There is so much we love about the Southwest Florida dining scene.
It includes all the longtime staples and new stunners, the waterfront wonders and hidden gems, and the quirky classics and beloved favorites.
We’re looking at you Farmers Market and Oise, Dixie Fish Co. and Blossom & Brie, Bubble Room and Blue Dog, just to name just a few.
Now with February and Valentine’s Day upon us, we’re turning our attention to romantic restaurants.
On any given day of the week, if you bring us to a taco truck, we swoon. Take us for pizza, and we get weak in the knees. Offer to pay for our burger? We may cry.
But not this time of year. We’re looking at candlelight, white tablecloths and fine (or at least finer) dining.
Here are six romantic restaurants we love …
Angelina’s Ristorante
When a restaurant makes a best-in-the-country list, that’s pretty impressive. When it does it three years in a row, we’re loving it. That’s the case with this upscale Italian gem in Bonita Springs, which has just been named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants of 2026. Averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars, it earned the same honor in 2024 and 2025. The fine-dining destination along South Tamiami Trail has been building a loyal fanbase ever since Angela and Don Smith opened it on April 16, 2008.
Angelina’s is known for high-quality ingredients, excellent service and attention to detail. It offers Wagyu steaks, hand-made pasta dishes and much more, plus an extensive wine list that has been awarded Wine Spectator Magazine’s 2-glass and Best of Award of Excellence. Although it’s fully booked for this Valentine’s Day, luckily, it’s open beginning at 4 p.m. most other days of the year. Reservations strongly suggested. Angelina’s Ristorante, 24041 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs; (239) 390-3187; make reservations on OpenTable; angelinasofbonitasprings.com
Harold’s
From the place cards welcoming you to your table to the spotless white cloths draped over said table, this upscale south Fort Myers wonder — named one of the best restaurants in the state in 2025 — has it all covered. The professional (yet personable) service, as impeccable as those linens, makes you feel as though you’re the most important customer in the world. And when Harold Balink comes by to personally greet and check on you? We couldn’t love it any more.
As for the food (oh, the food!)? Although the menu looks simple — with a few starters, a couple of soups and salads and a handful of entrees — it’s a magical blend of flavors, textures, and artistry. And it never grows old. Innovative dishes can change weekly. Keep an eye out for the house-made fettuccine Bolognese, a Balink family recipe. It’s extraordinary, as is Harold and Harold’s. Harold’s, 15250 S Tamiami Trail, Unit 107, Fort Myers; get reservations through OpenTable; (239) 849-0622; haroldscuisine.com or follow on Facebook.
Liberty
There may not be a better date-night spot around than this intimate, south Fort Myers hidden gem. The cozy and creative sliver of a space (for parties up to 4) near Bell Tower also happens to be one of the best restaurants in Southwest Florida.
Small, shareable plates with colorful, artfully arranged, unexpected culinary combinations are the focus here. The dinner menu of about 16 items is presented on a single sheet of paper with dishes listed on a bingo-esque grid of four rows with four boxes each. It’s fun, fascinating and fabulous.
And while booths are more private, we love to grab a spot at the chef’s table where we can watch Richee Boye (whose cousin Bob Boye, also a chef, opened Liberty in August 2019) and team work their magic. They’re so good, we named Liberty the best Lee County restaurant in 2023. Last we checked, just one table remained for a special Valentine’s Day six-course event. But don’t worry. You’ll love Liberty any day you go. Liberty, 12995 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 112, Fort Myers; (239) 689-5528; make reservations through RESY; eatliberty.us
This ristorante and steakhouse in south Fort Myers is one of our newest loves. Since taking over and relaunching it in 2023, the Cacciatore brothers have done wonders with this comfortable fine-dining gem off Cypress Lake Drive. It took one bite of our delightfully flavorful 14-ounce prime New York strip before we were planning our next visit. Those steaks — Prime, American wagyu and fine-aged — are just half of the wonder here. Mastello has us head over heels with the rest of the menu — carefully crafted Italian and seafood dishes, from rigatoni Bolognese topped with fresh burrata to risotto di mare, served with a whole lobster tail.
Add in a craft cocktail list with five versions each of espresso martinis and old fashioneds, two Wine Spectator awards in the last two years and a couple of OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards, and you’re just getting a taste of this culinary wonder. Then toss in the white linens, an upscale vibe and flawless service, and we love it more and more with each visit. Mastello, 7890 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Unit 101, Fort Myers; make reservations through OpenTable or call (239) 936-3660; mastello.com
Savour
This romantic, year-old Fort Myers gem took over for a romantic, longtime gem. For a decade, the space just off McGregor Boulevard was home to the highly acclaimed French-flavored restaurant, Azure. Now chef and owner Matt Geiger has moved in, and we’re loving everything he’s creating in the small and intimate restaurant.
“I care about what I’m doing,” said Geiger, who also owns Savour Coffee (another gem) and Savour Catering. “We don’t rush plates out. We’re not looking for a bunch of table turns. We’re happy with one table turn.”
You’ll be happy too with the vibrant and flavorful selection of global cuisine with a French foundation, from Spanish olives and escargot starters to entrees of coq au vin, Yuzu snapper and paella. In between are the lovely tapas.
“The new menu focuses on small plates,” Geiger said. “Order three or four things, share them with the table.”
And if you’re like us, you’ll want to savor every bite. Savour Restaurant, 15301 McGregor Blvd., Unit 1, Fort Myers; (239) 288-4296; reservations preferred; savourrestaurant.com
The Veranda
Romantic and haunted? Sign us up. The structure housing this downtown Fort Myers gem dates back more than a century. Originally two residential homes, Paul Peden bought the property in 1978 and turned it into The Veranda we know and love. Romance can be found around every corner and in each nook and cranny.
“It’s a combination of so many things,” Denny Genge, the general manager for 27 years, said. “The low lighting, the high-backed comfortable chairs, the no-rush atmosphere, the tuxedos on servers, the white tablecloths. The whole package is romantic.”
Settle into one of the two main dining rooms, at the piano bar, or in the gorgeous garden courtyard (complete with a koi pond), and you’ll be enveloped in Southern charm. It’s a lovely oasis where time stands still. Even the Southern-flavored menu, where rack of lamb and Chilean sea bass vie with the chef’s special and fish special vie for best-seller of the day, doesn’t change. And that’s a very good thing.
And as for the haunted part? “There’s a presence, a friendly one,” Genge said. “I haven’t felt it, but customers have told me. It’s more in the back of the house, where the main dining room is. It’s usually back there.” As we said earlier, sign us up for it all. The Veranda, 2122 Second St., Fort Myers; make reservations on OpenTable or by calling 239-332-2065; verandarestaurant.com
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
Dining and Cooking