22 Best Romantic Restaurants in Temecula

© karepa/stock.adobe.com

The Great Oak Steakhouse is a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning restaurant that offers an unforgettable dining experience. The classic steakhouse serves a seasonal menu of market-driven fare prepared with locally sourced produce such as 100% Prime Black Angus beef, fresh seafood, and housemade pasta, and formidable wine list. Boasting a sophisticated dining room with sleek décor in dark hues and soft lighting, the restaurant is perfect for a romantic dinner. Located on Pechanga Parkway, the Great Oak Steakhouse is open for dinner only, Monday through Sunday.

45000 Pechanga Pkwy, Temecula, CA 92592, Phone: 951-770-8507

© The Goat & Vine

The Goat & Vine is a casual eatery on 5th Street in the heart of Temecula that serves lunch and dinner in a cozy, pleasant setting. Tucked away behind a doorway with massive columns with a small patio for alfresco dining, the eatery has shiny metallic ceilings, wood and metal accents, and a workshop-style ambiance. The seasonal menu features delicious dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients and products like gourmet sandwiches, charcuterie boards of meats and cheeses, wood-fired pizzas and baked pasta, fresh salads, and signature specials. An extensive list of casual wines, craft beers, and brews on tap, and high-end spirits are available to enjoy with the cuisine. The Goat & Vine is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

42072 5th Street, Temecula 92590, California, Phone: 951-699-2895

© Baily's Old Town

Located on the south end of beautiful Old Town Temecula, Baily's is a lively restaurant spanning two floors that transforms into a nightclub with two dance floors, and three bars after 9:00 pm. The dining destination offers both casual and fine dining, banquets-style dining, a business-lunch club, and a nightclub. The restaurant serves contemporary New American cuisine accompanied by an extensive bar menu of wines from around the world, craft beers and microbrews, top-shelf spirits, and classic cocktails, and hosts live entertainment on an indoor or outdoor stage on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Baily’s also offers a champagne buffet brunch every Sunday.

28699 Old Town Front St, Temecula, CA 92590, Phone: 951-676-9567

© Bouquet Restaurant at Ponte Vineyard Inn

Located at the Ponte Vineyard Inn in the heart of Temecula Wine Country, Bouquet Restaurant offers a relaxing and romantic ambiance with a charming fountain courtyard, a tranquil pond and breathtaking vineyard views. The restaurant serves a seasonal menu of locally-sourced, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and fine wines from around the world. Surrounded by 300 acres of mature vineyards and boasting spectacular view, diners can enjoy indoor and outdoor seating options and sip some of the vineyard’s wines with their meals. Bouquet Restaurant is open for breakfast, brunch, and dinner on various days of the week.

35001 Rancho California Road Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-587-6688

© Café Champagne at Thornton Winery

Café Champagne at Thornton Winery is an award-winning European-style café with a pretty patio that exudes French country elegance and boasts beautiful valley views. The family-owned restaurant offers a gourmet dining experience with Gold Medal-winning contemporary cuisine and fine local Thornton wines. Set amongst the lush green vineyards of Temecula’s beautiful wine country, the restaurant serves lunch and dinner year-round with seasonal menus of delectable dishes such as Brie en Croute, Crispy Artichokes, Black and White Truffle Mac and Cheese, Pan-Seared Bass, Cedar Plank Wild Salmon, and Lobster Ravioli. An award-winning collection of Thornton wines is available to pair with every dish, and freshly brewed coffee and other specialty drinks are available from the bar.

32575 Rancho California Rd, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-699-0088

© Carol's Restaurant

Exuding the elegant ambiance of a European castle with soaring ceilings, a formal dining room known as Bacchus Hall featuring a massive floor-to-ceiling fireplace and charming patio seating shaded by Cabernet vines, Carol’s Restaurant promises an unforgettable dining experience. The menu features a variety of mouthwatering appetizers, fresh salads gourmet sandwiches, and entrées of fresh fish, prime steaks and chops, and pasta dishes. Baily wines are available by the glass and bottle, as well as wines from surrounding vineyards, along with a wide selection of micro-brewed beers and a local microbrew on tap. Carol’s Restaurant is open for lunch on Thursday through Sunday with live music during Saturday and Sunday lunches.

33440 La Serena Way, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-676-9463

© Crush & Brew

Based in the center of Old Town Temecula, Crush & Brew® is an artisan restaurant and bar that celebrates the craft brew movement and small winery culture of the Temecula Valley. The casual and cozy eatery features a barrel room-style dining room with sizeable street-front window views of vibrant Old Town Temecula and serves a menu of market-driven cuisine such as appetizers, specialty salads, entrées and unique flatbreads for lunch or dinner. The cuisine is accompanied by 30 rotating beer taps and more than 30 bottles of locally-made wines, as well as handcrafted cocktails and visitors can enjoy live music on the weekends. Crush & Brew® is open for dinner Monday through Sunday and weekend brunch and lunch.

28544 Old Town Front St #103, Temecula, CA 92590, Phone: 951-693-4567

© Fazeli Cellars

Nestled along the beautiful De Portola Wine Trail in Temecula Valley wine country, Fazeli Cellars is a state-of-the-art winery that boasts award-winning Moorish architecture, breathtaking natural scenic beauty and the finest selection of boutique wines in the region. Owned and operated by Bizhan “BJ” Fazeli, Fazeli Cellars is home to more than 20 varietals of boutique wines from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc that have earned numerous prestigious awards. Wine tasting and fine dining can be enjoyed in a luxurious setting with expensive windows that overlook Temecula’s spectacular valley. The winery also houses an A-rated dining destination known as Baba Joon’s kitchen for lunch and wine pairing.

37320 De Portola Rd, Temecula, CA 92592, Phone: 951-303-3366

© Francesca's Italian Kitchen

Francesca’s Italian Kitchen is a classic family-owned and operated restaurant that serves authentic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine in a warm and welcoming setting. Offering a unique dining experience, the Italian restaurant serves a menu of classic dishes such as housemade pasta and sauces, wood-fired pizzas with a variety of toppings, prime beef, veal, and chicken dishes, and fresh seafood, along with decadent desserts like tiramisu and panna cotta. The food is paired with an extensive list of drinks, ranging from casual wines from around the world, craft beers and brews on tap, classic cocktails and high-end spirits. Lunch is served on Thursday through Saturday, with dinner served every night of the week. Francesca’s Italian Kitchen also provides cooking classes for visitors to learn how to cook authentic Italian cuisine at home.

31165 Temecula Pkwy, Temecula, CA 92592, Phone: 951-303-3300

© Gourmet Italia

Gourmet Italia is a locally-owned and operated restaurant that serves traditional Italian fare in a brightly decorated dining room with festive red walls. Owned by restauranteur, Alessandro (Alex) Prestifilippo who moved to the United States from Sicily in 1988, Gourmet Italia focuses on serving classic Italian dishes and modern New American fare with signature dishes like Lobster Ravioli, Seafood Pescatore, Osso Bucco, Filet Steak, Lamb Shank, Ostrich steak and fresh fish. The menu also features favorites like Spaghetti Bolognese, Farfalle al Salmone, Lasagna, Veal Limone, and Primavera Pizza, and an extensive list of casual wines from around the world, craft beers and brews on tap, classic cocktails and high-end spirits. Gourmet Italia is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

27499 Ynez Rd, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-676-9194

© Il Tramonto Ristorante

Il Tramonto Ristorante is a warm and welcoming restaurant in the heart of Old Town Temecula that transports diners into the streets of Italy. The casual Italian restaurant serves a daily menu of traditional Southern Italian fare, including freshly made salads, wood-fired pizzas, house-made pasta and meat, fish and chicken dishes, and decadent desserts. Dishes are prepared using locally sourced ingredients and imported specialties like olive and oil and truffles, and a full-service bar offers an impressive array of specialty cocktails and fine wines. Il Tramonto Ristorante is open for lunch Thursday through Sunday and dinner only Friday through Sunday.

41925 5th St #102, Temecula, CA 92590, Phone: 951-699-7925

© Inn at Churon Winery

Nestled on the beautiful grounds of the Churon Chateau and Winery and surrounded by 11 acres of spectacular estate vineyards, the Inn at Churon Winery is an elegant boutique inn with a charming café where visitors can enjoy contemporary cuisine and award-winning wines from the estate. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Sunday and serves a seasonal menu of fresh salads, homemade soups, gourmet sandwiches and wraps, and delicious entrées accompanied by a curated selection of estate wines from renowned winemaker, Benny Rodriguez. Visitors can enjoy live music on the weekends.

33233 Rancho California Rd, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-694-9070

© Journey's End

Located in the modern golf course clubhouse in the Pechanga Resort, Journey’s End is a casual, contemporary resort eatery that serves New American cuisine for breakfast and lunch against a backdrop of breathtaking views. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Pechanga’s premier golf course and the Temecula Valley, the restaurant features a comfortable dining space, a sleek bar, and a charming patio for outdoor alfresco dining. Seasonal menus feature fresh salads, homemade soups, gourmet sandwiches and wraps, and delicious entrées, accompanied by a selection of fine wines from around the world, craft beers and brews, top-shelf spirits and classic cocktails. Journey’s End is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.

45000 Pechanga Pkwy, Temecula, CA 92592, Phone: 951-770-8208

© Meritage at Callaway

Overlooking the magnificent natural beauty of Temecula's breathtaking wine country from the pristine estate grounds of the Calloway Vineyards and Winery, the Meritage at Callaway offers a unique and unforgettable dining experience against a backdrop of breathtaking views. Boasting a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere, the elegant restaurant serves seasonally-changing menus of fresh, from-scratch, farm-to-table cuisine, using locally sourced and organic ingredients and regional produce. Dishes are paired with Callaway's award-winning wines, which also change seasonally, allowing visitors to enjoy a wide range of excellent vintages, both mature and young. Meritage at Callaway is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

32720 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-587-8889

© AboutLife/stock.adobe.com

Footsteps from the bustle of the casino in the Pechanga Resort & Casino, Paisano’s Italian takes visitors on a culinary journey in the heart of an authentic Italian village where sun-kissed cuisine and casual wines are served in a warm and welcoming ambiance. The restaurant blends the New World with the Old by serving traditional Italian fare such as delicious salads, pasta, handmade pizzas, and outstanding meat and seafood dishes with modern wines from California, Oregon, and Washington. Knowledgeable waitrons are on hand to help diners make selections from both the menu and the outstanding wine list and Friday nights offer a three-course meal and a Comedy Show in the Comedy Club at Pechanga. Paisano's Italian @ Pechanga Resort & Casino is open for dinner, seven days a week.

45000 Pechanga Pkwy, Temecula, CA 92592, Phone: 951-770-8506

© Pinnacle Restaurant - Falkner Winery

Located at the Faulkner Winery, the Pinnacle Restaurant is an award-winning restaurant with spectacular panoramic views that serves outstanding Mediterranean-style cuisine, boutique estate wines, and impeccable hospitality and service. The elegant, air-conditioned restaurant has a contemporary dining space and an open-air outdoor balcony where diners can enjoy alfresco-style summer dining. Seasonal menus of dishes prepared with locally sourced and regional ingredients are served for lunch and dinner with vegan and gluten-free options and accompanied by a range of fine wines from the winery. The restaurant also serves as an evening wedding and banquet venue. The Pinnacle Restaurant is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.

40620 Calle Contento, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-676-8231

© Soro's Mediterranean Grill

Located in Old Town Temecula, Soro's Mediterranean Grill brings a taste of the Mediterranean to the heart of Temecula with sublime cuisine, fine wines, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant has comfortable indoor and outdoor seating with a charming greenery-covered wood deck patio with hanging lamps and twinkling lights, creating an intimate, romantic ambiance. Seasonal menus of farm-to-table fare feature dishes like succulent Grecian lamb chops in wine sauce, Soro’s chicken shawarma, and Falafel with homemade hummus. The restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, and offers select vegan options for non-meat-eaters. Soro's Mediterranean Grill is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.

28464 Old Town Front St, Temecula, CA 92590, Phone: 951-587-8082

© The Cellar Lounge

Located on the basement level of Ponte Vineyard Inn, the Cellar Lounge serves seasonal menus of contemporary cuisine in the form of small plates and full-size entrées along with award-winning wines from the surrounding estates, signature cocktails and craft beers from the full-service bar. Surrounded by 300 acres of vineyards, the restaurant is set in the elegant, Spanish-style Ponte Vineyard Inn, which is within a short walk from three different wineries. The inn also features an outdoor pool and a poolside bar where guests can relax after their meal or enjoy wine tastings at the pretty a terrace bar. The Cellar Lounge is open for lunch and dinner.

35001 Rancho California Rd, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-694-8855

© The Gambling Cowboy

Located in the heart of Old Town Temecula, the Gambling Cowboy offers a unique dining experience in an elegant, turn-of-the-century setting with spectacular views. A third-floor deck offers diners the opportunity to enjoy seasonal menus of farm-to-table cuisine against a backdrop of beautiful views with signature dishes like Pepper-Crusted Carpaccio, Roasted Marrow Bones, Bacon-Wrapped Scallops, and Lobster Mac and Cheese. An impressive wine list featuring vintages from many local wineries and around the world is available to pair with the cuisine, along with a selection of craft beers, imported spirits, and classic cocktails. The Gambling Cowboy is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Friday and breakfast, lunch and dinner on the weekends.

42072 5th Street, Temecula, CA 92590, Phone: 951-699-2895

© The Restaurant at Ponte

Located at the Ponte Vineyard Inn in the heart of Temecula Wine Country, the Restaurant at Ponte is a casual award-winning al fresco restaurant surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens and rolling vineyards. One of three distinct Wine Country restaurants at the Inn, the eatery serves seasonal vineyard-inspired menus that focus on fresh, seasonal and local ingredients and crafted to suit discriminating palates. The cuisine is accompanied by a range of fine wines from the surrounding wine estates, along with craft beers and imported spirits. Outdoor dining is available year-round, and Restaurant at Ponte is open for lunch daily, and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays along with live music.

35001 Rancho California Road Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-587-6688

© The Vineyard Rose at South Coast Winery

Located at the South Coast Winery in the heart of Temecula wine country, the Vineyard Rose at South Coast Winery is an elegant restaurant that offers a fine dining experience with award-winning wines. Beautifully decorated with soaring ceilings, stylish drapery, and soft lighting, the romantic restaurant serves seasonal menus for lunch and dinner prepared with locally sourced ingredients and imported specialties and flavored with French and Italian accents. February sees a month of romance menu with three courses and an impressive list of wines, and visitors can enjoy wine tastings throughout the month. The Vineyard Rose at South Coast Winery is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, seven days a week.

34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-566-4622

© Trattoria Toscana

Located in Palm Plaza, Trattoria Toscana is a quaint Italian restaurant and bar that serves authentic, home-made Italian cuisine and signature specialties in a warm and pleasant atmosphere. Focusing on preparing and serving traditional dishes from Tuscany, the restaurant is owned by Sardinian-born Chef Pietro Cinus who draws inspiration from the sun-kissed hills of Tuscany to make delicious dishes of fresh seafood, prime beef, veal and chicken, housemade pasta and sauces, wood-fired pizza and fresh salads. The cuisine is accompanied by a curated selection of fine wines from the region and abroad, craft beers, imported spirits, and classic cocktails. Trattoria Toscana is open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Monday.

26485 Ynez Rd suite m & n, Temecula, CA 92591, Phone: 951-296-2066