Tasting America One Most Romantic Restaurant at a Time

Alabama: Fisher’s Upstairs at

Orange Beach Marina, Orange

Beach

Picture it: It’s sunset. You’re staring

down at multi-million dollar boats

docked at a golden-cast harbor as you

sip sparkling wine and feed one another

locally-sourced scallops, prepared by a

James Beard Award-semifinalist. That

is the romantic scene you can set with

your significant other at Fisher’s

Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina.

Alaska: The Grape Tap, Mat-Su

Valley

Don’t judge this book—err,

restaurant—by its cover. In the

basement of this 1930s pioneer home-

turned-restaurant is a dimly-lit wine

cellar complete with stone walls. Here,

you can indulge in a wine flight as you

get to know your love a little bit better.

Arizona: Lon’s Restaurant at the

Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley

Lon’s Restaurant offers not one but many

romantic settings for an intimate dinner

experience: an outdoor dining space surrounded

by low adobe walls and nearby mountains, an

indoor dining room illuminated by candlelight,

and a wine cellar that offers seating for 12

people, perfect for your next double—or

sextuple—date night.

Arkansas: Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse,

Little Rock

Old world elegance awaits you and your date at

Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse, where wood

paneling and stone details deck the walls and

staff are decked out in tuxedo shirts and bow-

ties. But the real wow factor isn’t in the décor—

it’s actually behind closed doors, where patrons

can rent lockers in the restaurant’s wine cellar.

Rent one, and a staff member will serve your

private bottle during your next date night.

California: Sierra Mar, Big Sur

Perched atop the cliffs of Big Sur—soaring some

1,200 feet high and with panoramic views of the

Pacific Ocean—is Sierra Mar, a restaurant set

inside the Post Ranch Inn. On a clear, warm night,

patrons can dine on the restaurant’s patio under

the stars.

Colorado: Beatrice & Woodsley, Denver

When you want nothing more than to cozy up in a

cabin with your loved one, head to Beatrice &

Woodsley, a restaurant that was designed to bring

Colorado’s stunning outdoor scenery inside to a

rustic, cabin-like setting, complete with lantern

lighting.

Connecticut: Shell & Bones Oyster Bar,

New Haven

Set on New Haven’s historic waterfront, Shell &

Bones Oyster Bar beckons lovers to warm

themselves by fires—inside and outside. And its

nautical décor and floor-to-ceiling waterfront

views will transport couples on a mini-vacation, if

only for dinner.

Delaware: Krazy Kat's Restaurant,

Wilmington

Enjoy eating in what was once an old

blacksmith’s shop—with hooks still on Krazy

Kat’s Restaurant’s walls—then stroll through the

restaurant’s grounds and gardens.

Florida: Latitudes, Sunset Key, Key

West

Latitudes offers the ultimate experience in

romantic privacy: you must take a boat to reach

this secluded space. Once here, you can dine

outdoors, with the ocean’s breeze gently blowing

through your hair and a sunset over the Gulf of

Mexico in your sights.

Georgia: Canoe, Atlanta

Located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River,

Canoe brings guests right up to the water, on a

patio offering views of both nature and manicured

gardens, where couples can stroll after dinner to

escape the hustle and bustle of nearby Atlanta.

Hawaii: Merriman’s Restaurant,

Kapalua

Poised on the edge of the ocean, Merriman’s

Restaurant offers more than just views: Couples

can snuggle up to one another on intimate

couches—or embrace by outdoor fire pits as the

sound of crashing waves serve as background

music—while they eat.

Idaho: Forty-One South, Sagle

Forty-One South sits on the waterfront of Lake

Pend Oreille, a beautiful sight from inside the

restaurant’s nearly floor-to-ceiling windows.

While you may spot snow outside, you can keep

yourself and your date warm by a wood-burning

fireplace.

Illinois: Ella Elli, Chicago

Step into Ella Elli, and you almost step back in

time to the 1920’s, where loveseats designed for

two and alcove booths—private booths—reign

supreme. A meant-to-be shared menu adds to

the romantic ambiance inside.

Indiana: The Eagle’s Nest at Hyatt

Regency, Indianapolis

Take a spin—quite literally—with your love at

the Eagle’s Nest, a rooftop restaurant that

revolves 360 degrees, offering unparalleled

views of the city skyline all around. It’s as

romantic as the classic Ferris Wheel—only with

wine and linen tablecloths.

Iowa: Salt of the Hearth, Des Moines

The centerpiece to Salt of the Hearth—if the

name didn’t already tip you off, that is—is a

roaring fireplace smack in the center of the

restaurant. Velvet floor-to-ceiling curtains add

elegance and, of course, a bit of privacy

lovebirds will likely appreciate.

Kansas: Siena Tuscan Steakhouse,

Wichita

Hotel restaurants have an allure all their own.

Throw in the floor-to-ceiling wine display

featured at this mainstay on the second floor of

the Ambassador Hotel, and you're sure to have a

good night.

Kentucky: The English Grill, Louisville

People may have dubbed The English Grill the

most popular restaurant in Kentucky, but with

its oak wood panels and equestrian artwork—

plus a list of more than 400 wines to choose

from—we hereby name it the most romantic

restaurant in the state.

Louisiana: Café Amelie, New Orleans

The expansive French doors on this old New

Orleans mansion sweep open into the most

charming courtyard, bedecked with gas-light

lanterns, a three-tiered fountain, and tables

tucked right into the foliage. But Café Amelie’s

menu was also made with romance in mind; its

oysters—a known aphrodisiac—are delicious

any time of year.

Maine: M.C. Perkins Cove, Ogunquit

If the epic views of Oarweed Cove from M.C.

Perkins Cove’s floor-to-ceiling windows don’t

put you in a romantic mood, then surely its

extensive raw bar options will.

Maryland: The Bluebird Cocktail

Room, Baltimore

With the Bluebird Cocktail Room, romance

starts with the restaurant’s name—it’s named

after a poem—continues to the bar, where hand-

cut ice allows pairs to linger over drinks, and

continues into the dining room, where crystal

chandeliers, a fireplace, and made-for-

canoodling golden seats beg couples to get a

wee bit closer.

Massachusetts: Yvonne’s, Boston

Make a reservation for Yvonne’s library room,

and you’ll soon be cozying up to your loved one

by the Locke-Ober’s original fireplace, which

dates back to 1832. You can order drinks and

small plates meant to be shared, then pull a book

from the library’s shelves—one of which houses

a first edition Peter Pan—and read to one

another.

Michigan: Prime + Proper, Detroit

Prime & Proper’s 10,000-square-foot space

mixes textiles—patina brass, cowhide and

leather, intricate tile work, tufted velvet, white

marble, and aged woods—that scream intimate

space despite its behemoth presence and fine

view of Capitol Park.

Minnesota: Spoon and Stable,

Minneapolis

Walk into Spoon and Stable and you may feel as

if you stepped into a chef’s house—albeit a very

design-savvy chef’s house. Banquettes are made

even more homey with the presence of throw

pillows, while Oriental rugs warm up cool-toned

wood floors.

Mississippi: The Chimneys, Gulfport

You could get lost in your lover’s eyes—or you

could get lost in the view from The Chimneys,

which, set on the Gulf of Mexico, offers both

views of the sea and of the ancient, moss-covered

live oak trees that survived the worst of

Hurricane Katrina.

Missouri: Touch Restaurant & Oyster

Bar, Springfield

When you want to dress to impress—in a setting

that can be described as more city-chic than

intimate and candlelit—look no further than

Touch Restaurant & Oyster Bar, where you’ll

find two floors of stylish décor and

conversation-starting artwork.

Montana: Plonk Wine Bar, Missoula

Where there is romance, there is (very often)

wine. And that’s just one reason Plonk Wine

Bar—which boasts dozens of wines by the glass

and more than 400 wines by the bottle—makes

our most-romantic restaurant list. The other? It

has a rooftop bar where romance can blossom

over one of those bottles and under the twinkle

lights.

Nebraska: Timber Dining Room at

Lied Lodge, Nebraska City

At Timber Dining Lodge, the farm comes to

your table—and into your sights. Seated

beneath a soaring timber-wood ceiling, you and

your date will have views of Arbor Day Farm,

which has rolling green fields that seem plucked

from a Jane Austin novel.

Nevada: Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas

When you want a space that exudes decadence,

look no further than Joël Robuchon, which

boasts walls draped in velvet and an 18-course

menu that will wow any date.

New Hampshire: Ristorante Massimo,

Portsmouth

Three of your senses will go into romantic

overload at Ristorante Massimo, where exposed

brick walls, oil paintings, and candlelight greets

your eyes; Frank Sinatra croons in your ears;

and prime, Grade-A steaks and fine wines tickle

your tongues.

New Jersey: Café Matisse, Rutherford

Inside, you’ll find traditional romance—think:

crisp white linens and candlelight—and

something more exotic—a room with an eclectic

Moroccan theme, including brass lanterns, gold-

hued walls, and wood-carved paintings. But if

you don’t get the feels inside Café Matisse, you

will feel your romance bloom in its outdoor

garden.

New Mexico: Terra, Santa Fe

If the glorious sunsets and sweeping mountain

views at Terra don’t scream romantic to you,

chances are nothing will. (Its garden-to-table

dishes will also catch your eye.)

New York: One if By Land, Two if By

Sea, New York

Harley Viera-Newton, model, It-girl, and DJ,

chose One if By Land, Two if By Sea as the site

for her wedding. If that doesn’t convince you of

this restaurant’s romantic virtues, then perhaps its

history will tug at your heart: the 1767 carriage

house it occupies was the home of Aaron Burr,

and was named after a Paul Revere poem.

North Carolina: Canyon Kitchen,

Cashiers

Nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains—

and framed by verdant forests and meadows

encircled by thousand-foot cliffs—is Canyon

Kitchen. Take in the views, with a cocktail in

hand, on the restaurant’s front porch before your

meal, or step into the backyard—a manicured

garden—for a nightcap under the starry night sky.

North Dakota: Sky’s, Grand Forks

With large windows overlooking downtown

Grand Forks, Sky’s offers the best view in town.

It’s also got a lounge made for lovebirds: it’s got

private sectionals where you can cozy up with a

handcrafted cocktail and get to know one another

better.

Ohio: Gervasi Vineyard, Canton

Take a stroll through the vines at Gervasi

Vineyard before sitting together near the

restaurant’s fireplace or outside, with views of

weeping willows and a large pond.

Oklahoma: Vast, Oklahoma City

Soaring some 762 feet over downtown

Oklahoma City, Vast is, well, vast: inside the

restaurant are a vast bar space, a vast Edison-

bulb chandelier, and, of course, vast floor-to-

ceiling windows for that vast view—a vast, epic

setting for an epic romance.

Oregon: Stephanie Inn Dining Room,

Cannon Beach

Quick, what’s more romantic: a lighthouse, a

beach, or an island? If you can’t choose, that’s

actually A-OK. At Stephanie Inn Dining Room,

you won’t have to pick between the sights. The

restaurant offers views of the Pacific Ocean,

Tillamook Lighthouse, and Haystack Rock, a

large sea stack (think of it as a mini island) in

Cannon Beach.

Pennsylvania: Talula’s Garden,

Philadelphia

Talula’s Garden is the indoor-outdoor restaurant

of your dreams. With reclaimed-wood tables and

green couches inside and the smell of fresh herbs

on the outdoor patio, it’s almost like you took

your date home—if you had a service staff at

home.

Rhode Island: Spiced Pear at the

Chanler at Cliff Walk, Newport

The Chanler at Cliff Walk has been named the

most romantic hotel in the U.S., so it only makes

sense that its signature restaurant, Spiced Pear,

would ooze romance as well. Ask for a table

with ocean views—and an accompanying ocean

breeze—as you indulge in a menu that features

iconic items such as butter-poached Maine

lobster.

South Carolina: 82 Queen, Charleston

The walk to 82 Queen—along a narrow, gas-

lamp-lit alley—is romantic enough, but at the

end of that walk couples will find even more

romance: a garden courtyard, the perfect place

to dine under the stars or sit and slowly sip a

glass (or bottle) of wine.

South Dakota: Minerva’s Restaurant,

Sioux Falls

Minerva’s Restaurant is the perfect nightcap to

an evening out—its location near the

Washington Pavilion, local movie theater, and

sports center make it so. But even if you begin

your night here, you’ll have a very romantic

evening: on the weekends, there is live music on

the weekends to serenade you and your date in

the dim light.

Tennessee: Rumours East, Nashville

Pop a bottle of champagne—or sip on a hand-

crafted cocktail—under the pergola at Rumours

East, which also boasts the best, most romantic

patio in East Nashville.

Texas: The French Room, Dallas

The French Room, as its name suggests, is the

epitome of fine French architecture: it has

soaring arched ceilings with gilded Venetian

plaster and crystal chandeliers. In other words,

you can bring your date to France, without

having to buy a plane ticket.

Utah: The Roof, Salt Lake City

According to inside sources, The Roof is a

popular destination for Mormon lovebirds to

pop the question, and that may have a little

something to do with the restaurant’s stunning

sky-high view of Temple Square. Upping the

romance factor is a Plexiglas piano—one of

only 75 such pianos in the world—playing

softly in the background.

Vermont: Hen of the Wood, Waterbury

Hen of the Wood offers the coziest of settings:

stone walls, wooden rafters, and comfortable

leather seating combine to create the most

warm, inviting dating space.

Virginia: Lemaire Restaurant,

Richmond

Set inside the Jefferson Hotel, which was built

in 1895, Lemaire Restaurant today looks

unchanged from the day its door first opened—

eight separate dining spaces are each adorned

with different details: cream-colored marble

walls, wood-burning fireplaces, and crystal

chandeliers, each evoking a romantic and

luxurious ambiance.

Washington: The Pink Door, Seattle

The most romantic evening of your teens—a

night at the local fair, of course—is reimagined

at The Pink Door, where you will find trapeze,

cabaret, music, and even tarot-card reading—in

addition to amazing food—within view of iconic

Elliot Bay.

West Virginia: Laury’s Restaurant,

Charleston

American cuisine with French flare and an

extensive wine list set the date-night tone at

Laury’s Restaurant, which offers views of

Charleston and the Kanawha River.

Wisconsin: Lovechild, La Crosse

A romantic environment can be created with the

right light, and that’s exactly what Lovechild

does with individual, low-lit lamps beside every

bar stool and banquette that cast just the right

glow on the space’s exposed brick walls and

metallic finishes.

Wyoming: Glorietta Trattoria, Jackson

Hole

Glorietta Trattoria brings a bit of Brooklyn-chic

to Jackson Hole—it was, after all, designed by a

Brooklyn firm—which makes a meal here

almost like a mini vacation out of the country

and into the city. And we all know vacations are

super romantic.