7 romantic restaurants in Fort Lauderdale for the best date night

Fort Lauderdale, with its impressive beaches, thriving arts scene, and a system of canals where you can ride in gondolas, definitely has a romantic setting. It's a great place to head for a vacation, or you might be in town before you leave on a cruise from the busy Fort Lauderdale Port. If you want to plan a memorable date night in Fort Lauderdale, check out this list of the most romantic restaurants in the city for your fun evening out on the town. There are many kinds of dining experiences offered in this lovely city, and you can enjoy everything from a formal and elegant setting to a more relaxed and cozy dinner.

There are so many really great places to have a meal in Fort Lauderdale that it can be hard to pick the right place. This guide will help you to pick the perfect Fort Lauderdale location for a memorable evening out with that special someone. From a chic dining experience to the best Philly lobster cheese steak, there is no shortage of ways to celebrate a night out with someone that you care about.

Before you get to the restaurant of your choice and sit down to eat, drop your unneeded luggage off at a Bounce luggage storage in Fort Lauderdale. We will keep your luggage and personal items safe and secure while you enjoy the most romantic restaurants in Fort Lauderdale for your night out. It will be much easier to enjoy every impressive dining room or a traditional Italian restaurant when you're not burdened down with bags.

Lauderdale Marina Seafood House

This location was voted the best seafood Fort Lauderdale and the best Waterfront Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale recently. You can head here for a lovely meal that overlooks the water. This is the most famous nautical landmark in the city, and you will love being able to get a great meal for a really fair price here as well. There are lots of drink specials on the menu at Lauderdale Marina Seafood House, and they have a happy hour menu if you arrive a bit early and want to make a long evening of it.

The lunch menu is just as good as the dinner menu, and there are incredible savory dishes of all kinds on offer here. While the environment here is a bit casual compared to some of the other locations around Fort Lauderdale Beach and surrounding areas, there is still artfully prepared cuisine on the menu.

Our recommendation

Enjoy the tarpon feeding off the dock before you leave, and try the most delicious steamed mussels in the city. You will be able to pick from an amazing cocktail menu as well, and the comfort food offerings are delicious in every way.

Location

1900 SE 15th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Price level

$$

Casa D'Angelo Ristorante

For delicious Italian cuisine, this is the right place to get a table. There is patio dining here, and the wine list is enviable. The food is made by passionate Italian cooks. Sip on wine pairings, and make an unforgettable evening out of your time at this fine dining location.

The service here is excellent, and the portions are large, so you will not go hungry or run out of anything on the table. Make sure that you plan to have dessert since the tiramisu is not to be missed.

Our recommendation

The veal and pasta dishes on the menu are some of the best that you can enjoy in the Fort Lauderdale Beach area. You will love the desserts as well as the dessert wines, and the servers will be able to help you to pick the perfect pairings for each course that you select. You will never feel hurried along at this location, and the food is so filling that you will be best served to eat slowly to make the most of your meal.

Location

1201 N Federal Hwy #5a, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Price level

$$

Chima Brazilian Steakhouse

Chima Brazilian Steakhouse offers some of the most exquisitely prepared churrasco meats, as well as a chic dining room and a swanky bar. The delicious Chima Brazilian Steakhouse is a relative newcomer to the food scene in Fort Lauderdale, but that doesn't mean that they don't know their way around really good food.

If meat is not your thing, there are actually really filling and delicious salads and vegan menu offerings to enjoy here as well. The cocktail list is varied, and you will find an exceptional menu of wines to pick from.

Our recommendation

The top sirloin is one of the tastiest items on the menu, as are all of the specials stacked with seasonal offerings. Try heading here a bit early just to enjoy the bar and some appetizers before your meal. With a spot this fun and unique, you won't want your romantic evening to end.

Location

2400 E Las Olas Blvd Suite A, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Price level

$$$

Casa Blanca Cafe

Casa Blanca Cafe is one of the most popular date night stops for residents. There is nothing not to love about this fun spot that offers you atmosphere for days. This is actually a two-story home that comes complete with Spanish-style decor and a wonderful view of the water. You will feel special from the moment that you arrive, and the top-notch table service will make you wish that every dining location was so attentive to your needs.

The wine list here is just what you're looking for, and the local seafood is very good as well. The menu offers a wide array of cuisines, so you should have no trouble finding something that you and your date will truly enjoy when you sit down to eat here.

Our recommendation

As mentioned before, the seafood is the star of the show here, but the escargot is also really popular for good reason. The cocktail and dessert menus are also tempting, which means that you won't have to miss out on a single course or beverage due to a lack of options. Come hungry and plan to make the most of your time here, enjoying the view and the ambiance.

Location

3049 Alhambra St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Price level

$$

Steak 954

Located in the W Hotel, this beautiful, trendy, and upscale steakhouse is the perfect place for white tablecloths, lovely food, and that candlelit dinner experience that you have been imagining while planning your night out. This is an absolutely beautiful location that just oozes sophistication, and the food and drinks are every bit as splendid as the location itself.

The wine and spirits list is hand-selected from all over the world, and there are so many kinds of steak on the menu that you might struggle to pick just one for your meal. You should inquire about pairings to go with each course and be sure that you don't skip dessert.

Our recommendation

The pumpkin souffle is really amazing here, and the wine list is miles long. For meat, consider trying the Tajima Kobe from Australia. When you call for your reservation, ask for a table with a view of the beach and try to book at sunset for the most perfect evening of your life.

Location

401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Price level

$$$$

Juniper on the Water

For waterfront dining that will never disappoint, there is no better venue than Juniper on the Water. Hallandale Beach is a really lovely area, and you can sit right up against the water or enjoy balcony dining with incredible views. There is a lot of activity on the water here, and you will not run out of things to talk about and see as you dine.

The brunch is as good as the dinner here, so you might want to start your date plans really early and make some mimosas and a late breakfast a priority at this memorable spot. Check out the cocktail list and the wine menu, and ask the servers about specials since there is always something really good that is locally sourced on the menu here.

Our recommendation

The seafood options on the menu at this location are favorites and very fresh, but the fusion dishes are equally good. Count on craft cocktails that will delight you, which are the ideal complement if you can get a reservation around sunset.

Location

1975 S Ocean Dr, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Price level

$$

Wine Garden

If you love a good glass of wine and fine dining, this is the place for you. Based on the name, you can probably imagine that the wine list here is quite impressive. The wine is paired with some of the tastiest Italian food in the area. You can find comfort food and authentic Italian dishes galore on the menu here, which you will enjoy in a cozy and welcoming environment. Since filling comfort food like big bowls of pasta may not be the best date night food, they also have lighter dishes and great salads to pick from.

Ask about specials and pairings that you might otherwise not be aware of when you sit down. The staff is really friendly and helpful and do their utmost to be sure that you have a nice meal complete with the most incredible wines around. There are even vegan and vegetarian-friendly menu options if that's what you need or prefer.

Our recommendation

The pizza here is so good that it really has to be mentioned as one of our recommendations. The wine list won't let you down either, and you might want to select from the vegan or vegetarian menu for delicious food that is not as filling as some of the more traditional dishes. There is so much to love about dining here, and every course, from the starters to desserts, is made with love and attention to detail.

This is not as formal a dining experience as some of the other options on this list, but that doesn't mean that it won't offer you a really memorable and special experience. For those who are passionate about wine or Italian eateries, there is no other choice for a romantic meal in Fort Lauderdale.

Location

608 Breakers Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304

Price level

$$

Conclusion

If none of the romantic restaurants on this list were the right fit for your plans, there are other ways to make the most of your time in Fort Lauderdale. You can easily visit some really amazing rooftop bar locations with a view, or you can wander around the city enjoying the sites and sounds and snacking on delicious street food. There is no wrong way to plan the perfect date night, and there is so much to do in Fort Lauderdale that you don't have to sit at a romantic restaurant location to have a great time.

Fort Lauderdale is a lovely beach location that offers you lots of amazing things to do and great places to enjoy the nightlife. You can pick from all kinds of different cuisines here, and there is no shortage of places to pop in for a nightcap if you don't want the night to end. And remember, the city is full of picturesque coastline, so you can always take advantage of these sandy locations to make any meal special.