San Francisco
The Most Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco
A city known for its vast restaurant offerings and spectacular views, San Francisco has plenty of cozy restaurants for that special date night. Picking your favourite place has never been easier, with our curated guide to the most romantic restaurants in SF.
In the iconic city of San Francisco, finding the ideal setting for a date night is now easier than ever. This guide will introduce you to the most romantic restaurants in San Francisco, featuring places with both delicious cuisine and great settings. Whether you're searching for a restaurant with a view or something more intimate, we've got you covered. Featured restaurants like Beit Rima, Mijoté, and Nisei are guaranteed to set the stage for a memorable evening. Based on recommendations from World of Mouth experts such as Greg Kuzia-Carmel, Omar Mamoon, and Virginia Miller, this curated list is your go-to resource for a dinner with that special someone in the city by the bay.
AKIKOS is a family-owned restaurant, known for its world-class sushi bar and modern omakase menu. Since its reopening in 2023, it has evolved into a must-visit sushi destination, boasting an elegant and striking interior. Under the guidance of Chef Ray Lee, the restaurant offers unparalleled ingredients, reflecting in the quality of their dishes.
Recommended by
New Akikos is better than ever.
Since re-opening in it’s gorgeous new space in January 2023, 1987 family classic, Akikos, has evolved into a world class sushi bar… the elegant and striking new space, along with consummate service and sushi, make it one of SF’s sushi destinations.
Sorrel is a neighborhood gem that offers a menu influenced by Alex Hong and Michael Tusk, with a solid core of pasta dishes. It's located in the Pacific Heights district, providing a cozy and inviting atmosphere for its guests. Whether you're planning a private event or just looking for a pleasant dinner, Sorrel is an excellent choice with its diverse menu and warm ambiance.
Recommended by
Sorrel is a gem of a neighborhood restaurant in San Francisco's Pacific Heights. Alex Hong’s menu has a solid core of pasta and it’s easy to see the influence Quince’s Michael Tusk had on him.
Cotogna is a modern Italian restaurant known for its daily changing menu that features housemade pastas, grilled meats, and seafood roasted in a wood-burning oven. The restaurant is particularly famous for its Focaccia di Recco, a thin flatbread stuffed with salty stracchino cheese, which is a must-try for all visitors. The menu is dynamic, reflecting what's growing at local farms, ensuring fresh and seasonal ingredients in every dish.
Recommended by
Focaccia di recco at Cotogna — bite for bite one of my favorite things to eat in San Francisco. It’s cmc™—crispy melty cheesy—all the hallmarks for a trend dish if you think about it (detroit style pizza? cmc. patty melts a couple years ago? cmc. quesabirria and smashburgs? cmcaf)It’s less what you’d think of as fluffy focaccia and more like a thin flatbread stuffed with salty stracchino cheese—kinda reminds me of a melty stretchy halloumi. You might recognize this dish if you’re from Liguria where it originated or more likely from chi spacca if you’re an angeleno. Fun fact: Nancy Silverton actually brought this dish to a popup at Cotogna a few years ago, and Michael Tusk kept it on the menu since (he tells me Nancy borrowed his ravioli du uovo so it was a fair trade).I love this dish so much — ate this outside their beautiful heated outdoor parklet underneath the olive trees a couple weeks ago. hadn’t been in years but was reminded why I need to get there sooner—pfg all around.
Robin is a trendy sushi restaurant in San Francisco, known for its stylish, contemporary vibe and excellent sake selection. It offers a personalized omakase experience, using the freshest ingredients from the market to suit individual guest preferences. With a price range of $109 to $209, Robin combines a hip-hop attitude with superb fish cuts for a memorable dining experience.
Recommended by
San Francisco’s hipster sushi destination. Where many of San Francisco’s sushi havens are hard-core, intimate and Japan-reminiscent, Robin is hip, funky, sleek ans memorable with an excellent sake selection and hip-hop attitude married to superb cuts of fish.
Liholiho Yacht Club is a restaurant that offers a blend of Hawaiian heritage-inspired cuisine, with a menu that includes popular dishes like Beef Tongue buns, homemade Spam Fried Rice, Tuna Poké, and Baked Hawaiian dessert. With a great Bar and Wine program, they provide a variety of snacks and traditional fare, making it an excellent place to visit with friends to share the culinary experience. The restaurant also offers an 'Ohana Table' reservation option and a selection of gift cards for a meal or dinner gift, adding to the convenience for its patrons.
Recommended by
With this many hits on the menu you want to bring many friends and share it all.An awesome and fun SF restaurant from Ravi Kapur (RN74) and Jeff Hanak (NoPa) that loosely celebrates Hawaiian heritage. A great Bar + Wine program compliment a solid line up of snacks and more traditional fare. Can’t miss the Beef Tongue buns, the homemade Spam Fried Rice, the Tuna Poké or the Baked hawaiian dessert…with this many hits on the menu you want to bring many friends and share it all.
Cafe Jacqueline is a long-standing establishment in San Francisco, renowned for its specialty in both savory and sweet soufflés. For over 40 years, the owner, Jacqueline Margulis, has been delighting patrons with her perfect soufflés. Despite a recent closure due to the pandemic, the restaurant is back in operation, continuing to serve its signature dishes.
Recommended by
A San Francisco treasure. Perfect souffles from a menu of only savory and sweet souffles.A city treasure and one-of-a-kind in any city for over 40 years, Jacqueline Margulis has been serving perfect souffles from a menu of only savory and sweet souffles in her tiny North Beach restaurant. Now in her 80s, she's back after a long pandemic closure and we have yet a little more time with her eggy souffle perfection [No website; must call for reservations].
Beit Rima serves Arabic comfort food, offering a relaxed dining experience with a focus on shared mezze. The restaurant is particularly known for its baba ganoush, which is a customer favorite. Beit Rima operates on a counter service model with no reservations, and provides options for both pickup and delivery.
Recommended by
Amazing Middle Eastern food.Great spot for a relaxed dinner of shared mezze - the baba ganoush is to die for! Cheap and cheerful and delicious as well.
Mijoté is a bistronomy-style restaurant offering a daily-changing 4-course set menu crafted by Michelin starred chef Kosuke Tada. Influenced by his experiences in Paris and Osaka, Chef Tada's dishes are rooted in French technique and feature locally sourced ingredients. The establishment also boasts a selection of natural wines from organic producers and is open for service from Tuesday to Saturday, 5-9 pm.
Recommended by
Beautiful bistronomy style fare from a Michelin starred chefHeavy bistronomy vibes coming out of the corner of 20th and Harrison. Say hey to mijote, the french-ish restaurant from the talented kosuke tada in the mission.Housed in the old sasaki sushi spot, the food/format is much akin to those new wave bistros in Paris—places like clown bar, le chateaubriand, etc.—likely because chef spent years studying the classic cuisine/technique and cooking its modern version in Paris, where he was head chef at le Paul Bert (love the bistro!). 4-course set menu changes daily—get the cheese supplement. Lots of fun wines fairly priced.This is actually the closest I’ve felt to eating at all the fun spots in Paris I love while in San Francisco. My meal from two nights pictured below. Can’t wait to come back—maybe, just maybe might be a reg here for once in my life
"Nisei" is a restaurant that offers a modern interpretation of Japanese cuisine under the guidance of Chef David Yoshimura. The menu is tasting-only, featuring unconventional flavors that embody both traditional Japanese ethos and Yoshimura's innovative culinary approach. Notable dishes include the Dorayaki, a playful and decadent twist on Japanese pancakes stuffed with banana and topped with caviar, paired perfectly with their extensive saké and wine offerings.
Recommended by
The Japanese tasting menu by David Yoshimura is full of incredible surprises. This one is destined for awards. Nisei just passed the year mark as it opened last year. It is very Japanese with tasting menu only, but the chef, second generation Japanese-American David Yoshimura, calls his food Cal Japanese. The flavours are bold and fascinating - they are traditional Japanese ethos, but absolutely not traditional in flavour. This one is destined for awards and other accolades. The tasting menu is full of incredible surprises, like the signature dish Dorayaki, little Japanese pancakes that are stuffed traditionally with red beans, but he stuffs them with banana and tops them with caviar. They're incredibly playful and decadent and this dish epitomises the direction Yoshimura is going, with a tasting menu always full of surprises. They also serve a saké pairing and a sake and wine combo adds even more layers.
True Laurel is a hip, casual restaurant and bar known for its creative cocktails and excellent food. The establishment, managed by the Michelin-starred Lazy Bear team, offers a range of dishes from seasonal salads and crudos to an aged beef burger and an incredible chicken liver mousse. They also serve a variety of vintage spirits and innovative cocktails, crafted with fermented California fruits and other unique ingredients.
Recommended by
One of the best bars anywhere. Incredibly creative, but casual and the food is also stellar. True Laurel is one of the best bars anywhere. It’s a bar and a casual restaurant from the two Michelin star Lazy Bear crew. It's hip and fun and there's vintage spirits, which I love. The cocktails are some of the most creative in the world, and I've been saying that from day one. Nic Torres, the bar manager, does incredible things, fermenting California fruits and making wine out of them as a base for cocktails. It’s textures and layers, but not fussy. The menu sounds straightforward and then you find out all the layers and details that are in it. The food is also excellent: an aged beef burger, seasonal salads and fruits, seasonal crudos, an incredible chicken liver mousse, pistachio dukkah and mission fig compote. This is “just bar food” that’s really incredible. It's just incredibly creative, but casual. And the food is also stellar.
KUSAKABE is a pioneer in San Francisco's culinary scene, specializing in 'Omakase' or chef's choice tasting menus. The restaurant, led by the world sushi technical skill winner, Mitsunori Kusakabe, blends traditional Kyoto Kaiseki techniques with innovative interpretations to offer a unique sushi experience. With two seating times and prix fixe Omakase options, guests can indulge in a variety of nigiri and select cooked dishes that aim to enrich their hearts and time.
Recommended by
SF to Japan in Kusakabe's Intimate Sushi Bar.I am transported back to Japan with the sleek, blond-wood lines of the intimate sushi bar offering only omakase/chef’s choice menus at Kusakabe, from Mitsunori (aka Nori) Kusakabe whose sushi I’ve long loved at legendary Sushi Ran in Sausalito. He’s taken things up another level here with nigiri and a few cooked dishes.
Omakase is a Michelin-starred, Edomae-style sushi restaurant offering an intimate dining experience with only 14 seats at the sushi bar. The restaurant specializes in omakase tasting menus, paired with saké, and served on antique plates from Japan’s Meiji era. With fish sourced directly from Tsukiji Fish Market and Chef Jackson Yu personally explaining each course's technique and provenance, Omakase is a destination for traditional sushi lovers.
Recommended by
An intimate, Michelin-starred, Edomae-style sushi restaurant/bar in SF.
Omakase opened mid-2015, garnering a Michelin star in its first year, truly an Edomae-style restaurant with only 14 seats at the sushi bar, fish flown in from Tsukiji Fish Market and gracious chef Jackson Yu explaining each course.SF's Michelin-starred Omakase serves only omakase tasting menus with saké pairings and custom Japanese plating, including antique plates from Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912). Chef Jackson Yu sources fish from Japan and is happy to explain technique and provenance along the way.
Boulevard is an American restaurant with a rich history, nearing its 30th anniversary. It offers a blend of classic Californian dishes with a French accent, providing an engaging gastronomic experience. With a recent remodeling, guests can now enjoy their meals while watching the professional chefs collaborate, plate, and create at the chef's counter.
Recommended by
Nancy Oakes classic Californian with a French accent. the restaurant is coming up on 30 years(!) #classic. they remodeled not long ago and it’s rad. Sit at the chef’s counter and watch the cooks collaborate and plate and create; the expo is a pro.
Besharam is an Indian restaurant that showcases regional Gujarati cuisine, with a bold interpretation of traditional flavors by chef Heena Patel. The menu features dishes from regions like Surat and Jaipur, providing a fresh approach to Indian cooking. Located in the historic Dogpatch district, Besharam is nestled within the contemporary art gallery space, Minnesota Street Project, adding a vibrant ambiance to your dining experience.
Recommended by
Singular chef driven Regional Indian cookingThere’s nothing like Heena Patel’s food. Her menu of regional Indian dishes from regions like Surat and Jaipur will have you eating things in a unique and new way.
AKIKOS is a family-owned restaurant, known for its world-class sushi bar and modern omakase menu. Since its reopening in 2023, it has evolved into a must-visit sushi destination, boasting an elegant and striking interior. Under the guidance of Chef Ray Lee, the restaurant offers unparalleled ingredients, reflecting in the quality of their dishes.
Recommended by
New Akikos is better than ever.
Since re-opening in it’s gorgeous new space in January 2023, 1987 family classic, Akikos, has evolved into a world class sushi bar… the elegant and striking new space, along with consummate service and sushi, make it one of SF’s sushi destinations.
Sorrel is a neighborhood gem that offers a menu influenced by Alex Hong and Michael Tusk, with a solid core of pasta dishes. It's located in the Pacific Heights district, providing a cozy and inviting atmosphere for its guests. Whether you're planning a private event or just looking for a pleasant dinner, Sorrel is an excellent choice with its diverse menu and warm ambiance.
Recommended by
Sorrel is a gem of a neighborhood restaurant in San Francisco's Pacific Heights. Alex Hong’s menu has a solid core of pasta and it’s easy to see the influence Quince’s Michael Tusk had on him.
Cotogna is a modern Italian restaurant known for its daily changing menu that features housemade pastas, grilled meats, and seafood roasted in a wood-burning oven. The restaurant is particularly famous for its Focaccia di Recco, a thin flatbread stuffed with salty stracchino cheese, which is a must-try for all visitors. The menu is dynamic, reflecting what's growing at local farms, ensuring fresh and seasonal ingredients in every dish.
Recommended by
Focaccia di recco at Cotogna — bite for bite one of my favorite things to eat in San Francisco. It’s cmc™—crispy melty cheesy—all the hallmarks for a trend dish if you think about it (detroit style pizza? cmc. patty melts a couple years ago? cmc. quesabirria and smashburgs? cmcaf)It’s less what you’d think of as fluffy focaccia and more like a thin flatbread stuffed with salty stracchino cheese—kinda reminds me of a melty stretchy halloumi. You might recognize this dish if you’re from Liguria where it originated or more likely from chi spacca if you’re an angeleno. Fun fact: Nancy Silverton actually brought this dish to a popup at Cotogna a few years ago, and Michael Tusk kept it on the menu since (he tells me Nancy borrowed his ravioli du uovo so it was a fair trade).I love this dish so much — ate this outside their beautiful heated outdoor parklet underneath the olive trees a couple weeks ago. hadn’t been in years but was reminded why I need to get there sooner—pfg all around.
Robin is a trendy sushi restaurant in San Francisco, known for its stylish, contemporary vibe and excellent sake selection. It offers a personalized omakase experience, using the freshest ingredients from the market to suit individual guest preferences. With a price range of $109 to $209, Robin combines a hip-hop attitude with superb fish cuts for a memorable dining experience.
Recommended by
San Francisco’s hipster sushi destination. Where many of San Francisco’s sushi havens are hard-core, intimate and Japan-reminiscent, Robin is hip, funky, sleek ans memorable with an excellent sake selection and hip-hop attitude married to superb cuts of fish.
Liholiho Yacht Club is a restaurant that offers a blend of Hawaiian heritage-inspired cuisine, with a menu that includes popular dishes like Beef Tongue buns, homemade Spam Fried Rice, Tuna Poké, and Baked Hawaiian dessert. With a great Bar and Wine program, they provide a variety of snacks and traditional fare, making it an excellent place to visit with friends to share the culinary experience. The restaurant also offers an 'Ohana Table' reservation option and a selection of gift cards for a meal or dinner gift, adding to the convenience for its patrons.
Recommended by
With this many hits on the menu you want to bring many friends and share it all.An awesome and fun SF restaurant from Ravi Kapur (RN74) and Jeff Hanak (NoPa) that loosely celebrates Hawaiian heritage. A great Bar + Wine program compliment a solid line up of snacks and more traditional fare. Can’t miss the Beef Tongue buns, the homemade Spam Fried Rice, the Tuna Poké or the Baked hawaiian dessert…with this many hits on the menu you want to bring many friends and share it all.
Cafe Jacqueline is a long-standing establishment in San Francisco, renowned for its specialty in both savory and sweet soufflés. For over 40 years, the owner, Jacqueline Margulis, has been delighting patrons with her perfect soufflés. Despite a recent closure due to the pandemic, the restaurant is back in operation, continuing to serve its signature dishes.
Recommended by
A San Francisco treasure. Perfect souffles from a menu of only savory and sweet souffles.A city treasure and one-of-a-kind in any city for over 40 years, Jacqueline Margulis has been serving perfect souffles from a menu of only savory and sweet souffles in her tiny North Beach restaurant. Now in her 80s, she's back after a long pandemic closure and we have yet a little more time with her eggy souffle perfection [No website; must call for reservations].
Beit Rima serves Arabic comfort food, offering a relaxed dining experience with a focus on shared mezze. The restaurant is particularly known for its baba ganoush, which is a customer favorite. Beit Rima operates on a counter service model with no reservations, and provides options for both pickup and delivery.
Recommended by
Amazing Middle Eastern food.Great spot for a relaxed dinner of shared mezze - the baba ganoush is to die for! Cheap and cheerful and delicious as well.
Mijoté is a bistronomy-style restaurant offering a daily-changing 4-course set menu crafted by Michelin starred chef Kosuke Tada. Influenced by his experiences in Paris and Osaka, Chef Tada's dishes are rooted in French technique and feature locally sourced ingredients. The establishment also boasts a selection of natural wines from organic producers and is open for service from Tuesday to Saturday, 5-9 pm.
Recommended by
Beautiful bistronomy style fare from a Michelin starred chefHeavy bistronomy vibes coming out of the corner of 20th and Harrison. Say hey to mijote, the french-ish restaurant from the talented kosuke tada in the mission.Housed in the old sasaki sushi spot, the food/format is much akin to those new wave bistros in Paris—places like clown bar, le chateaubriand, etc.—likely because chef spent years studying the classic cuisine/technique and cooking its modern version in Paris, where he was head chef at le Paul Bert (love the bistro!). 4-course set menu changes daily—get the cheese supplement. Lots of fun wines fairly priced.This is actually the closest I’ve felt to eating at all the fun spots in Paris I love while in San Francisco. My meal from two nights pictured below. Can’t wait to come back—maybe, just maybe might be a reg here for once in my life
"Nisei" is a restaurant that offers a modern interpretation of Japanese cuisine under the guidance of Chef David Yoshimura. The menu is tasting-only, featuring unconventional flavors that embody both traditional Japanese ethos and Yoshimura's innovative culinary approach. Notable dishes include the Dorayaki, a playful and decadent twist on Japanese pancakes stuffed with banana and topped with caviar, paired perfectly with their extensive saké and wine offerings.
Recommended by
The Japanese tasting menu by David Yoshimura is full of incredible surprises. This one is destined for awards. Nisei just passed the year mark as it opened last year. It is very Japanese with tasting menu only, but the chef, second generation Japanese-American David Yoshimura, calls his food Cal Japanese. The flavours are bold and fascinating - they are traditional Japanese ethos, but absolutely not traditional in flavour. This one is destined for awards and other accolades. The tasting menu is full of incredible surprises, like the signature dish Dorayaki, little Japanese pancakes that are stuffed traditionally with red beans, but he stuffs them with banana and tops them with caviar. They're incredibly playful and decadent and this dish epitomises the direction Yoshimura is going, with a tasting menu always full of surprises. They also serve a saké pairing and a sake and wine combo adds even more layers.
True Laurel is a hip, casual restaurant and bar known for its creative cocktails and excellent food. The establishment, managed by the Michelin-starred Lazy Bear team, offers a range of dishes from seasonal salads and crudos to an aged beef burger and an incredible chicken liver mousse. They also serve a variety of vintage spirits and innovative cocktails, crafted with fermented California fruits and other unique ingredients.
Recommended by
One of the best bars anywhere. Incredibly creative, but casual and the food is also stellar. True Laurel is one of the best bars anywhere. It’s a bar and a casual restaurant from the two Michelin star Lazy Bear crew. It's hip and fun and there's vintage spirits, which I love. The cocktails are some of the most creative in the world, and I've been saying that from day one. Nic Torres, the bar manager, does incredible things, fermenting California fruits and making wine out of them as a base for cocktails. It’s textures and layers, but not fussy. The menu sounds straightforward and then you find out all the layers and details that are in it. The food is also excellent: an aged beef burger, seasonal salads and fruits, seasonal crudos, an incredible chicken liver mousse, pistachio dukkah and mission fig compote. This is “just bar food” that’s really incredible. It's just incredibly creative, but casual. And the food is also stellar.
KUSAKABE is a pioneer in San Francisco's culinary scene, specializing in 'Omakase' or chef's choice tasting menus. The restaurant, led by the world sushi technical skill winner, Mitsunori Kusakabe, blends traditional Kyoto Kaiseki techniques with innovative interpretations to offer a unique sushi experience. With two seating times and prix fixe Omakase options, guests can indulge in a variety of nigiri and select cooked dishes that aim to enrich their hearts and time.
Recommended by
SF to Japan in Kusakabe's Intimate Sushi Bar.I am transported back to Japan with the sleek, blond-wood lines of the intimate sushi bar offering only omakase/chef’s choice menus at Kusakabe, from Mitsunori (aka Nori) Kusakabe whose sushi I’ve long loved at legendary Sushi Ran in Sausalito. He’s taken things up another level here with nigiri and a few cooked dishes.
Omakase is a Michelin-starred, Edomae-style sushi restaurant offering an intimate dining experience with only 14 seats at the sushi bar. The restaurant specializes in omakase tasting menus, paired with saké, and served on antique plates from Japan’s Meiji era. With fish sourced directly from Tsukiji Fish Market and Chef Jackson Yu personally explaining each course's technique and provenance, Omakase is a destination for traditional sushi lovers.
Recommended by
An intimate, Michelin-starred, Edomae-style sushi restaurant/bar in SF.
Omakase opened mid-2015, garnering a Michelin star in its first year, truly an Edomae-style restaurant with only 14 seats at the sushi bar, fish flown in from Tsukiji Fish Market and gracious chef Jackson Yu explaining each course.SF's Michelin-starred Omakase serves only omakase tasting menus with saké pairings and custom Japanese plating, including antique plates from Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912). Chef Jackson Yu sources fish from Japan and is happy to explain technique and provenance along the way.
Boulevard is an American restaurant with a rich history, nearing its 30th anniversary. It offers a blend of classic Californian dishes with a French accent, providing an engaging gastronomic experience. With a recent remodeling, guests can now enjoy their meals while watching the professional chefs collaborate, plate, and create at the chef's counter.
Recommended by
Nancy Oakes classic Californian with a French accent. the restaurant is coming up on 30 years(!) #classic. they remodeled not long ago and it’s rad. Sit at the chef’s counter and watch the cooks collaborate and plate and create; the expo is a pro.
Besharam is an Indian restaurant that showcases regional Gujarati cuisine, with a bold interpretation of traditional flavors by chef Heena Patel. The menu features dishes from regions like Surat and Jaipur, providing a fresh approach to Indian cooking. Located in the historic Dogpatch district, Besharam is nestled within the contemporary art gallery space, Minnesota Street Project, adding a vibrant ambiance to your dining experience.
Recommended by
Singular chef driven Regional Indian cookingThere’s nothing like Heena Patel’s food. Her menu of regional Indian dishes from regions like Surat and Jaipur will have you eating things in a unique and new way.
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