Bar Sprezzatura in Downtown San Francisco

The Most Romantic
Restaurants In San Francisco

By Carol High

Take your special someone to these great San Francisco restaurants for a memorable meal.

What could be more romantic than an unforgettable meal in San Francisco? In a city with an unparalleled culinary scene, you won't run out of options when it comes to planning a special night out with your significant other. Here are some of the most romantic restaurants in San Francisco.

Abrazo

2000 Hyde St.

Nothing says romance quite like tapas. When you want to relax, Abrazo is an intimate Spanish hideaway on Russian Hill serving California/Spanish cuisine from carefully sourced ingredients. Known for superb presentation of modern Spanish cuisine, such as charred octopus or seafood paella, their wine selection covers both Spain and California. The cable car passes by outside the window if you want to take a relaxed ride to Abrazo on the Powell-Hyde cable car line.

Bar Sprezzatura

One Maritime Plaza

Bar Sprezzatura is a popular lunch spot by day and a casual aperitivo and cicchetti bar by night. You'll find traditional Italian cocktails and some new twists on the classics. These are paired with a menu of pizzas, Crudo, pasta, and a diverse selection of meats and cheeses. The perfect romantic night out on the town!

Bouche

603 Bush St.

When you're looking for a quaint restaurant for date night, Bouche is an ideal spot for polished service and California-French fare in a romantic setting. Located above the Stockton Tunnel near Union Square, the chef creates the menu depending on the freshest ingredients available from local farmers. For a truly affordable evening, choose the three-course prix fixe menu priced at $55 per person (when available).

Chapeau!

126 Clement St.

Whether for a birthday or a special occasion, Chapeau! has been the place for romantic dinners in San Francisco since 1996. A quaint French restaurant in the Richmond district, you can choose à la carte or from a three-course prix fixe menu priced at $68 per person. Chapeau! has an impressive selection of wines and champagnes from across France. Now that's something to say Chapeau!, or "wow," about.

Che Fico

838 Divisadero St.

Throughout Italy “Che Fico!” serves as an expression of enthusiasm and admiration. Handmade pasta, pizzas and seasonal Cal-Italian fare, plus wine & cocktails await you and your date in chic top-floor digs.

Dandelion Chocolate

2600 16th St.

Take yourself (and your sweetheart), on a sweet and sugary journey at Dandelion Chocolate. You'll find everything chocolate, from European Drinking Chocolate and Bruleed Brioche to Chocolate Porridge, and a full menu of mochas and cold chocolate drinks. While chocolate is their forte, they have savory items on the menu that are just as delicious, as well as an extensive afternoon tea menu. While they have various locations, their 16th Street location has an extremely Instagrammable Bloom Salon for a perfectly romantic setting. They also have their factory if you're in the mood to see how their decadent chocolates are made.

EPIC Steak

369 Embarcadero

When a view elevates your meal to a different level, then your experience has been truly epic. At EPIC Steak, you'll feel as if you can reach out and touch the Bay Bridge. In the kitchen, a wood-burning oven and grill lend a smoky kiss to grilled Wagyu beef, while the chilled seafood selection gives you a taste of the Bay Area's finest shellfish.

Frascati

1901 Union St.

Frascati is an intimate neighborhood bistro that offers dishes known for their "perfection." Along with your significant other, take in the dim lighting and warm colors. Their stand-out Italian cuisine such as pork chops and house made desserts feature a European influence. A charming Russian Hill restaurant, you might even want to take a romantic cable car ride to Frascati as the Powell-Hyde cable car passes right in front.

Kokkari Estiatorioz

200 Jackson St.

Once you step inside Kokkari Estiatorio you will know that a special evening awaits. The fireplace creates a warm, cozy vibe and they have mastered modern Greek fine dining with dishes such as lamb chops perfected on their mesquite grill, traditional Greek baked moussaka, and baklava ice cream. The stellar bar at Kokkari is not to be missed.

Mathilde French Bistro

315 Fifth St.

Taking your special someone to the theater? Enjoy a romantic pre-show dinner at Mathilde French Bistro in SoMa just blocks from San Francisco's theater district. From the bar, start off with two glasses of French 75 or champagne. Choose to sit inside or in their cozy, covered back patio (it's heated!) as you share classic French dishes such as braised lamb shank or duck confit, followed by decadent profiteroles for dessert. Just like in France, take the prix fixe menu for a great dining deal.

Okane

669 Townsend St.

Date nights don't always require weeks of planning and your best duds. Sometimes you just need to get out and re-connect with your partner over good food and drinks. Enter Okane, a Japanese-style izakaya and sushi restaurant, where the seafood is so fresh it's flown in daily from Tokyo's famed Tsukiji Fish Market. Pour a glass of beer or sake, choose a selection of grilled skewers and nigiri, and spend time bonding with your best friend.

Waterbar

399 Embarcadero

With fresh seafood and a stellar view of the Bay Bridge that are both Instagram-worthy, you'll want to snap a photo with your partner before you dive into your dish. Waterbar's menu features, among many other things, a massive oyster selection and extensive caviar choices perfect for a decadent date night.

Carol High

Carol is a digital marketer creating media-rich content for global audiences covering travel, San Francisco and the Bay Area, food & drink, outdoor experiences, and cross-cultural storytelling. Her work is found in the San Mateo Daily Journal and The Skyline View (Skyline College). Before travel writing, her professional background included working internationally in business, nonprofits, and government. She lives in San Francisco with her family and regularly explores the parks in her city, especially untamed McLaren Park.