If you're looking for somewhere with that extra something for your next meal out, read on. We've rounded up the most charming spots to dine, from historic buildings turned into boutique restaurants to romantic date venues with breathtaking views. Here are the sweetest, quirkiest, loveliest restaurants in every state – read on for the most charming place to eat near you.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
In a romantic setting in Alabama’s Orange Beach Marina, Fisher’s has two restaurants under one roof: the more casual Dockside and the smarter Upstairs, which is upscale without being pretentious. Here you can dine on locally sourced produce overlooking the twinkling lights and boats of the marina. There are quirky design details like the reclaimed 19th-century hard pine floors, antique cypress tables, and an onyx top bar, while menu highlights include Gulf shrimp and okra gumbo, and Alabama chicken with collard greens and pecan rice.
An understated local favorite, La Baleine Café in Homer has amassed glowing reviews from the likes of Condé Nast Traveler. Owned by chefs Kirsten and Mandy Dixon, the café with a conscience opens daily at 5am to serve locals and fishing crews with free coffee and delicious breakfasts made with farm-fresh, organic ingredients. Reindeer sausage, locally made chorizo, and fish caught that day are among the highlights. There's also a lunch menu featuring dishes such as Alaska salmon burger with sharp Cheddar, and a ramen bowl with homemade broth, local vegetables, and seasonal fish.
Set in an original farmhouse with beautiful gardens, Quiessence at The Farm, has previously been voted the most romantic restaurant in Arizona, and it's easy to see why. Tables draped in white tablecloths are dotted around the lawn and amongst the pretty flowers, while the inside of this fine dining restaurant is equally charming. Produce is grown on site, plus it has its own chicken coop. Other ingredients are sourced locally. Diners say it's an experience you won't forget.
Located inside a former church on quaint Bentonville Square in downtown Bentonville, The Preacher's Son is a striking place to eat. The dramatic architecture of the Gothic Revival–style church, staggeringly high ceilings, and painted glass windows make for a beautiful setting. The menu changes seasonally and prioritizes locally sourced ingredients, and there's also a speakeasy-style bar in the basement.
If you're looking for a breathtaking spot to quaff wine and enjoy sophisticated tasting menus, look no further than Sierra Mar. The romantic restaurant, which is part of the Post Ranch Inn hotel and perched on a rugged cliff, has panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, and a luxurious outdoor patio. The menu changes daily but recent dishes have included delights such as Monterey black cod with miso butter and baby turnips, and beef tenderloin with potato galette and mushrooms.
The cozy Alpino Vino, in Colorado’s Telluride Ski Resort, is North America's highest elevation restaurant at nearly 12,000 feet, treating diners to picturesque views of the snow-capped trees and mountains. The restaurant is full of rustic charm, with a wood-burning fireplace and sheepskin throws, an outdoor wine bar and a menu of gourmet Italian comfort food, with a set tasting menu in the evening. You can ski right up to the front door or arrive by heated snow coach.
In a picturesque waterfront setting in New Haven, the award-winning Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill is a seafood, raw bar, and steak restaurant, with an extensive list of craft cocktails, wines, and beers. The decor has a nautical theme, plus there’s a large brass bar, spacious patio, and indoor and outdoor fire pits, so you can enjoy a cozy, romantic meal whatever the weather.
James Beard Award–nominated restaurant The House of William & Merry is set in a cute 1922 farmhouse, which is also the home of chef-owners, husband and wife team William Hoffman and Merry Catanuto, and their son and daughter. The family live on the first floor while the restaurant is on the ground floor, with tables both inside and outside on the front patio. The menu of creative dishes made from local, sustainable ingredients changes seasonally, with options like crawfish bisque and grilled Hudson Valley duck breast.
A beautiful restaurant set in a Mediterranean-style villa hiding away in the heart of South Beach, Casa Tua is entered through wrought-iron gates leading to an enchanting garden. Tables are set among the pretty plants and flowers, while twinkling Moroccan lamps hang from the trees. Inside, you'll find a stylish restaurant with draped windows overlooking the patio and gardens. If the Italian fine dining menu leaves you too full to move very far, the property also houses a boutique hotel.
Set in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, Appalachian Grill resembles a cozy alpine cabin thanks to its antique artwork, exposed brick walls, and skis and poles mounted on the walls. The menu is just as tempting as the decor, with plenty of sophisticated comfort food including seafood pasta, blackened salmon and shrimp, pecan chicken, and BBQ bone in pork chop.
Set over a series of thatched bungalows on the water, Tidepools is surrounded by flowers, waterfalls, tiki torches, and tropical fish, making for a stunning dining experience. It's the perfect spot to watch the sun set while enjoying the menu of locally caught fish and perfectly cooked steaks. There's also an extensive wine list, and diners praise the outstanding service and romantic atmosphere.
Copper Rill consistently receives outstanding reviews. Customers say dining here is an amazing experience, with reasonably priced gourmet food. Located right on the river with views of Idaho Falls, the restaurant serves a varied menu, with highlights including sautéed shrimp and chicken pasta in a rich lobster sauce, pan-seared herb crusted salmon with fire-roasted tomato relish, and Thai lamb chops. Diners also rate the service and romantic atmosphere.
For a taste of Spain, look no further than Mesón Sabika. Housed in a mansion dating back to 1847 and surrounded by four acres of beautiful gardens, this stunning restaurant serves a range of tapas dishes and paellas. You can dine al fresco and soak up the surroundings or, inside, you'll find a series of charming dining rooms to pick from.
Celebrate Jasper's rich German heritage by grabbing an authentic German meal at Schnitzelbank, a traditional German-style tavern. Owned by husband and wife Larry and Betty Hanselman since 1961, the restaurant is a truly family-run affair, with their six children and many grandchildren also helping out. Their top dish is the bratzel – a jumbo salted pretzel covered with sauerkraut, two bratwurst sausages and honey-mustard sauce – which has been voted the number one sandwich in Indiana. There’s even a glockenspiel playing every half hour.
The award-winning Aposto is set in a Victorian mansion dating back to 1880, with a pretty patio surrounded by flowers, and a kitchen garden. Its modern-Italian menu is small but perfectly formed. Expect standout dishes such as lamb osso bucco and homemade linguine with seared scallops. For dessert, the tartlet with seasonal filling and house-made ice cream is not to be missed.
This novel restaurant in Kansas City charms all ages with its quirky railroad theme. It first opened in 1954 and found its USP in the 1970s, when Fritz and his wife Virginia opened their second location (all three in Kansas City, with one of those over the state line in Missouri). Due to a labor shortage, Fritz invented a mini train to carry the food around the restaurant to his diners. Today, all locations feature train memorabilia and the mini trains still carry the highly praised burgers to guests – much to their delight.
Based inside the historic Boyce General Store in Alvaton, The Pie Queen's Pantry serves breakfasts on Saturdays and deli sandwiches Wednesday-Friday lunchtimes, alongside its famous sweet and savory pies. Baker Brie Golliher, aka 'The Pie Queen', regularly appears on News 40 sharing her recipes, the most popular of which is the Kentucky Pie with chocolate chips, bourbon, and pecans.
The Garden District's aqua mansion, Commander's Palace, has been a New Orleans landmark since 1893. This famous restaurant has won an incredible seven James Beard Awards. It continues to be a must-visit thanks to its beautiful interiors and delicious Creole-inspired menu, which features dishes such as mango chili glazed pork belly and pecan crusted Gulf fish.
A landmark in Maine’s Bar Harbor, local favorite Geddy’s was once a dingy waterfront dive before changing hands and becoming one of the best restaurants in the state. Now the family-friendly local institution is famed for its delicious lobster rolls. The menu also features huge burgers, pizzas, and seafood dishes. Inside is packed with historical photographs and memorabilia, while customers love the fun and lively atmosphere.
Located in a historic street in Ellicott City, the popular Manor Hill Tavern sits in a mid-19th-century building that once served the area’s livery trade. The decor has a rustic feel with plenty of original features including exposed stone walls, barn doors, and wooden beams, with local artwork hanging throughout. There's a menu of inventive brick oven pizzas such as 'Boar to be Wild' – root beer BBQ wild boar, roasted pineapple, tavern blend cheese, goats' cheese, basil, and habanero honey. It also serves sandwiches and salads.
In the beautiful city of Cambridge, down a cobbled path in the heart of Harvard Square, is Harvest. This elegant restaurant presents the best of New England cuisine, with chefs working closely with local farmers to devise seasonal menus. The interiors are smart, with dark woods and neutral tones, while there's a beautiful patio for dining al fresco.
The Fed, housed in a former bank building, is a modern, super-cool restaurant with plenty of charm. The interiors feature rustic hanging lights, cozy armchairs, furry throws, open shelving and colorful rugs. There are even two private dining rooms within the old bank vaults. Popular items on the menu include the 'double double' burger, tempura tuna rolls, and red snapper ceviche, and there's live music every Friday and Saturday night.
For a romantic date in Minneapolis, head to the atmospheric Café & Bar Lurcat, which has huge windows overlooking Loring Park. The restaurant area has chic decor with sparkling chandeliers, exposed brick walls, and high ceilings, while the candleit bar is the perfect blend of classic style with a nouveau twist. There's a menu of small plates, pastas, steaks, and seafood, plus more than 200 wines to choose from.
This stunning mansion house has a picturesque setting on the Gulfport waterfront, surrounded by lush gardens with a beautiful view across the water. The Chimneys combines Southern architecture and a predominantly seafood menu with dishes such as crab claws, fried oyster salad, baked seafood eggplant, and excellent fish tacos. Customers say it's a charming spot and the service is impeccable.
Run by husband-and-wife team Todd and Lori Jansen, the warm and welcoming Sugar Leaf Bakery and Cafe in Branson serves plenty of sweet treats that look as good as they taste, as well as many savory dishes. Highlights include their panini and tasty salads, while the bakery's incredible selection of cobblers, pies, cupcakes, and cookies will satisfy the sweetest of teeth.
Former garage-turned-restaurant Sparky’s is a firm state favorite with a vintage vibe. Hints of its former life remain, with old cars outside, road signs, and other automobile memorabilia throughout the joint. There’s even an old Chevy truck you can dine in. The menu is big on comfort-food classics such as barbecue sandwiches, big burgers, and thick steaks. There's a second location in Butte.
The Keeping Room in Nebraska City has been reincarnated many times over the years since being built in 1870, functioning as everything from a grocery store to a dentist’s office. It’s now a great place to eat, drink, and shop. Alongside the café, there’s a boutique selling cute antiques, clothes, and home decorations. Dishes include panini, wraps, salads, and a mouth-watering selection of desserts.
Located in the Wild West town of Virginia City, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the boutique Café Del Rio promises fresh Southern flavors and doesn't disappoint. Menu highlights include pork carnitas burritos, fried chicken dinner, and roasted Brussels sprouts with pumpkin seeds, lime and chipotle. Diners praise the friendly atmosphere and outstanding service.
For casual fine dining from an award-winning chef, head to Max’s Restaurant and Pub at the Snowvillage Inn in Eaton center. Originally built as a summer home by Frank Simonds, a Pulitzer Prize–winning author, the inn has welcomed guests since 1948, with its restaurant a particular highlight. Here you'll find sweeping views of Mount Washington, as well as tasty, fresh dishes such as blackened tiger shrimp, rack of lamb, and fettuccine with seasonal vegetables, Parmesan, and olive oil.
A farmhouse for more than 100 years, this cute building is now the home to one of New Jersey's most romantic restaurants. Sea Girt’s Scarborough Fair Restaurant features rustic interiors, atmospheric lighting, and a number of private dining alcoves on their own levels, making you feel you’re the only ones in the restaurant. There are countless quirky design touches, from the curved brick staircases to the brass lamps imported from Turkey. The food is eclectic and delicious, with a particular focus on fresh, sustainable seafood.
You'd be hard pressed to find fresher dishes than at Campo, located at the Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm in Albuquerque. Dishes are created from seasonal organic ingredients from the property’s own fields, as well as local farmers and herdsmen. The restaurant is housed in a renovated barn, with an open kitchen and amazing views of lavender fields and the Sandia Mountains. There's also an innovative menu of botanical cocktails.
There are two locations of Bakeri in Brooklyn, both equally charming, but it's the newer Greenpoint bakery and café that has people talking. With pretty floral wallpaper, antique mirrors, and rustic furnishings, it's the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy a coffee and breakfast or lunch. There's a vast menu of tempting sweet and savory pastries, breakfast dishes such as avocado tartine with cumin, lemon and sea salt, open sandwiches, and salads.
A visit to Winston-Salem’s Ryan's Restaurant is a magical experience. It's a cozy spot set deep in a forest, where you can dine out on the deck looking out over the trees and steam, while inside the comfy sofas and crackling fireplace will keep you snug. The restaurant serves a tempting menu of mainly seafood and steaks, which diners say are cooked to perfection, but it's the fairy-tale surroundings that keep people coming back time and time again.
Mezzaluna, housed in a 1917 building in Fargo, is well-known for its excellent food and elegant decor. With high-backed banquettes throughout the dining room and plenty of original architectural features, it provides a stunning backdrop for your meal. The menu features both classic and inventive dishes, such as beef bolognese and mahi mahi with polenta cake and pineapple salsa.
A house converted into a restaurant, Cozy’s Café and Pub has an eclectic decor and a menu of gourmet comfort food with a creative twist. You can dine in one of the farmhouse dining rooms or outside, on the pretty patio area. Popular dishes include buttermilk fried chicken, pan-fried crab cakes, and pasta Parmigiano.
A former florist with a striking Art Deco facade, Cheever’s Café in Oklahoma City brims with charm. The café retains many original features, including the terrazzo floors and the glass-walled flower case that now displays desserts and wine bottles. The menu features steaks, seafood, small plates, and sharers, but the bestselling dish is the chicken fried steak with jalapeño gravy and garlicky, red-skinned mashed potatoes.
The sprawling Stephanie Inn Dining Room has a prime location right on beautiful Canon Beach, with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Haystack Rock and the Tillamook Lighthouse. There's a nightly tasting menu featuring seasonal farm-to-table ingredients and wine matching, with recent dishes including morel mushroom soup, marinated rack of lamb, and warm chocolate cake. There are also plenty of spots to sit and soak up the views while you enjoy one of the craft cocktails.
Part of the family-owned Ledges Hotel in Hawley in the Pocono Mountains, Glass has wonderful views of the neighboring waterfalls, as well as an eclectic menu of small dishes perfect for sharing. A former glass factory dating back to the 1890s, the building retains its original features while having a modern interior. The menu features plates including cheese boards, crispy shrimp tacos, and wild boar sausage, perfect for enjoying while you soak up the ambience of the panoramic dining room and outdoor terraces.
Established in 1673, Newport's award-winning White Horse Tavern is believed to be the USA’s oldest tavern building. This historic restaurant has oodles of charm, making dining here a real experience. Today the focus is fresh, local food, such as fish, clams and lobsters caught in Narragansett Bay, and artisan cheese, honey and beef sourced from nearby farms.
Momma Rabbit’s Nibbles and Sips is a family affair. Run by eight siblings who grew up as an agrarian homeschooling family raising animals and growing crops, the restaurant combines whole foods with Southern hospitality. Open for brunch and lunch, the restaurant looks charming, too, with walls covered in retro movie posters.
Romantic fine dining restaurant Parker's has a seasonal menu, with locally sourced, organic ingredients, while the decor is tasteful and smart, with soft lighting, flickering candles, and exposed brick walls. Menu highlights include honey roasted duck breast, swordfish puttanesca, bouillabaisse, and seared scallops. Diners say it's the perfect place for a date night.
A finalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant, Butcher & Bee, started life aiming to serve perfect, artisan sandwiches before its popularity, and menu, grew and grew. A cute spot with a pretty patio, mismatched furniture, plants, fairy lights, and retro-style tiling on the walls, it has a menu of mezze and sharing plates featuring fresh, seasonal, sustainable, and locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include whipped feta with honey and black pepper, carrot falafel, and pappardelle with blue crab and corn cream.
Enjoy fairy-tale dining in a rustic treehouse at The Laurel Tree in Utopia, Uvalde County. This beautifully quaint private dining room, complete with antique furnishings, is perched in a 450-year-old oak tree with just one table seating up to six people. Dishes are prepared by a Cordon Bleu–trained chef, with ingredients sourced from the surrounding gardens and from local markets. There is more seating available in the main house, plus luxury B&B accommodation.
Located in Boulder, one of the most remote towns in the USA with a population of less than 250 people, Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm isn’t the easiest place to get to, but it’s definitely worth the journey. Located on Hell's Backbone Road, a scenic backway from Boulder to Escalante, this pretty restaurant has its own six-acre farm and serves a varied menu of sustainable dishes. Highlights include Mother's Chicken Chicana – shredded chicken stewed in spicy tomato sauce, served with wild rice, romaine lettuce, sour cream, and a grilled flour tortilla – and bison tenderloin served with lemony mashed potatoes and vegetables.
The Inn at Weathersfield in the tiny town of Perkinsville is tucked away in the woods and set a charming 18th-century house. The restaurant has a close relationship with local farmers, with at least 75% of ingredients coming from within a 25-mile radius of the inn, or from the on-site heirloom vegetable garden. The dining room is incredibly cozy, with wood-burning fireplaces, plus there are boutique rooms available if you want to make the most of your visit.
Belgian bistro Cock & Bowl, in the riverfront town of Occoquan, has a beautiful flower-filled outdoor patio, kitsch interiors, and more than 60 Belgian beers on offer. The menu of traditional Belgian specialties features steaming bowls of mussels served in a variety of sauces with French baguette and fries, classic garlic butter steak, and a tempting list of sweet waffles with toppings including Belgian chocolate, strawberries, and whipped cream.
Built in 1905 and originally used as a train station for the Clam Shell Railroad, The Depot Restaurant is now a fine-dining restaurant with an international wine list and oodles of charm. The restaurant is just blocks away from the Pacific Ocean and has a menu of fresh seafood, salads, vegetarian dishes and steaks. There's a heated patio, plus the restaurant retains some of the original features such as the ticket window, which is now the perfect spot for people-watching.
The cozy, fine-dining Redbrook Restaurant has a romantic atmosphere with its open fires, candlelit tables, and original features. Part of the historic Hillbrook Inn and Spa, a manor house located on George Washington’s first land purchase in 1750, it's a stunning place to enjoy a meal. Expect dishes such as beef tenderloin with fingerling potatoes and seasonal vegetables, or there's a set chef's tasting menu with wine pairings available.
For an authentic German dining experience, head to the quirky House of Gerhard in Kenosha. The owner, Gerhard Dillner, opened the quaint restaurant in 1964 and, decades later, his family is still running the establishment and serving his original recipes. There’s an Oktoberfest weekend every September and plenty of traditional dishes, including a delicious selection of schnitzels served by staff wearing dirndls.
A local hotspot for nearly 30 years, fine-dining restaurant Snake River Grill has a rustic-elegant dining room and stunning deck area. Inside you'll find exposed brick walls, roaring fireplaces and flickering candles, and a relaxed atmosphere. There's a creative menu with highlights including steak tartare pizza topped with black Angus New York steak, garlic aioli, capers, parsley, and red onion, and grilled whole sea bass with tomato fennel salad.
Now discover the loveliest small-town restaurant in every state