Orlando’s Most Romantic Restaurants for Valentine’s Day – Orlando Date Night Guide
After years of research, we’ve discovered quite an assortment of romantic locales worthy of Valentine’s Day. Orlando is called “The City Beautiful,” and for good reason. Locals know there is beauty found in the charming neighborhoods as well as world-class resorts. Valentine’s Day in Orlando is a big deal and there are many restaurants to consider for the big day.
So, to help you sift through all those winners and to better aid you in your quest to have a perfect romantic evening, here’s a summary of top picks categorized by ambiance as well as any special Valentine’s Day offerings. Enjoy!
Looking for romantic date night ideas? Check out our guide to Orlando’s Most Romantic Experiences! We’ve also got you covered with 50+ Things to do for Valentine’s Day in Orlando.
TOP PICKS: VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER IN ORLANDO
2023 Info TBA
In the mood for a unique dining experience this Valentine’s Day? Make dinner reservations at Cuba Libre, located at Pointe Orlando, where dinner comes with chocolate truffles and a blindfold on February 14. Dining specials include Plato Mar y Tierra which includes Adobo rub-grilled black angus sirloin and Maine lobster tail with tomato béarnaise and roasted mashed cauliflower ($36.95) coupled with a sweet drink special – the ‘Island Rose’ Martini made with Garzón Pinot Noir Rosé, Brinley Gold Shipwreck Vanilla Rum, St. Germain Liqueur and fresh lime juice finished with edible rose petals ($12).
Dessert is Cake Borracho – a creamy coconut liquor soaked vanilla genoise with chocolate croutons and a sea salt butter cookie ($9). Dining specials will be available February 11, 12 and 14, with live music from Cubason February 11 and 12. However, blindfolds will only be provided to couples who dine on Monday, February 14.
2023 Info TBA
Reunion Resort will offer two dining options for couples this Valentine’s Day. Reserve your table at the sophisticated 7593 Chophouse to feast on an a la cart Valentine’s Day menu of Oysters, Caviar & Champagne; Cold Seafood Tower Extravaganza, including shrimp, snow crab, lobster tail, oysters and tuna poke; Pan Seared Diver Scallops with beet risotto; Surf & Turf for two featuring a ribeye and lobster; and a Chocolate Heart for Two. This special will be available February 11, 12 and 14 from 5-10pm.
Traditions, located within the Jack Nicklaus Clubhouse, will also serve an exclusive a la cart Valentine’s Day menu. Highlights include Heirloom Tomato & Beet Salad; Marry Me Chicken with sundried tomatoes, roasted marble potatoes and sauteed spinach; Pan Seared Diver Scallops with crispy pork belly, sauteed spinach, craisins and walnuts; and a Chocolate Heart for Two.
2023 Info TBA
Reserve your spot for a special screening of The Princess Bride, complete with an indulgent 3-course dinner served in The Ravenous Pig’s outdoor beer garden on Monday, February 14 at 6:30pm. Tickets are $75/couple.
2023 Info TBA
Catch a classic romance flick at our favorite independent theater plus enjoy a romantic meal! Enzian’s annual Valentine’s dining experience is back for dinner this year with live music, a special screening of Pride & Prejudice, a complimentary glass of champagne and a dinner buffet spread with carving station. Dinner and music begins at 7pm, followed by the movie at 8pm. Tickets are $135/couple or $185/couple for VIP. Make sure to also stop by Eden Bar throughout the month for specialty cocktails for two
MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY
This swanky downtown steakhouse features incredible service, premium steaks (I get the filet mignon every time), fabulous cocktails and the ideal atmosphere for celebrating an anniversary, holiday, engagement, or an over-the-top first date. Surprisingly, it’s also got an impressive vegan menu. Cozy booths invite you to linger over your meal and draw out the dining experience for as long as possible.
Other high-end steakhouses include Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster (a staple of the Orlando area for 25+ years), and Bull & Bear at Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Read our guide to Romantic Steakhouses for a Swanky Night Out for more ideas.
Moody, romantic, and sultry, Better Than Sex lives up to the hype as one of Orlando’s most romantic restaurants. The menu is comprised exclusively of over-the-top desserts best paired with a chocolate-dipped glass of wine.
This cozy European wine bar and eatery in Hannibal Square is one of my favorite restaurants in Orlando. The space features local art on the walls and romantic ambiance. Shareable scratch-made entrees and European wines round out the menu, with live music Thursday nights setting the ultimate date night mood. The new Fabio’s Table dining experience (Saturdays) features a 5-course meal paired with wines, all curated by owner Fabio Perricelli.
When it comes to hotel dining, the farm-to-table fare at Highball & Harvest at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is in a league of its own. For something out of the ordinary, book a seat at the cocktail table, the restaurant’s unique chef’s table experience for cocktails.
Also try:
The ette hotel Orlando just opened and it is right down the road from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Ette stands for earthy. true. timeless. elegant. This exquisite hotel brings a level of sophistication to this part of town that is needed. Couples will love the sumptuous setting, and its restaurant, Salt and the Cellar by Akira Back is incredible.
All food and mocktails are designed to engage all of your senses. Some of the mocktails, for example, have an aromatic mist or smoked presentation that makes the drinks not only delicious but fun to see and smell. Many dishes have artistic tableside presentations, which makes this feel like an experience rather than an ordinary meal.
COZY COURTYARDS AND PATIOS
Celebrate Valentine’s Day dining in a romantic courtyard or patio.
This romantic eatery boasts an eclectic atmosphere, a charming shaded patio, live music on the weekends and a fun menu. While there’s a small patio out front, the restaurant also features an ever-evolving covered outdoor patio. Built out of necessity during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, it has since become the talk of the town and a favorite outdoor dining space. The restaurant also serves as a neighborhood hot spot as a regular stop on the monthly Thornton Park Wine Walk (a date night must-do).
This neighborhood eatery in Winter Park has a fully enclosed patio dining area with skylights, plus a spacious dining room, bar, and pool table. Find it inside of the Hidden Garden, one of Winter Park’s charming courtyards off of Park Avenue. Feast on charcuterie, upgraded burgers, flatbreads and American fusion dishes while sipping signature cocktails and craft beer. You’re sure to feel the romance here.
Step just off Park Avenue in Winter Park and you’ll find this charming Italian eatery serving up fresh pastas, heavenly pizzas, and incredible specials sure to impress your date. Dine al fresco and pretend you’re in Italy, or make reservations to dine inside the intimate dining room. It’s one of our favorite authentic Italian restaurants in the city.
This restaurant in Historic Downtown Sanford specializes in delectable cuisine and top-notch cocktails, all served up in the former home of Sanford’s Old Jailhouse. This place has one of the most interesting interiors anywhere in the Orlando area. And, for an added dose of magic, the restaurant boasts a secluded outdoor dining space complete with string lights.
Check out our consistently updated Outdoor Dining Guide: 75+ Places to Eat Outside in Orlando for tons more ideas.
TABLES WITH A VIEW
Orlando is full of gorgeous views and these restaurants for Valentine’s Day will allow you to take in all the breathtaking scenery.
WATERFRONT DINING + SUNSET WATCHING
At Disney Springs, The Boathouse serves date-worthy seafood fare best enjoyed at tables overlooking the water. Complete your experience with a ride around the lake in one of the iconic amphicars.
Want a glorious sunset as the backdrop to your meal? Wall to wall windows and an outdoor lounge area provide front row seats to gorgeous waterfront views (especially during sunset) at Canvas in Lake Nona. Feast on New American fare with Latin flare paired with seasonal cocktails.
We’d be remiss not to mention longtime favorite Enzo’s on the Lake, a charming Italian restaurant in Longwood situated on the shores of Lake Fairy. It’s one of the classics in Central Florida. Arrive early to wander through the romantic outdoor patio and sculpture garden before your meal.
Get more ideas in our guide to the 10 best places to dine with sunset views.
ROMANTIC ROOFTOP RESTAURANTS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY
Certain restaurants are just as famous for their top-notch cuisine as they are for their sweeping tableside views. These rooftop restaurants for Valentine’s Day are breathtaking.
California Grill is located on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, providing an aerial view of Disney World and, most notably, the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks. Arrive at sunset for a romantic meal, and then return later to watch the fireworks show from the outdoor deck. FYI: You’ll definitely need a reservation to dine here.
Another favorite, Bites & Bubbles offers sophisticated fare in a romantic, cozy setting. Treat yourself to everything from caviar to fine cheeses gourmet burgers. Paired with an exceptional wine or craft cocktail, of course. Snuggle up in the main dining room or head upstairs to the open-air rooftop.
Snag a table outside at Eleven at Reunion Resort, an 11th-floor restaurant for romantic sunset views and Disney fireworks sparkling in the distance once the sun goes down.
More rooftop views await at Illume at the new JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek and AC Sky Bar at the AC Hotel Orlando Downtown.
Peruse all of our rooftop dining picks in our guide to the Best Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Orlando.
SMALL TOWN VIBE
Escape the high-rise buildings and head to one of Orlando’s charming towns, each boasting quaint and unfussy downtown districts filled with romantic restaurants for Valentine’s Day.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Chef Hari has received multiple James Beard nominations for his global-inspired restaurants with an emphasis on local & sustainable ingredients. Taste for yourself by booking dinner reservations at his DeLand eatery, Cress.
This romantic eatery is located in the heart of charming Downtown Winter Garden. Chef Ryan Freelove serves Modern American cuisine with a relentless dedication to local and seasonal.
While the space may be casual, the Southern fusion fare created by Nat Russell is off the charts at this restaurant in Historic Downtown Sanford.
It doesn’t get much better than 1921 Mount Dora’s Florida-inspired cuisine in a 1921 building filled with modern art.
Also located in Mount Dora, Goblin Market is a beloved local bistro with a secluded courtyard and three intimate, book-lined dining rooms.
MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS AT DISNEY
Looking to wine and dine your date on Disney property? From the theme parks themselves to Disney Springs and the assortment of Disney resort hotels, there’s no shortage of romantic restaurants to discover.
A few of our top picks include:
- Be Our Guest Restaurant (Magic Kingdom)
- Le Cellier Steakhouse (EPCOT)
- Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant and Lounge (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
- Tiffins (Animal Kingdom)
- Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar (Disney Springs)
- Wine Bar George (Disney Springs)
- Steakhouse 71 (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
- California Grill (Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Narcoossee’s (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa)
- Jiko – The Cooking Place (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge)
- Toledo (Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort)
We go more in depth on all of these restaurants plus additional romantic spots in our detailed guide to The Most Romantic Spots in Walt Disney World.
PRIVATE DINING
Looking for a more intimate setting or a spot for a rehearsal dinner or engagement celebration? A private table or dining room fits the bill. Here are a few of our favorites.
READ MORE: 50+ Things to do for Valentine’s Day in Orlando.
Feature image credit: Canvas Restaurant & Market
Foodrecipes
via “restaurants” – Google News https://ift.tt/3yYai6v
December 26, 2022 at 10:48PM