Romantic Dining
Leave the kids at home, and take out your date for an evening of fine food and conversation at Cincinnati's most romantic restaurants:

Newport, KY 41071
(859) 431-9400
AOI is decorated in elegant Asian style with stone and botanical themes. It sounds odd to say, but even the restrooms are gorgeous.

Cincinnati, OH 45242
513-554-1040
With a gorgeous dining room and a menu as unique as their name, Apsara offers a dining experience that must be tried. Open for lunch and dinner, their Asian-inspired fare features a long list of familiar favorites as well as several that aren't so familiar, including a full sushi bar and a drink list that's almost as long as their edible options, if not longer.

Crestview Hills, KY 41017
859-426-1042
If you need a leisurely break from the everyday, head down to Argentine Bean, a coffee and wine bar with an extensive tapas menu, exotic fare and a warm atmosphere located in Crestview Hills. The restaurant also offers $3 salsa lessons on Thursday nights, music and open dancing on Fridays, flamenco music on Saturdays, wine tasting and tango lessons.

Cincinnati, OH 45236
513-793-2540
Barresi's is a classic, gourmet northern and southern Italian restaurant decked out with white tablecloths and a candlelit romantic atmosphere. It caters to Cincinnati's elite and busy families, but is also perfect for business dinners and private parties.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-241-3885
Blind Lemon is a low-key, romantic bar in historic Mount Adams. It’s tucked away and can be a little hard to find but the bar is covered in old-fashioned décor and pictures autographed by famous celebrities. Live music is played nightly all year round and the New Orleans-ish outside courtyard is a great way to spend an evening drinking with friends or wooing that special someone.

Cincinnati, OH 45209
513-542-2022
Intimate and upscale, Boca is where you to go to brag about where you went to dinner last night where you go to surround yourself with other fashionable people. The Trattoria side is small but cozy, more casual and less expensive.

Covington, KY 41011
859-491-7777
An artfully elegant antique wood bar surrounded by deep red walls up front gives way to white-clothed tables in back inside this classic narrow rowhouse. Silk curtains, hardwood floors and stained glass offer a perfect spot for a glass of wine, a meal or small plates snack. The restaurant also offers half-price small plates Tuesday-Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-241-4455
This Cincinnati dining tradition draws a sophisticated crowd for its four-star steakhouse fare, cool jazz and fabulous view. The Incline Lounge serves a broad range of wine by the glass, as well as martinis, single malts, bourbons and cocktails. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Covington, KY 41011
859-643-1234
The new member of the Jean-Robert family of restaurants will offer a casual, eclectic neighborhood gathering place, inviting to all. There's a wine cellar up front where bottles of international artisan/small production wines can be purchased for carry-out, or to have with your meal. A chalkboard in the restaurant will feature work by local artists themed around food and wine. Happy hour is 5-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Newport, KY 41071
859-261-0300
Enjoy a romantic dinner in white tablecloth style with a breathtaking view of the Cincinnati riverfront centered on the Bicentennial Commons/Sawyer Point area. The Chart House provides elegant but casual comfort for dinner seven nights a week, including a children's menu.

Covington, KY 41011
859-491-8027
Chez Nora fuses old-world charm with contemporary architecture and fun - from the first floor to the rooftop terrace bar, offering jazz/blues five nights a week. The rooftop presents great views of the city skyline.

Cincinnati, OH 45208
513-871-8714
With a sleek, stylish interior, Cumin is sure to be a hit with people seeking a hip dining spot in Hyde Park. Offering up Indian fusion cuisine and a trendy atmosphere, this is a promising spot for the hip and sophisticated.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-721-2665
Owner/chef David Cook calls his cuisine "contemporary, eclectic" with an ethnic influence, executed in a "French technique". This spot nestled in the heart of Mt. Adams is sleek, but comfortable and upbeat - reflecting the spectacular cuisine. Original art for sale hangs on the walls.

Covington, KY 41011
859-261-2365
Dee Felice Café might be located in Covington’s MainStrasse Village, but inside the doors, you’re transported down to the Big Easy. The interior is designed with historic New Orleans in mind, complete with live jazz and swing music Wednesday through Saturday. During the week, Dee Felice offers an extensive selection of wine, including half-price wine Mondays.

Cincinnati, OH 45213
513-351-7686
The restaurant specializes in East African cuisine.

Cincinnati, Ohio 45236
513-984-8090
Enjoy fine dining in an upscale, modernized dinner-club atmosphere with excellent service. The dark woods and deep colors provide a rich, mission-style ambience. There's a spacious and stylish bar (open at 4 p.m.) with live music at week's end - providing a new gathering spot in the 'burbs.

Cincinnati, OH 45242
513-794-1155
Germano's serves fine cuisine in a warm and casual atmosphere. The award-winning wines are popular with customers. The restaurant even sells jars of its pasta sauces to go.

Cincinnati, OH 45223
513-541-4300
Enjoy this cozy and casually cosmopolitan spot with simple decor, botanical prints on the walls, and subtle light from skylights. There's an upscale bohemian vibe to Honey, with a multigenerational and diverse clientele. You'll feel comfy dressed down or up.

Cincinnati, OH 45246
513-772-3333
Built in the 1850s and located beside the train tracks in historic Glendale Square, the Iron Horse sits against a backdrop best described as a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. Inside, however, the Iron Horse is a completely different experience. Remodeled in 2008, the restaurant's upstairs area is designed to feel like an upscale supper club. Downstairs, the foyer is highlighted with an Far East influence throughout the decor

Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-621-1999
This neighborhood eatery/coffee haven/wine bar is the newest member of the Jean-Robert family. With a partially-enclosed rooftop terrace to pick up the ambience of this revitalizing neighborhood, it's sure to become a favorite with the eclectic folks in Over-the-Rhine. The name is French for laundromat.

Cincinnati, OH 45236
513-794-0670
Full of dark wood and chandeliers, Maggiano's feels like an elegant inn in the middle of Kenwood Towne Centre. The bar/lounge offers a variety of martinis, happy hour Monday-Wednesday, and Martini Cristini on Thursday, with complimentary appetizers and drink deals. It's a great spot for dates or special occasions.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-721-6232
Located in the glass-fronted space adjoining the Aronoff Center, Nada offers open seating and a bar on the first level featuring premium tequilas and fresh juices, while reserved seating is available on the upper level. Contrasting rustic touches have been added to the contemporary decor.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-721-6200
Contemporary and spacious, the restaurant was once a car barn for incline trolleys in the 19th century and retains that historic charm. Nicola Pietoso, a native of Italy, first brought the culinary traditions of Tuscany to Cincinnati in 1996.

Covington, KY 41011
859-491-6678
A funky deli in MainStrasse Village with a brightly-colored interior, mismatched chairs and light-hearted decor, Otto's serves up creative dishes in an interesting environment.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 381-6006
You'll find a formal and elegant, but relaxed environment at the Palace Restaurant, inside the historic Cincinnatian Hotel downtown. A special occasion destination.

Cincinnati, OH 45204
(513) 251-6467
Featuring one of the best views of Cincinnati available anywhere in town, Primavista lives up to its name and reputation as one of the area's best Italian restaurants. The quiet elegance is offset by the coziness here - and the view makes it a great spot for a drink as well as a meal.

Cincinnati, OH 45227
513-271-5400
Located next to the Mariemont Theater, the Quarter Bistro is as posh as it is comfortable and as elegant as it is relaxed. Draped in a romantic red and black, the setting is perfect for an evening with friends just as well as a special date.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 721-9484
A romantic old fashioned atmosphere awaits you at Scotti's. Named after a popular Italian opera star, Antonio Scotti, this family eatery has been serving up traditional pasta dishes for more than 100 years. The current owners, brother and sister duo Marco and Rina DiMarco, are the fifth generation to operate the Scotti's restaurant. Family photos and news clippings line the walls, with melted candles old wine bottles on the checkered tables. This is old-school Italian.

Cincinnati, OH 45223
513-681-6500
Slims has a reputation as an out-of-the-mainstream insider’s restaurant, located in hipster Northside. People come for the bohemian atmosphere as well as owner Patrick McCafferty’s fresh Latin American dishes such as vatapa or mofongo.

Cincinnati, OH 45242
513-489-1444
Decorated with luxurious textures and colors, woods and modern lamps, Stone Creek winds through numerous inviting rooms in a roomy but cozy way. It's a spot for a family dinner, a date or to bring guests

Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 665-9800
There's a reason Teak is crowded most nights for dinner - because it's delicious. Featuring an intimate dining area (with candlelight) and spacious patio seating, Teak is a destination place in Mount Adams. It also has a nice bar area, where patrons can get drinks while they wait for a table or before heading out to Mount Adams' bars.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-321-5454
In 1981, Jeff Ruby remodeled this historic and architecturally significant patrol house, turning it into one of the city's premiere restaurants. It has been a favorite of Cincinnatians, celebrities and critics ever since. The interior glows with turn of the century elegance and grace.

Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-721-8483
Located in the only free-standing building on Fountain Square, Via Vite offers a birds-eye view into the heart of downtown Cincinnati in an attractive architectural setting. Take the live music in the upstairs dining/bar area, the elevated patio seating and late-night menu into account and Via Vite will make you shout "bravo Italia" by the end of your visit.

Cincinnati, OH 45208
513-533-9500
This is the younger, sleeker sister of Hyde Park's popular Lemon Grass restaurant. It's casually tasteful and understated, with bamboo ceiling and modern chairs - and a bit more spacious than its sibling, which allows for greater variety of offerings.

Newport, KY 41071
859-261-9675
Once home to a pharmacy, York St. Cafe has the cure for whatever ails you thanks to its status as Newport's only restaurant/bar/coffeehouse/art gallery. A diverse crowd of old and young fills the cafe's three floors. Coffes, espressos and teas are available to go or to sip inside. Nestle into one of York's conversation couches. Bottle for a buck.











