23 of Cincinnati's Most Romantic Restaurants to Take Your Sweetheart

Sotto

118 E. Sixth St., Downtown
Sotto is Cincinnati's clandestine basement trattoria — a below-street-level Italian eatery, nestled underneath sister restaurant Boca on Sixth Street downtown. It's a hot spot for diners celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for some excellent pasta. With multiple dining rooms, the kitchen is open to view, including the custom-made woodfire grill in front and a fresh-pasta room in the back hallway.

The Precinct

311 Delta Ave., Columbia Tusculum
The Precinct, housed in a historical Romanesque-style former police precinct, opened in 1981 and was the first in a long line of Jeff Ruby's steakhouses. The space is intimate and elegant, offering excellent service as well as a menu boasting prime steaks, fresh seafood and a generous wine selection.

Nicola's

1420 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine
Italian darling Nicola's opened in a renovated car barn in Over-the-Rhine several decades ago. Patrons will be delighted by the lovely main dining room, resplendent with a beautiful interior where everything your eye rests on makes you feel indulged. Nicola's housemade pastas and secondi piatti transport diners to the heart of Italy.

Pepp & Dolores

1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Pepp & Dolores is inspired by Sunday dinners at Thunderdome co-founders Joe and John Lanni's grandparents' house.The menu features housemade pastas — like spaghetti limone, a butternut and mascarpone pasta and a lobster and squid ink pasta — along with a focus on shareable dishes, salads and bread.

The View at Shires' Garden

509 Vine St., Downtown
The View at Shires' Garden is located on the 10th floor of the City Club Apartments with views of the riverfront and the surrounding cityscape. This rooftop spot features an indoor dining room, an outdoor patio and a private event lounge with a bar, cigar patio, baby grand piano and firelit tables.

Carlo & Johnny

9769 Montgomery Road, Montgomery
Carlo & Johnny is another upscale steakhouse from the team behind Jeff Ruby's. Located in Montgomery, this restaurant is situated in a historic mansion that was formerly a gangster hideout, stagecoach stopover and casino. They offer U.S.D.A Prime steaks as well as a variety of fresh seafoods and impeccable service.

Primavista

810 Matson Place, East Price Hill
Along with a beautiful view of the city, this restaurant offers an upscale dining experience with menu options like sausage and mushroom ravioli, roasted lamb loin and tiramisu. Without leaving your seat, you can look out on views of Carew Tower, Great American Tower and the Cincinnati sign with a glass of wine in hand.

Mita's

501 Race St., Downtown
Chef Jose Salazar is a continent away from his mamita and the hand-cranked mill she still uses to grind corn for arepas and empanadas, but his restaurant, Mita's, is a tribute to her spirit and to Spanish and Latin American food. They also have one of the best margaritas in town.

Nada

600 Walnut St., Downtown
Located across from the Aronoff Center, this prime modern Mexican spot offers small plates, large plates, shareables and tacos. The low-lit atmosphere and great cocktails make for a romantic night out.

Ivory House

2998 Harrison Ave., Westwood
Self-described as “steak and seafood, elevated,” the menu is a fresh take on nostalgic-feeling dishes. A large wine menu and clever cocktails are a perfect accompaniment to a menu that features everything from filet mignon and grilled tuna to a Japanese A5 wagyu strip.

Salazar

40 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
This petite eatery from Chef Jose Salazar mixes old and new to create an approachable yet refined farm-inspired menu. The elegant space features a massive marble bar countertop, and opening dining space. There are creative, comfortable choices like burgers, fish and a vegetarian option. Seasonal, farm-fresh specials frequently pop up on the changing menu.

Boca

114 E. Sixth St., Downtown
A trip to chef David Falk's Italian/French gemstone is an experience to be savored as much as the food itself. Take your time, invest a few hours and allow him and his attentive, knowledgeable staff to unfold an epic tale of two or three courses, plus dessert.

Scotti's Italian Eatery

919 Vine St., Downtown
Family-owned since 1912, Scotti's has solidified itself as a Queen City staple. Their large menu features just about every pasta imaginable and nearly 20 different varieties of veal dishes. Finish off your meal with a bottle of wine and you&'ll be full for days. Multi-colored tiles plaster the walls, and candles drip layer upon layer of wax on Chianti bottles at every table, providing a little light to the otherwise dimly lit dining room.

Prime Cincinnati

580 Walnut St., Downtown
This downtown steakhouse offers an upscale and sophisticated dining experience along with excellent service. The menu offers a variety of shareable starters like oysters on the half shell or prosciutto wrapped sea scallops and a hearty dinner menu boasting Prime Angus Beef in a range of cuts plus Ohio Wagyu beef from the Wyoming Meat Market — and of course some fresh seafood to top.

Jag’s Steak & Seafood

5980 West Chester Road, West Chester
This West Chester steak and seafood joint was recently named one of the most romantic restaurants in Ohio by OpenTable. With a piano bar and a dress code, the atmosphere is sure to impress.

Libby's Southern Comfort

35 W. Eighth St., Covington,
This Covington eatery pays tribute to Southern classics like fried chicken and half-shell oysters served alongside a variety of bourbon drinks and other local favorites. The atmosphere is hip, with plenty of opportunities to share a dish with your sweetheart.

Bouquet Restaurant

519 Main St. Covington
Working closely with local sources, Bouquet’s upscale farm-to-table approach means a fresh, frequently rotating menu packed with seasonal ingredients. Elegant small plates, entrées and thoughtful wine pairings set the stage for an intimate dining experience.

Via Vite

520 Vine St., Downtown
Via Vite showcases chef Cristian Pietoso’s casual take on Northern Italian cuisine in the good ole’ Queen City. The view overlooks Fountain Square and their rooftop patio is the perfect escape to people watch. Crispy, stone-fired pizzas and hearty pastas hearken to the motherland, while entrées like 12-hour braised lamb shank with white polenta and rosemary lead the diner on an Italian journey. Classic Italian cocktails like a Negroni and Aperol Spritz are a clever accompaniment to a collection of Italian (and California) wines.

Losanti

1401 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
This Over-the-Rhine steakhouse from the Crown Republic Gastropub team features steak, pasta, wine and shaken and stirred cocktails.

Okto

645 Walnut St., Downtown
Cincinnati-based Earth & Ocean Restaurant Group (the team behind Hyde Park's E+O Kitchen) has brought the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean to downtown. The menu at Okto includes traditional Greek dishes, like savory tiropita and spanakopita pastries, kebabs, flaming saganaki (a pan-fried cheese) and baklava. Okto's bar is stocked with a selection of wine and liquors imported from Greece as well as cocktails created to pair nicely with the restaurant's Mediterranean flavors.