21 Most Romantic Restaurants in New Orleans, LA in 2025
Hot summer nights, Spanish moss, and music in the air: for romance, it’s hard to beat dining at one of the many romantic restaurants in New Orleans. You may even feel spoiled for choice, as the city has no shortage of picture-perfect date night spots.
From classic Italian and French to the local flavors of Creole and Caribbean cooking, romantic dining in New Orleans can take just about any form you like. Yet, with so many options, choosing the perfect date night restaurant in New Orleans can be challenging.
So, where should you reserve a table for your next night out? This diverse collection of the 21 most romantic restaurants in New Orleans is a great place to start.
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The 21 Best Date Night Restaurants in New Orleans
1. MaMou
If your ideal romantic restaurant in New Orleans serves nothing but classic French fare, make your way to MaMou. Like many of the best New Orleans French Quarter restaurants, it’s a quaintly romantic spot for impeccably crafted French cuisine and an air of exclusivity.
The Vibe
All the Parisian charm of a Montmartre bistro is present at this incredibly romantic restaurant in New Orleans. MaMou skews bold and cheeky but refined in its aesthetics, in an intimate space that warrants a reservation to be sure you get one of its few tables.
What to Order
If you’re feeling a little bit brave, go raw. Steak tartare is a well-known French dish, but many diners shy away; don’t make that mistake, and you’ll be rewarded with one of the best dishes in the city. Poisson à la Florentine with a caviar beurre blanc is an excellent alternative if you’re more into seafood.
MaMou | 942 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116 | $$$
2. Zasu
James Beard Award winner Sue Zemanick is a towering figure in the New Orleans food scene, and one of her latest projects is Zasu. Its goal: to explore how international flavors can elevate Louisiana cuisine. If you’re going for local cuisine with a decidedly more upscale feel, Zasu might be one of the best romantic restaurants in New Orleans to look into.
The Vibe
Like its menu, Zasu’s look and feel are chic but approachable. In the tradition of these sorts of elevated-local spots, understatement is a part of the aesthetic at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans.
What to Order
Seafood pastas are a dime a dozen in New Orleans, a city with abundant seafood and a not-insignificant Italian food scene. Even so, Zasu especially kills it. It doesn’t matter how many plates of shrimp scampi you’ve eaten lately: Zasu’s crabmeat fettuccine is a revelation.
Zasu | 127 N. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119 | $$$
3. Galatoire’s Restaurant
Few New Orleans dining institutions are as iconic as Galatoire’s. For over a hundred years, this superbly romantic New Orleans restaurant has served upper-crust local fare on iconic Bourbon Street. It’s the kind of place you go with a date you’re desperate to impress — just remember to heed the dress code. (Yes, there’s a dress code at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans. Jacket required!)
The Vibe
If you were a 19th-century citizen of fashion, this is the kind of place you’d go to see and be seen. That both a reservation and a suitable jacket are required to dine here says just about all you need to know about this ultimate romantic New Orleans restaurant.
What to Order
Get into the vibe of this elegant, romantic restaurant in New Orleans with Oysters Rockefeller to start. Then, follow up with seafood gumbo and bread pudding with banana and praline.
Galatoire’s Restaurant | 209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130 | $$$
4. Tana
Those looking for date ideas in New Orleans might think about planning an upscale Italian dinner. Perhaps no cuisine is as closely associated with romance, so it’s only right that a couple of these romantic restaurants in the New Orleans area have an Italian bent.
As is typical for the city and region, Tana’s Sicilian and Southern Italian menu is just as influenced by local flavors as it is by the time-honored techniques of the Old World.
The Vibe
This bright, stylish spot isn’t quite the white-tablecloth place you might imagine when you think about an Italian dinner date. It’s that chic look that makes Tana stand out among a sea of romantic restaurants near New Orleans with a more vintage aesthetic.
What to Order
Gulf shrimp paccheri is a can’t miss dish. This Italian-Cajun fusion entrée marries some of the best food in New Orleans with the proud Southern Italian tradition of impeccable pasta.
Tana | 2919 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA 70001 | $$$
5. Coquette
This romantic restaurant in New Orleans isn’t only romantic because of what’s inside: it’s also located in one of New Orleans’ most romantic neighborhoods, the lush Garden District. As its name suggests, Coquette specializes in playful contemporary takes on classic Southern food.
The Vibe
Classy from the tiled floor to the chandelier-hung ceiling. Warm woods and an extensive bar make this exactly the kind of romantic restaurant in New Orleans where you imagine taking a date.
What to Order
If you and your date love seafood, we highly recommend the seafood platter. This sharing dish allows you to get a taste of everything from the raw bar. Be sure to order an indulgent dessert as well to finish.
Coquette | 2800 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115 | $$$
6. Bouligny Tavern
Your average romantic restaurant in New Orleans leans into the city’s long history. At Bouligny Tavern, modernity also comes into focus. This is a New Orleans take on the ever-trending gastropub, and if you’re sick of patios hemmed in by Spanish moss or you’re not feeling dinner in a 19th-century parlor, look no further than Bouligny Tavern for a different kind of date night.
The Vibe
Don’t let the Garden District location fool you: this romantic restaurant in New Orleans, set in a mid-century modern building, is anything but Victorian. A place to come for cocktails and small plates when you want to feel chic.
What to Order
Don’t laugh: regulars insist that a hamburger is the best complement to your cocktail at Bouligny Tavern. Give yourself permission not to be fancy for a night, and you’ll be glad you did. If you’re leaning more towards small plate dishes, getting at least one order of hushpuppies with jalapeño and honey butter is a must.
Bouligny Tavern | 3641 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115 | $$
7. Daiwa Sushi Bar
If your date wants sushi, this casual Japanese spot is the romantic restaurant in New Orleans for you. It might be a low-key spot, but everything on offer at Daiwa Sushi Bar is exquisitely crafted.
The Vibe
Like many of the best sushi restaurants, Daiwa doesn’t call attention to itself. It’s a minimalist space that lets the flavors shine.
What to Order
None of Daiwa’s rolls will disappoint, but the shrimp tempura roll is especially well-loved.
Daiwa Sushi Bar | 4100 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA 70002 | $$
8. Mosca’s
Mosca’s doesn’t quite fit the traditional definition of a romantic restaurant around New Orleans: it’s as no-frills and comfort-focused as your average family-run eatery. But not every date has to be ritzy. What could be more fun than digging into a huge platter of heavenly family-style pasta with a great date?
The Vibe
It's down-to-earth and unfussy. If an elegant ambience is what you’re going for, this may not be your best shot, but it’s the perfect Nonna’s dining room atmosphere for a relaxed date night where the focus is on the food.
What to Order
Who are we kidding? Go for the spaghetti and meatballs at this casual yet romantic restaurant near New Orleans. You’re here to eat hearty Italian comfort food, and nothing says family-style Italian like the most classic and beloved of pastas.
Mosca’s | 4137 US-90 W., Westwego, LA 70094 | $$
9. Mosquito Supper Club
New Orleans is known for its Cajun cuisine, but we haven’t featured many romantic restaurants in New Orleans yet with a Cajun focus. Mosquito Supper Club should correct that paucity of great Cajun food, with a menu of piquant New Orleans classics in a cozy historical setting.
The Vibe
A small historic home restored to charming effect sets the scene for a meal at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans. Coziness and character are a given here. If you feel so inclined, social couples can ask to be seated at communal tables with fellow diners.
What to Order
Although some à la carte ordering is possible, Mosquito Supper Club is primarily a prix fixe restaurant. Plan on leaving your dinner up to the kitchen at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans.
Mosquito Supper Club | 3824 Dryades St., New Orleans, LA 70115 | $$$$
10. Vincent’s Italian Cuisine
A hearty, classic meal can be as romantic as any other. Vincent’s Italian Cuisine has a decided focus on Italian comfort food, but its classic white-tablecloth ambience makes it more than worthy of a spot among the ranks of romantic restaurants in New Orleans.
The Vibe
Whatever a great Italian restaurant looks like in your head, Vincent’s is probably pretty close. It’s intimate, it’s classically elegant and its dim lighting makes for a romantic restaurant in New Orleans in the most traditional sense. It’s a safe bet for a fancy first date.
What to Order
Hearty, saucy classics like eggplant Parmigiana and lasagna are at their best at Vincent’s, proving that the best date night food doesn’t have to be fussy or mess-free.
Vincent’s Italian Cuisine | 7839 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118 | $$
11. Paladar 511
You probably don’t associate pizza with the idea of a romantic restaurant in New Orleans. Start rethinking that now: Paladar 511 is as elegant a place to eat an incredible slice of pizza as you will ever find. Where else will you ever eat some of the best pizza and pasta of your life under a chandelier?
The Vibe
Paladar 511 is airy and elegant but unfussy. The restaurant’s almost-minimalistic look gives aesthetic voice to its no-frills sense of romance.
What to Order
Squid ink spaghetti with Calabrian chile and Gulf shrimp for something novel, or a freshly made pizza for something not. Both are perennial favorites at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans.
Paladar 511 | 511 Marigny St., New Orleans, LA 70117 | $$$
12. Café Amelie
It’s hard to beat Café Amelie for setting. Most diners will be seated on a patio abutting a quiet French Quarter street that, come nightfall, is one of the most romantic spots you could hope to find. Touristy? Maybe a little. But there’s a pretty compelling reason for that.
The Vibe
It’s the patio that shines at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans. While indoor seating is available, it’s sitting beneath a canopy of trees and fairy lights on a warm evening that really makes the Café Amelie experience.
What to Order
This romantic restaurant in New Orleans makes a famously good plate of shrimp and grits. Don’t question it – just know it’ll be worth the order.
Café Amelie | 900 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70116 | $$
13. Jewel of the South
If your image of a romantic restaurant in New Orleans is a quaint, well-appointed dining room with a garden patio, you’re looking for Jewel of the South. Billed as “a classic New Orleans tavern, reimagined,” it’s an intimate, elegant spot for a modern Southern meal. Oh, and it isn’t just food on the menu at this favorite date-night spot: it’s also a cocktail bar famous for some of the best New Orleans drinks.
The Vibe
Jewel of the South seamlessly integrates its cocktail-bar vibe with the cozy intimacy of all the best romantic restaurants in New Orleans.
What to Order
To start, splurge on caviar. Then, opt for the luxurious crab ravioli with lobster bisque. You’ll also want to choose a cocktail to accompany your meal. They’re so consistently solid that it really doesn’t matter which you order.
Jewel of the South | 1026 St. Louis St., New Orleans, LA 70112 | $$$
14. Café Degas
If charm is your biggest concern, you’ll want to make Café Degas your first choice. There’s plenty of French food in New Orleans, and plenty of cute venues, but few are as winning as this French-inspired sidewalk café. At what other quaint French café are you going to find a tree growing through the floor?
The weekend brunch menu here is also excellent, making this an ideal place to head if you’re planning a romantic breakfast in New Orleans.
The Vibe
Almost unbelievably charming, Café Degas is the very picture of a romantic restaurant in New Orleans. Whether you sit indoors or out, it’s difficult to beat the ambience here.
What to Order
Go with a classic French order like steak frites or moules with white wine and leek. If dining for brunch at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans, the Belgian waffles are an indulgent dish you won’t regret ordering.
Café Degas | 3127 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119 | $$$
15. Luvi
There hasn’t been a whole lot of Asian cuisine on this list yet: allow us to correct that. While it may not be quite as traditional as a local ramen bar or Vietnamese joint, two-time James Beard Award nominee Luvi is nonetheless one of the best romantic restaurants in New Orleans if you’re hankering for Asian food.
The Vibe
Much like its menu, everything at Luvi is eye-catching and eclectic. There are plenty of romantic restaurants in New Orleans that offer elegance, but very few are as chic and happening as Luvi.
What to Order
Playing with the Japanese tradition of chef’s choice omakase set menus, the Feed Me tasting menu is your best bet at Luvi. It’s how you can be sure you’re getting the freshest fish on the menu.
Luvi | 5236 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70115 | $$$
16. Gautreau’s Restaurant
Tucked away in a residential Uptown neighborhood, Gautreau’s is a favorite date night restaurant in New Orleans for French classics. This spot’s elegant setting in a former apothecary building lends itself to a quiet, intimate dinner out.
The Vibe
You might not even realize at first that this unassuming Sue Zemanick-helmed romantic restaurant in New Orleans is even there. It doesn’t even have an exterior sign, and that tucked-away location is a perfect choice for anybody whose image of a romantic restaurant in New Orleans is sullied by the thought of crowds or a long wait to be seated (although you’ll want to reserve a table anyway).
What to Order
While the menu changes frequently, Gulf amberjack with Louisiana crawfish tails is a much-feted main dish at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans; a must-order if available during your visit.
Gautreau’s Restaurant | 1728 Soniat St., New Orleans, LA 70115 | $$$
17. Brigtsen’s Restaurant
If you’re looking for romantic New Orleans restaurants, this one is hard to beat for prestige. Brigtsen’s Restaurant has been given just about every accolade a restaurant can get for its classic Creole cuisine. It’s as upscale and classy as it is inviting, with a menu that’s best-in-class but never showy.
The Vibe
Like many romantic restaurants in New Orleans, Brigtsen’s makes use of an intimate historic home in the uptown Riverbend neighborhood. A Victorian setting with modern decorative touches reflects the restaurant’s cheeky blend of classic and modern.
What to Order
If you’re feeling classy at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans, order duck à l’Orange. It's a poultry delight you won’t see on every menu. Brigtsen’s is also noted for its incredible dessert menu: we notably recommend the pecan pie and butterscotch bread pudding.
Brigtsen’s Restaurant | 723 Dante St., New Orleans, LA 70118 | $$$
18. Saffron
Romantic restaurants in New Orleans aren’t all Cajun spice. Family-run, James Beard-nominated Indian restaurant Saffron strives to bring a different kind of spice to the New Orleans food scene, blending modern Indian cuisine with Louisiana’s globally-influenced flavors.
The Vibe
An elegant, moody interior belies the friendly and attentive service you’ll find at this romantic restaurant in New Orleans. When you think of an Indian restaurant or a classic Louisiana one, you probably imagine a certain look – Saffron has neither, making it truly unique.
What to Order
Few ingredients define Gulf Coast cuisine more than shrimp, so order the Bombay shrimp appetizer for a fitting first taste of the restaurant’s locally-influenced Indian menu. Continue the trend with a main of curried seafood gumbo.
Saffron | 4128 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115 | $$$
19. Patois
In French, “patois” is a ‘local accent’: a provincial twist on a universal standard. That’s what owner and Chef Aaron Burgau aims to bring to Patois with his Louisiana-influenced French menu. In order to reflect that regional emphasis, Patois focuses on local ingredients, marrying classic Gulf Coast flavors with the time-tested techniques of French cooking. That impeccable menu and its breezy atmosphere make for a standout among the many romantic restaurants in New Orleans.
The Vibe
Patois takes a Parisian approach to crafting its atmosphere: simplicity is best. This romantic restaurant in New Orleans is elegant, easygoing and impossibly chic; an ambience ideal for a date night.
What to Order
For a taste of two local flavors in one, pecan-crusted Gulf Coast fish is a popular choice. If that isn’t enough seafood for you yet, crawfish gnocchi, featuring both a crawfish cream sauce and crawfish tails, is a favorite appetizer here. A dessert to round out the meal is an excellent idea as well, with all options perfect for sharing with your sweetheart.
Patois | 6078 Laurel St., New Orleans, LA 70118 | $$$
20. Saint-Germain
Fine dining connoisseurs will undoubtedly find Saint-Germain to be not only one of the best of New Orleans’ romantic restaurants, but also among the most memorable things to do in New Orleans overall. This prix fixe restaurant is a small-scale operation that absolutely requires a reservation; those who manage to get a table will be treated to an inventive ten-course tasting menu.
The Vibe
There’s a bespoke air at this fine-dining spot, even as the menu is set before you arrive. In addition to the signature chef’s table experience, you can also enjoy wine on the restaurant’s patio on warmer evenings. At Saint-Germain focus is on the quality and intimacy that come with a truly exclusive dining experience.
What to Order
No need to worry about planning your order at this prix fixe tasting menu-only restaurant. While the chef chooses your food, you can decide on the perfect cocktail to start your dinner date, with the L'Aperçu, featuring Japanese gin, sherry, vermouth and orange bitters being a top choice.
Saint-Germain | 3054 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA 70117 | $$$$
21. Cane & Table
Cuban cuisine is often left out of the conversation about influences on New Orleans cooking, but Cuban-American Chef Alfredo Nogueira’s romantic restaurant in New Orleans is working to change that. Cane & Table features both small plates and cocktails and four-course dinners that pay homage to Cuban supper clubs — either makes for an unforgettable NOLA date night.
The Vibe
Cane & Table undoubtedly offers an upscale dining experience, but it’s not your average fine dining establishment. A relaxed atmosphere featuring Caribbean aesthetics and a dining patio dresses down the ambience of this romantic restaurant in New Orleans.
What to Order
If you can splash out a little, attend a Chef Alfredo’s Supper Club event for a decadent four-course meal (with cocktails, of course!) that showcases the best Cane & Table has to offer.
Cane & Table | 1113 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA 70116 | $$$$
Other Romantic Foodie Experiences in New Orleans
Maybe you’ve reached the end of this list and found that none of the most romantic restaurants in New Orleans quite suit you. Or, maybe you want to mix and match between romantic dinners and more unique date night ideas. That’s okay – there’s more than one way to have a foodie date night in NOLA!
If you’re not sold on a fancy dinner, why not try out cooking classes in New Orleans and learn to make restaurant-quality dishes yourself? Even couples cooking classes in New Orleans are offered, which lets you know you’re not the first one to consider this fun alternative foodie date.
Or, if you’re not feeling like cooking, why not bring the meal straight to you? Romantic dining in New Orleans doesn’t have to mean dressing up for a fancy dinner out when you could look into hiring a private chef in New Orleans. A restaurant-quality date-night meal in your own home: What could be more luxurious?
Whatever you’re looking for in a date night spot, there’s a place offering exactly the kind of romantic dining in New Orleans that you’re looking for. These 21 romantic restaurants in New Orleans are only the beginning. Why not let them inspire you to find a favorite romantic pocket of the Big Easy for yourself?
For even more ways to explore New Orleans and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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