Best Romantic Dining in Tucson

The Grill is the celebrated fine dining spot located at the Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, one of Tucson's most historic and unique inns. The restaurant features a menu of farm-to-table cuisine. Most dishes are crafted using local meats, vegetables and herbs from the hotel garden. The Grill is a popular destination with the brunch set, especially on Sundays. A huge spread of breakfast and brunch classics and al fresco dining are some of the highlights. Reservations are recommended during the busy spring and winter season. The restaurant is also known for its eclectic wine list of more than 900 labels, making this one of the best bets in town for serious oenophiles.

Tavolino is one Tucson restaurant where reservations are an absolute must. Northern Italian cuisine is the specialty, with homemade pastas and grilled meats being the main choices. The logical appetizer choice is the Antipasto misto, an array of meats, cheeses and marinated veggies that serves to excite the taste buds without sating the appetite. Although the offerings change regularly, two pasta dishes stand out: delicate butternut squash ravioli in butter and sage, and the layered lasagna, aromatic with meat and garlic. Grilled lamb chops and char-broiled chicken are also reliably well-prepared. Save room for the Bonet, a swoon-inducing chocolate custard topped with caramel sauce. Tavolino has been named as one of the top Italian restaurants in the country by several publications, and it's hard to argue once you've experience Tavolino for yourself.

Set in an old house in the historic Fort Lowell District, Le Rendez-Vous offers a traditional French menu in a posh, romantic setting. This is classic French cooking, with heavy sauces that are not intended for calorie counters. From Dover sole to Grand Marnier souffle, from duck a l'orange to Crepes Suzette, the food doesn't disappoint. If you've always been curious about classic French starters like escargot and frog's legs, Rendez-Vous is a great place to satisfy your curiosity. Ask for a room in the greenery-filled sun room. Excellent French wines and gorgeously plated desserts add the perfect finishing touch.

The trendy Hotel Congress has a happening little cafe that serves what many consider to be the best breakfast around. All the familiar favorites are offered, along with some more creative options such as the Tofu and Tamales with scrambled tofu and blue corn tamales so delicious you will not even notice you it is vegan. Breakfast and lunch are available until 4 pm. If dinner is more your speed, a must-try is the Sonoran Sopes piled high with beans, avocado and green chilies with your choice of meat. The Mesquite Smoked Ribs are always a great go-to if you can't choose. With their poblano chili mac and cheese, you can't go wrong.

Chef/owner Susana Davila creates her own unique spin on Mexican cuisine, featuring techniques and ingredients borrowed from several regions. Poca Cosa began a few blocks away from this location, and the tiny original is still open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays. At this location, the menu changes daily, but the specialties include fantastic chicken with spicy-rich mole sauce. The menu is printed on a portable chalkboard in both English and Spanish, which servers take from table to table. If you can't decide, order the Plato Poca Cosa and the chef will choose one beef, one chicken and one vegetarian entree for you to sample, each one more delicious than the next.

The Coronet is a brasserie-style cafe situated at the historic Coronado Hotel near downtown Tucson. The restaurant serves old world rustic cuisine with a big comfy patio, plenty of shade, quiet music playing the background, and excellent coffee. There's also a bar featuring hand-crafted sangrias and cocktails. The restaurant features several daily menus, including a morning, afternoon and dinner menu. For dinner, start with the cheese platter. It comes with three cheeses and adding cured meat make it a nice shareable small plate. For a large plate, try the East African Lamb Tenderloin served with moroccan olive tabouli, charred root vegetable cakes and topped with fried mint.

This neighborhood bistro is a relative newcomer to the Downtown Tucson dining scene, but it has made quite a splash with its take on modern American comfort food, eclectic wines, hand-crafted cocktails, and micro brews. The seasonally changing menu means fresh ingredients and creative takes on classic American dishes. The modern urban decor is complemented by the warmth of the large outdoor brick patio, perfect for a post-dinner chat with friends. 47 Scott is also a popular downtown brunch spot, dishing out a variety of great breakfast hashes and sparkling drinks. Enjoy half off all drinks during happy hour, which happens every day from 4 to 6 pm.

This quirky seafood favorite serves up a great menu of fresh fish in a stylishly eccentric environment. The food says upscale but the vibe is fun and upbeat. Excellent wines, juicy rotisserie meats, hip martinis, hand-bottled bourbons and live jazz make this a great choice for a lingering evening. Oysters and chilled Gulf shrimp by the dozen, cornmeal-crusted pan-fried catfish are a few seafaring options. After 10pm, a light menu is served until midnight. Reservations recommended. Wine aficionados gather here regularly, too. The restaurant has one of the most comprehensive menus of fine wines in Tucson, making this prime territory for oenophiles.

This charming downtown cafe, located at the historic Stevens House at the Museum of Art, offers an assortment of breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Fine art hangs on the walls, providing the perfect ambiance for enjoying the down-home breakfast plates and lunch options. The coffee is excellent. Try the house macchiato, or for something slightly different, the lachino (a wet cappuccino with less foam and more milk) is great. Salads, sandwiches and artistan breads are also on the eclectic menu. Don't leave without trying one of the cafe's famous desserts, which include plenty of gluten free options. There is a great brick patio for al fresco dining.

Maynards Kitchen, a sophisticated French-inspired bistro in downtown Tucson, is a local critical darling, and deservedly so. Chef Brian Smith and his kitchen team make almost everything on the menu from scratch. From house-cured meats to freshly baked bread, every dish is hand-crafted using locally sourced ingredients. Try the steak tartare for starters, a chef's blend of hand-chopped raw strip loin and tenderloin, watercress, served house-made potato chips. For a perfect date night, try the decadent Waygu beef New York Strip. Juicy and tender with peppers, mushrooms and tagleggio cream. Add the Parisian gnocchi with lemon, ricotta and brown butter for a special dinner.