The most romantic restaurants in Delhi

What is it: One of New York's finest, housed inside The Leela hotel

Why we love it: This is a seriously fancy-schmancy one. Chic wooden interiors cosy up to vintage curios that are vaguely reminiscent of Austen novels. Old-timers will tell you that the 10th-floor alfresco seating was once the city's most coveted spot for a meal with a view. Now, the restaurant occupies a smaller, more intimate space on the first level, though the service and signature dishes remain top-notch (with an a la carte lunch service included!). At dinner, you get to pick between the five- or seven-course tasting menu, with highlights including the lobster ravioli or the Le Caviar. Best washed down with a glass of wine and topped off with their crème brûlée.

Best for: Celebrating a milestone

Time Out tip: Once you're done scraping out the last of the crème brûlée, you'll find the original dessert recipe printed on the bottom of the dish.

Price: ₹7,000 for two

Timings: 12-3pm, 7-11.30pm. Daily.

Address: The Leela Palace New Delhi, Diplomatic Enclave, Africa Avenue, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi, 110023

What is it: A 40-seater restaurant serving European-style comfort food

Why we love it: Some might say Shivalik wasn’t a neighbourhood known for dining until chefs Hanisha Singh and Jamsheed Bhote opened Plats in 2019. The earthy green-brown palette, mirrors, and stacks of books have a way of making the space feel exquisitely homely and intimate, and almost everything on their menu is worth coming back for. The double tenderloin cheeseburger, spinach and ricotta ravioli and lamb steak are standouts, along with crowd-favourite Umami Mami, a clarified mezcal cocktail with tomato and black garlic.

Best for: A second date

Price: ₹2,500 for two

Timings: 12.30pm-11pm. Daily.

Address: C-51, Ground Floor, Shivalik Road, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110017

What is it: A large, breezy space that dabbles in ‘Italian wafu’ and European-style brunches

Why we love it: Every inch of the place – a massive 88-seater, by the way – is done up beautifully, and will have several diners pulling out their phones for pictures. The art ranges from a digital projection of birds soaring in the distance to Rohit Chawla’s offbeat photographs. The food’s no less – the Arangiri (arancini + nigiri) and goat’s cheese gyoza verge on heavy, but it’s hard to stop at one. A particularly surprising winner is the Chilled Sweetcorn and Granola Mix. The cocktail menu’s good to boot – spritzer-style drinks like the Passionfruit and Vanilla and the negroni-esque Blood Orange and Betel were my favourites. The DIY Bocker Glory Sundae’s a fun way to wrap things up because your date and you can pick out your toppings together.

Best for: Double dates or group outings with significant others

Price: ₹3,000 for two

Timings: Noon-1am. Daily.

Address: Ground Floor, Sangam Courtyard, G01/G02, Major Somnath Marg, KD Colony, Sector 9, Rama Krishna Puram, New Delhi, Delhi, 110022

What is it: A wine and coffee bar with multiple outlets

Why we love it: Dare I say that it might’ve been Perch that really perfected the candlelit date night game in Delhi. It came on the scene in 2015, when the concept of a wine and coffee bar was still relatively new, and quickly became the spot for specialty single-origin coffee, an extensive wine list, or a cocktail, all under the same roof. The place is sombre but gorgeous – all leafy plants and wood benches and high stools and loads of drippy candles once the sun goes down. We appreciate them foregoing the battery-operated tableside light that everyone’s going big on these days.

Their food menu’s trustworthy and stacks stellar cold and hot small plates alongside reliable, hearty Italian classics. Though they’ve got plenty of outlets across Delhi, I have a personal weakness for the one at Khan Market.

Best for: An intimate afternoon-to-evening catch-up

Price: ₹1,800 for two

Timings: 8am-1am. Daily.

Address: 71, Khan Market, Rabindra Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110003

What is it: An all-day café and bar overlooking Delhi’s forest ridge

Why we love it: In my opinion, The Grammar Room conjures up a more playful date than its sister-neighbour Olive. The sun streaming through the glass windows, the little outdoor balcony that looks out onto the forest, the bright decor, the wide G&T selection, the fusion menu, the banger desserts – they all make for a fabulous brunch. Menu highlights include their truffle fries, katsu chicken sandwich, and Turkish poached eggs.

Best for: First dates or if you and your partner have been going out for ages. The board games kind of help alleviate stress or make for a fun drinking exercise.

Time Out tip: If you manage to get here before 11am, you’ll catch their fresh bakes of the day.

Price: ₹1,800 for two

Timings: 11am-midnight. Wed-Mon.

Address: One Style Mile, 6-8 Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030

What is it: A dramatic, Gothic-esque restaurant that oozes dark romance

Why we love it: Ristorante by Dali pushes the envelope on the sexy candlelit dinner affair. The place feels like a Gothic Italian church, complete with candelabras encased with dripping wax, crisp white tablecloths, porcelain lamps, and bookshelves stacked with classics. The walls are lined with replicas of Picassos and Dalis.

It’d be heavily disappointing if the food didn’t live up to the ambience, but mercifully, it does. Ingredients are sourced straight from Italy, so the quality is consistently good. The Tortellini el Brodo, a lamb-filled Emilia-Romagna classic, is a must, while handmade pastas like Pappardelle Pesto Genovese and King Crab and Limone Tortelli cater to heartier appetites.

Best for: Laying on the romance thick.

Time Out tip: The basement wine cellar doubles as an 18-seater private dining hideaway.

Price: ₹4,000 for two

Timings: Mon-Thu, Sun: 12:30pm-4pm, 7 pm-1am; Fri-Sat: 12:30pm-4pm, 7pm-1am

Address: M Block Market, M 24, Block M, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi, Delhi, 110048

What is it: A fine-dining European restaurant fashioned like a vintage train carriage

Why we love it: Restaurants that go big on theatre are always an easy way to someone’s heart. The ambience leans old Hollywood, it’s fancy without being stiff-upper-lipped, and the food’s delicious. Get the Cognac-flambéed lobster, Camembert soufflé, and chicken liver pâté.

Best for: An occasion or milestone

Price: ₹12,000 for two

Timings: 6.30pm-11.30pm. Daily.

Address: Taj Palace, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021

What is it: One of India’s consistently best restaurants, hands down

Why we love it: For as long as it’s been around, Indian Accent’s been the go-to spot for special occasions. The design’s striking without being over the top, the glasshouse section overlooking the tiny lake is a dreamy setting, but the tasting menu’s where the magic is. Traditional Indian flavours served with a modern enough twist that it makes for great tableside banter, tiny portions that won’t make for a messy meal – signatures include Daulat ki Chaat and the blue cheese naan, but several dishes, like the Kanyakumari Crab in Mustard and Coconut or Dahi Gujiya, rotate based on season. It’s definitely not a casual dinner situation – much more an anniversary meal out.

Best for: An occasion worth splurging on

Time Out tip: This is a reservations-only spot, so book your table at least a few weeks ahead.

Price: ₹11,000 for two (vegetarians); ₹11,500 for two (non-vegetarian)

Timings: Noon-2.30pm; 7pm-9pm; 9.45pm-midnight

Address: The Lodhi, Lodhi Road, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110003

What is it: A restaurant on ITC Maurya’s rooftop, overlooking Delhi’s skyline

Why we love it: Bukhara and Dum Pukht may be ITC Maurya’s crowning jewels, but Avartana’s made its own mark. The tasting menu’s big on South Indian flavours, with French-Pressed Tomato Rasam in a martini glass, Uthukuli Chicken with Malabar parottas, and Shrimp Dumplings. Save room for the Fennel Panna cotta with its mango ‘yolk’, which looks like a bird's nest with an egg.

Best for: Outdoor dinners when the weather’s good

Time Out tip: Don’t skip their cocktails, especially the Salem Chilli Picante and Tamarind Guntur Imli Highball.

Price: ₹8,000 for two

Timings: 7pm-11pm, daily, plus lunch only on Sunday from 12.30pm-2.45pm

Address: ITC Maurya, Akhaura Block, Bapu Dham, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021

What is it: An intimate spot on the Mehrauli-Gurugram stretch

Why we love it: The alfresco seating, under a canopy of trees, is everyone’s favourite spot, and the food, classic Italian fare, is never gimmicky or too frilly. The wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas are extremely reliable, and go wonderfully with the new Terre di Toscana cocktail menu, which includes the earthy Notte nel Bosco with espresso and hazelnut, or the tropical Paloma del Tirreno.

Time Out tip: They’ve got a charming semi-private drawing room section. Book it in advance if you want some quality time with your date, away from the crowd.

Best for: A first date

Price: ₹4,000 for two

Timings: 12:30pm–3:30pm; 7pm–12:30am. Daily.

Address: 27, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd, near Metro Pillar No.38, New Manglapuri, Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi, 110030