Experts Agree: These Are The Most Romantic Restaurants In America
Everyone knows the adage about the way to someone’s heart, so it’s no surprise that Valentine’s Day is one of the best holidays for food. Romantic candlelit tables! Aphrodisiacs everywhere! Chocolate everything!
If your special someone’s love language is acts of service, you may be making a romantic meal at home. And, luckily for you, we have V-Day dinner ideas for every type of celebration (especially if you want to drop extremely subtle hints with our Marry Me Chicken). But couples everywhere are also getting dressed up to enjoy Valentine’s Day dining out on the town.
Whether you’re keeping it low-key at your regular spot or balling out with a fancy prex fixe menu, reservations are famously in high demand on the 14th. So what restaurants are people flocking to this year?
Industry experts at OpenTable and Yelp have independently released lists of the best Valentine’s Day-approved restaurants in the United States. OpenTable analyzed reservation demand and diner reviews for restaurants all over the country and identified the top 100 romantic restaurants in America. Yelp analyzed review volume and relevant keywords, among other metrics, before compiling their own list of the top 100 date night restaurants of 2025.
The resulting studies came to very different conclusions — but they have five specific restaurants in common. Customers overwhelmingly turn to these romantic spots for date night dining. Have you visited any of these Valentine’s Day destinations? Let us know in the comments.
Guard and Grace - Denver, CO
Right in the middle of downtown Denver you can find Guard and Grace, a steakhouse in a sprawling 9,000 square foot space. This modern spot highlights wood-fired food with a live oak fire in the center of the open kitchen. Order a steak (or two), grab a bottle of wine from their floor to ceiling wine room, and make sure to leave room for a dessert for a Valentine’s Day to remember.
Coastal Fish Company - Memphis, TN
One thing that’s guaranteed to make a meal more romantic is if it’s accompanied by some stunning scenery. That’s especially true at Coastal Fish company in Memphis. The restaurant sits right on Hyde Lake in the city’s Shelby Farms Park, so every dinner comes with a perfect view of the sunset. Their menu primarily features seafood, naturally, including an extensive oyster selection.
GW Fins - New Orleans, LA
There are plenty of reasons to travel to the Big Easy this year, from the Super Bowl to Mardi Gras. But it’s also a great Valentine’s Day destination, thanks in part to GW Fins. Right around the corner from the heart of Bourbon Street, GW Fins highlights seafood from the Gulf of Mexico with a Southern spin. It’s also worth visiting for their wine list alone — they’ve earned Wine Spectator’s Award Of Excellence every year since 2002.
Geronimo - Santa Fe, NM
The ambiance can make or break a dining experience. And few dining rooms are as romantic as Geronimo's in New Mexico's capital. The building has been around since 1756, with traditional Southwestern architectural features—like adobe walls, cozy kiva fireplaces, and grand wood beams. It's the perfect setting for their globally-inspired and seasonal menu.
Leo’s - Grand Rapids, MI
Leo's in downtown Grand Rapids has been a fixture in the city for over two decades, and it's still one of the best destinations for date night. Their seafood menu features plenty of classic dishes, like a creamy lobster bisque and a decadent surf and turf. But diners especially love staying for dessert — their warm chocolate chip skillet cookie topped with ice cream and hot fudge is a must-order.
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