"In Dan’s, you’ve got a first date venue that feels like the living room of your most candle-obsessed friend. The Dalston wine bar has a board of by-the-glass options—so you can cut and run after one, or move onto glasses of ‘hectic red’ if things are going well. Exaggerating about your performance as an angel in your Year 3 nativity is hungry work, so get involved in the plates of comté too. This is a buzzy spot that works for romance, a deep ‘getting to know you’ chat, or lighter, no pressure meet-ups." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna