The Best Date-Night Restaurants in Philly

For this dating round, we’ve added: Superette, Meetinghouse, and Apricot Stone, and for now, we’ve parted ways with Scampi, River Twice, and Kiddo.

Lark

On the rooftop of the Ironworks building across the river from Manayunk, Nick Elmi and Fia Berisha’s Lark is a lovely space for date night, with art deco chandeliers, velvet banquettes, and a gorgeous view. The coastal Mediterranean menu is as special as the environment: Dishes like braised chilled leeks and blue crab and pink peppercorn strozzapreti are crafted with care, perfect alongside a stellar list of cocktails and wine.

Meetinghouse

In the evening, the dining room at Meetinghouse is softly lit with plenty of flickering candles to light the way as you share towering green salads, crab dip, fried turkey cutlets, and maybe a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with creme de menthe.

Fork

A stalwart of Philly’s farm-to-table dining scene, Fork on Market is always bound to make a night special. A lovely atmosphere in Old City makes menu highlights like farm beans, striped bass, and coconut custard for dessert taste extra sweet. You can make reservations online.

Alpen Rose

The ultimate dining destination to make a proposal or serious dating commitment, this grand steakhouse from Schulson Collective doesn’t disappoint. Be sure to come hungry — their divine 38-ounce tomahawk rib-eye steak, savory lamb rack, beef Wellington, and lobster linguine are nothing for the meek.

Friday Saturday Sunday

Friday Saturday Sunday, the fine dining restaurant helmed by Chad and Hanna Williams on South 21st Street, practically invented special occasion dinners. Within the bright, cozy space, the tasting menu is constantly evolving (think barbecue veal cheek and crudo with yuzu, sunchoke, and bone marrow gelée), and the cocktails are cheekily named and lovely to boot. You can make reservations online.

Little Water

Rittenhouse Square’s contemporary coastal project is the latest from James Beard-nominated chef Randy Rucker and his wife Amanda. The seafood-centric dinner menu takes tips from the culinary couple’s time spent along the Gulf, New England, and mid-Atlantic waterways. Opt for celebratory items like oysters and uni from Maine, raw bluefin tuna flecked with olives, and a casual riff on caviar service with hush puppies instead of toast points.

Illata

Graduate Hospital restaurant Illata has been called Philly’s “most unforgettable menu” for a reason. In chef-owner Aaron Randi’s hands, dishes (which are often rotating) like tortellini with eggplant tomato consommé are deceptively simple, always packing a surprise flavor and burst of creativity. Randi specializes in hidden ingredients: a bed of farro peaking below a puntarelle salad or a chocolate cake beneath a swirly blanket. Warm lighting melded with a minimalist interior design makes for a cozy date-night option that’s not overly dressed.

Rex at the Royal

At this South Street mainstay, Southern coastal-inspired cuisine reigns supreme. Fried chicken, cornbread, oysters, and vibrant daiquiris complement the restaurant’s luxe and cozy interiors. Translation: It’s a romantic hotspot for live music and comfort.

Superette

If the weather is good, snag a table on the sidewalk and share a carafe of house rosé, along with a spread of oysters, shrimp cocktail, steak tartare, and grilled octopus. It’s the kind of place where you can while away an afternoon or evening enjoying your date’s company, and what is more romantic than that? Grab a bottle from their market to share outside with a cup of summer soft serve ice cream.

Apricot Stone

Apricot Stone’s Armenian and Syrian cooking is portioned perfectly for sharing, which means your hands might brush as you both reach for a swipe of the restaurant’s excellent red pepper feta dip. This is a BYOB, which means you can whip out a special bottle without breaking the bank. We’re particularly fond of the Greek salad, which comes with a herby lentil salad, and the kebab platter with lamb chops.

Irwin's

Sicilian small plates and natural wine are on the table at Irwin’s, the South Philly restaurant on the top floor of Bok Bar with Michael Vincent Ferreri as head chef. The scene is lively, the drinks are inspired, and the swordfish is big enough to share. What’s not to love? You can make reservations online.