12 Best Romantic Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

© Bamboo Sushi

Bamboo Sushi is a unique sushi restaurant based in three locations across the city with the aim of operating the highest level of sustainability.

Partnering with some of the largest organizations in marine stewardship and oceanic sustainability in the United States, Bamboo Sushi ensures that every product that enters their kitchen is 100% sustainably-sourced. Menus include traditional sushi platters, tempura, nigiri, and other seafood dishes, and all three locations serve dinner only with a Monday-Friday Happy Hour.

836 NW 23rd Ave, 971-229-1925; 310 SE 28th Ave, 503-232-5255; 1409 NE Alberta St, 503-889-0336

© Swiss Hibiscus

You’re in for a tasty treat when you dine at Portland’s Swiss Hibiscus – a cozy family restaurant serving authentic Swiss dishes since 2010.

Stop in and try the cheese fondue appetizer, before diving into delicious entrees such as the Szegedin Goulash and the wienerschnitzel. Don’t miss their famous Swiss Inn salad dressing! Before there was the Swiss Hibiscus, there was the Swiss Inn in Honolulu, which was also founded and run by owner Chef Martin Wyss.

Born in Switzerland, Chef Wyss has traditional Swiss recipes in his genes.

4950 NE 14th Ave, Portland, Oregon, Phone: 503-477-9224

© Firehouse Restaurant

Firehouse Restaurant serves Southern Italian dishes made from seasonally-available, sustainable produce, fish, and meats whenever possible.

Enjoy the twentieth century Italian Renaissance style of the historically-rich building, while savoring delicious eats like the goat cheese bruschetta or the rotisserie porchetta with wood oven-roasted broccoli sprouts, pepper relish, and jus. Their pizza is also delicious. Owners Matthew Bussetto and Eric Rose opened the place in 2008.

Before it was transformed into the restaurant, the building formerly served as a train station until the early 1900s, when it was converted into a firehouse. It’s located in Portland’s Dekum Triangle.

711 NE Dekum St, Portland, Oregon, Phone: 503-954-1702

© Ox Restaurant

Portland’s Ox Restaurant serves a creative and delicious blend of Argentinian and Pacific Northwest cuisine, all cooked on a wood-fired grill (an Argentinian tradition).

This comfortable and friendly restaurant has an energetic vibe and brilliant menu, which includes dishes like roasted sea scallops, Flankenstyle beef short rib, or the house chorizo. Wash it all down with Ox Blood, the signature cocktail. Chefs Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quinonez Denton opened the restaurant in 2012, each bringing a creative flare from their cultural backgrounds.

The Ox is located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Northeast Portland.

2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, Oregon, Phone: 503-284-3366

© The Waffle Window

The Waffle Window is a family-friendly eatery that serves Belgium-style waffles with a Portland twist. With two locations in the city, on Hawthorn Boulevard and Alberta Street, Waffle Window is owned by Mary O’Rourke and her two sons, Max and Brendan, who bring their ample experience in traveling and tasting European foods, particularly waffles, to Portland.

Basing their waffle recipe on the famous Liege sugar waffles from Belgium, Mary serves a variety of the sweet treats with delicious toppings for breakfast and lunch. A Berry Bliss Waffle is the perfect start to the day while a Pulled Pork Waffle makes lunch a special treat.

Waffle Window also serves a range of waffles-based sweets, decadent sundaes, and cold drinks.

3610 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, Oregon, Phone: 971-255-0501

© Mother's Bistro & Bar

Mother’s Bistro & Bar is a cozy and comfortable eatery in the heart of downtown Portland that serves traditional, home-style cooking in a casual and welcoming environment.

Owned by Lisa Shroeder, whose dream was to bring to the people of Portland delicious, home-cooked fare, Mother’s Bistro has grown by leaps and bounds from a small, unassuming restaurant to a veritable Portland institution.

By day, the bistro serves guests in the sunny lunch room, which is decorated in shades of yellow and green, while at night the restaurant’s sultry bar, the Velvet Lounge, exudes an elegant and romantic ambiance for late-night dining with gilded mirrors, crystal chandeliers and an extensive cocktail menu.

121 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204, Phone: 503-464-1122

© Life of Pie Pizza

Life of Pie Pizza is one of the city’s most popular spots for classic wood-fired pizza, tasty Italian sides, fresh garden salads, and a pleasing wine and beverage list.

Situated on Williams Avenue, the pride of the pizzeria is the 6,900-pound wood-fired pizza oven, built by Stefano Ferraro in Naples, which brings a real taste of Italy to the city.

Appetizers such as arancini, oven-roasted cauliflower and meatballs are the perfect way to prepare your appetite for the incredible selection of mouthwatering pizzas to follow, with toppings such as fresh goat’s cheese, roasted leeks and fennel sausage making their mark. While not one of the fancy restaurants in Portland, Life of Pie Pizza is an excellent choice for a romantic date night.

3632 N Williams Ave, Portland, Oregon, Phone: 503-719-7321

© Langbaan

Langbaan serves dishes featuring exotic Thai flavors, tastes and aromas. Meaning “Back of the House” in Thai, Langbaan offers guests a complete Thai-style dining experience in a casually elegant space.

Owner/Chef Akkapong Ninsom began cooking at an early age, and this shines through in his simple combinations of flavors. Scallops in coconut cream, woven egg net covering succulent pork and sublime poached lobster are just some of the delights on the menu.

The restaurant serves dinner, as well as a tasting menu with two seatings per night.

6 SE 28th Ave, Portland, Oregon, Phone: 971-344-2564

© Cabezon

Cabezon is an award-winning seafood bistro close to the Rose City Park and Hollywood neighborhoods. Owners Chef David Farrell and wine maven Jackie Speck strive to bring their customers creative dishes made with the freshest ingredients possible by supporting Portland’s fishing and food communities.

Combining the bounty of the Pacific Northwest with local farmer’s produce, the menu showcases delights such as wood-fired fish, smoked meats, handmade patés and seasonal ice-creams.

Keeping in line with their sustainable practices, Cabezon’s diverse wine list features vintages from small, local and regional producers.

5200 NE Sacramento St, Portland, Oregon, Phone: 503-284-6617

© Nodoguro

Nodoguro serves traditional Japanese dishes in a formal setting. Known as “sousaku” as opposed to sushi, dishes are made-to-order from fresh, locally sourced ingredients from the restaurant’s very own Phantom Rabbit Farm.

Serving dinner only, the restaurant offers an eclectic range of courses that are frequently changed according to the season and chef’s inspiration.

The restaurant is elegantly furnished in simple Asian style, with low lighting for an intimate ambiance and crisp linens for a refined touch.

2832 SE Belmont, Portland, OR 97214