The Most Romantic Restaurants in Seattle

This small and intimate space is definitely one of the best romantic restaurants in the city. Chef Jason Stratton preps a truly impressive menu of authentic Italian dishes like rabbit meatballs with leeks, salsify, parsnips, and fried rosemary, and pan-seared magret duck breast with apple-parsnip gloria grata. The space itself is sophisticated and refined yet intimate enough to feel like it's just you and your sweetheart on a private night out. Order one of the amazing entrees and a bottle of wine and your date will be swooning over you.

Il Terrazzo Carmine is one of the city’s true dining delights. This romantic restaurant has been going strong since the 1980s because of their super high standards, amazing food, and loyal clientele. Tucked away in an urban alley, you can enter through the vintage lobby or the delightful courtyard to find your way to the warm, luxurious dining room. The classic Italian menu never disappoints, from the Carpaccio Di Bue and Spaghettini Dell ‘Ortolano to the Suprema Di Pollo Farcita and Zuppa Di Pesce, you can sample some of the most authentic Italian food in the city. It's a classic spot for a date night that will make you feel like you've stepped into Italy for the evening.

The Metropolitan Grill is exactly what you might think of when you picture a classic steakhouse. Guests enter through tall mahogany doors to meet the tuxedo-clad maitre d's. You can get a glimpse of the cuts of beef showcased in a glass display in the front entryway - and nothing feels more romantic than a world-class meal prepared by amazing chefs. You and your date can choose from the Prime beef, American, and Japanese Wagyu cuts along with a selection of traditional sides and salads to complement your main course. You will feel like you have stepped into another era with the old-school decor and rich wood furniture.

If you and your date are steak lovers, head to the Capital Grille to let nationally renowned cooking wine, dine, and dazzle you. The steaks are dry-aged and hand-cut on premises by the restaurant’s own butchers. You can also opt for seafood, creative sides, and desserts that chefs prepare on site every day. Couples can peruse the amazing wine list and treat yourself to something a truly fancy vintage vino. And it’s a delight to sit in the sophisticated dining room that feels cozy and regal all at once. The Downtown location is perfectly situated for a lingering date followed by a nightcap at one of the trendy bars nearby.

Wild Ginger serves cuisine that spans the Pacific Rim from China to Indonesia and each dish has a distinctive taste. The kitchen uses fresh ingredients like coconut milk, spicy chili, egg noodles, and oyster sauce all made from scratch. What makes this a great date spot is that you get to sample exotic Asian food from all over the continent. The classic dishes are the fragrant duck, seven flavor beef, and black pepper scallops. The restaurant itself is modern and beautiful with high ceilings and a swanky, nightclub feel — a great place to have an early date before heading out to paint the town red.

When you think of a quintessential date bar, it's often a warm, intimate spot with soft lighting and inviting ambiance. Located in Capitol Hill, Bar Cantinetta is exactly that. It's a tiny little nook tucked away on a quiet street and lit only by candlelight after sunset. You and your date can cozy up at a table and choose from their selection of small plates, homemade pastas, and pizzas and choose a bottle of wine that you can linger over after dinner. Their rustic Italian fare is delicious and they have a full bar so you can order dessert along with a cocktail or digestif if you’re not quite ready for the evening to end.

If you really want to go all out on your date night, The Pink Door is perhaps the most magnificent dinner date experience in Seattle. The restaurant has a secret entrance, incredible Italian food, fantastic wine, great service, and the occasional acrobat suspended high above you on trapeze rings. They're one of the few restaurants in Seattle where you can get really dressed up and not feel out of place — the upscale surroundings exude romance. They're a perfect choice for a special occasion like an anniversary, Valentine’s Day, a birthday dinner, or some other kind of romantic celebration.

This trendy restaurant in Capitol Hill is a tiny, one-room place with a marble bar and a candle on every table, but they feel so far away from the hustle and bustle outside you will feel like you’ve transported somewhere far, far away. Single Shot is the place to go if you’re looking for a low-key date - the delicious cocktails are fun to sample in a sparse and beautiful setting. You can also glam it up a bit with a bottle of champagne and some of their decadent small plates and fresh fish if you’re feeling fancy.

Shaker and Spear prepare small plates and seafood in a highly attractive, minimalist space. They have a very friendly, well-dressed staff that will be excited to entertain a couple on a first date or a pair of long-term lovebirds who just want to try something new. They have an excellent menu of small plates and seafood, as well as wines on tap and delicious sides like the bruleed mac and cheese. Plus, once dinner is over, you can always head to Pennyroyal next door for a nightcap before heading home.

Barrio is a beautiful space that has a library meets industrial feel with open piping on the ceiling and floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelves with candles in every opening. They're a perfect place for a date because the ambiance has the warm, intimate vibe that make it easy to talk and canoodle. They also offer great food, like the al pastor tacos, grilled shrimp enchiladas, or any number of the vegetarian options. Check out the lengthy list of margaritas as well.

Westward is an amazing date night restaurant when the weather is nice. You can start out on the waterfront Adirondack chairs to drink a spritzer before dinner and enjoy the balmy breeze. Then move on to oysters and some of the most creative entrees in the city, such as braised pork cheek with pecans and cabbage. If your date is an adventurous eater, they will definitely appreciate some of the selections on this menu. The open-air dining is a wonderful way to share an intimate evening together.

Bateau’s most distinguishing feature is the glass display of raw cow torsos in the restaurant — but don’t let this deter you from bringing a date here! This bright and classy dining spot has amazing cuts of beef and what is perhaps the best burger in town. They have a chalkboard wall with doodles of a cow of it and the nightly steak list written alongside it. The real treat here is that steak this good takes 40 minutes or so to arrive, which gives you plenty of time to order a bottle of wine and take your time lingering over an appetizer before the entrees come out.

This Eastlake restaurant has a perfectly romantic setting with dramatic views of Lake Union and downtown Seattle. The food focuses on Venetian- and Mediterranean-inspired tapas with a strong reliance on the wood-fired oven. They're a wonderful date spot because of the inviting, rustic vibe with a lovely hidden patio. They also serve shared plates so you and your date can sample dishes like the marinated mussels, lamb dolmas, beef tartare, and wood-fired halloumi, and pick out your favorites.