The most romantic restaurants in metro Detroit

By Layla McMurtrie on Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 10:22 am

Sure, romantic restaurants can be pricey, but you deserve to treat yourself and your partner sometimes, especially for Valentine’s Day. If you’re having a hard time deciding where to go for dinner for the special day, metro Detroit has lots of romantic spots to choose from. We made a list of the best ones just for you. Make a reservation soon and be ready to get dressed up with your first-time or long-time date.

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Facebook, Highlands

Highlands

400 Renaissance Center, Floor 71, Detroit; 313-877-9090; highlandsdetroit.com

For an amazing view of Detroit, Canada, and the river, this is the place to be. Located on the 71st floor of the Renaissance Center, the sights are breathtaking — but you better not be afraid of heights.

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Pe Tor, Flickr Creative Commons

The Whitney

4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-5700; thewhitney.com

This historic mansion in downtown Detroit offers a fine-dining restaurant perfect for a romantic dinner. Plus, it’s got a bar and dessert parlor if you want to extend the date with drinks and treats following your meal.

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Instagram, @_takoi_

Takoi

2520 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-855-2864; takoidetroit.com

In Corktown, Takoi is known for modern Thai cooking with Michigan seasonality. The space and meal presentation are equally as impressive.

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Parc

800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-922-7272; parcdetroit.com

Right in the heart of Campus Martius, Parc offers top-notch food and drinks, as well as ample opportunities for people-watching.

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Oak & Reel

2921 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-270-9600; oakandreel.com

In Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, this Italian and seafood spot was named Best Restaurant in Wayne County in Metro Times’s 2023 Best of Detroit reader’s poll. It also offers an underground cocktail bar called The Upright, perfect for heading to a more intimate setting after dinner.

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Michelle Gerard

Selden Standard

3921 2nd Ave., Detroit; 313-438-5055; seldenstandard.com

You can never get sick of this restaurant, as it offers a rotating menu with some of the best New American tapas in Detroit, great for an amazing date.

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Steve Neavling

Mabel Gray

23825 John R Rd., Hazel Park; 248-398-4300; mabelgraykitchen.com

With a fresh comfortable atmosphere and a well-crafted menu utilizing fresh ingredients from local farms, you can’t go wrong with this adventurous restaurant.

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Amore da Roma

3401 Riopelle, Detroit; 313-831-5940; amoredaroma.com

For those who want a more old-school ambiance alongside their great meal, this spot is for you.

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Coeur

330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-466-3010; coeurferndale.com

This restaurant opened in August 2023 and quickly won Best New Restaurant (Oakland) in Metro Times Best of Detroit reader’s poll. The upscale New American food is delicious and the dessert also doesn’t disappoint.

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Tom Perkins

SheWolf

438 Selden St., Detroit; 313-315-3992; shewolfdetroit.com

Modern Roman cuisine is this restaurant’s primary focus, meshing contemporary Italian food with inspiration from old Rome.

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Instagram, @primeandproperdetroit

Prime + Proper

1145 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-636-3100; primeandproperdetroit.com

The seating in this place is even more luxurious than the food. Prime + Proper is a classic steakhouse that adds modern concepts and elegant hospitality to the experience.

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Tiliani

1002 S. Military St., Dearborn; 313-444-8889; tiliani.com

At Tilani, all pasta is made in-house, plus all of the food is halal. One of our food reviewers said it was the best restaurant she had been to all of 2023. See the full review.

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Tom Perkins

Leila

1245 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-816-8100; leiladetroit.com

For a fancy romantic experience that serves up Middle Eastern flavors, this is it. Leila pays homage to the owner’s roots in Lebanon, mixing sophistication with old-world hospitality.

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Tom Perkins

Barda

4842 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-952-5182; bardadetroit.com

In an unsuspecting building, Barda brings Argentine cuisine to the city with a fancy twist.

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Randiah Camille Green

Freya

2929 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-351-5544; freyadetroit.com

The menu at this unpretentious fine-dining spot in Milwaukee Junction includes a mix of pescatarian, vegan, and meat options. Plus, the chefs are great, and local art lines the walls. Owner and Executive Chef Doug Hewitt was just nominated for Best Chef in the Great Lakes.

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Pop’s For Italian

280 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-4806; popsforitalian.com

If your style of romance is wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta, Pop’s is the place for it. Maybe you and your date can even have a Lady and the Tramp moment.

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Instagram, Townhouse

Townhouse

500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-723-1000; townhousedetroit.com

Located in the heart of downtown Detroit, Townhouse is very fancy, merging culinary tradition with modern innovation. The masterpiece of a building offers a bar and an outdoor terrace.

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Courtesy photo

Basan

2703 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-481-2703; basandetroit.com

In the historic Eddystone building near Little Caesars Arena, Basan serves up high-end Japanese-inspired fare.

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Viola Klocko

Mad Nice

4120 Second Ave., Detroit; 313-558-8000; madnicedetroit.com

Opened in 2023, this spot’s name describes it perfectly. The Italian restaurant is definitely nice, with chic decor and a modern Italian-inspired menu.

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