Houston’s most romantic restaurants are pros at the wine-and-dine game. These best restaurants in Houston for an anniversary dinner, proposal, or intimate night out will impress your date, no matter the occasion.
First dates call for a fun and vibe-y red-sauce Italian spot in Rice Village. For dinner and a show, there’s a high-end Mexican steakhouse in Southeast Houston where service comes with a side of fire-dancing entertainment. And if you’re popping the big question, nothing sets the stage like a detail-obsessed French place by a chef with MICHELIN cred in the Museum District.
This guide highlights 12 best date-night Houston restaurants for romantic occasions from first dates to milestone anniversaries. Don’t miss your chance to claim your table for two at the best restaurants in Houston for an anniversary or date by booking a reservation on OpenTable.
Read on for a guide to the best Houston date-night restaurants.
For a first date
For a stylish spot with flavor-packed small plates and show-stopping pastas – book at Milton’s (Rice Village)
A first date is all about making a good impression, and Milton’s delivers on all counts. The upstairs dining room feels like being in a first-class train car, with warm lighting setting the mood. Start with an order of arancini rice balls, and if the date’s going well, share one of chef Kent Domas’ homemade pastas. Whether seated at the gold-accented bar or in a plush booth for two, the Italian-American food and drinks are sure to impress—even if the date doesn’t.
For a second date
For retro-inspired glamour and surf-and-turf – head to Leo’s (River Oaks)
“Dinner and a movie” gets a ritzy upgrade at Leo’s, the new restaurant attached to the revived historic River Oaks Theater. This white tablecloth gem charms with Art Deco-inspired decor and palm chandeliers, and thanks to the plush carpeting, there’s no strain to hear your dining partner over the soft music played live from a grand piano. It’s the perfect setting to share fine-dining classics like premium steaks with truffle butter, roasted whole fish, and lobster thermidor.
For a group date
For sizzling dishes and bold Thai flavors: MaKiin (Upper Kirby/Shepherd Corridor)
MaKiin is known for its fit-for-royalty Thai food, but it’s the tableside theatrics that make it an especially entertaining group-date choice: Chive cakes come topped with a quail egg and a dropper of Sriracha sweet chili sauce, and short ribs are presented in a sizzling stone bowl. Going with a crew means you can do justice to all the showstopping dishes, and the jewel-toned dining room makes a luxe backdrop for fun group photos.
For live-fire specialties and top-notch service – visit Credence (Westside)
With its chic wood and leather interiors, Credence sets the stage for chef Levi Goode’s live-fire, South Texas ranch-inspired specialties. Order meaty mains like massive ribeye, seafood towers, or whole duck with dirty rice to share. Add to that the thrill of tableside carving and top-notch service, and you’ve got an interactive dining experience that’s ideal for group fun. End the evening with live music, dancing, and creative cocktails and desserts at the restaurant’s speakeasy, Sidebar.
For an adventurous and transportive date
For a fancy Mexican steakhouse at one of the good date night restaurants in Houston – book at Toca Madera (Southeast Houston)
For an adventurous date night, Toca Madera offers a dining experience with literal flair. The excitement begins with a bird’s-nest canopy that leads to a main dining room where trees hang above softly lit booths. The upscale Mexican steakhouse impresses with premium cuts of beef and seafood alongside Mexico City-inspired dishes like spicy sashimi and A5 Wagyu tacos. Expect dinner and a show with plenty of sizzle: think fire dancers, flaming cocktails, and a live DJ.
For an outside of the (chocolate) box date on the east side – head to CASE Chocolates (Southeast Houston)
When your partner is craving something exciting and out of the ordinary for a date night or a special anniversary, this chocolate-based speakeasy is just the ticket. Located in the sleek surroundings of The Plant development, The Case offers a tasting experience featuring spirit-infused chocolates paired with expertly crafted cocktails. The dark velvet seating and gold accents in the intimate tasting room create the perfect ambiance for savoring cacao sourced from around the globe.
For an anniversary/romantic milestone
For stunning bayou views at one of the best restaurants in Houston for an anniversary – reserve a table at Rainbow Lodge (Heights/Washington)
Dining in this century-old log cabin is a quintessential experience, and the fact that it’s a romantic restaurant in Houston with a view is just one of the reasons Rainbow Lodge is a go-to for big nights out. Go for some of the most attentive service in the city, plus a one-of-a-kind wild game and seafood menu—not to mention an extensive wine list ideal for any special occasion. Pro tip: Ask for a table on the patio for striking views of the bayou, and let the rest of the world melt away.
For an upscale Creole gem with proposal-worthy backdrops in Montrose – visit Brennan’s of Houston (Montrose)
This special-occasion staple sets the stage for romance with crisp tablecloths, impeccable service, and Creole classics. Plus, the layout offers many backdrops for popping the question including a stately main dining space, a serene courtyard, or a private dining room upstairs. No matter where the magic happens, you can’t end your blockbuster night without bananas Foster, a flaming bowl of bananas, butter, and rum invented by the restaurant’s founder Owen Brennan in the early 1950s.
For a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant to show off your good taste (and a new engagement ring) – reserve a spot at Le Jardinier (Museum District)
It’s hard to say what’s prettier at this one-starred-MICHELIN restaurant—the gorgeous French food or the surrounding masterpieces. The sophisticated seasonal dishes come from chef Alain Verzeroli (who once worked at three-MICHELIN-starred Arpège in Paris) and include caviar service and a foie gras parfait. For an especially epic night, consider the tasting menu, which makes it easier to focus on each other—and maybe even a brand-new ring.
For an intimate and cozy night out
For an intimate evening at a neighborhood trattoria – head to Roma (Rice Village)
A heaping bowl of pasta, a crisp glass of Chianti, and the soft glow of string lights—that’s amore. And it’s what you’ll always score at Roma, an Italian faithful in a cozy corner of Rice Village. Whether you and your date are here to graze on antipasti or go all out with heartier lasagna and carbonara, this rustic hideaway and romantic restaurant is the kind of place you can easily adopt as your trusted just-because spot.
For inventive seasonal dishes in a former bungalow – reserve a spot at Roost (Montrose)
If a date night at Roost feels especially homey, it’s because the restaurant lives in a former bungalow. The inventive New American menu is driven by local farm-fresh ingredients and includes a frequently updated selection of dishes like blackberry salad and bread service with a house pimento cheese spread. Translation: Roost is the kind of reliable neighborhood gem that you and your SO can happily become regulars at.
For an evening of eatertainment
For live music, dancing, and Creole dining – head to Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room (River Oaks)
This Creole-accented supper club is one of the most romantic restaurants in Houston with live music. It aces the dinner-and-a-show test thanks to a revolving door of local musicians who play everything from R&B to zydeco (a blend of blues, R&B, and music indigenous to Louisiana) every Wednesday through Sunday. Dig into Southern-inspired dishes like seafood gumbo and fried catfish before making a beeline for the dance floor together—or linger over classic cocktails and take in the smooth tunes.
Whether you’re just starting out or marking years together, there’s a romantic restaurant in Houston that’s sure to make you feel the love. From a second date at a glamorous steakhouse attached to the historic River Oaks Theater, an intimate anniversary dinner at a century-old log cabin with stunning bayou views, or a proposal at a timeless Creole restaurant, the city is filled with exceptional spots for romance.
Ready to plan a memorable celebration? Book your table at one of the best restaurants in Houston for an anniversary or date night on OpenTable today.
Want to learn more about Houston’s amazing restaurant scene? These city guides can help:
- 12 gorgeous Houston restaurants that will blow you away
- These 11 Houston restaurants crush the outdoor dining game
- 10 Houston restaurants with next-level cozy vibes
Lauren McDowell is a Houston-area native and freelance food and lifestyle writer with an M.A. in Food Studies from New York University.
