insideKENT Magazine Issue 80 - November 2018 | Page 51

Café Mauresque By the time you escape you’ll likely be looking for something a lot more relaxing to do to calm yourselves down, so why not climb aboard one of Canterbury Historic River Tours’ comfortable boats and enjoy a serene guided tour up and down the River Stour? The tours take around 40 minutes and during that time you’ll see a Franciscan island, a gorgeous 13th-century chapel, the 12th-century Eastbridge Hospital, the King’s Bridge which dates from 1134, and The Old Weavers House among other fabulous sights, not forgetting the infamous ducking stool! If you’d prefer to take your trip at night rather than in the afternoon, night tours are also available (although only during July and August when the weather is fair enough for it), so you can mix and match your date in any way that you choose. The next stop on your date is somewhere to satisfy the appetite you’ve likely built up – you’ve had a pretty full-on day and will need to refuel. Café Mauresque is one of the most romantic restaurants in Canterbury, situated in an intimate, lantern- lit cellar underneath the city’s ancient streets. The food is both Moorish and moreish with influences from Turkey, northern Africa and southern Spain, meaning flavour is the name of the game here – if you are searching for food that not only looks good but tastes amazing, Café Mauresque is the place to come. The menu is full of delicious dishes in the form of tagines and slow-cooked stews, paella and plenty of tapas, which are all perfect for a date as they are made for sharing. Ending the evening in a bar drinking cocktails is the ideal way to finish your wonderful date night. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, you’ll definitely want to visit Bramley’s Cocktail Bar. Set out like a 1920’s speakeasy, the vintage décor is authentic and the brilliant cocktails are a marvel to both behold and imbibe. On selected nights during the week there’s live music, so you can dance the night away, sipping cocktails and reflecting on a date to remember. 51