8 romantic restaurants in Tokyo for the best date night

The Imperial Palace, cherry blossoms, skyscrapers with amazing views, like the Tokyo Skytree, and impressive cuisine all combine to make Tokyo an ultra-romantic city to visit. It actually has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, so you know you're in for a treat.

Tokyo is truly a bustling city with large crowds, lots of neon signs, and a completely foreign language, so it can be tricky to get around. One of the best things you can do to help you navigate the city while enjoying the area's romantic restaurants is to put your luggage into a Bounce Tokyo storage facility. Then, the city is your oyster.

When you're looking for the best romantic restaurants in Tokyo, the one problem you'll encounter is too much choice. It's easy to find good food in the city, but when you want a great atmosphere and a little something special, you'll need to narrow things down a bit. That's where this list comes in. Read on for the best restaurants in Tokyo for your next date night.

Fish Bank TOKYO

One of the things that will increase the romance for the evening is an amazing view. That's what you get at Fish Bank TOKYO. This fine-dining French restaurant with a seafood focus has floor-to-ceiling windows with unobstructed views of Tokyo Tower. Located in the Shiodome City Center Building, the exclusive feeling of taking the private elevator to the 41st floor will definitely make your date feel special.

This spot oozes elegance if you can take your eyes off the view. From intricate crystal chandeliers to the 1,000-bottle wine room, it's easy to see why Fish Bank makes it onto our list of the most romantic restaurants in Tokyo.

Our recommendation

It's hard to avoid seafood here, so go for one of the five, six, or seven-course set menus, and you'll be spoiled from start to finish. The seafood comes directly from the Tsukiji Market, that's just a block or two away. You should always make a reservation here and ask for a table by the window. Otherwise, your view of the Tokyo Tower won't be as jaw-dropping.

Location

105-7108 Tokyo, Minato City, Higashishinbashi, 1 Chome−5−2

Price level

$$$

Eatrip Harajuku

Located in the bustling Harajuku neighborhood, Eatrip has a farm-to-table philosophy peppered with a distinct Japanese accent. The cuisine here skews French, and this restaurant is ideal for special occasions. Eatrip's chef Yuri Nomura worked in California for an extremely popular organic restaurant called Chez Panisse. As a result, she uses locally-sourced organic produce in every dish on the rotating seasonal menu.

When you're looking for a secluded romantic dinner for your Tokyo date night, you can't beat the location here. The building is a charming old wooden house full of character, and the outdoor leafy garden is simply magical. Although the vibe here is hip and trendy, the romance factor is definitely on another level.

Our recommendation

There is only one thing you can order here - the tasting menu. It's stacked with five courses minimum, and you can choose your main from a selection of meat, fish, and vegetables. Opt for the bio wine pairing to up the ante on your meal.

Location

6 Chome-31-10 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo

Price level

$$

Mango Tree Tokyo

Our first two romantic restaurants have been focused on French cuisine and seafood, so for something different, we direct your attention to the authentic Thai cuisine at Mango Tree Tokyo. You'll find this gem in front of Tokyo Station and close to the Imperial Palace.

The interior of the restaurant is smartly decorated with little color and has plush banquette seats, modern wood paneling, and large windows. The windows are important because Mango Tree is on the 35th floor of the Marunouchi Building. While the views aren't exactly expansive, as you're almost surrounded by other tall buildings, the feeling of being above the city certainly elevates the dining experience - pun intended.

Our recommendation

The menu isn't huge here, but it has enough for you and your date to find something appetizing. We recommend the Kaow Phad Thai-style fried rice with a choice of shrimp or crab. Although it may not be the best idea for date night, the restaurant also offers an all-you-can-eat strawberry dessert buffet at certain times of the year, so keep an eye on that.

Location

100-6335 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 2 Chome−4−1, Marunouchi Building, 35F

Price level

$$

Ebisu Komeru

If you're unfamiliar with Kaiseki cuisine, Ebisu Komeru is the ideal romantic restaurant in Tokyo to introduce you to the Japanese style of preparing and presenting all the food. This traditional Japanese cuisine involves a series of small and intricately prepared plates in multiple courses.

You'll find this restaurant in the Shibuya district, and the decor is traditional, with lots of wood accents, and the bar area is open to the preparation area so you can watch the masterpieces being created. Each dish arrives on a different type of beautiful china, and these are seemingly the only colorful items in the place.

Our recommendation

Any of the rice dishes are perfect for dinner, but remember to order a few if you're dining from the Kaiseki menu because one definitely won't fill you up.

Location

150-0021 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Ebisunishi, 1 Chome−16−7 HAGIWARA BLDG.7 B1F

Price level

$$

Tokyo Bay Dinner Cruise

What better way is there to see the city than from the water? Well, maybe from one of Tokyo's tall towers, but a cruise in Tokyo Bay offers a different and more immersive perspective. When you need a romantic date night idea, that's not one of the many conventionally romantic restaurants in Tokyo, this is a great option.

A Yakatabune Dinner Cruise will generally last about three hours and take you around Tokyo Bay and the Sumida River. You'll be served a traditional Japanese meal, and the drinks are even included. You get 10 different courses of everything from noodles to tempura to vegetables to dessert.

While the seemingly endless food keeps coming, the boat will take you past iconic landmarks like the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Skytree and through areas like Shinagawa and Obaida. Consider doing this voyage at the start of your visit to Tokyo, as this will really help you get a feel for the city. And if you live here already, it's still a fun way to spend an evening.

Our recommendation

Book this excursion early, especially if you're traveling during the peak seasons of spring and fall, because it's popular. Also, if you happen to be in town in the summer, the boat is air-conditioned, so you won't have to sweat through your date. When on board, toast with a glass of plum liquor. The cruise costs around US$100 per person, but with such an elaborate meal and unlimited drinks, it feels almost like a bargain.

Location

Pickup at the Funasei Boat Pier in Shinagawa-Ku.

Price level

$$$

The Apollo - Tokyo

When you're tired of the traditional French romantic restaurant, and you want something that's still fancy, consider a meal at The Apollo. They serve contemporary Greek cuisine from the bright and airy location on the 11th floor of the Tokyu Plaza Ginza. This Greek fine-dining concept was originally started in Sydney, Australia, and is now in Tokyo due to its overwhelming popularity.

The menu is one you might see at a traditional Greek taverna, but the decor is much more sophisticated and chic than that. There are so many great things on the menu that it can be hard to choose, so if you're hungry, go for The Full Greek option with multiple appetizers and a main course for the table and add the ouzo for the true experience.

Our recommendation

Don't dine here without trying their most popular dish - saganaki cheese. It combines sweet and salty flavors using lemon juice and honey and comes to your table sizzling. If the conversation on your date night has a lull, this will definitely solve that. Since the saganaki isn't really enough to be a meal, for your main, try the 10-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder with lemon Greek yogurt. It also has a generous dash of lemon juice for that unmissable fresh flavor.

Location

104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−2−1

Price level

$$$

La Bisboccia

No list of the best romantic restaurants in Tokyo would be complete without an Italian restaurant. That's where La Bisboccia comes in. The charming and cozy traditionally-decorated eatery is known for amazing food and a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than some of the other options we've already mentioned.

White tablecloths, old-world chandeliers, and fabulous service await you here. The menu is loaded with all your typical Italian favorites, such as ravioli, gnocchi, spaghetti, and grilled meats.

Our recommendation

Spoil your date with something from the extensive wine list. It's quite long, and the wines are exclusively Italian for a lovely and authentic complement to your meal.

Location

150-0013 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Ebisu, 2 Chome−36−13, Hiroo Mtr Building, 1F

Price level

$$$

Vegan Ramen Uzo Tokyo - teamLab

You may not think that a digital art collective is a romantic spot for your next Tokyo date night, but you'd be wrong. The collective runs various businesses around the city, like museums, a bathhouse, and many impromptu exhibitions, in addition to their restaurant.

The restaurant is exclusively plant-based, which is ideal for vegans and vegetarians that might find it hard to get a good meal in one of the more fine dining and exclusive restaurants in town.

Since this is a somewhat interactive date idea, this is a great choice for first dates, and you can slurp your bowl of ramen as you tour the area. They only serve two different bowls of ramen, so your choices are limited, and you can also find their ramen shops around the city at their art installations. The main and arguably the best spot for an unconventional romantic meal is at their teamLab Planets gallery location.

A nice feature of this romantic meal is that it's not at all expensive, and maybe you and your date prefer to be more active in your evenings out, so this one should suit you perfectly.

Our recommendation

If you head to the main location at teamLab Planets and you only want ramen, you don't have to pay the entry fee, so keep this in mind to save a few Yen.

Location

6 Chome-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo

Price level

$

Conclusion

The romantic restaurants in Tokyo serve everything from French and authentic Thai cuisine to traditional Japanese and Greek fare, so it's easy to find a location to suit your taste. You can take a dinner cruise around the bay, dine in one of the Michelin-starred restaurants, or simply treat your date to some of Tokyo's amazing street food. As long as you have the right company and some delicious food, almost anything can be romantic. And if you want to kick things up before or after your date, visit one of the best rooftop bars in Tokyo to take even more advantage of the city's fantastic views. Creative cocktails, impressive wine lists, and even unlimited drinks are also available here to make date night a little more interesting.