Boston’s date night restaurants are extensions of the city’s cultural melting pot. These best intimate restaurants in Boston set the tone for romantic meals, from early-in-the-game dates to milestone celebrations.
A cozy tapas spot in Cambridge calms first-date nerves. A chic wine bar with hard-to-find Mediterranean dishes in Brookline transports you to Greece. An elegant chophouse in Back Bay is ideal for proposals.
This guide pairs Boston restaurants with romantic occasions from first dates all the way to milestone anniversaries.
Book your table at one of the top date-night restaurants in Boston on OpenTable.
Read on to discover the top 13 most intimate restaurants in Boston.
For a first date
For stellar Spanish tapas at one of the best intimate restaurants in Boston – book at Dali (Cambridge)
Dali’s quirky decor—burlesque-themed props, beaded curtains, jamon Ibérico hanging from the ceiling—will calm those first-date jitters. Sip rioja at the blue mosaic-tiled bar—if things are going really well, grab one of the window tables for something more intimate. The Spanish menu sticks to tapas standbys like ham croquettes, lamb meatballs, and shrimp cooked in garlic broth, and the delicate small plates are great for keeping the focus on getting to know each other.
For Peruvian dishes and pisco-forward cocktails at a cozy neighborhood gem – visit La Royal (Cambridge)
Nestled in a quiet corner in North Cambridge, La Royal offers an exquisite menu highlighting Peruvian classics with modern twists, such as the show-stopping leche de tigre (raw seafood marinated in citrus juice)—Peru’s national dish. Enjoy them in a cozy, brick-lined space with large windows and a second dining room separated from the bustling bar and kitchen. Don’t miss the stellar pisco-centric cocktails, including a riff on the classic martini.
For a second date
For creative seafood dishes at one of the best intimate restaurants in Boston – reserve a spot at Oyster Bar by Puritan & Co. (Cambridge)
Impress your date with a table at this ocean-inspired escape from the team behind runaway hits Puritan & Co., Gepetto, and more. Come for a knockout seafood menu featuring creative riffs you won’t find anywhere else in the city like a caviar cone and swordfish pastrami. If your night is going especially well, stretch it with dessert from ace pastry chef Brian Mercury.
For stellar Spanish fare from an acclaimed chef at a South End charmer – book at: Toro (South End)
Get a taste of Barcelona in Boston at this cozy South End restaurant from prolific James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Ken Oringer. The industrial-chic space with wooden furniture creates a perfect backdrop for a romantic meal. Dig into top-notch tapas and pintxos paired with exciting drinks that will transport you to the Spanish coast. Bonus points for a charming patio.
For an anniversary or romantic milestone
For top-notch seafood at one of the most romantic restaurants in Boston – visit Mooncusser (Back Bay)
Mooncusser, a three-story spot in a historic flatiron building, promises one of Boston’s sleekest meals. The kitchen here is led by Top Chef alum Carl Dooley, whose seasonal, seafood-forward food includes top-notch crudos. Before or after your celebratory meal, check out LTD Bar downstairs, where techie mixologist Todd Maul pushes the boundaries on cocktails—don’t miss the exceptionally icy martini.
For elegant New England dining at one of the best intimate restaurants in Boston – make a stop at Harvest (Cambridge)
Open since 1975, Harvest is a cozy, elegant choice for any milestone celebration. The restaurant serves up creative riffs on New England and all-American classics—think lobster rolls, seared Atlantic salmon, and one of the city’s juiciest burgers, courtesy of local specialty butcher Savenor’s. Cozy up to your date in an inviting dining room by the roaring fireplace or on the lush, all-weather garden terrace, complete with a warming fire, heavy blankets and heated lamps.
For an adventurous and transportive date
For made-for-sharing Greek feasts and pitch-perfect wines – head to Bar Vlaha (Brookline)
Bar Vlaha is where you go for a deep catalog of shareable dishes that will transport you to Greece. Feast on spit-roasted meats like lamb and fish from the open-flame kitchen, fluffy pita, and top-notch savory pies. Keep it casual with happy hour drinks at the taverna-style bar or cozy up in the rustic main dining room with colorful textiles and warm wooden accents. Don’t miss the killer selection of all-Greek wines.
For a proposal-worthy place
For ultra-luxe steakhouse fare at a romantic favorite – book at Grill 23 & Bar (Back Bay)
With dark mahogany panels and enormous columns, this classy, multi-floor chophouse screams romance. Grill 23 & Bar’s 18-ounce, 100-day aged, salt-encrusted prime ribeye is one of Boston’s finest—and don’t skip the crowd-favorite tater tots with truffle oil. Add a mammoth wine list, attentive service, and a decades-old track record, and you’ve got one of the most reliable proposal settings in town.
For a swanky French meal at one of the best intimate restaurants in Boston Deuxave (Back Bay)
If you’re planning on popping the question, you’re in good company at Deuxave, an acclaimed, French-accented stunner. So many couples have decided to tie the knot here that there’s a special table by the fireplace designated for engagements. Feast on artistic plates of elegant French classics—think seared foie gras, lobster gnocchi, and duck breast with wild mushrooms. If you’re ending the meal with the big question, bring an engagement ring and your server will tuck it in a dessert to present to your SO.
For group dates
For coastal Italian dishes in a lush rooftop setting – head to Terra at Eataly Boston (Back Bay)
Located on the third floor of beloved food emporium Eataly, Terra is a lush escape ideal for group dates. Settle into the rustic-chic dining room lined with potted plants and vines for a feast of made-for-sharing wood-fired coastal Italian hits like oysters, vegetable and meat skewers, and rustic housemade bread. Don’t miss the lively Saturday Retro brunch, complete with ‘90’s-inspired cocktails and music.
For an intimate and cozy night out
For playful Spanish tapas at a quintessential neighborhood spot – visit Taberna de Haro (Brookline)
With its moody, maroon-themed interiors, Taberna de Haro channels the cozy, approachable vibes of a small Spanish neighborhood bar. Settle into an intimate table for two to share classic Spanish dishes like one of the standout paellas or small plates like gambas (spicy garlic shrimp). Stretch the evening with a slice of flan or a gin tonica, Spain’s twist on the classic G&T.
For classic New England cuisine at one of the best intimate restaurants in Boston – head to 1928 Beacon Hill (Beacon Hill)
Everything about this speakeasy-style gem channels New England nostalgia, from its upholstered leather booths to its Persian rugs (owner Kristin Jenkins’s other projects include an antiques store, which explains all the vintage accents). 1928 Beacon Hill’s understated, romantic vibe, all-American menu, and cocktails made from locally distilled gin all make it ideal for repeat visits. And you may even catch a celebrity—Rami Malek and Dua Lipa are some of the big names who have visited in the past.
For an evening of eatertainment
Capo Restaurant and Supper Club at Capo Restaurant (South Boston)
Skip any awkward lulls at Capo, a rustic Italian spot on West Broadway. The restaurant is well-loved for its smoky wood-fired pies and phenomenal housemade pastas, but it’s the live music that keeps the regulars coming: The supper club section downstairs hosts Sinatra Sundays, and the upstairs restaurant has a revolving door of musical acts and comedy shows throughout the week.
From a cozy Spanish spot in Brookline to a swanky French favorite in Back Bay, these best intimate restaurants in Boston give dreamy date-night vibes.
Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, toasting an anniversary, or looking for a first date spot, these Boston favorites unforgettable meals and vibes for every romantic occasion.
Book with OpenTable now to celebrate date night at one of these best intimate restaurants in Boston.
For more dining inspiration, check out these additional guides to top Boston restaurants:
- 12 fancy restaurants in Boston perfect for special occasions
- 10 essential cozy restaurants in Boston
- 9 standout Italian restaurants in Boston
- Boston’s 12 most drop-dead gorgeous restaurants
Valerie Li Stack is a Somerville-based writer and editor who’s passionate about all things food, drink, travel, and culture. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Eater, Punch, USA Today, Food52, Boston Magazine, and more.
