10 quintessential date-night restaurants in Dallas

Mister Charles is a Dallas date-night destination for its opulent interiors and equally luxe Italian and French dishes. Credit: Mister Charles
A white plate with the initials MC on it with rigatoni pasta with basil and pasta sauce and parmesan cheese at Mister Charles, romantic restaurants in Dallas for Valentine's Day on OpenTable.

Dallas’s most romantic restaurants have all the green flags for love, whether you’re looking to impress someone new, double-date with old friends, or celebrate a 50th anniversary. From omakase experiences at the city’s finest sushi bars to a steakhouse 18 feet below the ground to a sky-high fine-dining Italian restaurant, there are romantic restaurants in Dallas for Valentine’s Day for every date-night occasion.

Get peak first-date vibes at a stylish Southern bar in Uptown. Enjoy modern Mexican dishes in a gallery-like space in the Arts District. Take your relationship to the next level at an opulent escape in Knox/Henderson.

These are 10 of Dallas’s most romantic restaurants, for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

Book your table at one of these date-night restaurants in Dallas on OpenTable.

Read on for more about the 10 most romantic restaurants in Dallas.

For a first date

For upscale Indian dishes at one of the most romantic restaurants in Dallas – book a table at Sanjh (Irving)

Two samosas topped with green sauce at Indian restaurant Sanjh in Dallas. Book on OpenTable.
Expect elegant and innovative Indian dishes at romantic favorite Sanjh. Credit: Sanjh

For a unique first-date option, try this elegant, off-the-beaten-path Indian restaurant. Keep it casual with small plates like naan and chutney paired with Indian-inspired cocktails like the rum-forward Madras Mail with housemade tamarind juice. Or grab a table in the blush- and cream-toned dining room for a feast of elegant Indian dishes like butter chicken along with fragrant biryanis and curries—get the prawn mango.


For elevated pub fare in a rustic-chic setting – head to Haywire (Plano and Uptown)

A brown leather sofa, two green leather chairs, and an antler head at Haywire Plan, one of the most romantic restaurants in Dallas for Valentine’s Day. Book on OpenTable.
Haywire in Plano offers cozy nooks and rustic charm for a first date. Credit: Haywire

With locations in Plano and Uptown, Haywire is a solid early-in-the-game date option if you want a buzzy atmosphere and dressed-up pub grub (double-cut pork chop, steaks, blackened catfish, and shrimp).  To that, add any cocktail you can imagine, and you’ll see why it’s the kind of place that calms any first-date nerves. At the Uptown location, you can book a spot on the outdoor patio, complete with a roaring fireplace and retractable roof.


For a second date

For a swanky subterranean steakhouse that’s one of the most romantic restaurants in Dallas – book a table at Dakota’s (Downtown)

A steak with green garnish on a white tablecloth next to a glass and bottle of red wine at Dakota’s, one of the romantic restaurants in Dallas for Valentine's Day. Book on OpenTable.
Expect luxe chophouse fare and top-notch wine at stylish Dakota’s. Credit: Dakota’s

If the first date was a success, head to this stylish subterranean steakhouse for another romantic evening. Hop on the elevator and descend 18 feet below the earth to enjoy luxe chophouse classics—think oysters on the half-shell, lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, and premium steaks galore. If the weather’s nice, snag a seat on the lush outdoor patio with a tranquil waterfall to see why this is one of the most romantic restaurants in Dallas.


For modern Mexican dishes in a sophisticated, gallery-like space – pull up at Miriam Cocina (Arts District)

A spread of Mexican food including chips and salsa, black beans and rice, empanadas, and a michelada cocktail at Miriam Cocina, one of the good date restaurants in Dallas on OpenTable.
Feast on contemporary Mexican dishes at Arts District favorite Miriam Cocina. Credit: Miriam Cocina

Get to know each other better at this sophisticated south-of-the-border spot, where chef Miriam Jimenez cooks traditional Mexican dishes, a little Tex-Mex, and some recipes from the Dominican Republic. Wash dinner down with a michelada or the restaurant’s signature mimosa, made with habanero juice and fresh fruit . Bonus points for the art on the walls—a shout-out to the restaurant’s Arts District backdrop—which brings a sleek, gallery-like vibe to your date.


For an anniversary or romantic milestone

For killer views and elegant Italian fare at one of the most romantic restaurants in Dallas – book at Monarch (East Dallas)

The black leather bar at Monarch in Dallas, surrounded by glass walls. Book on OpenTable.
Glass walls and a sweeping city view add to the wow factor at Monarch. Credit: Monarch

A celebration dinner at Monarch starts with an elevator ride to the forty-ninth floor of the National skyscraper. Award-winning chef Danny Grant’s house-made pasta dishes (don’t miss the king crab risotto) are as impressive as the views that make this glam spot one of the most romantic restaurants in Dallas. Patterned wallpapers, a spiral staircase, and arguably Dallas’s most drop-dead gorgeous restroom add to the restaurant’s one-of-a-kind wow factor.


For the finest sushi at one of the top romantic restaurants in Dallas for Valentine’s Day- reserve a spot at Uchiko (Plano)

Wood-fired steak, a gem lettuce, and sides at Uchiko Plano, one of the romantic restaurants in Dallas for Valentine's Day. Book on OpenTable.
Mark a romantic milestone with wood-fired dishes and sides at Japanese hotspot Uchiko. Credit: Kayla Enright

The latest restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole, Japanese-forward Uchiko offers an intimate ambiance for an anniversary celebration. Enjoy nigiri and sashimi at the stunning wrap-around sushi bar, or grab a table in the sleek space to dig into refined dishes like lobster and bone-in ribeye straight from the open kitchen’s hearth. For the most romantic of occasions, go for the 10-course omakase paired with one of the city’s best sake collections.


For a proposal-worthy place

For elegant Japanese-meets-Peruvian dishes at one of the most romantic restaurants in Dallas – head to Nobu (Uptown)

With its globally-renowed Japanese-Peruvian fare, dim lighting, and glam vibe, Nobu is one of the best date-night restaurants in Dallas. The restaurant has hosted many marriage proposals—It’s almost impossible to say no to anything while dining on some of the world’s best sushi or the restaurant’s famous miso cod. For an extra special evening, book “Nobu at the Sushi Bar,” a 17-course tasting menu offered on Tuesday nights.


For luxe French and Italian fare at one of the best romantic restaurants in Dallas for Valentine’s Day – visit  Mister Charles (Knox/Henderson)

The two-story dining room at Mister Charles with ornate columns, a chrystal chandelier, black-and-white floors. Book on OpenTable.
Crystal chandeliers, ornate columns, and other luxe touches add to the romantic atmosphere at Mister Charles. Credit: Mister Charles

Opulent design touches like glittering crystal chandeliers, checkerboard flooring, and ornate columns make Mister Charles the ultimate romantic destination. Come here for elegant twists on classic French and Italian dishes—think a fois gras tea sandwich, Dover sole with lobster beurre blanc, and a Texas wagyu Wellington. Pop the question over dessert with a hidden ring inside the restaurant’s signature baked Alaska.


For a group date

For fancy Texas steakhouse vibes at a great date-night restaurant in Dallas – head to  Reata (Fort Worth Downtown)

A portrait of a cowboy and wooden bookshelves, an antler head, and leather sofas at Reata in Dallas, available on OpenTable.
Reata goes all in on upscale Texas-inspired design touches like cowboy paintings and rich leather furniture. Credit: Reata

For a quintessentially Texan cowboy meal, wrangle your crew and head to one of Fort Worth’s most iconic restaurants. Catch up over hearty South-meets-Southwest-inspired plates like chicken-fried steak with cracked-pepper cream gravy and jalapeño- and cilantro-crusted Texas redfish. Even the desserts here are peak Tex-Mex, including tacos stuffed with caramelized bananas and chocolate “gravy.” Try the orange vodka-forward Cowboy Cosmo or an aged tequila margarita, and take in the ranch-like vibes with your friends.


For an evening of eatertainment

For stellar drinks and live music – visit The Monarch Stag (Frisco)

A bottle of Blanton’s bourbon with a dry ice maker and ice and bookshelf behind it at The Monarch Stag in Dallas. Book on OpenTable.
Sip on a scotch or bourbon from the The Monarch Stag’s top-notch collection. Credit: The Monarch Stag

If you’re craving more than just dinner and drinks, make your way to this sexy Frisco hideaway. The Monarch Stag is where you go to share scotch flights, get cozy by a crackling fireplace, and be wowed by aerial performers and live guitarists. Even though whiskey is the star of the show, the rich steakhouse-inspired menu is top-notch and includes wagyu, bao buns, and wild mushroom gnocchi. Consider stretching your big night at the cigar lounge next door.

Whether you’re trying to impress someone you feel like you’ve known forever or celebrating with someone you really have known forever, the spots on this list are among the best date-night restaurants in Dallas.

The best tables at these romantic restaurants in Dallas for Valentine’s Day book up quickly—book your reservation on OpenTable as soon as possible.

For more amazing dining options in Dallas, take a look at these guides:

Find your table for any occasion