Most Romantic Restaurant

Auberge du Soleil Wins the Luxist Award for Best Romantic Restaurant

Filed under: Dining

Auberge du Soleil is nominated for a Luxist Award for Most Romantic Restaurant.

Enjoying a glass of wine at sunset in California's Napa Valley is one of the best ways to start an intimate evening, and the restaurant at Auberge du Soleil offers a chance to do just that. Auberge du Soleil is the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award winner in the best romantic restaurant category.

Founded in 1981 by San Francisco restaurateur Claude Rouas, the eatery helped spawn the wave of popularity currently enjoyed by the entire Napa area. In 1985, Rouas and business partner Robert Harmon opened the inn---in French, auberge---to host visitors to the California wine country. He envisioned both the restaurant and the inn as a tribute to his beloved Provence, and, true to form, both continue to be exactly that.

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The Inn at Little Washington: Award-Winning Dining with Small Town Charm

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Washington, Va. doesn't have the sweeping vistas of the Napa Valley or the high-culture panache of New York City. But it has a small-town charm all its own, and nowhere is this more evident than The Inn at Little Washington, a Luxist nominee in the best romantic restaurant category.

Established in 1978 by Patrick O'Connell, the restaurant and attached inn are contained by a modest building on the corner of Middle and Main streets. George Washington himself named those thoroughfares-and the rest of the roads in Washington, Va.---back in 1749. Thanks to a delicious menu, an unusually courteous staff, and a quaint set of guest rooms, The Inn at Little Washington has earned some of the most prestigious awards in the travel world; it's the first establishment to earn AAA's highest acknowledgement, the Five Diamond Award, in both the food and accommodation categories.

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Blue Hill New York: Seasonal American in the West Village

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Blue Hill New York is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Romantic Restaurant

Sometimes the most romantic part of a meal is knowing that the food on the table is sourced from local farmers, made from the freshest ingredients available. New York's Blue Hill offers this and a delightful ambience, making it an obvious selection for a Luxist nomination in the most romantic restaurant category.

Established in 2000, Blue Hill is located in Greenwich Village, just below street level alongside Washington Square Park. The restaurant gets all its ingredients from nearby farms like Blue Hill Farm in Great Barrington, Mass., and Stone Barns Center just north of Manhattan. Expect to pay about $70 for a full à la carte meal, or $78 for a five-course tasting menu culled from the week's harvest and curated by executive chef Dan Barber.

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One if by Land, Two if by Sea: New York's Most Romantic Restaurant

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

One if by Land, Two if by Sea is nominated for a Luxist Award for Most Romantic Restaurant

There are romantic restaurants, and then there's One if by Land, Two if by Sea. If you spend an evening at this New York eatery, you're likely to see at least one man get down on one knee and propose---part of the reason this spot is a Luxist nominee in the most romantic restaurant category.

Nestled on a quiet street in Manhattan's chic West Village, One of by Land, Two if By Sea is located in a building that once served as Aaron Burr's carriage house. Crackling fireplaces and sparkling chandeliers light the restaurant's dim and intimate dining rooms; fresh roses rest on every table, and on most nights an experienced pianist tickles the ivory in the front room.

Gallery: One if By Land, Two if By Sea