Romance reigns at Cafe Monarch.
Cafe Monarch
Where you choose for dinner impacts the tone of the entire night. When romance is on the table, six Arizona restaurants set the mood better than most, including one Scottsdale fine dining destination that took the No. 1 spot in a list ranked by Yelp Elite reviewers.
In Yelp’s nationwide ranking of the Top 100 romantic restaurants in the U.S., Cafe Monarch, the upscale eatery in Old Town Scottsdale, earned first place. Downtown Phoenix’s Cibo Pizzeria quickly followed at No. 3. For this list, the online review site ranked places based on the volume and ratings from its Yelp Elite Squad members, limiting each state to 15 restaurants total.
Yelpers gave high marks to Arizona restaurants exuding sultry ambiance, awe-inducing views and indulgent dishes, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The most romantic restaurants in Phoenix
No. 1: Cafe Monarch
6939 E. First Ave., Scottsdale
Cafe Monarch impressed Yelp reviewers more than any other place in the country. They applauded the restaurant’s refined setting, thoughtful service and prix fixe format made for special occasions. The “opulent ambiance and the artfully presented, seasonal dishes” wowed Yelpers. They aren’t the only ones swooning over Cafe Monarch’s romantic vibe. OpenTable named the Old Town Scottsdale restaurant its most romantic restaurant in Arizona in a recently released list.
Nestled in a charming central Phoenix neighborhood, this 1913 bungalow has been home to Cibo since 2005.
No. 3: Cibo Pizzeria
603 N. Fifth Ave.
Cibo Pizzeria, a Neapolitan-style restaurant in downtown Phoenix, snagged the third spot on the Yelp list. This restaurant is more relaxed but still sets the right mood with twinkling lights strung across its idyllic patio. In addition to well-crafted pies, diners can sample other casual Italian dishes and should expect “friendly service and authentic flavors,” the Yelp entry said. New Times agrees and has included Cibo on its list of restaurants to impress a date.
No. 14: Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante Italiano
2321 AZ-89A, Sedona
Chef Lisa Dahl’s Sedona restaurant, Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante Italiano, edged into the top 20. Dahl and her kitchen serve fresh pastas, grilled meats and decadent desserts. With the red rocks of the mystical northern Arizona town as the backdrop, it was hard for Yelpers not to fall in love.
The patio at Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn has views for days — and nights.
Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn
No. 83: Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn
5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley
Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn is a classic Paradise Valley resort destination. The restaurant offers “Southwestern fine dining with adobe-chic elegance and stunning desert views,” Yelp said. In 2022, New Times named Lon’s its Best Romantic Restaurant because of its magical patio setting among mesquite trees, candlelight and a crackling fireplace.
No. 85: A Different Pointe of View
11111 N. Seventh St.
The next Valley restaurant to get its flowers from Yelp is Different Pointe of View. The Phoenix restaurant is situated at the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, offering sweeping views of cotton-candy sunsets. Those pair well with the restaurant’s luxe American menu of steaks and seafood.
The Mission in Old Town Scottsdale is a Valley dining mainstay.
No. 92: The Mission
3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale
7122 E. Greenway Parkway, #140, Scottsdale
Chef Matt Carter’s modern, Latin-inspired restaurant The Mission is the final Arizona restaurant to sneak onto the list. The Mission boasts two Scottsdale locations, in Old Town and Kierland, and has a third on the way in Gilbert at Epicenter. The Yelp list specifically highlighted the Old Town location’s rustic, candlelit space. Get cozy while the fireplace flickers and toast over margaritas and tableside-prepared guacamole.