Whenever you need to find a romantic restaurant to take your sweetheart, you don’t have to look very hard to find many in Atlanta that will impress. Whether you want an outside patio to eat under the moonlight or a racy jazz club to enjoy contemporary cuisine, you’ll find it here.
Nikolai’s Roof offers another wonderful view of the city perched atop the Downtown Atlanta Hilton hotel. Angled windows reach from floor to ceiling, and the red uniformed service staff treat you like royalty. The menu offers fine cuisine and an extensive wine list, and all dishes are made with the freshest ingredients. Their sommelier can assist you in pairing some of their specialty boutique wines with your meal as well. This restaurant has received wonderful reviews and has been awarded best downtown restaurant by Zagat’s Guide for 2005 and 2006. They are only open Tuesday thru Saturday for dinner, and a jacket and tie is recommended. Meals average $51 and over, and reservations are a must and can be made online at their website or by calling the restaurant at (404) 221-6362.
Aria is located on East Paces Ferry Road in the ever popular Buckhead area, and has become a popular hotspot. Its slick and modern décor and intimately romantic bar area is a feast for the eyes. Guests can enjoy slow cooked food patiently braised, stewed or simmered that deliver flavorful dishes. The dessert menu has also won rave reviews, so try their warm chocolate cheesecake after your slow roasted pork, and try not to lick the plate. Make a reservation and ask if the secluded wine cellar table is available for optimal romance.
The Sun Dial is one of the best views of Atlanta, as it is at the very top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel. The restaurant rotates slowly, so diners get a panoramic view of the city, which at night can be very romantic. The modern American menu features dishes such as beef tenderloin with wild mushrooms or seared North Georgia trout. Finish off your meal with Georgia Peach Cobbler and cocktails from the bar. Look out over the city’s skyline and listen to the live jazz in the background. Prices are moderate to expensive, but the view, delicious dishes, and superb service is worth it. Reserve a suite at the hotel and make the night complete.
Canoe is a picturesque dining spot located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The menu offers many regional delights, including Vidalia Spring Onion Soup with smoked bacon and cream sherry, vine ripe tomato salad and Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit. Canoe is also one of Atlanta’s best known restaurants, so reservations must be made in advance. Ask for a seat next to a window overlooking the river for an extra romantic meal or choose to dine outside and hear the slow moving water in the background.
Toulouse will set the romantic mood for the evening with their highly rated cuisine, serious wine selection, and loads of ambiance. It is located in a large loft space in South Buckhead, and features an open kitchen and wood-burning fireplace. In pleasant weather, dine outside on the patio. The menu offers American comfort food with French bistro influences, and you can expect to pay around $35 per person. Wine pairings are listed right on the menu, and most can be ordered by the glass. Wine tastings are regularly scheduled here, so check with the restaurant to find out when the next one is. Reservations can easily be made on their website: http://www.toulouserestaurant.com/
Rainwater, located just north of Atlanta in Alpharetta, promises to be one of the best dining experiences you’ll ever have. Mediterranean-style décor with fireplaces and Italian chandeliers create a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy one of their 2,000 bottles of wine. They offer complimentary valet parking, and the bar opens half an hour before the dining room, so you can arrive a little early to sip before dinner. Very attentive service along with delicious food and excellent presentation will impress you and your date.
