These spots, many of which are among our picks for the Top 100 Restaurants in Denver, offer delicious cuisine with a side of charm for a memorable night out. From an old-school red sauce joint and a new addition that feels like an enchanted forest to favorites for sushi and steak, these spots are sure to impress.
Whether it's your first date or your fiftieth, here are our picks for the ten most romantic restaurants in the city:
Barolo Grill
3030 East Sixth Avenue
This beloved classic has remained a favorite for over three decades under longtime owner Ryan Fletter, who can typically be found making the rounds in the dining room, offering wine suggestions and warm hospitality. The menu is centered on northern Italian cuisine, with staples such as cheese soufflé, Barolo-style braised duck and Castelmagno cheesecake available à la carte or as a four-course tasting menu. The warmly lit dining room is a relaxing place to linger over a long meal while the bar offers a more lively vibe if you prefer to belly up next to your special someone.
The interior at Duo Restaurant channels rustic charm.
Nicole Rezner
2413 West 32nd Avenue
In 2023, the founders of this pioneering farm-to-table restaurant in LoHi passed the reigns to its longtime chef, Tyler Skrivanek, who has continued to serve food that highlights local ingredients while giving the space a subtle refresh that's brought fresh energy to the warm, rustic dining room. It's a charming spot to share some bubbles and bites, including one of our favorite fried chicken entrees.
Guard and Grace
1801 California Street
In 2024, chef Troy Guard's Michelin-recommended downtown steakhouse was named one of the best steakhouses in the world — a fun fact that you can share during date night here. If you're going big, start with a seafood tower before digging into its signature oak-fired steaks available in a variety of sizes, from filet mignon to a whopping 30-ounce tomahawk. This spot is a splurge, but it's well worth it for a memorable night with someone who loves to feast.
Jovanina's Broken Italian
1520 Blake Street
Wood-fired pizzas, hearty handmade pasta and a decadent dessert list are sure to delight at this downtown Italian joint. The main dining room is a buzzy place to enjoy a meal but the real date night winner can be found downstairs in Sotto Voce, the subterranean Prohibition-era-style lounge where you can sip absinthe and explore the wine collection with your plus-one, who is sure to be impressed with your knowledge of this semi-hidden space.
The enchanted forest at La Forêt is a fairytale date spot.
Molly Martin
38 South Broadway
La Forêt had quite an act to follow when it opened in March 2024 in the space that was previously home to Beatrice & Woodsley but it quickly proved itself capable of sustaining the magic. Dangling greenery, a row of cozy booths and real-life aspen tree trunks are just a few of the details that create an undeniably romantic atmosphere. The menu features French fare with a Colorado-inspired alpine twist and if your date is going well after the main course, you can keep the good times going with a round of digestifs paired with desserts such as crème brulée or chocolate mousse.
Odyssey
603 East Sixth Avenue
Housed in a charming Victorian-style home on Sixth Avenue, this old-school Italian joint is the perfect backdrop for a cozy date night that's also wallet-friendly. The patio is lovely on a warm night but inside, roses sprout from empty wine bottles, red-checkered tablecloths deck the tables and framed photographs adorn the walls. There are even a few tables on the second level, offering an even more intimate experience. The food here is crowd-pleasing and comforting, plus on Mondays, you can score the ultimate date night deal when all the pasta dishes are just $11.95 and come with a Ceasar salad and bread.
The covered and heated patio at Potager is a scenic spot for a dinner date.
Potager
1109 Ogden Street
Founded in 1997, this Capitol Hill restaurant helped usher in an era of farm-to-table dining in Denver and continues that mission today under its current owners, Nik Brand and husband-and-wife team Paul and Eileen Warthen, who took it over in 2019. Before the sun sets, natural light fills the space with a warm glow and at night, there are plenty of bookish, low-lit corners to camp out in. The best date night setting here, though, is the covered and heated patio that serves as a romantic wintertime oasis. The menu changes often, the wine list is impeccable and the service is the type that will keep you coming back for many date nights to come.
Does your date love sushi? Then you can't go wrong at Sushi Den.
Sushi Den
1487 South Pearl Street
This Pearl Street staple celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2024 and there's a good reason it's stuck around so long. Denver's OG sushi experts, owners Toshi and Yasu Kizaki, ensure that everything is top quality so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the flavors of fish flown in fresh from Japan. The main dining room has sultry lighting and plenty of cozy corners for your date night meal but we also highly recommend the private chef's counter omakase experience for two, which starts at $150 per person and is customized to each diner's preferences.
Italian fair with worldly flavors is the specialty at Spuntino.
Spuntino
2639 West 32nd Avenue
Since taking over this Highland Italian eatery over a decade ago, husband-and-wife team Elliot Strathmann and Cindhura Reddy have created a place that's filled with love — for its guests, its staff and its food, which translates to a superior dining experience. While Strathmann oversees the front-of-house, including the bar that's stocked with his collection of amaro, Reddy heads up the kitchen, often adding touches inspired by her Indian heritage to the dishes for a one-of-a-kind meal that will impress any dinner date.
Wildflower
3638 Navajo Street
Don't let the fact that this restaurant is located inside a hotel dissuade you from choosing it for date night. There's no big lobby ruining the vibes at this spot. Instead, you'll find a moody dining room filled with subtle floral touches that compliment the thoughtful food from chef Aiden Tibbetts, who often sources ingredients from his mother's sprawling garden. For a real treat, spring for the signature Wildflower tasting menu which includes five ($75) to eight courses ($92) curated courses.
