Best Romantic Restaurants in Soho (10012)
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Torrisi
Michelin-starred Italian-American with a nod to NYC's immigrant culinary history in a stunning Puck Building setting
Essential Picks
#1
Torrisi
9.3
Inside the landmark Puck Building, this Michelin-starred Italian-American restaurant from the Major Food Group team delivers inventive takes on NYC culinary traditions. Wood-paneled elegance meets downtown cool with servers in dinner jackets, while the kitchen turns out refined dishes like tortellini pomodoro and Dover sole Francese.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tortellini Pomodoro, Italian & American Hams with Zeppole, Affogato
What makes it special: Michelin-starred Italian-American with a nod to NYC's immigrant culinary history in a stunning Puck Building setting
Notable Picks
8.9
Opened in 1997 by restaurateur Keith McNally, Balthazar is a benchmark SoHo brasserie for towering seafood platters, textbook steak frites, and one of the city’s most copied onion soups. Locals and visitors use it for everything from power breakfasts to late-night suppers in a room that still feels like old downtown New York.
Must-Try Dishes:
French onion soup gratinée, Steak frites, Seafood plateau
What makes it special: Classic SoHo French brasserie with serious seafood, steak frites, and buzz.
#3
Lure Fishbar
8.4
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Business Lunch Power Players
Date Night Magic
Trendy Table Hotspots
In a subterranean room styled like a sleek yacht, Lure pairs sushi, raw bar platters, and seafood with a fashion-world crowd and strong cocktails. It’s an upscale, scene-y choice for couples who want date night to feel like a night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster Mac and Cheese, Hellfire Roll, Crispy Sushi Rice with Spicy Tuna
What makes it special: Yacht-like SoHo dining room pairing raw bar, sushi, and glitzy seafood classics.
8.2
Operating since the late 1970s, this lantern-lit MacDougal Street café offers thin-crust pizzas, pastas, and desserts in a warren of cozy rooms and a glass-covered garden. Fireplaces, candles, and live jazz downstairs make it one of the more relaxed, romantic spots near Washington Square.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pesto lasagna, Thin-crust pizza, Tiramisu
What makes it special: Lantern-lit café with fireplaces, a garden room, and nightly jazz downstairs.
8.0
Opened in 1999, this Roman-style trattoria leans into rustic pastas, cured meats, and a deep Italian wine list in a compact, warmly lit dining room. It’s more low-key than flashy, ideal for couples who care more about cacio e pepe and Barolo than big-room spectacle.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bavette cacio e pepe, Rigatoni all’amatriciana, Ricotta gnocchi
What makes it special: Long-running Roman trattoria where classic pastas anchor wine-driven evenings.