The Most Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco for a Magical Date Night

This stylish and elegant bar and restaurant is perfect for a happy hour date. Full of soaring ceilings, plush velvet couches perfect for getting cozy if the mood is right, and romantic lighting, the bustling lunch spot turns into an aperitivo and cicchetti bar at night. Sip on Italian cocktails, snack on Venetian cicchetti, and, if all goes well and you want to linger later into the evening, move onto the menu’s larger dishes, like pizza and pastas, as well as an espresso martini (served with a biscotti) for that second wind.
How to book: Reserve a table online.

A classic steakhouse may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of romance. But stay with us because what’s more romantic than an oversized leather horseshoe booth, impeccable and friendly service, outstanding martinis served with sidecars, and some of the best steak available in the city? Harris’ oozes old-school charm that you can’t find at many San Francisco restaurants anymore, and who among us isn’t wooed by that? Not prepared to commit to an entire sit-down dinner? Enjoy cocktails and appetizers (the full menu is available) in the lounge, where there’s live jazz every night.
How to book: Reserve a table online or by calling 415-673-1888.

Tucked away on the top floor of Fiorella’s Inner Sunset location is a tiny secret bar with just enough room for a handful of people, two of whom should definitely be you and your date. The secluded space is dimly lit with a glowing fireplace and just a few tables, so it’s not the place to go if you want to see and be seen, but it is the place to go if you want to sip thoughtful cocktails while having thoughtful conversations. The food menu is snack-centric, but they’re fancy snacks, and there’s definitely enough to order to make it a meal. And if you’re somehow still hungry, you’re literally inside Fiorella, so you can always chow down on one of the best pizzas in SF.
How to book: Reserve a table online.

If you’re looking for a restaurant with electric energy that makes you feel like you’re part of something just by stepping inside, head to Penny Roma, where you’ll get a lively but intimate experience paired with delicious food. The welcoming, dimly-lit, and plant-filled courtyard comes complete with a retractable roof. It’s giving dinner party vibes, except your co-chefs are Thomas McNaughton and Ryan Pollnow of Flour + Water Hospitality, and the fare is mouth-watering crudos, house-made pastas, and rustic Italian dishes.
How to book: Reserve a table online or walk in—a portion of tables are held for walk-ins, and the restaurant starts taking names for the waitlist at 5:30 pm. If you’re on the waitlist when you arrive, have a glass of wine at the adjoining Flour + Water Pasta Shop—where you may also want to pick up a few things for your home—or enjoy a cocktail next door at Trick Dog.

There aren’t many restaurants like Café Jacqueline in San Francisco—a throwback to a time when servers wore bowties and stayed at the same restaurant for years, tables were covered with white tablecloths and lit by candlelight, and dinner was unapologetically several hours from start-to-finish. The latter is because every soufflé on the menu is made by chef-owner Jacqueline Margulis who has been whisking eggs into towers of heaven for over 40 years—and oh right, because soufflés are basically the only thing on the menu. You’ll order one savory and one sweet (with possibly some onion soup to start) and you’ll share it all (the soufflés are meant for two). And then you’ll make your next reservation before you leave because they’re hard to get (and easier to make if you’re in-person).
How to book: Call 415-981-5565 for reservations.

If you can’t run away with your date to the Greek Isles for the weekend, visiting this Michael Mina restaurant is the next best thing. A beachy Mediterranean ambiance bathed in stark whites, flowing curtains, and large chandeliers beneath high ceilings is paired with truly delicious classic Greek and seafood-focused shared plates. The service is friendly and attentive but remains very much fine dining—there’s even a fish sommelier to help you order—no matter how playful the decor. There is also a tasting menu, but for your first visit or two, it’s more fun to explore the menu with the help of the server. Pro tip: Get the tableside baklava sundae to share for dessert because what is more adorable than sharing a sundae?
How to book: Reserve a table online.

Firefly is a neighborhood spot in a neighborhood that doesn’t exactly scream “date night” (sorry, Noe Valley). Still, your date will surely be impressed with the intimate and cozy space and the menu of healthy and elevated comfort food that changes with the seasons. While you might not immediately envision fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, horseradish slaw, and a buttermilk biscuit when thinking of romantic dishes, trust us when we say that this plate is just waiting to be fallen in love with, as is the decadent brownie sundae.
How to book: Reserve a table online.

A meal at this Moroccan-inspired restaurant is always memorable, so even if the date is mediocre, at least your meal won’t be. With cobalt blue Moroccan floor tiling in the interior and partitioned booths on the outdoor parklet, the space is sexy and moody but also casual enough for a first date. That relaxed ambiance also translates to the food, which is robust, layered, full of spice, and meant to be shared. We would never recommend you put your date to any kind of test, but it is worth noting that sharing food is a great way to get a glimpse into your date’s personality. How do they handle ordering negotiations? Will they know in advance the trio of spread requires additional flatbread? (Well, now you do, anyway.) Who gets the last bite of the date cake you’re sharing? Okay, so it’s a little bit of a test.
How to book: Reserve a table online.

Spruce is a bit of an anomaly in San Francisco in that it’s one of only a handful of restaurants where you’ll see people wearing formal jackets, dresses, and heels. That’s most likely because of its location in Presidio Heights, just blocks away from multimillion-dollar mansions, but also because of the elegant space with its dark wood, studded leather chairs, and cathedral-style ceilings. And while Spruce is definitely popular with an older crowd, it’s still a great place to go on a date when you want to ensure more dates with that special someone happen in the future. Still getting to know each other? Find a spot in the lounge where you can order from a limited menu that features two of our favorite dishes at the restaurant: a burger on a housemade English muffin and a French omelet with seasonal ingredients.
How to book: Walk-ins are welcome (bar seating is first come, first served), but reservations are recommended for the dining room. You can reserve a table online.

This penthouse lounge and restaurant on the 19th floor of the elegant Mark Hopkins Hotel is certainly a favorite with tourists thanks to the 360-degree views of the city and signature martinis, but if you’re looking for romance, don’t eschew it just because of that. It’s also a favorite with locals looking to enjoy sunset cocktails, fancy tapas, charcuterie, caviar, live music, and maybe even a spin on the dance floor. Not convinced? Maybe this story will do the trick: In the early 1940s, when the U.S. entered World War II, Pacific-bound soldiers would go to Top of the Mark to have one last drink, toasting the Golden Gate Bridge for luck, before shipping out.
How to book: Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are available online.

When you think of Zazie, you probably think of would-be brunchers waiting on the sidewalk, gaggles of friends rehashing last night’s antics over mimosas, and parents maneuvering strollers. And that’s pretty accurate—until dinnertime. Once the brunch crowds stumble off, Zazie transforms back into a quiet, intimate bistro with indulgent French fare served by an attentive waitstaff. The place to sit is in the back patio, where you’ll find ivy-covered trellises, twinkling lights, and plenty of lamps to heat things up if you can’t do it yourself.
How to book: Reservations are not accepted. Sign in at the kiosk at the front of the restaurant, and they’ll text you when your table is ready. Grab a drink at Cole Valley Tavern on the corner while you wait.

If you’re looking to infuse a little sex appeal into your date, book a table at this outdoor cocktail lounge perched atop The Proper Hotel. The vibe is a little LA-meets-Europe, but with San Francisco views and weather. Don’t fret about the latter. Charmaine’s has ample cozy fire pits where you can kick back in the comfy lounge chairs with a fancy cocktail and elevated snacks, such as pork belly skewers, pretzel rolls with pimento cheese dip, and charcuterie and cheese boards.
How to book: Reserve a table online.

Your date will be wowed the second you walk out of the elevator on the sixth floor and into the grand space. Formerly the historic banquet hall of the Empress of China, Empress by Boon is full of opulent details, starting with a tea lounge that sits under an antique octagon-shaped pergola from Taiwan and a skylight that filters soft beams of sunlight. This area is an excellent spot to enjoy tea service or a cocktail for a first or second date. When you’re ready to take it up a notch, make a reservation and ask for a table in the front dining room next to a window with cerulean leather booths, wood partitions, and views of North Beach. The modern Cantonese tasting menu from Michelin-starred Chef Ho Chee Boon consists of small bites, such as dumplings topped with caviar and hand-pulled noodles with mushrooms, and definitely feels a little sensual, or at least incredibly thoughtful. It’s an impressive experience that will make your date feel special.
How to book: Reserve a table online.

The perfect first date spot, Mr. Tipple’s has a moody, dimly-lit speakeasy vibe, plus fantastic cocktails and a small menu of dim sum and dumplings. Also: live jazz for toe-tapping, merriment-making, and quiet conversation (or an excuse to be silent for a minute or two to reset floundering discussions.)
How to book: Reserve a table online.

Surprise your date with a twist on “dinner and a movie” by taking them to Foreign Cinema, a beloved SF restaurant that’s been going strong for over 20 years and shows subtitled films on the back wall of the enchanting courtyard with heat lamps and twinkling string lights. This is where you’ll want to sit with your date (although the inside, with its 18-foot ceilings and exposed beams, is also quite lovely if outdoor seating isn’t available). It’s almost imperative that you order oysters or, even better, the Plateaux de Fruits de Mer. From there, you really can’t go wrong with any of the California-Mediterranean fare. Be sure to spend some time with the wine list, too, as it has something for all palates and bank accounts.
How to book: Reserve a table online.

When Absinthe opened in 1998, it immediately became the destination for serious cocktail drinkers. Today, it is still an excellent place to get a fantastic drink, as well as a romantic spot for French and Mediterranean-inspired fare. Though the dining room is known for being the more intimate space because of its plush chairs and hand-painted murals of the garden of Versailles, sitting at a bistro table in the corner of the front bar is much cozier and more reminiscent of a Parisian brasserie—almost like a jaunt to Paris without the jet lag. Start with oysters or caviar from the raw bar and a classic cocktail (one that includes absinthe, if you dare), and see where the evening takes you from there.
How to book: Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended. You can make them online.

Walking into BIX feels like stepping into a swanky 1930s supper club. The dimly lit two-story dining room features soaring ceilings, an Art Deco design, and a mahogany bar operated by bartenders in white tuxedo jackets and black bow ties. The bar and restaurant scene is always bustling thanks to expertly concocted cocktails, live jazz seven nights a week, and people looking to see and be seen. Those seeking a more intimate experience should ask to be seated on the mezzanine where they’ll be able to take in the vibrant scene below in relative privacy.
How to book: For last-minute reservations, call 415-433-6300; otherwise, reserve a table online.

Any fancy restaurant with stunning up-close views of the waterfront and the Bay Bridge lights will feel a little sexy, but add in sustainably sourced fish, floor-to-ceiling aquariums, and a heated patio, and the sex appeal shoots through this two-story roof. And did we mention the oyster bar? Waterbar has one of the most expansive selections on the entire West Coast. Not ready to commit to an over-the-top $140 seafood tower? Waterbar has an excellent happy hour from 2:30 to 5 pm every day, and a daily featured oyster for $1.55 (with five cents of each one sold supporting St. Anthony’s Foundation).
How to book: Reserve a table online.

This glass-encased flat-iron-shaped restaurant is still crowded with locals and tourists over 40 years after it opened. That’s partly because of the laid back—but not too laid back—SF vibe and the quality cocktails served at the zinc bar, but primarily because of the phenomenal California cuisine—the most popular of which is cooked in the wood-burning oven. For those looking for a romantic evening, a seat in the corner on the second level overlooking the street is ideal. What to order? Why, the Zuni Caesar salad to start, followed by the famous roasted chicken for two with warm bread salad, of course.
How to book: To make a reservation for outdoor dining, call 415-552-2522 or reserve a table online.