Expect clever Chinese American dishes with Tennessee ingredients at hotspot Choy. Menu highlights include cross-cultural mashups like Peking-style duck with peanut butter hoisin and gulf snapper with fermented black beans. The moody interiors, complete with dim lighting and grand emerald leather booths, make the restaurant a go-to for a sophisticated date night and one of the most romantic restaurants in Nashville. Don’t miss the stellar wines.

Noko is where you go for contemporary Asian dishes in a lively setting. Settle in for a feast of playful dishes like Korean-style barbecue short ribs, a wood-fired tomahawk ribeye, and smoked gochujang hot wings with yuzu sauce. The chic decor and semi-private seating areas create a tranquil yet inviting space for couples. Don’t miss clever cocktails like a piña colada riff with coconut ube cream.

With an ever-changing menu of contemporary American food and inventive dishes, Bastion is a culinary adventure. The chefs here craft small plates that are as visually stunning as they are tasty. Housed in a historic building with an intimate space and only 24 seats, the restaurant’s industrial-meets-modern charm sets the stage for a memorable date night.

If you’re a fan of experiential dining, head to The Catbird Seat. Strategic Hospitality’s flagship tasting restaurant opened in 2011 to accolades from GQ, Bon Appétit, and more and remains one of the city’s most exciting restaurants. Sit around an intimate, U-shaped counter to watch chefs Tiffani Ortiz and Andy Doubrava command the open kitchen and whip up innovative New American tasting menus that can stretch to 18 courses—sure to impress any date.

Dates at Blanco Cocina + Cantina feel like a stroll through a stylish Mexican street fair, full of bright colors and plants. If you’re just testing the waters, opt for happy hour, where you can grab tacos and a tequila cocktail, like the crowd-fave jalapeño and pineapple margarita. For a full-on dinner, sit down for a meal of Mexican hits like the Tucson chimichanga with short rib machaca and carne asada fajitas—plus a bowl of warm queso to share.

Get better acquainted over super-fresh, sustainably sourced seafood at The Optimist. Despite Tennessee’s landlocked setting, the vibes are definitely coastal here—and the dim lights fuel a flirty atmosphere. Share a plateaux piled high with oysters, shrimp, ceviche, smoked fish dip, and more, available in different sizes. Or get a dish that pairs Southern-grown produce with seafood from further away like mahi mahi with consommé, preserved tomatoes, and salsa verde.

From the lively streetside patio to the comforting Italian American dishes, Ophelia’s aces the date-night test. There’s an entire wall crammed with framed photographs and pictures that bring a slice of Europe to downtown Nashville; they also make good conversation starters in case you run into any awkward pauses. Come for brunch or dinner, and don’t skip the bechamel-soaked lasagna—arguably the best in town—and pepperoni pie with hot honey, ghost-pepper salt, and Calabrian chile.

Everything at Harper’s is dressed to impress, from its stylish interior archways to a menu that includes premium cuts of meat and one impressive raw bar. Celebrate a special occasion by cozying up in a banquette and get a massive tomahawk to share. If you’re drinking, consider cocktails like the tropical, vodka-forward Amalfi Sunburn, and you’ll be ready for that celebratory getaway as soon as you finish dessert.

Sunda’s pan-Asian menu will take you and your date on a whirlwind tour of Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. There’s dim sum to share, a full sushi bar, and entrees like pan-seared sushi rice with ghee and tamari, topped with a choice of wagyu or spicy tuna. The stylish interiors and energetic vibe make it a romantic choice for date night in The Gulch entertainment district. Sign up for the restaurant’s monthly sushi-rolling and try your hand at maki making together.

For elegant American cuisine in the heart of downtown, head to BrickTop’s.The modern, high-ceilinged escape is just a stone’s throw away from the Ryman Auditorium and Schermerhorn Symphony Center, making it a no-brainer for a blockbuster pre-show dinner. Expect updated chophouse faithfuls like prime New York strip, steak frites, and one of the tastiest wedge salads in town. Luxe banquettes and soft mood lighting provide just the right backdrop for an ultra-romantic evening.