Philadelphia

Photo courtesy of Cicala

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The Resy Guide to Date Night in Philadelphia

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Philadelphia is full of excellent restaurants — but are they all excellent for a first date? What about that crucial third date? Or a milestone anniversary dinner?

It takes time to find that just-right spot for each occasion. Luckily, Philly has options. The city is full of romantic, fun, and quirky spots in a variety of price points and neighborhoods. Follow this guide to date-worthy dining from finessed omakase to sceney tacos to charming BYOBs.

Whether you’re already lucky in love or just looking to get lucky, we’ve got you.

15 venues

Everywhere You Want to Dine in Philadelphia

1. Drinks & Snacks

2. A Touch of Scene

3. ‘Somewhere Fun’

4. Keep It Casual

5. ‘Lady-and-the-Tramp Style’

6. Getting Serious

7. Shared Plates Are Forever

8. Bring a Bottle

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DRINKS & SNACKS

Bloomsday Cafe

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Headhouse Square

Photo courtesy of Bloomsday Cafe
Shared experiences create memories and there’s always something memorable happening at Bloomsday Cafe at Headhouse Square. Introduce your date to a tinned fish board with Spanish scallops and French sardines alongside crostini, olives, radishes, jammy eggs, and greens. This cool all-day café also makes its own vermouth and serves hard-to-find wine. When the weather cooperates, you can dine across from the historic shambles, which house a popular Sunday Farmers Market, perfect for perusing together.

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R&D Cocktail Bar

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Fishtown

Photo courtesy of R&D Cocktail Bar
Vibes are the name of the game at this photogenic Fishtown bar. Mid-century modern decor sets the scene, while bartenders mix up some of the very best cocktails in the city. There’s a pancake-and-syrup-inspired Old Fashioned, a dirty olive oil-washed vodka martini, and an unforgettable paloma coconut milk punch infused with Thai basil, poblano, and five spice. It’s all served in proper glassware with proper garnishes. You’ll want to agree with your date on a few small plates like bruschetta with smoked tomato jam and Castelvetrano olives marinated in lemon and rosemary.

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A TOUCH OF SCENE

La Chinesca

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Spring Arts

Photo courtesy of La Chinesca
When the weather perks up, the outdoor section at this former Jiffy Lube is a place to linger over Tequila-based drinks and Mexicali fare. Get a little messy with a dripping birria taco and stay cool with spicy cucumbers in a Szechuan peppercorn marinade. With bright green turf, cute couches, neon lighting, a pumping soundtrack, patio umbrellas and picnic tables, you’ll want to hang out all day and night.

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Rex at the Royal

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Graduate Hospital

Photo courtesy of Rex at the Royal
Set inside a renovated historic theater, Rex at the Royal is so pretty. Think high ceilings, plush booths, and gold chandeliers. They say that oysters are an aphrodisiac and here, you’ve got your pick from raw on the half shell to fried and Nashville-style hot. Start with that and then move through the Southern menu of pimento mac and cheese, shrimp and grits, and a seasonal bread pudding. Too heavy for a first date? Consider meeting at the long bar for a Royal Vesper with Barr Hill vodka or a carrot-and-turmeric-based mocktail.

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‘SOMEWHERE FUN’

Vinyl

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Rittenhouse Square

Photo courtesy of Vinyl
Yes, this used to be an Applebee’s right in the middle of Center City. Now, it’s a swanky live music and dance venue. The dollaritas are long gone and in their place are fruit-infused, boozy cocktails like the Tequila- and-passionfruit-based Don’t Shoot Me Down. Fuel up with flatbreads, sliders, and shareable appetizers. Wednesday through Saturday, this mood lit club hosts dueling pianos, dance bands, and open mics — often with no cover charge.

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KEEP IT CASUAL

Sally

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Fitler Square

Photo courtesy of Sally
From the team behind Kensington’s iconic Martha, Sally offers a tight menu that centers around sourdough pizza and natural wine. A date night dinner at this corner restaurant is casual and delicious. Wood-fired pizzas hit the table all blistery and dotted with special ingredients, like charred shallot cream, Maldon salt, and local “fat cat” cheese. Even the kale Caesar salad here is cheffed up with the addition of Brussels sprouts and savory granola.

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‘LADY AND THE TRAMP’-STYLE

Osteria Philadelphia

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Fairmount

Photo courtesy of Osteria Philadelphia
Jeff Michaud’s long-running Italian restaurant is the kind you go to for occasions big and small — sophisticated enough to celebrate an anniversary or a birthday, but casual enough to work for a Friday night date, too. Whatever moment you’re marking, it’s made memorable with choices like herbaceous baked ricotta with lemon confit, a rich and silky chicken liver rigatoni seasoned with sage, and whole branzino.

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Cicala at the Divine Lorraine

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Fairmount

Photo courtesy of Cicala
Solidly in the special occasion category, this Italian restaurant in an iconic, storied building (give the Divine Lorraine a Google before dinner) exudes elegance. Settle into a red velvet booth and start with a well-sourced glass of prosecco or Sicilian red. Try as many handmade pastas as you can handle, share a bistecca alla Fiorentina for two, and get dessert. Do note that the pistachio gelato with Trapanese sea salt and extra virgin olive oil puts other ice cream to shame. Also, Cicala is owned by a husband-and-wife team — he’s the chef and she’s the pastry chef. How cute is that?

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GETTING SERIOUS

River Twice

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East Passyunk

Photo courtesy of River Twice
Another husband-and-wife operation, River Twice makes damn fine food. Seafood frequently stars in chef Randy Rucker’s creations, which feature a marriage of eastern and western ingredients and techniques. Take his charred Spanish mackerel with aji dulce ponzu and fresh wasabi. This celebrated East Passyunk restaurant offers a pleasantly less formal take on fine dining with a four-course $75 tasting menu, but don’t miss add-ons that include Sweet Amalia oysters and corn porridge sourdough. Want to really impress your date? Go on a Monday when the cult favorite Mother Rucker burger is available.

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HIROKI Philadelphia

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Fishtown

The omakase at Hiroki sets the mood.
The omakase at Hiroki sets the mood. Photo courtesy of Hiroki

The bespoke experience of traditional Japanese omakase involves listening, attentiveness, and trust. It’s a great lesson in vulnerability, and in how rewarding it can be to stay open to new experiences. So, you know, maybe there’s a good takeaway or two in there for successful relationships. When it comes to Hiroki’s $155 omakase, you’re in exceptionally good hands with Kyoto-born chef Hiroki Fujiyama. From zensai (the appetizer) through sushi, meat and soup courses, and all the way to dessert, it’s a culinary journey in an intimate, low-lit space.

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Alpen Rose

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Midtown Village

Photo courtesy of Alpen Rose
This sultry steakhouse is perennially packed for a reason — it’s dark, moody and a quintessential celebratory spot, built to impress. You enter through a speakeasy-style door. Steaks get carved tableside, and baked Alaska is flambeed right in front of you. It’s truly dinner and a show. Here’s everything you need to know about a perfect night there. Dress up and book it early.

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SHARED PLATES ARE FOREVER

Oloroso

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Washington West

The excellent Mediterranean small plates at Oloroso. Photo courtesy of Oloroso

Sharing is caring, and no meal embodies this adage like tapas. Oloroso has a wide selection of traditional Spanish tapas, sherries, and wines. Share the salt, cod fritters, patatas bravas, and a sampling of seafood with the paella Oloroso, which brims with shrimp, clams, mussels, chicken, and spicy chorizo. If food is the language of your love, this is a spot that speaks volumes.

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Laurel

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South Philadelphia

Photo courtesy of Laurel
The format of Nick Elmi’s East Passyunk flagship changed last year. Gone is the formality and tasting menu in favor of a chill menu of dishes that lean light and shareable. It runs from crudo to pasta — Parisian gnocchi in chicken jus, anyone? — and Wagyu steak, enjoyed alongside fancy wines by the glass. What hasn’t changed? The excellence that put Laurel on Philly’s dining map. Elmi is one of Philly’s most skilled chefs and his much-loved restaurant represents the way we dine today.

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BRING A BOTTLE

Hearthside

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Collingswood

Photo courtesy of Hearthside
The ability to bring your own bottle of wine (or beer and sometimes liquor) to a restaurant can make a date really affordable and in the Philly area, there’s nothing like a classic BYO. These spots tend to be cozy and chef-driven. Hearthside is a prime example. Find it a short PATCO ride or drive from Philly in the little food-loving town of Collingswood, New Jersey. Former Zeppoli chef Dominic Piperno owns this 56-seat BYOB, where $90 gets you seasonal three courses. Many dishes here are cooked in a wood-fired hearth and the handmade pasta here is the star.

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Helm BYOB

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Kensington

Located on a quiet block in Kensington, this casual but intimate spot from chefs Kevin D’Egidio and Michael Griffiths serves up playful dishes that riff off of seasonal bounty. Their plates include pairings that seem like they’re out of left field, but actually work well together, like succulent pork with hushpuppies and bok choy, or a chickpea ravioli with beef ragú and mushrooms. The best way to indulge at Helm is for you and your partner to order different dishes, and then share, to sample a bit of everything. And don’t forget to bring a bottle of wine, given its BYOB status. That means a romantic trip to the wine shop beforehand and a cheaper check at dinner.

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Sarah Maiellano is a Philly-based food and travel writer. Follow her on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.

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