5 San Francisco Restaurants for Date Night

Fun and romantic spots to impress, dine and vibe with your cutie

Sipping cocktails and nibbling on tinned fish never looked more chic. This new Mission bar and restaurant by the prolific Bon Vivants Hospitality group is leaning into the European tradition of aperitivo--offering spritz and Negroni cocktails alongside thoughtful bar food. (Plucking apart a whole artichoke together? Fun!)

There’s something instantly intimate about an elegant, multi-course dinner of heavenly Japanese bites. At Nisei, a new pristine fine-dining destination, the atmosphere is mellow enough to allow for a meaningful connection. And the creative bites and courses - conveniently - are instant conversation-starters. (Keep an eye out for the savory dish featuring bananas.)

Chef and restaurateur Michael Minna is a world-famous local fixture. His new and stylish FiDi restaurant will teleport your date to the Greek islands, with sexy, sharable spreads, and mains like souvlaki filet mignon and wild mushroom moussaka. Or sip refreshing Greek wines at the colorful bar and treat your flame to some flaming saganaki cheese.

What’s more impressive than taking your date to a sophisticated dinner hosted by a guest chef? The beloved, fine-dining institution Lord Stanley had changed courses this year, becoming Turntable - a hub for innovative chefs from all over the world. The first installment, featuring chef Micaela Najmanovich from Argentina, includes inventive prix-fixe dinners that are designed to be memorable.

For an elevated old-school night out, the new Vault Steakhouse is just the ticket. Enjoy a caviar service and some fluffy house Parker rolls, then move on to more serious matters, like a wagyu ribeye. (You get to pick your own steak knife!) Cocktails and cozy vibes complete the picture of a spot-on date night, and to finish big, order the impossible to resist, very retro baked Alaska, torched tableside.