K-I-S-S... You Get It. Here Are the Most Romantic Restaurants in Dallas

As anyone who has ever been out to eat can tell you, atmosphere in a restaurant is a big deal. The right lighting and decor not only can make or break a restaurant but it can set the entire tone for what people believe that restaurant is for. It can make the difference between a restaurant being viewed as an intimate setting for a date or as a casual spot to simply hang out with friends. No matter what the occasion, many people want to dine in a space they believe to be pretty.

This list is dedicated to restaurants we believe have a distinct or unique vision that was executed in a visually appealing way. From the dark and moody to the ornate and luxurious, there’s something here for everyone. Here's are our favorites, in no particular order.

Tango Room

1617 Hi Line Drive

At Tango Room, it’s what's on the inside that counts. (Read all about its new era.) The restaurant may be flanked on all sides by furniture showrooms, but walk past the black, diamond-dusted Andy Warhol painting in the small lobby and the velvet curtains and you’re transported to a swanky space accented in burgundy, gold fixtures and the owner’s private art collection. They may pay for more in art insurance than rent, but the Fruits de Mer pasta is a work of art in and of itself. With only 12 tables and about six seats at the bar, this is about as cozy as it gets.

Gorji

5100 Belt Line Road

We love Gorji, and not just for the no-kids policy, although that doesn't hurt. They also don't take tips, but still that's not why we love it here. The steaks and seafood hot from the grill are amazing and all from owner-operator-chef Mansour Gorji (him — he's why we love it here). This fine-dining restaurant is small and it's usually just the chef and one server handling dinner. You'll have an amazing meal in an intimate space without any rush — tables are booked for the whole evening.

Dakota’s Steakhouse

600 N. Akard St.

Dakota’s Steakhouse has served subterranean romance in its dining room for over 40 years. A canopied glass elevator takes you underground into a dimly lit dining space. If you’re lucky enough to get the best seat in the house, you’ll cut into fine cuts of steak against the backdrop of the courtyard, which features a five-tiered granite waterfall.

Ayahuasca

334 Jefferson Blvd.

Perhaps more sexy than romantic, this hidden gem behind Xaman Cafe in Oak Cliff is easily the moodiest addition to this list. Dimly lit and relying largely on candlelight (some candles offer an amazing scent), the atmosphere in Ayahuasca feels both not of this time and a little bit dangerous, almost like a setting in an old movie. All the black and white artwork is procured from Mexico. It's obscure and elusive, sexy and relaxing, and with less than a dozen tables, intimate.

Brass Ram

2130 Commerce St.

Our restaurant critic, Chris Wolfgang, had this to say after dining at Brass Ram: "Opulent doesn’t do the space justice. Every table is a leather-bound booth for six, and mid-century light fixtures with Edison-style bulbs provide just enough warm light over each table. (...) While taking in all of the eye candy, it’s fair to wonder if your credit score is good enough to partake in a meal." Sure it is, we say. If you have a slew of Mad Men-esque cronies, pop for the private dining room, adorned with Marilyn Monroe art. But make no mistake, there's not an unrefined seat in the house.

Cafe Madrid

4501 Travis St.

We know you'd fly off to Spain if you could. But aside from eating ice cream for breakfast, adulting isn't all it turned out to be, huh? A trip to Cafe Madrid, a 20-year-old favorite in the Knox-Henderson neighborhood, is as close as you'll get. Dig into tapas and sip sangria in the cozy and relaxed dining room. It lacks pretentiousness despite its Zip code; it's a humble dining room with a dash of Spanish amor. When the weather is nice, the patio tables are a wonderful option. This is your spot if you're looking for something casual, fun and out of the norm. Or you love Spain.

Quarter Acre

2023 Greenville Ave.

We'll always love Lower Greenville for the large trees reaching over the street and its pedistrian qualities. Along this strip, Michelin-recommended Quarter Acre is — physically and culinarily — an homage to chef Toby Archibald's native New Zealand. The food is skillful fare with a side of whimsy. The space is casual and elegant — soft greens and blues with an oceanic touches. Service is excellent, and you'll likely have a meal you'll not soon forget.

Georgie

4514 Travis St., No. 132

For anyone looking to live out their midcentury retro dreams, a reservation at Georgie is a must. The swooping architecture and warm tones feel straight out of an old movie or an episode of Mad Men. We would say they don’t make them like this anymore, except that Georgie clearly does. And early this year when we talked to Dallas chefs about their favorite meals of 2024, chef RJ Yoakum's name came up more than once. He also earned a spot on James Beard Awards semifinalits list for Emerging Chef.

Nuri Steakhouse

2401 Cedar Springs Road

Every cent of Nuri’s $20-million budget went to making the dining room utterly beautiful. The walls are lined with $150,000 silk wallpaper, and if you peek above the bar, you’ll spot a massive, $65,000 chandelier that was made from an old milk truck. While you don’t need to go $11 million over budget to make something pretty, owner Wan Kim certainly succeeded when he wanted to make a space that felt like the only place like it in the world.

Mister Charles

3219 Knox St., No. 170

This Highland Park favorite is dripping with luxury: marble checkerboard floors, ornate chandeliers and towering 40-foot ceilings. Mister Charles serves high-end French and Italian cuisine, but the restaurant is the kind of space where they could serve cafeteria-caliber hot dogs and milk cartons and you’d still feel like royalty. Mister Charles was also recommended in the inaugural Michelin Guide.

Regines Lounge

4152 Cole Ave., No. 106

An extension of Maison Chinoise, a French-Chinese fusion spot that opened last year, Regines is a speakeasy-style lounge that oozes vintage glamour. The space generally utilizes low lighting, making the areas that are lit seem to glow, particularly the curved ceilings surrounding a stage that hosts live music. Patrons can live out their flapper fantasies with zero chance of a prohibition-era police raid spoiling the fun.

Town Hearth

1617 Market Center Blvd.

If over-the-top opulence is the look you're going for, welcome home, dahling. This is the Moira Rose of dining rooms. At the very least, Town Hearth should get points for originality. Its distinct decor offers a vintage sports car, an aquarium that houses a Beatles-esque yellow submarine and a fleet of 64 sparkling chandeliers. This may seem like a little much on paper, but the in-person effect is dazzling. Be sure to visit the bathrooms too.