The most romantic restaurants in Miami for your next date night

Real-life chef couple Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer own and operate this cozy Little Haiti spot that oozes with charm. If your date doesn’t make you swoon, watching these two cook together will. Sit side by side at the counter while you slurp excellent fresh pasta together and trade sips of your organic wines. Bonus: The tightly edited menu keeps quarrelsome couples from agonizing over dishes they’ll both like.

Order this: A bowl of the chilled tagliolini nero with king crab shows off exactly why this strip mall spot earned its Michelin star. Share an order of those caviar-topped potato skins, too—trust us.

Glowing under bistro lights, Sunny's transforms an unassuming industrial Little River corner into a romantic escape. The dining room's vintage mirrors and French doors create the perfect backdrop for lingering over handmade pasta and perfectly aged steaks. Out on the tree-shaded patio, couples share oysters and cocktails while inside, the warm lighting makes every booth feel like your own private corner of Miami. Between the thoughtful wine list and a menu that ranges from caviar service to comforting Parker House rolls, it's designed for those nights when you want to lean in close and take your time with someone special.

Order this: The dry-aged KC Strip proves why classics never go out of style, while the agnolotti with blue crab and saffron harkens back to the restaurant’s Jaguar Sun roots.

It's dinner by candlelight, only this candle is made out of butter, and it melts into a lovely aromatic pool for slathering onto thick, spongy slices of fresh-baked bread. And that's just the beginning of a meal at Erba, Chef Niven Patel's latest Italian-inspired concept in Coral Gables. Pastas feature prominently here, but the veg dishes (all sourced from Chef's farm down in Homestead) are not to be overlooked. A gorgeous cascading chandelier and the restaurant's warm, richly textured design complement the meal—and your dreamy date.

Order this: Agnolotti swimming in beef broth with melting beef cheek morsels is a must, plus ricotta ravioli under white truffle cream sauce is decadent date-night perfection.

The website for this sexy, Catalonian hotspot in Downtown offers a simple description of the concept: “Straddling the line between madness and genius.” This makes NIU an ideal spot to test a date’s willingness to try new things. Creative riffs on Iberian Peninsula dishes include Galician octopus, brothy clams and, if you're lucky to find it on a night it's available, big plates of rice or noodle paella studded with seafood and the most perfect aioli this side of Madrid. Next door, sister restaurant NIU Wine offers an even tinier, more intimate nook to sip wine and devour tapas for hours on end.

Order this: Coal-branded oysters with ponzu-mayo sauce shine alongside the cold tomato soup topped with mustard ice cream and basil oil that might be the most unique take on gazpacho you’ve ever had.

Let’s say there’s a first date coming up where your prospective mate says no expense will be spared. Or perhaps it’s a last date and, just before the breakup, you want to stick him or her with one last whopper of a bill. Yeah, Klaw is the pick. The views of Biscayne Bay and the opulent dining room are reason enough to book a reservation, but it’s the budget-busting menu that makes this a spot to go all in. Plates of Norwegian crab legs and aged steaks run well into the triple digits. Are all these prices worth it? Who can put a price on love?

Order this: Go big with the Norwegian king crab legs—they're cut tableside and served with herbed butter. Follow with a dry-aged T-bone carved straight from the skillet at your table.

This go-to Greek/Turkish restaurant feels like a pseudo trip to the Greek Isles. The spacious outdoor area’s rustic blue-and-white design helps to keep up the illusion, while dishes such as the whole fried fish and the authentic Greek salad (without lettuce!) dupe your taste buds almost instantly. Any table in the restaurant’s courtyard is sure to impress, but on nights when it’s too hot, take a seat inside by the window. Nothing ruins a date like sweating through a meal.

Order this: Baked feta arrives bubbling with Turkish peppers and chili flakes, served with paper bags of warm house bread for dipping. The honey pie brings a sweet-salty balance with its shortbread crust.

Nestled on a quiet Downtown street, this understated, family-owned trattoria doles out fresh pastas in homemade sauces and frequently hosts live jazz and literary events in the evenings. Grab a seat in the alley-esque interior, with soaring ceilings and weathered bookshelves decorated with a hodgepodge of Italian knickknacks and Miami memorabilia. On the sidewalk, enjoy lazy people-watching with healthy wine pours and the feeling that you and your date have abandoned Miami altogether.

Order this: The homemade linguini mingles clams and bottarga with bursts of cherry tomato in each bite.

Dark, rustic and with low-slung ceilings to help keep things intimate, the charming Coconut Grove restaurant exudes romance from every corner. With a menu built on sharing, date night at Ariete is a no-brainer. But to really impress that blind Tinder date, order the duck, prepared tableside with an elaborate French press, something you simply won’t find anywhere else in town.

Order this: Get the foie gras draped in sour orange sauce over plantain pave, and save room for the mushroom flan—it'll convert any skeptic.

Part ramshackle backyard, part vintage saloon, the homey Lagniappe makes for the ideal laid-back date spot. Wine and food are ordered at the counter and paid for upfront, so you’ll get the awkwardness of splitting the bill over with quickly. Outdoors, bistro lights and cafe tables get the romantic mood right, but snag a spot on a sofa indoors for intimate conversation paired with live jazz music.

Order this: Pick your own charcuterie board from the fridge's selection—then grab a grilled choripan when multiple glasses of wine demand something more substantial.

Unless you live down south, it’s a trek getting to Fiola. But with acclaimed sister restaurants in D.C. and Venice, it’s a relatively short trip you’ll want to make. The menu is filled with enticing things like wagyu beef cappelletti swimming in osso buco sauce and Australian wagyu filet with Iberico ham. The service team knows how to read the room, too—they'll give you space to gaze into each other's eyes or keep the wine suggestions flowing if that first-date conversation hits a lull.

Order this: Start with sunset drinks at La Terrazza rooftop, then head down for the lobster ravioli in a ginger-chive sauce that's made for sharing.

With a former Mandolin chef at the helm, it’s like one of our favorite romantic restaurants remade itself in modern style. While Mandolin maintains more of an old-world charm, Doya is all Miami, with an ultra-modern dining room spilling into a sparkly outdoor area. It’s not only a respite from the craziness of Wynwood but also a great spot to stare longingly in the face of your date—or, at least, lust longingly after plates of Turkish kofte meatballs, fisherman's stew and wood-fired kebabs.

Order this: Pack your table with as many meze as possible—everything's meant for sharing and the kitchen nails each dish, from grilled meats to vegetable-focused plates.

La Mar is one of the few places in Miami where the scenery doesn’t come at the expense of the food—the views and chef Diego Oka’s Peruvian cuisine are equally unparalleled. Whether you’re in for a breezy waterfront brunch or romantic dinner with a clear shot of Brickell’s twinkling skyline, you’ll want to order up one of chef Oka’s delicate ceviches and the arroz chaufa (Peruvian fried rice), mixed up tableside. Cocktail options are aplenty, but if this is your first time at La Mar, or trying Peruvian food altogether, the classic pisco sour is a must.

Order this: The cebiche clásico shows why this spot leads Miami's Peruvian scene, plus the grilled Wagyu beef anticuchos come perfectly charred.

Step into the Côte d'Azur without leaving Brickell—LPM's pistachio banquettes, harlequin mirrors, and gallery walls of eclectic 20th-century art set the scene for French romance done right. Fresh tomatoes and lemons grace each white-clothed table, while the kitchen serves up Niçoise cuisine that honors its French Riviera roots. Yes, you'll drop a few hundred bucks for dinner, but between the airy space, well-crafted whimsical cocktails, and meticulously crafted dishes, every cent transports you straight to the South of France.

Order this: The tangy Tomatini might just be Miami's best cocktail—get two and pair them with the escargots swimming in garlicky herb butter. Those tender little snails will make a Francophile out of anyone.

A staple in the Miami food scene since before there was one, chef Michael Schwartz elevates boho-chic with this waterfront gem featuring a recently updated menu of Latin-inspired fare. Minutes from Wynwood, downtown and the historic MiMo district, Amara is in a sweet spot for any occasion and boasts sweeping bay views ideal for taking in a perfect Miami sunset. 

Order this: Don't skip the Brazilian cheese puffs, arriving warm and airy. Follow them with the seafood parillada and the slow-roasted short rib.

The only time you might actually hope for rain in the forecast is when you have a reservation for a date at Pastis. That's not to say the NYC-imported French restaurant's outdoor patio isn't an idyllic spot to swoon over a steaming bowl of top-notch moules frites. It's just that with the orange glow of the orb pendants, the wrought iron furnishings and rustic mosaic tile, a gentle pitter-patter of raindrops is the perfect final detail to mentally send you and your lover to Paris for the night.

Order this: The French onion soup starts strong, but the cheeseburger à l'Américaine steals the spotlight at this scene-y Parisian-style bistro.

Soho Beach House’s Italian restaurant (the club’s only area open to non-members) is a one-stop for good food and a good time—the menu of house-made pasta and an outdoor dining area practically set the mood for you. Reserve a center table near one of the trees covered in bistro lights: The soft yellow glow is subtle and sexy, and it will keep you from accidentally knocking anything over—which happens after one too many Picantes de la Casa, the club’s delish spicy margarita.

Order this: Try the lobster spaghetti that comes with a nice kick, though you can’t go wrong with any wood-fired pizza topped with goat cheese.

Yes, a meal at one of Cote's generous circular barbecue banquettes is ideal for impressing large groups. But this Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in one of Miami's chicest 'hoods boasts tables for two, too. If your date isn't already making you sweat, the copious amounts of dry-aged beef (and veg-forward sides), all cooked to perfection at your table, will surely do the trick.

Order this: The Butcher's Feast brings four prime cuts to your tabletop grill, but pair them with their expertly made martinis—which are some of the best in Miami.

If it's a pedigree that gets them all hot and bothered, you'll want to go ahead and lock in a reservation at Bouchon, the latest Miami offering from Thomas Keller, the most decorated Michelin chef in the U.S. Bouchon's wine country origins and French bistro-inspired menu coalesce in a neat, classically romantic space in Coral Gables' historic La Palma building. The menu arrives folded up on parchment like a little love letter; take it as a cue to treat your boo. The dishes here might be simple, but the service and the well-heeled crowd will make the whole affair feel extra special.

Order this: Get the soupe à l'oignon loaded with caramelized onions in beef jus and Comté cheese, while the boeuf bourguignon shows why Keller's team earned that Michelin star, braising short rib until it falls apart in Bordelaise sauce.

Restaurants that transport you to far-flung places are always a good idea for a date night. Andalusian-inspired Tropezón promises rustic charm and mood-setting lighting in a cozy dining room that borders on cramped. Sit elbow to elbow with your beau, sipping on sherry and noshing on sliced jamón from the enormous cured pig leg hanging just behind the bar. Ask for a window seat for some extra privacy and spend the evening peering out at buzzy Española Way as though you were really on vacation.

Order this: The boquerones come crispy in charcoal tempura, paired with churros that get an unexpected companion: olive oil-infused ice cream.

Intimacy takes on a whole new meaning at this upscale omakase speakeasy located in the back of Taco Stand in Wynwood. Best reserved in advance (like, far in advance) for a special occasion, the Edomae-style tasting menu features a selection of cold and hot dishes and sushi prepared with only the freshest seasonal ingredients, including many flown in from Japan. All that airfare for your sushi comes at a price: $300 per person. After typing in a secret code you get after booking, make your way through the sliding door to the eight-seat counter for two hours of blissful made-to-order dining.

Order this: Let Chef Akikuni lead with pristine cuts from Japan - don't miss the generous uni portions. Save room for whatever tuna cut appears in your progression.

One of the city’s finest and fussiest big-bucks restaurants, Casa Tua is a sleek and chic country Italian-style establishment set in a refurbished 1925 Mediterranean-style two-story house. With several living-room-style nooks, Casa Tua offers the cozy familiarity of a night in—with much, much better food. If you’ve ever dreamed of hiring a notable chef to come over and cook you a fancy dinner, book a table at Casa Tua for an equally pricey experience with zero cleanup.

Order this: The ricotta cavatelli showcases handmade pasta at its finest, while the burrata arrives so fresh it barely holds shape when cut.

A fancy-pants Italian restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay, the view and the toothsome fresh pasta doesn’t come cheap here. Special occasions call for a splurge, both fiscal and caloric. Blowing a wad and indulging with your S.O. over an extravagant dinner facing the water is what it’s all about at this pricey pasta joint, which is ideal for fans of garlic, truffles and homemade pasta that’s a far cry from Ragu.

Order this: Fill up first on the legendary bread basket, then split the off-menu chicken parm—we promise there will be leftovers.

Fourth-generation Cipriani brothers, Maggio and Ignazio, follow in their family’s footsteps with this upscale Italian restaurant perched on the rooftop of Coconut Grove’s trendy modern hotel, Mr C. In keeping with the luxurious, contemporary space, the cuisine is rustic Italian but with a modern twist. Enjoy lighter versions of traditional pasta dishes plus Italian staples like polenta and branzino with a birds-eye view of Miami’s sparkling bayfront skyline. There’s no leaving Bellini without trying the namesake cocktail, which Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, invented in the late 1930s.

Order this: The cacio e pepe is classic and perfectly executed, while the endive salad with bosc pear adds pecorino for a salty kick.

Ever fallen in love with a backyard? You will here. While the historic coral-rock building sets the mood, Zoi's outdoor garden steals the show with two lagoons and enough twinkling lights to make you forget you're in Miami. Mediterranean classics fill the menu, from creamy hummus to grilled kebabs, but nobody's counting dishes when they're posted up in this dreamy space, watching the moon rise through leafy branches.

Order this: The salt-crusted branzino for two features a classic Mediterranean preparation, while the shrimp saganaki arrives sizzling with ouzo and feta for a perfect starter.