The Best Bars and Romantic Restaurants in Austin
January 29, 2025
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Among the city’s top-rated bars and restaurants, there are a few places that stand out as the most romantic restaurants in Austin. These spots boast stylish interiors, mood lighting, and cozy corners that are ideal for intimate meals, late night drinks, decadent desserts, and overall memorable experiences for your next date night.
Here at the Heywood Hotel, we know a thing or two about romance. Our intimate boutique hotel is the perfect romantic getaway, whether you’re visiting Austin or want to take a staycation. Not only does our MICHELIN-rated hotel offer free parking, good coffee, and ridiculously comfortable beds, but we’re also located near some of the city’s best date night bars and restaurants. Here are our concierge team’s recommendations for the most romantic restaurants and bars in Austin for your next special occasion.
Best Romantic Restaurants in Austin
The best date nights include a romantic meal and a drink or two. If you’re looking for the most romantic restaurants in Austin, here are our expert recommendations from the Heywood Hotel’s concierge team.
Pasta|Bar
The Austin outpost of the Michelin-starred Los Angeles restaurant, dinner at Pasta|Bar is an immersive experience. Guests can expect a romantic night that begins with a welcome cocktail and canapes, followed by a 10-course tasting menu that showcases scratch-made pasta in various forms, and concludes with dessert. The restaurant is offering a special 12-course tasting menu this Valentine’s Day weekend for $295 per person.
Justine’s
Tucked away on East 5th St., just a couple miles from the Heywood Hotel, Justine’s is a French-style brasserie that’s every bit as hip and stylish as it is romantic. The indoor seating area is dimly-lit, adding an element of mystery to your romantic dinner. And with dishes like steak tartare and moules frites, plus decadent desserts and an extensive wine list, the cuisine lives up to the alluring atmosphere. Justine’s is open later than most restaurants — until 11pm during the week and 12am on weekends — making it accommodating for a late night date.
Jeffrey’s
In the mood for a fine dining experience? Jeffrey’s is a longtime Austin establishment that offers upscale new American cuisine. Located in the historic Clarksville neighborhood, the restaurant has been around since 1975 and is known for its dry-aged steaks, French-American classics, and extensive wine list. Jeffrey’s was recognized by the Michelin Guide 2024 for its “posh furnishings and gracious service.”
Casa Bianca
We couldn’t be happier to have Casa Bianca as neighbors of the Heywood Hotel! Casa Bianca is one of the most romantic restaurants in Austin with stylish furnishings, dim lighting and a creative menu designed for sharing. Executive Chef and owner Joseph Zoccoli calls his food “weirdo Italian” as the small plates and entrees are influenced by Japanese forms and techniques. The menu includes lots of raw bar and conservas, along with an extensive wine menu and on-tap cocktails including the Aperol Spritz and Old Fashioned. Complete your meal with a limoncello doughnut.
Lenoir
Lenoir is a foodie destination and romantic hotspot tucked away in plain sight on South 1st St. This converted bungalow restaurant has an intimate indoor dining area, along with a romantic patio. Dine under Lenoir’s majestic 500-year-old Live Oak trees and let the twinkle lights transport you away to a delightful dinner for two! Pick a beautiful bottle to accompany your meal, from their well curated selection of natural wines. Recognized by Michelin, Lenoir is definitely one of the most romantic restaurants in Austin.
Craft Omakase
If you’re looking for an intimate, Japanese fine dining experience for your romantic night, Craft Omakase is the spot. The Michelin-starred restaurant offers a 22-course tasting menu that is a testament to Japanese culinary craftsmanship, blending modern techniques and flavors with traditional preparation methods. This experience is $175 per person and reservations are required. Reservations are available at the beginning of each month. You can make your reservation here, or our concierge team can set one up for you.
Bufalina
One of our favorite local spots to recommend, Bufalina should be at the top of your list for an intimate pizza night. The East Austin neighborhood spot located just down the street from the Heywood Hotel not only serves delicious Neapolitan-style pizza, but they offer an extensive wine list. Sharing Austin’s best margherita pizza and a bottle of wine by candlelight is definitely one of the most romantic dining experiences. A limited number of reservations are available nightly and this local gem books up fast, so plan ahead. Bufalina is one of our favorite date night spots in Austin.
Hestia
If you’re looking to bring the heat into your romantic night out, Hestia is the place to be. Hestia is a live-fire cooking restaurant, as evidenced by the 20-foot hearth that anchors its kitchen and dining room. The Michelin-starred restaurant offers both an a la carte menu and a chef’s tasting menu for $195 per person, both of which feature protein-packed dishes with notes of ember and smoke. Dine in comfortable booths, with ample distance from other diners, in a softly lit environment. Hestia is one of the most romantic restaurants in Austin.
Olamaie
Another Michelin-starred restaurant, Olamaie is a longtime favorite of ours for a special occasion meal. The award-winning restaurant offers a modern take on classic Southern cuisine with dishes including chicken pressé, gumbo, catfish, and, of course, their iconic buttermilk biscuits. Located in a converted house near downtown Austin, Olamaie is one of Austin’s most intimate and romantic restaurants.
Siena
Siena Ristorante Toscana is an established Austin restaurant that’s been serving authentic Tuscan and Italian cuisine for more than 20 years. Set in a rustic stone building with soaring wood-beamed ceilings, and an intimate ambiance, Siena sets the mood for a romantic evening.
Planning a special date night in February? Siena is offering a specially-curated prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day. The four-course dinner includes decadent dishes like Maine lobster bruschetta, signature surf and turf with lobster and beef filet, and chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. The prix fixe menu is $125 per person, and you can view the menu here.
Palm Pizza
Prefer to stay in on Valentine’s Day? We love Palm Pizza for an elevated takeout dinner. Palm is the sister restaurant of another neighborhood favorite, Bufalina. While Bufalina offers wood-fired Neapolitan pies, Palm focuses on New York-style slices — regular slices, square slices, and whole pies — along with a small menu with deserts, salads, and sandwiches. The restaurant is less than a block away from the Heywood Hotel. Grab your dinner from Palm Pizza, then head back to the Heywood Hotel to enjoy it from the comfort of your room or underneath the stars on our intimate courtyard patio.
Best Date Night Bars in Austin
Whether you want to skip the romantic restaurant or you want to end your meal with a nightcap, here are the bars we recommend popping into for date night in Austin.
Marlow
Marlow is a stylish lounge and bar centrally located on E. Sixth St., just a short mile from the Heywood Hotel. Marlow serves house cocktails, natural wines, beer, and punches that rotate weekly and are served in vintage bowls. The bar offers a casual, lounge atmosphere to spend your time before or after a romantic dinner in the downtown area.
Whisler’s
Whisler’s is a longtime favorite bar in East Austin known for its handcrafted cocktails — they make an excellent Old Fashioned — served in a historic, charming space complete with candles, chandeliers, and rustic decor. But if you really want to impress your date, head upstairs to the hidden mezcal bar, Mezcalería Tobalá. The intimate space offers a broad selection of mezcal from various regions, served in traditional copitas.
Daydreamer
Tucked away on E. 6th St., Daydreamer is the perfect spot for a date night drink. The cocktail and champagne bar offers a broad menu of specialty cocktails, spritzes, martinis (add a side of caviar for $8), and a selection of champagne. The interiors are stylish while the exterior offers a large front patio that creates a garden-like environment. Plus, if you get hungry, you can grab a slice of pizza from All Day Pizza.
Apt 115
Located on 7th Street, less than a mile from the Heywood Hotel, Apt 115 is a Michelin-recommended wine bar in East Austin. The intimate wine bar and restaurant focuses on small production and low intervention wine from around the world in a cozy environment, offering a selection of more than 400 labels. Apt 115 also regularly collaborates with chefs to offer seasonal menus — the current partnership is with chef Grae Nonas of Le Cowboy.
Bar Toti
The sister restaurant to Este, Bar Toti is a great spot for drinks and light bites. Whether you prefer the open concept interiors or the spacious, tree-covered patio, Bar Toti is a lively spot that still creates an intimate environment. The menu includes snacks and small plates like marinated olives and albondigas, along with aperitivos, signature cocktails, and an extensive wine list.
No matter where you go for your date night in Austin, consider ending your romantic evening at the Heywood Hotel, one of the most romantic hotels in Austin. With our intimate home-like atmosphere, dreamy courtyard patio, and proximity to the best dining and nightlife, your romantic night will be complete with a stay at the Heywood Hotel.
