The Most Romantic Restaurant in Every State

By Jillian Kramer
February 20, 2018
Read McKendree
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to decide where you’ll make a reservation for the most romantic evening of the year. With this list, you won’t have to think too long—we’ve rounded up the most romantic restaurants in every state.
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  Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina, Orange Beach, Alabama

Courtesy of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

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.

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The Grape Tap, Mat-Su Valley, Alaska  

Robert DeBerry

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.

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Lon’s Restaurant at the Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley, Arizona  

David B. Moore

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.  

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Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse, Little Rock, Arkansas  

Grant Boutiette

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.

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Sierra Mar, Big Sur, California  

Kodiak Greenwood

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.

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Beatrice & Woodsley, Denver, Colorado  

Courtesy of Beatrice & Woodsley

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.

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Shell & Bones Oyster Bar, New Haven, Connecticut  

Courtesy of Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill

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.

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Krazy Kat's Restaurant, Wilmington, Delaware  

Courtesy of Krazy Kat's Restaurant

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.

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Latitudes, Sunset Key, Key West, Florida  

Courtesy of Latitudes at Sunset Key

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.

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Canoe, Atlanta, Georgia  

James Camp Photography

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.

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Merriman’s Restaurant, Kapalua, Hawaii  

Courtesy of Merriman’s Restaurant

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. 

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Forty-One South, Sagle, Idaho  

Doug Marshall

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.

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Ella Elli, Chicago, Illinois  

Galdones Photography

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.

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The Eagle’s Nest at Hyatt Regency, Indianapolis, Indiana  

Courtesy of 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.

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Salt of the Hearth, Des Moines, Iowa  

Ashleigh Rader

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.

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Siena Tuscan Steakhouse, Wichita, Kansas  

Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

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.

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The English Grill, Louisville, Kentucky  

Courtesy of The Brown Hotel

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.

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Café Amelie, New Orleans, Louisiana  

Courtesy of Cafe Amelie

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.

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M.C. Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine  

Courtesy of MC Perkins Cove

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.

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The Bluebird Cocktail Room, Baltimore, Maryland  

Shannon Patrick

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.

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Yvonne’s, Boston, Massachusetts  

Eric Levin

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.

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Prime + Proper, Detroit, Michigan  

Aly Sasson

Prime & Proper’s 10,000-square-foot space mixes textiles—patina brass, cowhide and leather, intricate tilework, tufted velvet, white marble, and aged woods—that scream intimate space despite its behemoth presence and fine view of Capitol Park.

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Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis, Minnesota  

Travis Anderson

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.

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The Chimneys, Gulfport, Mississippi  

Chris Vignes City of 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.

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Touch Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Springfield, Missouri  

Courtesy of Touch Restaurant

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.

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Plonk Wine Bar, Missoula, Montana  

Nicole Wickens of Green Door Photography

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.

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Timber Dining Room at Lied Lodge, Nebraska City, Nebraska  

Courtesy of Lied Lodge & Conference Center

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.

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Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas, Nevada  

Courtesy of MGM Resorts International

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.

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Ristorante Massimo, Portsmouth, New Hampshire  

Courtesy of Ristorante Massimo

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.

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Café Matisse, Rutherford, New Jersey  

Courtesy of Cafe Matisse

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.

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Terra, Santa Fe, New Mexico  

Four Seasons Rancho Encantado

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.)

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One if By Land, Two if By Sea, New York, New York  

Courtesy of One if by Land, Two if by Sea

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.

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Canyon Kitchen, Cashiers, North Carolina  

Courtesy of Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley

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.

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Sky’s, Grand Forks, North Dakota  

Phoebee Stensland / Trojan Promotions

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.

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Gervasi Vineyard, Canton, Ohio  

Courtesy of Gervasi Vineyard

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. 

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Vast, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  

Courtesy of Vast

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.

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Stephanie Inn Dining Room, Cannon Beach, Oregon  

Gregor Halenda

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.

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Talula’s Garden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania