16 Romantic Philadelphia Restaurants for an Unforgettable Date Night

With dim lighting, stone walls, and an extensive wine cellar, Bistro Romano has all the essentials for a go-to date night spot. It also helps that it sits in one of Philly’s most charming neighborhoods and that the food is great, often featuring special prix-fixe menus for holidays. Think classic Italian fare that’s big on tradition and atmosphere. To add a little jolt to date night, take a seat by the piano bar for drinks before dinner and try requesting a romantic serenade.

If your preferred date night formula is dinner and a show, Clementine’s is the perfect spot before or after a stop at the Met—though it’s worth a visit even if you don’t have concert tickets. In the evening the space is dim and inviting, accented with warm decorative lighting and floral displays. When it comes to the menu, discover the romance in comfort foods like boneless short rib or duck bolognese fettuccine alongside the perfect seasonal cocktail.

With a front door that feels like a secret passageway and a calming, minimalist dining room, Hiroki elevates a romantic evening with an instantly transportive environment. This spot also allows the food to be the real star of the show, and rightly so: Executive Chef Hiroki Fujiyama offers a seasonal omakase menu with optional beverage pairing, all starting at $155 per person. Hiroki is considered a bucket-list dining experience in Philly, which could make it all the better to share with an SO in your life.

Sitting pretty on top of the Ironworks building at Pencoyd Landing, Lark offers an airy ambiance and stellar views while still feeling intimate and private. Chef Nicholas Elmi’s Mediterranean menu emphasizes seasonality and sharing, so test the waters of your love by splitting a few plates like half-shell oysters, burrata, and squid ink chitarra with mussels and black truffle.

When skipping town for French-er pastures isn’t really a possibility, a little trip to wine bar Le Caveau may do the trick. The walk-in-only spot exudes warmth and atmospheric joy, enhanced by a lovely (and extensive) line up of ever-updating wines, cheeses, and other appropriate snacks. The dark, intimate space feels casual and offers understated refinement, offering the perfect blend of comfort and occasion for date night.

If you prefer your romance with a side of nature, the historic Valley Green Inn is your spot. The storied tavern is one of the oldest restaurants in Philly, with the carefully preserved rustic charm to make your meal there a moment. The cozy interior is even better if you snag a table in the fireplace room. There’s no better way to sample the surprisingly eclectic menu of new American fare than with the inviting crackle of the fire.

An intimate BYOB restaurant that’s a classic spot for a simply perfect date. A Mano keeps things simple with a four-course menu served family-style, which means everything that comes out will be ideal for sharing with your love. If you and your date can overcome a battle over who gets the last bite of burrata, that’s all the proof you need that you’ve got a love that will last.

The romance of a classic steakhouse never seems to fade. Michael Schulson has reimagined the concept with Alpen Rose, a luxe and ultra dim hideaway on 13th Street serving succulent steaks, stuffed lobster, and baked Alaska with plentiful shares of bourbon and gin. The intimate restaurant seats only 40, and the dining room is cloaked in wood and adorned with ornate chandeliers, making it the perfect spot for getting dressed up to cozy up.

Amada is Jose Garces’ flagship Philadelphia restaurant and a longstanding Spanish tapas destination. It also doubles as a romantic date night classic thanks to warm, subdued interiors and many ways to select and share plates with your companion. Split some essential dishes such as the garlic shrimp and crab-stuffed peppers over a pitcher of sangria, or opt for the chef’s selection at $65 a person.

Not only does this spot immediately impress with a dark interior and speakeasy lounge vibe (along with its killer cocktails), but it also serves as a worthy destination for plant-based partners. Everything on the menu is amazingly, deliciously vegan and can satisfy even the most stubborn of carnivores with artichoke frites, eggplant bao buns, cauliflower steak, and potato gnocchi in sunflower basil purée.

The Dandelion is an expert in two things: elevated British pub fare and maximum coziness. Whether you find a nook in the wood-rich bar room or an inviting table by the window, The Dandelion is a bucket list date destination. Don’t forget to start your meal with a cheese plate and end it with a cup of sticky toffee pudding.

Go downstairs to the cavernous dinner level of this Japanese restaurant, where tables are nestled in dark corners that make dinner feel extra private. For the true experience, try the chef’s tasting menu, where $65 gets you 10 courses including robatayaki, seafood, sushi, and countless other exciting dishes you can share with your date. Plus, what better bonding exercise than pouring over the menu and deciding what to order together?

The long-running, newly renovated Friday Saturday Sunday makes for an idyllic date spot, especially with an eight-course tasting menu as part of the deal. Snag one of the limited number of reservations for an indulgent dinner service in the intimate upstairs dining room, where you’ll share sweetbreads, New York strip, caviar, and more for an impressive date-night feast.

Rex at the Royal is just as grand, airy, and inviting as ever. Whether you take a couple of seats at the wraparound bar or slide into a velvet blue booth beneath the chandelier, there is plenty of ambiance to set the tone. Order from the vast raw bar and craft cocktail menu, or pop in for a late-night visit during the Sunday night speakeasy from 8 pm to midnight for extra good vibes.

Whether you want to sink your teeth into a burger with truffle mayo or drop some cash on champagne-braised escargot, Royal Boucherie is your spot. The French tavern is a gem in the heart of tourist-filled Old City, mingling a homey atmosphere with giant charcuterie boards, a fresh raw bar, and an excellent cocktail menu.

Wrap-around bar to scoot in close? Check. Fireplace with tufted sofas? Check. All the wood-fired pizza you desire? Also check. Wm. Mulherin’s is a good fit whether you want to get some fancy pizza over beers, or go all-in on a feast focused on pasta and extravagant entrees. Its rustic-gone-modern vibe extends to the lush outdoor garden that makes you want to stay all night. Plus, if you really do want to stay all night, its titular boutique hotel is right upstairs.