5 Most Romantic Restaurants in Minnesota

I asked people on the Give Me The Mike Facebook page to vote for their favorite spots for date nights, anniversaries and special occasions.

From historic steakhouses to candlelit dining rooms, these five Twin Cities restaurants received the most support.

Most Romantic Restaurants in the Twin Cities

Click the name of the restaurant in the table below to learn more information.

Restaurant	City	Best for	Vibe
Jax Cafe	Minneapolis	Classic date night	Old-school and intimate
Lake Elmo Inn	Lake Elmo	Anniversaries	Cozy and candlelit
Baldamar	Roseville	Steaks and cocktails	Modern and upscale
Murray’s	Minneapolis	Special occasions	Classic steakhouse
W.A. Frost	St. Paul	Romantic atmosphere	Historic and elegant

Looking for a quick answer? Jax Cafe received the most support in the Give Me The Mike Facebook vote, while all five restaurants stood out as favorite Twin Cities spots for dates, anniversaries and special occasions.

How I chose these romantic restaurants

These restaurants weren’t selected by an editor or pulled from online reviews. I asked people on the Give Me The Mike Facebook page to name their favorite romantic restaurants in Minnesota. The five restaurants below received the most votes.

The results aren’t scientific, but they offer a snapshot of where people in the Give Me The Mike community like to go for date nights, anniversaries and special occasions.

If you know the exact date of the Facebook poll, add it. That makes the methodology even stronger.

Jax Cafe — Minneapolis

Dining room at Jax Cafe in Minneapolis with white tablecloths, dark wood details and classic decor. — Jax Cafe in Northeast Minneapolis offers a classic setting for date nights and special occasions.

Address: 1928 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis
Cuisine: Steaks, seafood and American classics
Known for: Generations of family ownership, its Old World atmosphere and garden
Date night vibe: Classic, intimate and nostalgic
Website: Jax Cafe
Reservations: Make a reservation

Jax Cafe has been part of Northeast Minneapolis for generations. The Kozlak family’s history at the corner of University and 20th avenues dates back to 1910, when Stanley Kozlak built a building that housed several family businesses and a local dance hall. After Prohibition ended, a liquor license was obtained and Jax Bar and Cafe opened in 1933.

The restaurant remains family-run and embraces a traditional dining experience rather than chasing trends. Its menu focuses on premium cuts of meat and fresh seafood, along with cocktails, wine and weekend brunch.

Part of Jax’s appeal is the setting. Its patio includes a trout stream and water wheel, while an Old World garden can be seen from the Garden Room. Fireplaces, stained glass and decades of history add to the restaurant’s old-school charm.

For a romantic dinner that feels distinctly Minneapolis, Jax offers the combination of history, atmosphere and classic steakhouse dining that can make a date night feel like an occasion.

Lake Elmo Inn — Lake Elmo

Cozy dining room at Lake Elmo Inn in Lake Elmo with set tables, wood-paneled walls and a fireplace. — Lake Elmo Inn is known for its cozy dining room, candlelight dinners and special-occasion atmosphere.

Address: 3442 Lake Elmo Ave. N., Lake Elmo
Cuisine: American fine dining
Known for: Candlelight dinners, attentive service and its dessert tray
Date night vibe: Cozy, warm and special-occasion worthy
Website: Lake Elmo Inn
Reservations: Make a reservation

Lake Elmo Inn has built its reputation around special occasions. Current owner John Schiltz first worked at the restaurant as a 16-year-old dishwasher in 1971. After working his way through the restaurant industry, he purchased the property in 1983 and restored the Lake Elmo Inn name.

Today, the dining room keeps many of the touches that have helped turn the restaurant into a destination for anniversaries and date nights. Lunch is served in a sunlit room, while dinner brings candlelight and linens. The menu changes seasonally, but longtime traditions include sorbet intermezzos, warm cinnamon towels and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

The menu ranges from Canadian walleye and roast duckling to steaks, seafood and pasta. Its Minnesota wild rice and duck soup is a signature offering. And then there’s the dessert tray, which the restaurant itself describes as one of the moments guests wait for during a meal.

Lake Elmo Inn is a particularly good choice when you want dinner to move at a slower pace and feel like part of the celebration rather than simply a meal before your next stop.

Baldamar — Roseville

Modern dining room at Baldamar in Roseville with curved booths, dark wood finishes and upscale decor. — Baldamar in Roseville brings a modern, upscale feel to steakhouse dining.

Address: 1642 County Road B2 W., Roseville
Cuisine: Steak and seafood
Known for: 40-day-aged steaks, fresh seafood and cocktails
Date night vibe: Modern, energetic and upscale
Website: Baldamar
Reservations: Make a reservation

Located at Rosedale Center, Baldamar takes a more modern approach to the traditional steakhouse. The restaurant describes its menu as combining old-world techniques with a contemporary approach to steak, seafood and cocktails.

Steak is at the center of the experience. Baldamar says every steak is aged for 40 days, while seafood is another major part of the menu. The bar program is equally prominent, making the restaurant a good option for couples who want to start or finish dinner with cocktails.

Baldamar also offers brunch, including its Saturday Champagner Brunch, along with Sunday brunch and dinner. Its energetic dining room makes it a different kind of romantic destination than some of the more historic restaurants on this list — polished and upscale without feeling overly formal.

For couples who equate date night with steaks, cocktails and a lively atmosphere, Baldamar offers a contemporary alternative to the classic Twin Cities supper-club experience.

Murray’s — Minneapolis

Couples dining inside Murray’s steakhouse in downtown Minneapolis with booth seating and warm lighting. — Murray’s in downtown Minneapolis has been a longtime destination for classic steakhouse dinners and celebrations.

Address: 26 S. Sixth St., Minneapolis
Cuisine: Classic steakhouse
Known for: The Silver Butter Knife Steak
Date night vibe: Timeless, polished and old-school
Website: Murray’s
Reservations: Make a reservation

Murray’s has been a downtown Minneapolis dining institution since 1946, and the restaurant is now operated by the third generation of the Murray family. Its combination of steakhouse tradition, polished service and classic dining-room atmosphere has made it a longtime destination for celebrations.

The signature order is the Silver Butter Knife Steak for Two, a 28-ounce strip sirloin carved tableside. Couples can also choose a Chateaubriand for Two or a Steak Flight for Two, making several of the restaurant’s centerpiece meals designed for sharing.

Beyond steak, the dinner menu includes oysters Rockefeller, escargot, crab cakes, seafood and classic steakhouse sides. The cocktail list also nods to the restaurant’s history with drinks such as the Marie Murray’s Manhattan and 1946 Old Fashioned.

If your idea of romance involves white-tablecloth steakhouse tradition and a meal that feels like an event, Murray’s remains one of downtown Minneapolis’ most recognizable choices.

W.A. Frost — St. Paul

Outdoor patio at W.A. Frost in St. Paul with tables surrounded by trees and lush greenery. — W.A. Frost’s patio on Cathedral Hill is one of its most distinctive spots for a romantic meal.

Address: 374 Selby Ave., St. Paul
Cuisine: American
Known for: Historic architecture, fireplaces, wine and its patio
Date night vibe: Romantic, elegant and atmospheric
Website: W.A. Frost
Reservations: Make a reservation

W.A. Frost has been serving American cuisine on St. Paul’s Cathedral Hill since 1975, but its surroundings go back much further. The restaurant occupies part of the Dacotah Building, an 1889 Richardson Romanesque building originally home to apartments, businesses and the pharmacy of William A. Frost.

The restaurant was designed to preserve the historic feel of the building. Original tin ceilings remain, while other features were created with architectural salvage, including a back bar rescued from a building in Superior, Wisconsin. Over the years, dining rooms, fireplaces and a large patio were added.

Today, W.A. Frost pairs that historic atmosphere with seasonally driven American cuisine, cocktails and an extensive wine program. The restaurant partners with Minnesota farmers and artisans and offers dinner, lunch and weekend brunch.

The patio is one of W.A. Frost’s defining features during warmer months, while fireplaces make the restaurant especially inviting when the weather turns cold. Its combination of historic architecture, Cathedral Hill surroundings and intimate dining spaces makes W.A. Frost an easy choice for a romantic St. Paul date night.

More Romantic Restaurants Recommended in the Facebook Vote

The top five weren’t the only restaurants that received multiple votes on the Give Me The Mike Facebook page. These spots also came up more than once as favorite places for a romantic dinner, date night or special occasion.

Anton’s Restaurant — Waite Park: Set in a historic log building along the Sauk River, Anton’s serves steaks, seafood, ribs and its signature giant popovers. The restaurant’s setting and river views give it plenty of character for a date night.
Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge — St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin: Just across the Minnesota border, this Wisconsin supper club serves steaks, seafood, cocktails and its well-known fresh popovers. The restaurant specifically highlights cozy date nights among the occasions it caters to.
Giuseppe’s: Italian food was another popular choice in the Facebook vote, with Giuseppe’s receiving multiple mentions. Because there are several Minnesota restaurants with the Giuseppe’s name, I’d confirm which location was intended before adding an address or website.
Lowell Inn — Stillwater: The historic Lowell Inn dates to 1927 and combines dining with an elegant hotel in downtown Stillwater. Its restaurant, weekend fondue dinners and romantic guest rooms make it especially suited to a date-night getaway.
Mancini’s Char House — St. Paul: A St. Paul tradition since 1948, Mancini’s pairs steaks and classic cocktails with an old-school supper-club atmosphere in the West Seventh neighborhood.
Nicollet Island Inn — Minneapolis: Located on Nicollet Island near the Mississippi River, the historic inn combines an elegant restaurant and bar with overnight accommodations, making it an option for both dinner dates and romantic getaways.

Frequently Asked Questions About Romantic Restaurants in the Twin Cities

What are some of the most romantic restaurants in the Twin Cities?

Jax Cafe, Lake Elmo Inn, Baldamar, Murray’s and W.A. Frost were the five restaurants that received the most support in a vote on the Give Me The Mike Facebook page.

What are some romantic restaurants in Minneapolis?

Jax Cafe in Northeast Minneapolis and Murray’s in downtown Minneapolis both made the top five. Nicollet Island Inn also received multiple votes.

What are some romantic restaurants in St. Paul?

W.A. Frost on Cathedral Hill and Mancini’s Char House in the West Seventh neighborhood are both popular options for date nights and special occasions.

Where should I go for an anniversary dinner in the Twin Cities?

Lake Elmo Inn, Jax Cafe, Murray’s, Baldamar and W.A. Frost all offer settings that work well for anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions.

What are some romantic steakhouses in the Twin Cities?

Murray’s, Jax Cafe, Baldamar and Mancini’s Char House are all known for steaks and classic date-night dining.

Which romantic restaurants have especially memorable atmosphere?

W.A. Frost is known for its historic Cathedral Hill setting and patio, Lake Elmo Inn for candlelight dinners, Jax Cafe for its old-school atmosphere and garden, and Murray’s for its classic downtown steakhouse feel.