Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Central London, London –

Oysters have long been rumored to be aphrodisiacs, and regardless of whether that’s actually true, Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar certainly has the requisite sex appeal.

Given its location in the opulent Corinthia Hotel, entering Massimo is like stepping into a Victorian palace. Striped gray-and-white marble columns hold up the towering ceiling, from which a series of huge glass orbs hang precariously, while mosaic designs dance across the walls alongside an extensive library of fine wines housed in gleaming gold shelves behind glittering glass.

The well to do, of course, make a grand showing in the long rows of leather booths lining the walls, be they hotel guests, high-flying West End locals, or dapper tourists on their way to catch a show in the theater district.

An army of predominantly Italian and universally food-savvy waiters serve lobster spaghetti, crispy squid, and filleted sea bass, as well as plenty of heaping plates of oysters that the clientele manages to slurp down with effortless grace.

The glitz comes with a price, though a pre-theater special enables couples on a romantic date to grab a three-course meal for a “paltry” £25, and individual oysters at £1.50 make it possible for the mollusk-curious to easily sidle up to the large bar and try a couple.

Stylish and very relaxed, Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a treat worthy of royalty, but open to everyone willing to pony up for that special night.