Romantic restaurants in Manila
Whether it’s your first date or silver anniversary, you want to bring jowa somewhere special to shower them with love and appreciation. So instead of making a reservation at your usual restaurant, try upping your dating game at one of these romantic restaurants in Metro Manila.
These Cupid-approved romantic restaurants in Metro Manila will make you want to dress up and feel fancy with your date on any special occasion you have in mind. It’s not just the ambiance that’s great – the food is, too.
Table of Contents
1. Blackbird at the Nielson Tower – a 1940s airport-turned-restaurant
Image credit: @trailingwife_c via Instagram
What used to be a radio tower and passenger terminal for the Nielson Airport in the 1940s is now Blackbird at the Nielson. This restaurant that will take your fine dining experience to different heights.
The tall windows and black and white interior give off an elegant vibe, especially at night when they dim the lights to serve you a candlelit dinner. The grand staircase is also the perfect spot for posting pics to remember on your IG stories.
They have a wide range of European and Asian cuisine with appetizers starting at P180 (~USD3.18) and main dishes starting at P820 (~USD14.47). Their Asian fusion dishes such as lamb rendang and prawn scotch eggs are must-tries.
Address: 6752, 1229 Makati Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, Daily
Contact: (02) 8828 4888 | website
2. Grace Park – laid-back dining with postmodern decor
Image credit: @tyronelalas via Instagram
Dressing to the nines isn’t for everyone. Some just want a simple, laid-back date, and Grace Park’s eclectic, postmodern, and industrial aesthetic allows you to dress down without getting judged.
U2 ate here when they came to Manila for their concert in 2019.
Image credit: @u2bonoloveofficial via Instagram
They primarily offer Filipino cuisine cooked with organic ingredients, from their vegetables, eggs, and down to their rice. Great for those particular about their diet, or who just want healthier options.
make sure to try their specials including their diwal (angel clam) offerings. These are made with seasonal seashells that are a cross between oysters and clams that are endemic to the coasts of Negros and Capiz.
Address: Ground Floor, One Rockwell Building, Rockwell, Makati City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm | Fri-Sun 9am-10pm
Contact: (02) 843 7275 | Facebook
3. Lemuria Gourmet Restaurant – newbie-friendly French-Mediterranean fusion
Image credit: Lemuria
For those who’ve always wanted to try French and Mediterranean food, but can’t wrap your tongue around the language, you can go for Lemuria’s 6-course degustation (P3,600/person, ~USD63.55). That means more time exchanging sweet nothings with your date, and less time trying to decipher the menu.
These set meals include an amuse-bouche, appetizer, soup, pasta, sorbet, beef, and dessert, while the 9-course meal has an additional salad, seafood dish, and cheese plate.
You’ll be surrounded by rich brown furniture and old brick walls that make a rustic fine dining experience, with classical music and dim lighting setting the mood right for a date.
Address: 5 Julieta Circle, Horseshoe Village, New Manila, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: TueSun 6pm-10pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: (02) 8724 5211 | website
4. Champagne Room – dine like queens and kings
Image credit: @janeyinwonderland via Instagram
It doesn’t get any classier than this. With chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, velvet red accents on the cushioned seats and gold decor, Manila Hotel’s Champagne Room is one of the swankiest romantic restaurants in Metro Manila. It will make you feel as if you were in Queen Elizabeth’s dining room. Since you’re in Manila’s oldest hotel, known for exemplary food and service since 1909, it’s safe to expect to be treated like royalty too.
This romantic restaurant in Manila offers 6-course meals from P3,100 (~USD54.72) per person, which packs in great value for money, as each set comes with a soup, salad, sorbet, main dish, and dessert. Their A La Carte menu is lighter on the wallet, though, with dishes starting from P280 (~USD4.94).
When it’s time for drinks, the Champagne Room isn’t restricted to champagne but boasts an impressive selection of drinks, including wines and non-alcoholic drinks such as mocktails and juices. The menu also suggests which drinks to have before, during, or after your meal – useful for booze newbies.
Address: The Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-2.30pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: (632) 8527 0011 | website
5. Galileo Enoteca – sip and dine in a wine cellar-styled space
Image credit: @galileoenoteca via Instagram
Hide away with your loved one in Galileo Enoteca, designed like a cozy Italian wine cellar, where you’ll be surrounded by bottles of wine arranged on brick shelves.
Image credit: @galileoenoteca via Instagram
They offer a romantic, 3-course set meal for P3,600 (~USD63.55) inclusive of an antipasti, pasta and meat main courses and a dessert, accompanied by your choice of red or white wine. Plus, they’ll also decorate a table just for you with rose petals and tea lights.
Or if you’re coming here after dinner just for the wine, you can pair it with a smaller a la carte dish, such as their antipasti platters from P380 (~USD6.71).
Address: 80 Malinao corner Calbayog Street, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am-10pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: (02) 8534 4633 | Facebook
Image credit: @pablobistro via Instagram
Enjoy your meal and conversations in this restaurant’s intimate setting, with the dimmed lights and candles, and a drink or two from Pablo’s extensive menu of drinks, priced at around P300 (~USD5.30) per glass.
Along with your drinks, some surefire dishes to have a yummy meal are their tapas from P390 (~USD6.88), and their paellas from P690 (~USD12.18).
Address: The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, 119 L. P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 7am-10.30pm, Daily
Contact: 0917 812 3301 | Facebook
7. The Nest Dining in the Sky – dine with a glittering view of Metro Manila
Image credit: @bernardteeyz via Instagram
Dine with a view at The Nest Dining in the Sky. From its rooftop location on Vivere Hotel, you can see the wide expanse of the city skyline from 31 stories up.
To go with customer favorites such as the Steak and Mushroom Pasta (P850,~USD15.00) and Mango Creme Brulee (P450, ~USD7.94), you can enjoy their limited offer cocktails from P300 (~USD5.30).
As it’s located in Alabang, this place is convenient for couples living in the South, or even for those in the metro who want to dine away from the city on their special day. You don’t have to worry about making it on time despite the drive either, since they’re open till 11PM.
Address: Vivere Hotel, 5102 Bridgeway Avenue Corner Asean Drive, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 4pm-11pm, Daily
Contact: (02) 8771 7777 | website
8. La Cabrera – a steakhouse Argentinians approve of
Image credit: @insiderph via Instagram
La Cabrera’s charming old Hollywood-inspired interior is filled with movie reels, vintage telephones, and old photographs. It’s definitely one of the most Instagrammable romantic restaurants in Metro Manila. This, paired with dimmed lights and live jazz music, will put you in a romantic mood.
This restaurant is one of many steakhouses scattered all over Metro Manila, but what sets it apart is that a lot of diners call its steak “the best steak they’ve had in the Philippines”. Even Argentinian visitors call this restaurant’s cuisine authentic, reminiscent of their steaks back home.
These steak meals cost around P3,000 (~USD52.95), but considering that each is 500G of meat, you can split one with your date if you have an average appetite.
Address: Ayala Business Center, 6750 Ayala Avenue, Glorietta Complex, Makati City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 11am-9pm, Daily
Mobile: 0905 290 0703 | Facebook
9. Oasis Garden Café – all-day eats and high tea sets for a merienda
Image credit: @bakkumkim via Instagram
Those fortunate enough to have enough leave credits to take the whole day off can lounge about in Oasis Garden Cafe, where you can take your sweet time nibbling on their all-day snacks and afternoon tea sets, perfect for a merienda.
Image credit: @solaireresort via Instagram
They have an afternoon tea set from P1,600 (~USD28.24) that consists of sweets, finger sandwiches, scones, and your choice of premium coffee or tea.
With a piano right smack in the middle and a crystal-clear glass ceiling, it’s perfect for a wholesome date any time you come by – with natural sunlight pouring in by day, and the live music and a view of the stars that sets the mood come nightfall.
Address: Solaire Resort & Casino, Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Parañaque City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Telephone: (02) 8888 8888 | website
10. Lampara – fresh takes on Filipino food
Image credit: Lampara via Google Maps
Couples whose favorite cuisine remains Filipino food should check out Lampara for fresh takes on Filipino food.
Their dishes are described as flavor bombs. Among their highly raved offerings is Dinuckdukan (P480, ~USD8.47), their version of the tangy northern Filipino dish that uses duck breast instead of the usual pork face.
Dinuckdakan.
Image credit: @lampara.pob via Instagram
Lampara also serves amazing Filipino-inspired signature cocktails such as Tinutong (P380, ~USD6.71) which, as its name suggests, is infused with toasted rice.
Enjoy these modern Filipino dishes in the restaurant’s modern Filipino interiors. Lampara is also located in Poblacion so you can head for more drinks and meet with friends after a satisfying meal.
Address: 5883 Enriquez, Makati City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 5pm-11.30pm, Daily
Contact: 0917 173 5883 | Facebook
11. Gallery by Chele – combines Asian flavors with European cooking techniques
Open Space.
Image credit: Gallery by Chele
For a meal that’s sure to excite the palate, Gallery by Chele serves fusion cuisine that combines Asian flavors with European cooking techniques.
Iberico char siu.
Image credit: @gallerybychele via Instagram
This restaurant offers 6- and 10-course menus from P2,700 (~USD47.66), with an all-vegetarian option. Perfect for a special date night. If you want more control over your food options, they also have an a la carte menu that includes Iberico char siu.
Plus, you really get to enjoy the ambiance when dining at Gallery by Chele. You can choose among the restaurant’s different modern and modern-tropical dining spaces decorated with artful Kenneth Cobonpue furniture.
Address: 5/F Clipp Center, 11th Avenue corner 39th Street, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm-10pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 0917 546 1673| website
12. Sala Restaurant – European fine dining by a Scottish chef
Image credit: Claes Mogren via Google Maps
Sala Restaurant lets you enjoy European fine dining in dim-lit, minimalist romantic interiors.
Their Scottish chef whips up a scrumptious 4-course dinner from P3,980 (~USD70.25) with several options for your appetizer and main course. For these, their Rosedale Black Angus tenderloin and pan-seared Hokkaido scallops are highly recommended. The restaurant also has an extensive wine list so you can have the perfect meal pairing.
For a more casual dining experience and an extensive la carte menu, you can opt for their sister restaurant Sala Bistro which is just a short walk from the fine dining restaurant.
Address: LV Locsin Building, Podium Level, 6752 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm (Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Contact: (02) 8877 6668 | website
13. Nobu Restaurant Manila – Japanese-Peruvian cuisine & floating cabanas
Image credit: Nobu Restaurant Manila via Facebook
Nobu Restaurant in Parañaque is the place to go to if you and your SO want to try Japanese-Peruvian cuisine.
According to previous reviews, the restaurant is commended for their helpful staff and amazing atmosphere. In terms of food, the Sashimi (from P160, ~USD2.86), Sushi Rolls (from P240, ~USD4.29), and the Black Cod dishes (from P460, ~USD8.22) were considered “stars of the show.”
Alternatively, the Nobu Floating Cabanas located at the Pool Deck is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner date. It offers a scenic view as you enjoy fresh and delicious food – feasting under the stars. So if you’re leaning towards al fresco fine dining, then you can opt for this one.
The Nobu Floating Cabanas is open daily from 11am to 9pm for dine-in and take-away.
Address: Nobu Restaurant, City of Dreams Manila, Level 1, Nobu North Tower, Aseana Ave, Parañaque
Opening hours: Sun-Thu 5pm-10pm | Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
Contact: (02) 8691 2882 | (02) 8800 8080 | website
14. The Peak – speakeasy with a music lounge and whisky bar
Image credit: Grand Hyatt Manila
Located at Grand Hyatt Manila, The Peak is a speakeasy restaurant that has everything you’d want – a grill, music lounge, and a whisky bar.
Aside from the incredible view of the city lights, you and your SOs can choose from an array of their grilled meats from Angus Beef (from P2,900, ~USD51.81) to Wagyu Steak (from P3,785, ~USD67.62).
You’re also welcome to ask for their separate bar menu for snacks and a diverse list of alcoholic beverages, especially whisky.
Address: Grand Hyatt Manila, 8th Avenue corner 35th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Opening hours: Sun-Mon 5pm-1am | Tue-Sat 5pm-2am
Contact: (02) 8838 1234 | website
Romantic restaurants in Metro Manila
You don’t need to wait till Valentine’s Day to celebrate the love you’ve found with your special someone, so a special date at one of these romantic restaurants in Manila is only reasonable. Whether you want to celebrate with a brunch, a dinner, or a merienda at these romantic restaurants in Manila and the surrounds, what matters is that you make it a special day for each other.
If you want to try something new for your date, check out these unique date ideas in Metro Manila, including relaxing in a traditional Korean sauna. You can also surprise your SO with a bouquet from one of these Metro Manila flower shops.
Cover image adapted from: Gallery by Chele, @trailingwife_c via Instagram, @tyronelalas via Instagram
Article originally published by Hazel Lumbre on February 2020. Last updated by Jaya Fanoga on February 2024.
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