Best Romantic Dining in New Orleans

This quaint little neighborhood spot perfectly exemplifies what makes the French Quarter so special: even on its boundary streets, you'll find something to charm and surprise. Though locals usually occupy the tables at Meauxbar each night, these snug yet easygoing quarters welcome all comers. Framed photos, mirrors, burnished wood floors and moody lighting reinforce the bistro concept, and seating is available both at tables and at the bar. Another bonus is that conversation is welcome (and audible) at this intimate space, making date night especially romantic. But of course, it's the cookery that truly sets the place apart, most notably such superbly-conceived numbers as yak-a-mein of the day, double-cut pork chop with mustard spaetzle and burrata with crabmeat and braised greens. Weekend reservations are encouraged and brunch is a winner.

Lilette is a decadent French restaurant situated on Magazine Street. Stellar cuisine from chef John Harris and a hip cocktail bar make this a sexy destination for foodies of all ages. Tempting bites like truffle Parmigiano t with wild mushrooms and marrow and grilled herbed squab with chanterelles line the menu. The pan-roasted salmon is especially savory, bright with citrus and served with herbed couscous and dill creme fraiche. The wine list includes 50 some wines, with more than 10 varieties available by the glass. Stop by for lunch while bouncing between Garden District neighborhoods. The art-filled intimate dining room is one of the prettiest places to whisper sweet nothings in town.

It's been more than a century since Arnaud Cazenave, a colorful, French wine salesman, founded the grand New Orleans restaurant bearing his name with a commitment to serving quality Creole cuisine. Taken over by the Casbarian family in 1978, Arnaud's is tended to by the fourth generation of Casbarians and is a must for some of the Big Easy's best Creole food. Have three distinct experiences here, live music and a more casual atmosphere in the Jazz Bistro, a romantic dinner in the main dining room, or cocktails in the French 75 Bar. The classy joint is located just steps from Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. Their proprietary remoulade blend that adorns their shrimp Arnaud and crab cakes is delectable and must be sampled.

Opened by chef Mike Stoltzfus and his wife Lillian Hubbard in December 2008, Coquette is a Garden District stunner, from its gleaming floors and crisp linens to its architectural details and warm exposed brick walls. The Garden District building was built in the late 1880s and has been among other things a residence, grocery store, auto parts store and several restaurants. Chef Stoltzfus, who honed his craft as a sous chef at Restaurant August, proffers innovative southern cuisine with an emphasis on locally sourced product. A few not to miss dishes include the housemade charcuterie plate and Gulf seafood stew spiked with Spanish chorizo and the unexpected nuttiness of boiled peanuts.

Couvant has date night written all over it. Why not bask in the warmth of just-so lighting, holding hands over burnished wood tables while slurping oysters from the polished marble bar.? Art is everywhere, gilded mirrors too repose against exposed brick walls, more elements to inspire conversation and canoodling. This French sweet spot in the Eliza Jane Hotel, with its inviting courtyard wine bar, delivers a true brasserie menu - no Creole influence here - from frites to escargot to foie. Mussels are served three ways –" marinieres, a la Normande,with French cider and Marseille, spiked with fennel. Choose from several cuts for the steak frites or decide to share a bone-in veal chop for two. Tougher to decide on the potatoes - frites, dauphines, puree or gratin dauphinois? Have profiterols for dessert, or perhaps a sauterne or three. The French-centric wine list and creative cocktail program doesn't disappoint. Couvant, from the French word for smolder, offers a sophisticated and romantic night out just a few blocks from the French Quarter.

Located in the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans, right off the St. Charles Streetcar line, the Upperline is a great reason to explore past the French Quarter, and experience a contemporary take on Creole cuisine. The dining room is presided over by owner and hospitality doyenne JoAnn Clevenger, who won a James Beard Award as an outstanding restaurateur in the U.S. in 2017 and welcomes one and all like family. The menu hits just the right balance between respecting the timeless dishes that regulars crave and bringing new inspired creations to the table. The drum piquant with hot & hot shrimp will never leave the menu, same for the slow-roasted half duckling with garlic port sauce, spotlighted by chef Aaron Sanchez on the show "Best Thing I Ever Ate."

Polished elegance isn't a bellwether of most restaurants in the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods in New Orleans. Which is why The Franklin really stands out in the crowd. Intimate and inviting, this restaurant lives in New Orleans but would be at home in any big city. Chef Dane Harris forgoes traditional New Orleans fare for a menu that is both modern and French-inspired. Most of the small plates are intriguing, like the grilled baby octopus with harissa, a stupendous burger with farmhouse cheddar and frites and the silkiest of beef tartare topped with a quail egg. Try oysters, raw and gorgeous. The cocktail program features cocktails, both classic and new, with an emphasis on the martini and its variants, as well as a robust wine list and a diverse beer selection. The former corner store is filled with natural light and spectacular art from the owner's private collection.

Partners Liam Deegan and John Sinclair have created a low key stylish eatery that is perfect for intimate lunches and sultry suppers. Housed in a building from 1794 that conjures up the Quarter's residential pedigree, the Longway was once home to Boho writers Roark and Mary Rose Bradford, who hosted creative types at their place at all hours of the day and night. The owners wanted that kind of place today, and indeed Longway is inviting, with its lovely back courtyard and relaxed tavern vibe. A perfect neighborhood bar that just happens to call the French Quarter its 'hood, this is the spot for creative small plates meant for sharing and smart cocktails. Chef John Sinclair offers creative twists on nostalgic tavern fare. Try the Caesar salad topped with crispy, fried chicken skins and veggie cassoulet with field peas, sunchokes, mushrooms and whipped tofu.

Just in case you needed one more reason to cross the 24-mile causeway across Lake Pontchartrain, OxLot 9 in the suave Southern Hotel in Covington is open for business. The love child of chef/co-owner Jeffrey Hansell and his wife, co-owner Amy Hansell, OxLot 9 is a sprightly addition to the eclectic Northshore dining scene. This simply sophisticated Southern bistro spotlights chef Hansell's deft homage to Gulf Coast ingredients and time-tested Southern comfort dishes. Hansell, whose resume includes stints at Commander's Palace, Veranda in Birmingham and Luke, adds his own Southern twist to dishes like bouillabaisse, with the addition of okra, local redfish and shrimp, presenting stuffed rabbit with tasso and housemade mozzarella and poached oysters in Pernod and cream tucked into puffed pastry so good they should be against the law. A well-informed wine list and a brilliant array of craft cocktails add allure to this destination restaurant. Feeling lucky? Give the bartender a few hints and he or she will concoct something just for your palate.

Delachaise is that mystery spot that you might cruise right by without noticing during a daytime trip on the St. Charles streetcar. Come evening, the outdoor patio, lit with twinkle lights, is always buzzing with a lively crowd along with couples enjoying date night. This spirited wine bar uptown is easy to love for its long convivial bar, lack of pretense, impressive wine list and most notably the Thai spiced mussels served with goose fat fries. Really everything at this atmospheric French-ish bistro is good; say yes to housemade pate and tender flank steak bruschetta, and double yes to the devilish chocolate souffle. And order a Viognier and Gruner by the glass, a treat for a white wine drinker weary of house Chardonnay.