I have a confession: I loathe Valentine’s Day. The roses, the prix-fixe panic, the performative romance under the glare of marketing pressure. Surely love deserves more imagination than a single sanctioned Saturday in February? Every day should be special. I normally opt out entirely.

And yet, this year, I found myself stepping into the splendour of Apollo’s Muse at Bacchanalia in Mayfair — a Greek-inspired temple to indulgence — fully prepared to roll my eyes.

Instead, I found myself looking up. And up. And up again.

Because whatever one thinks about Valentine’s Day, Bacchanalia understands theatre. This isn’t merely lunch — it’s spectacle. Our sitting ran from noon until 3pm in an intimate private room of just ten tables, creating an atmosphere that felt exclusive rather than chaotic. Candlelight flickered against grand Greco-Roman interiors. Live music drifted through the space — a pianist, harpist, and vocalist weaving something genuinely romantic rather than saccharine. It was lush without being loud.

Now, the honest part: the food was plentiful — generous portions, beautifully presented — but if you came purely for culinary revelation, you might find it pleasant rather than profound. This particular experience wasn’t about gastronomic fireworks. It was about immersion. The complimentary Valentine’s dessert was a sweet flourish, the wine excellent, the service warm and attentive without hovering. The £100 minimum spend per person feels less about the plate and more about the production. And what a production it is.

Bacchanalia reimagines the ancient ritual of feasting with imagination on a grand and glorious scale. It is a feast for the senses — décor that stuns, music that softens, lighting that flatters, and a room that encourages people to relax into indulgence. It creates a world apart from grey London pavements outside. Even a Valentine’s sceptic like me had to concede: if one must “do” the day, this is how you do it. Would I suddenly become a February 14th convert? Let’s not get carried away. But for those who long for escapism — who want romance dialled up to cinematic levels — sway this way.

At Bacchanalia, Valentine’s Day feels less like obligation and more like an invitation to step briefly into myth. I would go back, especially to the private invitation only late night bar but probably not to the main restaurant for just the food, although it must be experienced once because everyone has different tastes and needs.