When it comes to romance, it’s hard to beat America’s iconic and most romantic city with all the hills, San Francisco. From watching sunsets to sipping cocktails on the go and reveling in the beauty that is, you can’t go wrong planning a romantic date night in San Francisco.
When it comes to picking the perfect restaurant in San Fran, choices seem to be endless, but knowing what you and yours will love is the real research that will take place, all so you can have the perfect date night experience.
Love is in the air and here are our best picks for your date night restaurants in San Francisco.
Foreign Cinema
Topping our list is Foreign Cinema. Just like a romantic fairytale, this place exudes love. It’s a magical destination for local and international visitors, especially for love birds. When you do visit, try having a meal on the patio in the afternoon. The food there will leave you staring out your window daydreaming about your next visit to Foreign Cinema.
On the dinner menu are different kinds of delectable seafood, soup, and the Main features like Hawaiian Mahi-mahi, Heritage brined pork chop, Tunisian spices, exotically spiced duck breast, and so on.
Make your dinner date more memorable by reserving one of the restaurant’s private dining spaces which is great to have more intimate conversations with your lover.
Routier
Routier comes with a mesh of mouth-watering cuisine that will leave your tongue satisfied, but yearning for more! With a rating of 8.8, Routier is the number two pick for an excellent date night filled with sumptuous french delicacy. An open space with a long marble bar and large wraparound windows, this French spot in Pacific Heights is worth heading to for a date night.
Zuni Cafe
In case you are looking for a simple and classy, serene ambiance that offers well-executed servings and exquisite cooking, Zuni Cafe is the place for you. Zuni Cafe provides a warm and intimate ambiance for deep conversations.
The menu is inspired by seasonal organic ingredients and incorporates traditional French and Italian cuisine. Also, note that due to their limited seating capacity, tables are reserved for a 2-hour time limit. Dinner reservations are available Wednesday – Sunday from 5:30 pm – 10 pm.
Saru Sushi Bar
Centered in Noe Valley, Saru Sushi Bar is small but perfect for a nice dinner date location. Reservations can’t be made online, so be prepared for a small line at the counter. Sanu Sushi Bar offers decently priced, high-quality fish like Mackerel, Salmon, Whitefish, Shellfish, and others. You can also choose from their different types of rolls, salad, and appetizers.
Marlena
Seeking an unpretentious and seasonal menu perfect for special occasions and fancy dates? Then Marlena is the pick for you. Marlena offers a neighborhood feel which makes for an awesome get-to-know-me type date night. You should try the four-course tasting menu, each course having two options to select from.
To start, many suggest the first course should be the cylindra beet (minneola tangelo, cured egg yolk, bonito yogurt), and the cured hiramasa (bloody mary vinaigrette, shallot, celery). The second course has the tasty handmade orecchiette or seaweed risotto. After, try the seared black cod or the grilled pork collar. Finally comes the sesame/grapes, dark chocolate cremeux, devil’s food cake, and pine needle.
There is so much to be shared while at Marlena. Enjoy chatting with your date throughout the evening, and don’t forget to laugh the night away; only if they make you that comfortable.
La Ciccia
La Ciccia is synonymous with hospitality. This is one place you will feel at home and relish in being taken care of. They have a menu that’s a slideshow of seafood and pasta. This place isn’t only for first dates, but memorable special occasions like anniversaries can also be marked here.
Fable
Just in case you want to keep it casual and enjoy the outdoor feel, Fable offers the patio garden scenery, with a menu consisting largely of burgers, pork chops, and wine. Imagine walking into a storybook typesetting, alongside your partner – sounds awesome, right? Fable has heated lamps and is weatherproof so you don’t have to worry about not enjoying your time. Cheers!
Rich Table
If you love stepping through doors and feeling like you have just traveled through time, then Rich Table restaurant is a pick you should consider. You don’t have to be all dressed up because the setting is warm, the service is attentive, and most importantly, the place is all around spectacular. Select the meal of your choosing from the list of delectable items, and keep us on your contact list to share your review!
Nari
Can we all agree, nothing beats the burst of food melting in your mouth, and the indulgence of flavors creating an unmatched memory? Here at Nari, you will revel in their cuisine. If you are looking for a romantic date night spot, you have found the place! Nari offers a great vibe, a greenhouse relaxed setting with large windows and potted plants coupled with excellent service. Can’t beat it!
Mister Jiu’s
Mister Jiu’s is popularly known for its large hall-like dining room with lovely scenery that feels like a contemporary home of sorts. The restaurant space is overlooking Chinatown and offers an impressive menu. Their menu is known to change based on the season, so you can rest assured the ingredients available will be splendid.
Che Fico Alimentari
The best part of this restaurant is the pasta. Not only is this the most affordable section of the menu, but this restaurant also offers a stellar wine list, Italian style. Che Fico Alimentari has the fan favorites – Nayfeld’s Bucatini Carbonara, Spaghetti Arrabbiata, the Cacio e Pepe, and many more mouth-watering dishes from acclaimed Chef David Nayfeld’s Bucatini.
Violet’s
Good food, cocktails, a bar, and a restaurant, what more could you possibly ask for? Violet’s is a restaurant where you do not have to trade your convenience for discomfort – you can have it all. The ambiance is an in-between of a modern five-star restaurant and a cozy neighborhood spot.
Start with the best blends of the city bird, green light, and violet skies type of cocktails that will leave you refreshed and stimulate your appetite for the evening. Take it a notch higher with the spirituous blends of the Juno, negroni mi amor, or the crossover old-fashioned cocktails to make you feel more confident and energized.
The food menu is a variety of bar snacks, impossible burgers, different kinds of salads, plates of wild mushroom risotto, maiale di latte, grilled Mt. Lassen Trout, and desserts to tickle your fancy, like chocolate cookies and trifles.
Al’s Place
If you believe that music makes everything better, then you’d love the fact that Al’s Place has the type of speakers that allow customers to be enmeshed by the music and mood.
They have a menu that will go with the seasonal flow. You can look forward to the chef’s favorite eat-with-your-hands baby lettuce. More on the menu include the British curried squash, radicchio, fried brussels sprouts, and so on.
Bellota
Bellota is a well-designed space to dine in with your partner. The servers are experts in the menu options, providing a personal touch of knowledge when it comes to your selection. Relish in enjoying superb wine recommendations, a plate full of mouth-watering cuisine, and comfortable scenery accompanied by a grand piano.
Del Popolo
Del Popolo also referred to as “Pizza in Tendernob” is an awesome pick for a chatty date night. Its space is set like a kitchen island and tables are set horizontally facing the counter. You get to watch your pizza get prepared, take a few sips of your wine, or actually down the entire cup, play games, and unwind. This spot is a 10 for the perfect casual, conversation-filled night.
There you have it, 15 of the finest restaurants to have romantic fine dining in San Francisco. So whether you’ve just swiped right or you are looking to stoke the flames of a long-term love affair, all of the spots on this list are sure to impress and will have your date head-over-heels. Bookmark this list for your next date planning in the romantic city of San Francisco, we’ve got you. Date on.
If you are needing more ideas, experiences, or suggestions of date night places to go in any city, connect with the Couples Experience CE Circle for all the goods.
