Diners' Choice: Romantic restaurants in California Central Coast

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the most romantic in California Central Coast? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch

4.9

4.9 (2785)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

The Stonehouse, located in a beautiful 19th-century citrus packing house, offers an unparalleled dining experience. Guests can unwind in a relaxing lounge with full bar service or enjoy the ambiance of the separate dining room, complete with a crackling fireplace and world-class views. Chef Matthew Johnson creates evocative regional cuisine, utilizing fresh herbs and vegetables from the Ranch’s organic chef’s garden. The Stonehouse boasts the only Grand Award-winning wine program in Central California, ensuring an unparalleled selection of wines to complement your meal. For a unique twist, visit the restaurant's speakeasy for before or after dinner drinks, where you can enjoy expertly crafted cocktails in an intimate, nostalgic setting.

Top review

Céline

Dined today

The exceptionnel service and experience of excellence is here …Eric was so kind and thoughtful in everything…!

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Olivella - Ojai Valley Inn

4.9

4.9 (500)

$50 and over

Californian

Ojai

About the restaurant

Ojai Valley Inn’s signature dinner restaurant, Olivella, holds the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star and Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence designations. Chef Andrew Foskey is proud to present a seasonally driven menu with a commitment to valley-grown ingredients and techniques inspired by Italian tradition. As a complement to our cuisine, the award-winning wine program showcases expertly curated discoveries and classic bottlings from notable California and Italian producers.

Guests are invited to enjoy our multi course dining experience starting at $150/ person, plus tax and gratuity. Please note that a la carte dining is not available.

We kindly ask that any updates or cancellation to your reservation be made no less than 24 hours prior. Should you not cancel your reservation within 24 hours, or do not arrive for your reservation, you will be subject to a fee of $75 per person.

In keeping with the atmosphere, Olivella is intended for guests 10 years and older.

Top review

KristinVIP

Dined today

Excellent service, extensive wine list and fabulous pastas.

Ca' Dario Cucina Italiana

4.8

4.8 (633)

$31 to $50

Italian

Goleta

About the restaurant

Anything grilled is "divine" and the rest of the menu is "delectable" at the "charming" Italian in Santa Barbara known for its "excellent" execution of "simple" pasta, meats and other classics plus a "fantastic" wine list with many available by the glass; it's a local "favorite", so reservations are a must.

Top review

Julie

Dined on May 17, 2025

Pasta is fresh, hot and delicious. Never disappoints.

Sardine Factory

4.7

4.7 (5094)

$50 and over

Seafood

Monterey

About the restaurant

Every city has that one can’t miss restaurant, where celebrities feel at home and every other guest feels like a celebrity. Since October 2, 1968, The Sardine Factory’s cachet has made dining in our historic Cannery Row setting a tradition for world leaders, sports heroes and entertainment icons. Our award-winning chefs prepare delectable creations of fresh, sustainable seafood and USDA Prime Aged Beef; winner of Restaurant Hospitality Magazine’s "Best Wine List in America" award. The Lounge’s live entertainment, Happy Hour and affordable menu are a casual alternative to our other dining rooms. Celebrating over 50 years under the same ownership and management! Voted "Best Restaurant in Monterey" by Monterey County Herald readers.

Top review

Christopher

Dined 4 days ago

I was extremely pleased with my experience at Sardine Factory. The service was wonderful and so was the food. My only recommendation would be that a dress code would be implemented and enforced, at least during dinner hours.

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Popular dish

Sardine Factory's "Sorbet on Ice Swan"

Popular dish

USDA Prime Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Abalone Bisque

Sierra Mar - Post Ranch Inn

4.6

4.6 (1281)

$50 and over

Organic

Big Sur

About the restaurant

Offering spectacular, picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean, Sierra Mar restaurant at Post Ranch Inn is a farm-driven restaurant that celebrates the coastal bounty of Big Sur and our neighboring communities. Our dishes are centered around the dialogue of balance: on the plate, between sea and land, with sustainability always in mind. Selections from our Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning wine list enhance the inspired cuisine.

We have a family-style lunch experience for $85 per person. Our dinner experience is priced at $185 per person. Lunch and Dinner is available to the general public, however space is limited and reservations in advance are required.

Non-hotel guests will be welcomed at the gate house no more than 30 minutes prior to their reservation.

Top review

KellyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Fantastic lunch with fantastic t service and beautiful views! Highly recommend Sierra Mar!

Casanova Restaurant Carmel

4.6

4.6 (2485)

$50 and over

Italian

Carmel

About the restaurant

Our current hours are as follows.
Monday - Thursday, Dinner 4:30pm to 9:00pm
Friday- Saturday, Dinner 4:30pm to 9:30pm

Policies: We do require a credit card for reservations. We reserve the right to charge guests who do not show up for their reservations or cancel within a 24 hour notice.
The charge for NO SHOW is $35 per guest. We will hold your table for 15min max, and will automatically allot 2hrs for your dining pleasure.
Parties of 5 or more will need to make special accommodations with the hostess.

Thank you for your continuous support!

Top review

KarenVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Casanova’s interior is rustic , chic and romantic, whether you’re seated inside the house or in the back courtyard. The service was top notch and our dinner was superb. My husband had the carrot salad to start followed by the sole diver sole, cooked to perfection and skillfully flirted by our capable server. I had the bursts cheese served with asparagus and lightly drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I had the white sea bass filet as my main course which was seared and served with a very light, and just enough cream sauce with a side of asparagus and morel mushrooms. I fell in love with the Gorius family’s Chardonnay, bright at first turning to creamy and rich. Perfect for me! A little pricey, but with every penny!

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4.5

4.5 (559)

$30 and under

Seafood

Carmel

About the restaurant

Welcome to Catch!.
............................................

Top review

Gene

Dined on Jun 5, 2025

Great seafood entrees Great service wonderful ambience

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Popular dish

Crusted Monterey Bay Calamari Steak

Popular dish

Ultimate Truffled Lobster Risotto

The Black Cat - Cambria

4.4

4.4 (723)

$30 and under

Californian

Cambria

About the restaurant

Open since July 4th, 2002, Black Cat Bistro is known for serving Innovative Farm Fresh Fare. The menu changes often as Black Cat Bistro consistently strives to present fare that is reflective of seasonal, local produce and organically raised or sustainable product.The food is especially cognizant of wine pairings to electrify the palate. The Black Cat has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for nine years in a row.

Black Cat Bistro is small with 45 seats and this is part of what makes it such an intimate dining experience. The service is attentive, unpretentious and refined. The dining rooms are decorated in soothing colors and fabrics. Down pillowed benches frame the edges of two of the three rooms. Candle light adorns the tables covered with white linen. Food is served on white china and wine in crystal Riedel stemware.

Top review

Gene

Dined 4 days ago

Many menu choices; great food; great service. We'll be back!

Plow & Angel Speakeasy

4.3

4.3 (11)

$50 and over

American

Montecito

About the restaurant

For over a century, San Ysidro Ranch has been a haven for those seeking tranquility amidst the captivating landscapes of Santa Barbara. This historic hideaway effortlessly weaves together natural beauty, romantic heritage, and classic luxury, welcoming discerning travelers to experience a retreat like no other. In the heart of this timeless escape, experience indulgence through Afternoon Tea, where an enticing array of tea sandwiches, seasonal scones, and house-made pastries promise to elevate your senses. As the day transitions to night, immerse yourself in a clandestine world within our speakeasy, where crafted cocktails and an intimate ambiance transport you to a bygone era. San Ysidro Ranch invites you to become part of its storied history, where the past meets the present in an atmosphere of natural beauty, culinary delights, and timeless moments.

Top review

Marianne

Dined on May 15, 2025

This bar offers curated cocktails and a limited bar menu, but everything we tried was incredible, clearly prepared by a chef and a bartender who care about their product. Ambience was very cool, service was impeccable. Staff encouraged us to take our drinks and stroll around the gardens, which are beautiful. Just a really enjoyable experience.

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Experience

Plow & Angel Speakeasy

Experience

Afternoon Tea

Cypress Beach House

4.1

4.1 (40)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Pismo Beach

About the restaurant

Cypress Beach House at Inn at the Pier is the premier dining destination in Pismo Beach, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific coastline and a chic California Coastal ambiance.
Our menu highlights the finest California seafood and fresh meats, expertly prepared to showcase the region’s vibrant flavors. Dine outdoors at our ocean view restaurant and bar, where every dish is perfectly paired with signature cocktails, locally sourced wines, and the best craft beers from California’s top breweries. Whether you're unwinding with an after-work drink or taking in a spectacular sunset, every moment here feels extraordinary.

Top review

Herbert

Dined on May 25, 2025

Cipris is an outgoing, awesome server. Kendal was very welcoming.

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