Best Romantic Dining in Seattle

Enjoy the ultimate splurge at this elevated, fine-dining restaurant in Bellevue, and get ready to drink in views of a lifetime. On a crystal-clear day, Mt. Rainier shows her mighty peak on one side, as Seattle's skyline rises in front of the distant Olympic Mountain peaks. While a full steak and sushi dinner seems to be an event saved for special occasions here, you may also choose to treat yourself to cocktails, delicious wine and small plates with a view in the lounge. These panorama views promise to steal your breath away, and leave you wanting to come back for more soon.

Funky and hip (yet also elegant and romantic), this Italian eatery features rustic food and live entertainment (think cabaret and burlesque) in the adjacent lounge. The interior has a certain bohemian charm, but the best area to dine is on the rooftop deck, which affords a magnificent view of Puget Sound. Begin your meal with bruschetta or the antipasto plate of savory morsels. Entrees include Tuscan grilled chicken, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, roasted pork loin and Muscovy duck. You'll also find a range of pastas and a daily risotto special that's usually a great bet, too! Comforting desserts include such fare as bread pudding and apple crisp.

As Seattle's only true waterfront hotel, The Edgewater Hotel dazzles with its picture-perfect location overlooking Elliot Bay and the Olympic Mountains. At this rustic-meets-modern lodge where roughly half of the hotel's 223 rooms offer stunning Bay views (the remainder face the iconic skyline), guests enjoy the Pacific Northwest-inspired decor and spectacular on-site dining at Six Seven, where patrons savor scrumptious fare inside or out. Aside from sensational panoramic views in the light-filled dining room, Six Seven visitors find teal booths, funky wood panel walls, subtly elegant chandeliers, a central stone fireplace and faux-industrial tree fixtures that bring a whimsical bent to a classy space. Savor outstanding options like the lox or "Seasonal Farm Fresh Omelet" at breakfast time; later indulge in the "Roast Penn Cove Mussels," breading-less crab cakes, cedar plank salmon and, a must-try, the gorgonzola-crusted filet mignon, adorned with forager mushroom ragout, asparagus, potato crisp and natural jus.

This fantastic downtown restaurant caters to the executive set and date-night couples in a see-and-be-seen atmosphere (think flickering candlelight and live jazz on the piano). You'll often see tables of suited powerbrokers closing deals in an environment similar to an old-fashioned supper club. The multi-level dining room is spacious and upscale, a fitting environment for expense accounts (or those indulging on special occasions). An open charcoal grill is the focal point of the menu; steaks arrive large, tender and perfectly cooked. The baseball cut of top sirloin comes highly recommended, and the filet mignon is succulent as well. Additionally, caesar salad (prepared tableside) adds a theatrical touch.

Comfortable and unpretentious, Serafina has been a Seattle favorite for years. This charming outpost has become one of the main culinary draws of the Eastlake neighborhood, perfect for date nights in an intimate setting. Serafina's cuisine draws on rustic traditions of the Italian countryside and is eminently satisfying. Representative dishes include buckwheat pasta, slow-cooked lamb shanks, braised rabbit, homemade veal meatballs, pumpkin-leek ravioli and a ragu of duck, veal and pork. You'll also find steamed mussels, rich sausages and wild-mushroom risotto. Dessert options include a luscious chocolate-hazelnut torte, sweet profiteroles and a homey rhubarb crisp. A bar happy hour takes place Monday through Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Since late 2013, this charming neighborhood venue has been delighting loyal patrons in an environment they call "inviting, lively and comforting." (We concur; it's all true!) The friendly staff pridefully brings "a sense of playfulness" to everything they do, from the authentic hospitality and warm ambiance to an inventive menu of fresh, seasonal dishes. Veggie lovers savor the delightful Poached Radish Salad and seasonal goodies like grilled, local asparagus, while stand-out mains range from the Salmon Aguachile (cured, sockeye salmon, radish, coriander) to the Guajillo Braised Beef Cheek (masa gnocchi, olive confit). For a memorable grand finale, tuck into the Horchata Panna Cotta (chile caramel, chocolate crisp) or seasonal delights, while vowing to return this to this welcoming Seattle oasis as soon as possible.

No Seattle food guide would be complete without a mention of Canlis, for generations a stalwart standby for special occasions and wowing visitors. Since the pandemic began, the Canlis team has made countless pivots to make their offerings more approachable while also supporting their local community members. The traditional, white-tablecloth dining room now runs a four-course dining program, while visitors take in serene views of beautiful and busy Lake Union below. Such stunning surroundings only enhance the phenomenal gustatory experience, led by Executive Chef Aisha Ibrahim; the menu includes offerings from Manila clams and grilled sablefish with matsutake mushrooms to Dungeness crab salad and duck with lale, kasu butter and winter luxury pumpkin. Enjoy meals paired with appropriate glasses of wine from the spectacular Canlis cellar. In fact, Canlis is one of only 85 restaurants worldwide to have received the "Grand Award" for its wine collection.

Cozy up over a delicious, intimate meal at Conversation in downtown's Thompson Seattle, a contemporary 12-story hotel designed by Olson Kundig. Inside a most inviting space, which encourages genuine human connection (per the restaurant's name), Chef Kaleena Bliss has reimagined a menu that starts every morning, and ends every day, on the sweetest note. During brunch hours, try standouts like the smoked salmon lox platter; smoked ham melt with bacon, tomato, arugula, cheddar, sourdough and breakfast potatoes; or Belgian waffles with fresh peaches and blueberries, Chantilly cream and maple syrup. In the evening, soak up the warm ambience as you savor seasonal veggies and foraged goods plus mains like filet of beef, Moulard duck breast, ling cod and handmade potato gnocchi.

Award-winning Chef Renee Erickson (The Whale Wins, Bateau, Barnacle, Bar Melusine) partnered with Business Manager Jeremy Price and Developer Chad Dale to realize her long-time vision for an oyster bar. It makes perfect sense then, that she would do it in her own neighborhood. The Walrus and the Carpenter blends the elegance of France with the casual comfort of a local fishing pub. "The idea is to serve the highest quality food and drink in a space that is stripped of pretense and feels like home." Opened in 2010, The Walrus and The Carpenter proves one of the city's most delicious and popular culinary scenes (and for good reason). Expect tallboys, Muscadet, piles of chubby oysters, a delightful array of local cheeses, meat delights like steak tartare and smart plates served in a lively, approachable space in Old Ballard.

A warm, inviting haven in downtown, Bourbon Steak was recently introduced to Seattle (in the former RN74 space) by award-Winning Chef Michael Mina. This modern American steakhouse features innovative interpretations of classic dishes, while also celebrating Pacific Northwest seafood and seasonal vegetables (think glazed mushrooms, butternut squash, etc.). Whether it's through relationships with Pike Place vendors just down the road, or businesses like Hama Hama Oyster Company, the team loves to support its local community. The restaurant also focuses on all-natural, organic and hormone-free cuts of beef, tempered in herb-infused butter and grilled to order. Highlights from a recent scrumptious feast ranged from a trio of duck fat fries and Michael's tuna tartare, a staple from Chef's menu for 30-plus years, to phyllo-wrapped scallops, A5 Wagyu served on a hot stone with pickled cucumbers, wasabi, yuzu ponzu and pine-spruce salt (a restaurant speciality) to dry-aged, bone-in strip from Washington State.