from the cocktail menu
What guests say:
"Absolutely fantastic place! My boyfriend and I drove over an hour to visit and it did not disappoint — it was the best date night we've had in years." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Never been to a Korean Grill before. The food was wonderful and the staff were so helpful — the whole experience felt personal. " ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"By far the most fun and atmospheric place I've ever eaten at. The owner made us feel like the most important people in the room." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best restaurant in Cheltenham for a special occasion?
Nagomi consistently ranks in the top five restaurants in Cheltenham on TripAdvisor and is rated #1 for Korean cuisine. The interactive grill and hotpot format makes it particularly well-suited to birthdays, anniversaries, and date nights.
Do you need to book for a date night at Nagomi?
We strongly recommend it. Friday and Saturday evenings fill up quickly, especially during Cheltenham’s festival seasons.
What is the price range at Nagomi Cheltenham?
À la carte dishes start at around £4–5 for small plates. Our set menus start at £39 per person (Thank You Set) and £55 per person for the Wagyu Set. A full dinner for two with drinks typically comes to £80–£120.
Is Nagomi good for a first date?
Excellent — the interactive grill format gives you something to do together and takes the pressure off pure conversation.
Customer Reviews
We all ordered beautifully presented and tasty treats. I can thoroughly recommend the barbeque meats."
Today I popped in for the lunch time ramen deal. It was just what I needed on a cold October day.
The staff make you feel like family, and really care if you are having a good time."
Book a Table
Planning a night out in Cheltenham? Come and see what all the fuss is about. Table for two — Monday to Sunday.
But don’t just take our word for it – book a table now and experience the flavours for yourself! Whether you’re in the mood for fresh sushi, flavourful Korean bbq, Japanese hot pot or fresh sushi, our restaurant has something for everyone.
- For 7 and above please send us an email via admin@nagomi.uk or please call.
- Optional service charge of 10% is added to the bill.
- Please inform us of any allergies or food requirements.