The Best Date Night Restaurants In San Antonio
These are my tried-and-true date night restaurants for when my husband and I have a night out in San Antonio! We’re both foodies through-and-through so we love exploring the newest and hottest spots in SA, but sometimes we just want to go back to what’s familiar (Maverick!! xoxo).
Hope you find something to spark your creativity!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelsey Kennedy is a local Texas author, photographer, blogger, and native Texan who is fully obsessed with all things local San Antonio. She has written on her travel sites for more than 12 million readers across 38 countries who are looking for cool things to do in the hottest cities in Texas.
The Best Date Night Restaurants in San Antonio
Fife & Farro
Ok, when I want something that’s just a bit more casual (think: Thursday night date night and we have a babysitter and just want to have a conversation and enjoy a bite together), Fife & Farro is the perfect vibe. It’s a fancy pizza spot located within the open air Pullman Market, so it’s buzzy with energy.
You’ll find fun cocktails (or sometimes I’ll just get a glass of bubbly to go with my pizza!), a few salads and apps, hearty pasta dishes, and seriously the most DELICIOUS wood-fired pizza in San Antonio. Great spot to perch at the bar if you can’t snag a table!
WEBSITE | 221 Newell Ave
Leche de Tigre
James Beard Award-finalist Leche de Tigre is authentic Peruvian cuisine in the heart of San Antonio! For starters, the little bungalow-turned-restaurant is the cutest date night spot. I love the cozy interior or the charming outdoor patio.
And the food is crazy inventive, delicious, and fun to try as someone who isn’t super familiar with Peruvian cuisine! Sip on a pisco sour and order a few cebiches to share. This is a really vibrant date night restaurant - one of my favorites!
WEBSITE | 318 E Cevallos St
Ladino
The Austin-based Emmer & Rye restaurant group, and EVERYTHING they do is so good! If you love Mediterranean cuisine, local ingredients, and attentive servers, the splurge at Ladino is absolutely worth it for a nice date night out. The wood-fired pita will transform your world (Is that too dramatic to say about a piece of bread? I’m holding steady on this one!) Ladino is a great restaurant for a special occasion like an anniversary.
WEBSITE | 200 E Grayson St #100
Bar Loretta
I think I’m having a love affair with Bar Loretta. There’s just something about the energy of this little bar + restaurant that is so addicting! It’s a charming little spot with friendly bartenders, exceptional cocktails, and a surprisingly good food menu that you might not expect. What I mean is that it definitely seems more like a cocktail bar, but I’m telling you that the food is NOT an afterthought - it stands on its own! Bar Loretta is probably my #1 pick for really great date night spots in San Antonio right now.
WEBSITE | 320 Beauregard St
Mixtli
Michelin star alert!! If you have a really special date night coming up, try to get tickets to Mixtli! (Yes, they’re called tickets instead of reservations at Mixtli because it’s almost like a show!) This is a progressive Mexican restaurant where the food is all prepared right in front of you - like, you get to actually dine in the kitchen and watch everything happen. I ate here once with a friend, and it’s the most memorable dining experience I’ve EVER had!! The food is crazy creative. (Case in point: the avocado in the picture above IS NOT AN AVOCADO.) I can’t wait to go back with my husband soon. It’s a very pricey spot, so save it for a special occasion!
WEBSITE | 812 S Alamo St STE 103
Bliss
If you want a classic San Antonio date night spot that never disappoints, Bliss is it. It’s just one of those spots you want to keep coming back again and again for special occasions because it’s just consistently so good. The space is intimate and romantic (perfect for actual conversation!), the service is top-tier, and the food is creative, seasonal, and seriously delicious. It’s one of those places you can always count on for a really special night out.
WEBSITE | 926 S Presa St
Isidore
Another San Antonio spot with a Michelin star, Isidore absolutely delivers from start to finish. The space is stunning with a minimalist industrial design that still feels warm and intimate (not easy to pull off, but they do it). Service is thoughtful and polished, with fun little touches (like choosing your own steak knife?!) that make the experience feel extra special. And the food is truly next level, which of course I would expect since this restaurant is from the Emmer & Rye group. So many dishes feel like “the best you’ve ever had,” from popcorn chicken to red snapper to buttermilk pie. This is a top-tier pick for a memorable date night spot in San Antonio.
WEBSITE | 221 Newell Ave
Jazz, TX
Jazz, TX is a bit different from the other restaurants listed here but I’m obsessed with it and love going here with my husband! It’s an underground “speakeasy”-style jazz club located at The Pearl. You have to reserve tickets for each show, but they have a food menu and you can arrive 45 minutes early to eat before the musicians start. Oh, and there are servers who keep the drinks coming to your tables during the jazz show. So fun!
WEBSITE | 312 Pearl Pkwy Building 6, Suite 6001
Brenner’s Steakhouse
If you want a good date night spot on the Riverwalk, Brenner’s is gorgeous. The reason I like this place over other riverwalk restaurants is because it’s a 3-story building, so you can dine on the upstairs patio overlooking the water without dealing with people walking 6 inches from your table, or noisy birds trying to swoop in to steal your fries.
And the steak, wine, and ambiance are all top notch! Phenomenal spot for a splurge-y sort of night out. I think this one is especially fun for out-of-towners who might want to prioritize a night on the Riverwalk.
WEBSITE | 215 Losoya St
Shiro Japanese Bistro
When I’m feeling a date night spot that’s a bit…unexpected (in the best way!!), Shiro Japanese Bistro is it. Tucked away in a quieter stretch of the Riverwalk, it has this peaceful, almost zen vibe that makes it feel like an escape from the usual downtown buzz. The space is small, the service is polished, and the food is absolutely perfect. outstanding. Every dish - from sushi to small plates to full entrées - tastes perfect. Lovely sushi date night spot that I like to keep on my date night list in San Antonio.
WEBSITE | 107 W Jones Ave
Maverick Brasserie
A oldie but a goodie! Maverick is a French brasserie that isn’t too stuffy or formal. It’s just a fun, lovely spot for phenomenal steak frites and a big bold red wine. The interior design of this place is my FAVORITE! There are lots of little rooms (popular for renting out for private events, fyi!) and I like to wander through them on my way to the restroom and ooh and ah over the beautiful interior. But when I’m dining, the bar is one of my favorite spots to sit! It’s a fun place for an impromptu date night in SA.
WEBSITE | 710 S St Mary's St
Sternewirth
Sternewirth is a cocktail bar, not a restaurant, but add it to your date night destinations anyway. This cocktail bar is one of the best in San Antonio! It’s located inside Hotel Emma, which used to be the Pearl Brewery. So when you go to Sternewirth and order a (fantastic) cocktail, you can actually sit inside one of the old giant holding tanks that used to hold the beer. How cool is that?!
WEBSITE | 136 E Grayson St
My issue is always narrowing these lists down to a few good options, haha. I just want to share 100 great date night restaurants with you! There are SO many fantastic places to eat and drink in San Antonio, and more good ones are opening up all the time. I hope you click around The San Antonio Things and discover more foodie finds. I’ll keep sharing them with you.
Cheers to your upcoming date night!