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Two hand holding wine giving a cheers above a table filled with dinner entrées.
Date night at The Love in Rittenhouse.
The Love.

The Ultimate Restaurants for Date Night in Philly

Moody lighting, classy cocktails, and prix fixe menus for that special-occasion dinner on your calendar

by Ernest Owens Updated
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Date night at The Love in Rittenhouse.
| The Love.
by Ernest Owens Updated

Whether it’s for date night, a job promotion, a birthday celebration, or really any other event worth breaking out the Champagne for, Philly has no shortage of restaurants where you can have a romantic dinner. When your neighborhood watering hole doesn’t feel quite special enough — no shade to Citywides, but sometimes you just need a nice wine list — there are more than enough low-lit, intimate, and moody destinations to visit for a special dinner on the town. The tuxedo is definitely optional at all of the following spots, but hey, that could be fun, right?

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Jansen

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If you’re in the Northwest, there’s no better romantic restaurant than Jansen in Mt. Airy. Situated on cobblestoned Germantown Avenue, chef David Jansen’s namesake occupies a historic 18th-century house with the original fireplace and a beautiful outdoor patio. Enjoy a fine-dining menu that includes a seasonally changing menu of oysters Rockefeller, elk osso bucco, and stuffed acorn squash. The wine list is impressive, too.

7402 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119
(267) 335-5041
(267) 335-5041
A plate of grilled seasoned chicken breast on top of sautéed green beans.
Dinner at Jansen.
Janen.

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Lark

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On the rooftop of the Ironworks building across the river from Manayunk, Nick Elmi and Fia Berisha’s Lark is a lovely space for date night, with art deco chandeliers, velvet banquettes, and a gorgeous view. The coastal Mediterranean menu is as special as the environment: Dishes like braised chilled leeks and blue crab and pink peppercorn strozzapreti are crafted with care, perfect alongside a stellar list of cocktails and wine.

Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing, 611 Righters Ferry Rd, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(484) 434-8766
(484) 434-8766

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South Restaurant & Jazz Club

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Nothing says romance quite like live jazz, which is why any intimate occasion calls for a night out at South Restaurant & Jazz Club on Broad Street. The restaurant pairs delicious, warming soul food — like shrimp and grits or vegan jambalaya — and a classy dining experience with great music; purchase tickets for specific shows to guarantee a table reservation.

600 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 600-0220
(215) 600-0220

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Radicchio Cafe

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An Old City favorite, this historic Italian BYOB is the perfect spot to dine romantically on a budget (most main course entrées are under $25). Try their delicious veal marsala, succulent shrimp laceno, and split ziti al telefono (ziti pasta, pieces of meatballs, tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese) with your date for the perfect dinner combo.

402 Wood St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 627-6850
(215) 627-6850

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Vernick Food & Drink

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Every Philadelphian has to go on at least one date at Vernick Food & Drink on Walnut. Get a seasonal sampling of Greg Vernick’s fine-dining specialties, such as swordfish a la plancha and pork milanese, alongside an excellent wine selection, which you can also take home from the Vernick Wine Shop next door. Try your luck for a seat at the first-come-first-served bar or chef’s table, where you can still access the full menu, or make a reservation on Tock, where you could also opt for a tasting menu.

2031 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 639-6644
(267) 639-6644

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The Love.

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One of Rittenhouse’s beloved restaurants is called “The Love” for a reason. At night, the ambience is intimate with perfectly dimmed lights and cozy seating. If you date is a meat lover, recommend the tasty rigatoni and short rib. If they are into light fare, the ricotta ravioli is immaculate.

130 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 433-1555
(215) 433-1555

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Fork

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A stalwart of Philly’s farm-to-table dining scene, Fork on Market is always bound to make a night special. A lovely atmosphere in Old City makes menu highlights like farm beans, striped bass, and coconut custard for dessert taste extra sweet. You can make reservations online.

306 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-9425
(215) 625-9425

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Alpen Rose

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The ultimate dining destination to make a proposal or serious dating commitment, this grand steakhouse from Schulson Collective doesn’t disappoint. Be sure to come hungry — their divine 38 ounce tomahawk ribeye steak, savory lamb rack, beef wellington, and lobster linguine is nothing for the meek.

116 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 600-0709
(215) 600-0709

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Friday Saturday Sunday

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Friday Saturday Sunday, the fine-dining restaurant helmed by Chad and Hanna Williams on South 21st Street, practically invented special occasion dinners. Within the bright, cozy space, the tasting menu is constantly evolving (think barbecue veal cheek and crudo with yuzu, sunchoke, and bone marrow gelée) and the cocktails are cheekily named and lovely to boot. You can make reservations for the online.

261 S 21st St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 546-4232
(215) 546-4232

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Talula's Garden

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One of the city’s original farm-to-fork restaurants, Talula’s is a beautiful place to eat outside with their perfectly lit garden and beautiful seating. Their tasty well-portioned entrées (such as their smoked pork belly, seared sea scallops and gulf shrimp, and black angus sliced strip steak) are perfect to share with your date.

210 W Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 592-7787
(215) 592-7787

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Vetri Cucina

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The OG of date night continues to impress diners 25 years later with their expansive and inventive Italian menu. This exquisite dinner is pricy (tasting menu is $165 per person, additional wine pairing is $95 per person), but when you’re eating impeccable spaghetti and prawns, roasted lamb saddle with eggplant, and torta di rison with figs from the legendary chef/owner Marc Vetri — it’s worth every dollar.

1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 732-3478
(215) 732-3478

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Southwark Restaurant

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Southwark restaurant in Queen Village is Chris D’Ambro and Marina De Oliveira’s tribute to romantic dining, with candlelit tables, a cozy old-school bar, and dishes like lamb terrine and fluke crudo. You can make reservations online. (If you’re looking for an even more intimate experience, you can try to reserve a table in the kitchen at Southwark’s nearby modern Italian sibling, Ambra.)

701 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 930-8538
(267) 930-8538

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River Twice

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Eating at the bar is always a pro move (it’s just cooler), especially true at River Twice in Passyunk Square. Amanda and Randy Rucker’s fashionable restaurant prioritizes a four-course menu, available Thursday through Monday. The chef’s counter offers an extended experience during which Randy and his team walk diners through the process of menu development (a new one every two weeks) with small, detailed dishes like raw surf clam or dry-aged duck with rutabaga. Reservations for both the counter and the rest of the restaurant are available on Resy.

1601 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(267) 457-3698
(267) 457-3698

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Gabriella's Vietnam

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In the former Saté Kampar space in East Passyunk, chef Thanh Nguyen serves Vietnamese street food of the highest order, much of which is great for sharing. The bánh bèo quảng nam — open-faced dumplings served in small decorative bowls — are unreal, and the large format dishes, from the half-chicken platter to Vietnamese fried winter flounder, will not let you down. Make reservations online, and pick out drinks together in advance: This charming neighborhood restaurant is BYOB.

1837 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(272) 888-3298
(272) 888-3298

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Irwin's

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Sicilian small plates and natural wine are on the table at Irwin’s, the South Philly restaurant on the top floor of Bok Bar with Michael Vincent Ferreri as head chef. The scene is lively, the drinks are inspired, and the swordfish is big enough to share. What’s not to love? You can make reservations online.

800 Mifflin St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 693-6206
(215) 693-6206

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Jansen

7402 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119

If you’re in the Northwest, there’s no better romantic restaurant than Jansen in Mt. Airy. Situated on cobblestoned Germantown Avenue, chef David Jansen’s namesake occupies a historic 18th-century house with the original fireplace and a beautiful outdoor patio. Enjoy a fine-dining menu that includes a seasonally changing menu of oysters Rockefeller, elk osso bucco, and stuffed acorn squash. The wine list is impressive, too.

7402 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119
(267) 335-5041
(267) 335-5041
A plate of grilled seasoned chicken breast on top of sautéed green beans.
Dinner at Jansen.
Janen.

Lark

Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing, 611 Righters Ferry Rd, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

On the rooftop of the Ironworks building across the river from Manayunk, Nick Elmi and Fia Berisha’s Lark is a lovely space for date night, with art deco chandeliers, velvet banquettes, and a gorgeous view. The coastal Mediterranean menu is as special as the environment: Dishes like braised chilled leeks and blue crab and pink peppercorn strozzapreti are crafted with care, perfect alongside a stellar list of cocktails and wine.

Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing, 611 Righters Ferry Rd, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(484) 434-8766
(484) 434-8766

South Restaurant & Jazz Club

600 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Nothing says romance quite like live jazz, which is why any intimate occasion calls for a night out at South Restaurant & Jazz Club on Broad Street. The restaurant pairs delicious, warming soul food — like shrimp and grits or vegan jambalaya — and a classy dining experience with great music; purchase tickets for specific shows to guarantee a table reservation.

600 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 600-0220
(215) 600-0220

Radicchio Cafe

402 Wood St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

An Old City favorite, this historic Italian BYOB is the perfect spot to dine romantically on a budget (most main course entrées are under $25). Try their delicious veal marsala, succulent shrimp laceno, and split ziti al telefono (ziti pasta, pieces of meatballs, tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese) with your date for the perfect dinner combo.

402 Wood St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 627-6850
(215) 627-6850

Vernick Food & Drink

2031 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Every Philadelphian has to go on at least one date at Vernick Food & Drink on Walnut. Get a seasonal sampling of Greg Vernick’s fine-dining specialties, such as swordfish a la plancha and pork milanese, alongside an excellent wine selection, which you can also take home from the Vernick Wine Shop next door. Try your luck for a seat at the first-come-first-served bar or chef’s table, where you can still access the full menu, or make a reservation on Tock, where you could also opt for a tasting menu.

2031 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 639-6644
(267) 639-6644

The Love.

130 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

One of Rittenhouse’s beloved restaurants is called “The Love” for a reason. At night, the ambience is intimate with perfectly dimmed lights and cozy seating. If you date is a meat lover, recommend the tasty rigatoni and short rib. If they are into light fare, the ricotta ravioli is immaculate.

130 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 433-1555
(215) 433-1555

Fork

306 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

A stalwart of Philly’s farm-to-table dining scene, Fork on Market is always bound to make a night special. A lovely atmosphere in Old City makes menu highlights like farm beans, striped bass, and coconut custard for dessert taste extra sweet. You can make reservations online.

306 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-9425
(215) 625-9425

Alpen Rose

116 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

The ultimate dining destination to make a proposal or serious dating commitment, this grand steakhouse from Schulson Collective doesn’t disappoint. Be sure to come hungry — their divine 38 ounce tomahawk ribeye steak, savory lamb rack, beef wellington, and lobster linguine is nothing for the meek.

116 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 600-0709
(215) 600-0709

Friday Saturday Sunday

261 S 21st St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Friday Saturday Sunday, the fine-dining restaurant helmed by Chad and Hanna Williams on South 21st Street, practically invented special occasion dinners. Within the bright, cozy space, the tasting menu is constantly evolving (think barbecue veal cheek and crudo with yuzu, sunchoke, and bone marrow gelée) and the cocktails are cheekily named and lovely to boot. You can make reservations for the online.

261 S 21st St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 546-4232
(215) 546-4232

Talula's Garden

210 W Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106

One of the city’s original farm-to-fork restaurants, Talula’s is a beautiful place to eat outside with their perfectly lit garden and beautiful seating. Their tasty well-portioned entrées (such as their smoked pork belly, seared sea scallops and gulf shrimp, and black angus sliced strip steak) are perfect to share with your date.

210 W Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 592-7787
(215) 592-7787

Vetri Cucina

1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

The OG of date night continues to impress diners 25 years later with their expansive and inventive Italian menu. This exquisite dinner is pricy (tasting menu is $165 per person, additional wine pairing is $95 per person), but when you’re eating impeccable spaghetti and prawns, roasted lamb saddle with eggplant, and torta di rison with figs from the legendary chef/owner Marc Vetri — it’s worth every dollar.

1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 732-3478
(215) 732-3478

Southwark Restaurant

701 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Southwark restaurant in Queen Village is Chris D’Ambro and Marina De Oliveira’s tribute to romantic dining, with candlelit tables, a cozy old-school bar, and dishes like lamb terrine and fluke crudo. You can make reservations online. (If you’re looking for an even more intimate experience, you can try to reserve a table in the kitchen at Southwark’s nearby modern Italian sibling, Ambra.)

701 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 930-8538
(267) 930-8538

River Twice

1601 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Eating at the bar is always a pro move (it’s just cooler), especially true at River Twice in Passyunk Square. Amanda and Randy Rucker’s fashionable restaurant prioritizes a four-course menu, available Thursday through Monday. The chef’s counter offers an extended experience during which Randy and his team walk diners through the process of menu development (a new one every two weeks) with small, detailed dishes like raw surf clam or dry-aged duck with rutabaga. Reservations for both the counter and the rest of the restaurant are available on Resy.

1601 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(267) 457-3698
(267) 457-3698

Gabriella's Vietnam

1837 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148

In the former Saté Kampar space in East Passyunk, chef Thanh Nguyen serves Vietnamese street food of the highest order, much of which is great for sharing. The bánh bèo quảng nam — open-faced dumplings served in small decorative bowls — are unreal, and the large format dishes, from the half-chicken platter to Vietnamese fried winter flounder, will not let you down. Make reservations online, and pick out drinks together in advance: This charming neighborhood restaurant is BYOB.

1837 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(272) 888-3298
(272) 888-3298

Irwin's

800 Mifflin St, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Sicilian small plates and natural wine are on the table at Irwin’s, the South Philly restaurant on the top floor of Bok Bar with Michael Vincent Ferreri as head chef. The scene is lively, the drinks are inspired, and the swordfish is big enough to share. What’s not to love? You can make reservations online.

800 Mifflin St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 693-6206
(215) 693-6206

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