Romantic restaurants in Columbia offer quiet elegance with a local touch: exposed brick dining rooms, cozy booths tucked into historic buildings, and seasonal menus served with sincerity. It’s where I sip wine under soft Edison bulbs, the hum of downtown just outside, and time feels like it’s ours alone.
I’ve got pan-seared duck with blackberry reduction, a glass of Missouri Chambourcin, and the flicker of candlelight dancing across the table—right here in warm, welcoming Columbia, Missouri. Who knew the heart of the Show-Me State could be this tender?
"Soft jazz, slow dinners, and flavors with feeling? This is Columbia’s romantic rhythm—cozy, heartfelt, and made for two."
This is Why I Keep Coming Back for More:
Unique Romantic Restaurants in Columbia, MO:
1. Barred Owl Butcher & Table
Barred Owl Butcher & Table offers a unique dining concept which focuses on the craft of charcuterie and whole-animal butchery. Combining a New World butcher shop and an Old World delicatessen, Barred Owl Butcher & Table offers an array of hand-crafted charcuterie items, such as chops, steaks, smoked meats, and sausages, as well as deli treats and epicurean delights such as artisan cheeses, pickles, olives, oils, and preserves. The hip eatery serves elevated pub fare that focuses on the naturally-raised meats from the attached butchery, along with other farm-to-table fare and organic dishes. The butchery is open Tuesday through Saturday, and the restaurant serves lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.
Barred Owl Butcher & Table, 47 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65203, Phone: 573-442-9323
2. 44 Canteen, Columbia, MO
44 Canteen is a new tavern-style dining room with a warm vibe that serves upmarket pub fare and an evolving brew selection. Owned by Dave Faron and Mark Sulltrop, the tavern is an outpost of 44 Stone Pub and Grill and serves a dynamic menu of seasonal comfort fare prepared with fresh locally sourced and innovative ingredients. The menu features classic dishes of hearty burgers, prime steaks, gourmet sandwiches, spicy nachos and tacos, fresh salads and vegetarian options, prepared from scratch and presented with flair. The bar offers a range of casual wines, craft and draft beers on tap and by the bottle, and classic cocktails and 44 Canteen is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, Monday through Saturday.
44 Canteen, 21 N 9th St, Columbia, MO 65201, Phone: 573-777-8730
3. Addison's
Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, Addison's is a convivial eatery with an urban Americana atmosphere that is ideal for a casual lunch or romantic dinner. A neighborhood favorite for great American fare, Addison’s serves a seasonal menu of farm-to-table cuisine featuring fresh seafood and fish, naturally-raised beef, lamb and pork, housemade pasta, and organic salads and vegetables with signature dishes like Diablo Shrimp Pasta, Jalapeño Smothered Pork Chops, and Sesame-Seared Tuna. The cuisine is accompanied by a selection of casual wines from around the world, craft and draft beers, classic cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
Addison's, 709 Cherry St, Columbia, MO 65201, Phone: 573-256-1995
4. Bangkok Gardens
Bangkok Gardens is a long-standing Columbia favorite that has been traditional Thai fare since 1995. Boasting an airy dining room with modern décor and a balcony seating for outdoor dining, the restaurant serves a menu of authentic Thai cuisine ranging from appetizers of Kanom Jeip, Fried Dumplings, Chicken Satay, Siam Village Rolls, and Steamed Shrimp Shumai, and entrées of Lahp, Thom Yum Ghung, Nheu Phat Curry, and Paht Prik Nheu. The bar offers a range of casual wines, craft and draft beers on tap and by the bottle, and classic cocktails and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday.
Bangkok Gardens, 811 Cherry St, Columbia, MO 65201, Phone: 573-874-3284
5. Broadway Brewery
Founded in 2009, Broadway Brewery is a casual tavern-style pub that serves a diverse pub menu, house-brewed ales, and occasional live music in a laid-back, low-key atmosphere. A rotating menu of seasonal fare prepared with locally sourced ingredients and regional produce from its very own two farms, namely Duzan Produce and Terra Bella Farm is served for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and is accompanied by a range of local Broadway Brewery beers. Focusing on producing a variety of IPA beers, the brewery showcases 24 beers per year with 14 on tap that visitors can enjoy with their food, which includes gourmet sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas, lamb gyros, and farmstead meatloaf. The Broadway Brewery is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday and dinner only on Mondays.
Broadway Brewery, 816 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201, Phone: 573-443-5054
Date Ideas:
6. Chris McD's
Located in the Forum Shopping Center, Chris McD's is an award-winning steakhouse that serves dry-aged steak and prime rib in an elegant, refined setting. Stylish décor with dark wood and leather accents and low lighting, the steakhouse serves free-range chicken and pork, hand-cut USDA choice steaks, fresh seafood, and daily specials. The full-service bar has an extensive menu of fine wines from around the world, which can be enjoyed by the glass or bottle, craft beers on tap or by the bottle, and handcrafted cocktails. Chris McD’s is open for dinner only, seven nights a week.
Chris McD's, 1400 Forum Blvd #38, Columbia, MO 65203, Phone: 573-446-6237
7. Flyover Restaurant, Columbia, MO
Located in the Village South Shops, Flyover Restaurant specializes in Midwestern fare in the form of seasonal small plates with a distinctive Missouri twist. Owners Adam Wells-Morgan and Dan Dethrow pride themselves on celebrating the bounty of the Midwest and its rich history of small game hunting, pork and cattle with a variety of wood-fired, farm-to-table fare such as braised ragu of ground turkey, wood oven-roasted smoked duck breast, and wood-fired bulgogi spiced beef meatballs. The vibrant and lively bar serves a range of Midwest beers, casual global wines, and imported liquors, along with a selection of classic and craft cocktails. Flyover Restaurant is open for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.
212 E Green Meadows Rd #9, Columbia, MO 65203, Phone: 573-825-6036, View Map
8. Grand Cru
Grand Cru is a comfortable and casual restaurant with an old-school vibe and an elegant cigar lounge that serves a highly acclaimed menu of steaks and fresh seafood. Hailed as having the highest-grade selection of steaks and seafood in the state, Grand Cru features contemporary décor, private dining rooms, a bustling bar with an extensive collection of bourbon and scotch, and a lounge that hosts live music. The restaurant also has a tobacco shop and a separate smoking lounge where guests can relax over a cigar after dinner. Grand Cru is open for lunch and dinner daily with a variety of daily lunch and dinner specials on offer.
Grand Cru, 2600 S Providence Rd, Columbia, MO 65203, Phone: 573-443-2600
9. Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse is an award-winning steakhouse chain renowned for serving the finest cuts of aged steak, prime rib, and beef, along with handmade sushi, sashimi, hibachi and teppanyaki in a stylish and sophisticated space. Diners can watch the expert sushi chefs preparing specialty rolls at the open sushi bar, and seasonal menus feature prime cuts of USDA choice steaks, free-range chicken and pork, fresh seafood dishes. The full-service bar has an extensive list of fine wines from around the world, which can be enjoyed by the glass or bottle, craft beers on tap or by the bottle, and handcrafted cocktails. Kobe Japanese Steakhouse is open for lunch and dinner daily.
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, 2531 Broadway Bluffs Dr, Columbia, MO 65201, Phone: 573-441-2341
📔 I get asked this a lot so I decided to include it:
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What makes Columbia a great destination?
- Columbia is a contemporary city with a hip vibe that features picturesque parks, fantastic galleries and museums, superb shopping, and great restaurants for romantic wining and dining.
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Where can visitors explore Columbia’s dining scene?
- The city’s thriving downtown area is home to an array of eateries that cater to all tastes.
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What are some must-visit restaurants in Columbia?
- Visitors can enjoy the award-winning Kobe Japanese Steakhouse for prime steaks and Japanese food, Flyover Restaurant for Midwestern fare, or Addison’s for seasonal fresh farm-to-table cuisine.
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Where can couples enjoy a romantic dining experience in Columbia?
- Here are some of the top romantic restaurants in Columbia, Missouri to head to for intimate celebrations of love.
Plan Your Trip