Share the love: The world’s most romantic restaurants

By Chris Dwyer, CNN
Published 7:33 AM EST, Wed February 13, 2019
<strong>Crab Shack, Soneva Jani, Maldives:</strong> Barefoot luxury resort Soneva Jani offers a number of exclusive dining options, but its latest establishment takes things up a level.
Crab Shack, Soneva Jani, Maldives: Barefoot luxury resort Soneva Jani offers a number of exclusive dining options, but its latest establishment takes things up a level.
Matt Robinson/Soneva Jani
<strong>Fresh from the sea:</strong> That's because the humbly named Crab Shack offers some of the world's very best crustaceans, such as Sri Lankan mud, Kamchatka or Alaskan crabs, all certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Fresh from the sea: That's because the humbly named Crab Shack offers some of the world's very best crustaceans, such as Sri Lankan mud, Kamchatka or Alaskan crabs, all certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Matt Robinson/Soneva Jani
<strong>Aqua Shard, London, UK:</strong> With dazzling and incomparable views of the UK capital, it's easy to see why Aqua Shard is such a popular choice for incurable romantics.
Aqua Shard, London, UK: With dazzling and incomparable views of the UK capital, it's easy to see why Aqua Shard is such a popular choice for incurable romantics.
Courtesy Aqua Restaurant Group
<strong>Bergamotto and cedro sour: </strong>Up on the 31st floor of one of the city's most striking -- and unmissable -- buildings, Aqua Shard is also home to some serious culinary and mixology talent.
Bergamotto and cedro sour: Up on the 31st floor of one of the city's most striking -- and unmissable -- buildings, Aqua Shard is also home to some serious culinary and mixology talent.
Courtesy Aqua Restaurant Group
<strong>ICEHOTEL Restaurant, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden: </strong>Known for its stunning suites (pictured), the world's very first hotel made from snow and ice is also the chilly but undeniably fairytale-like backdrop to a unique dining location.
ICEHOTEL Restaurant, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden: Known for its stunning suites (pictured), the world's very first hotel made from snow and ice is also the chilly but undeniably fairytale-like backdrop to a unique dining location.
Courtesy Asaf Kliger
<strong>Vision into reality:</strong> Each year, ICEHOTEL chooses a selection of designs from artists across the world and renders their visions a chilly reality. <em>Pictured here: "Blossom" created by Wouter Biegelaar and Viktor Tsarski, from the Netherlands</em>
Vision into reality: Each year, ICEHOTEL chooses a selection of designs from artists across the world and renders their visions a chilly reality. Pictured here: "Blossom" created by Wouter Biegelaar and Viktor Tsarski, from the Netherlands
Courtesy Asaf Kliger
<strong>Lake House, Daylesford, Australia: </strong>Lake House is an elegant country hotel sitting 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne and is home to one of Australia's most renowned culinary programs.
Lake House, Daylesford, Australia: Lake House is an elegant country hotel sitting 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne and is home to one of Australia's most renowned culinary programs.
Lake House Daylesford
<strong>Feeding geese: </strong>Lake House has pioneered Australian regional dining, celebrating seasonal hyper-local produce, much of which comes from the Lake House property and farm.
Feeding geese: Lake House has pioneered Australian regional dining, celebrating seasonal hyper-local produce, much of which comes from the Lake House property and farm.
Lake House Daylesford
<strong>Sunset Monalisa, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico:</strong> The bay at Cabo San Lucas is already a picturesque destination — and that's before you find yourself in a restaurant carved into a cliffside.
Sunset Monalisa, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: The bay at Cabo San Lucas is already a picturesque destination — and that's before you find yourself in a restaurant carved into a cliffside.
Courtesy Sunset Monalisa
<strong>Full house: </strong>Chef Paolo Della Corte's menu is inspired by the Mediterranean and offers plates such as tuna tartare, grilled octopus with crushed potatoes or fettuccine with ricotta, anchovies and bottarga.
Full house: Chef Paolo Della Corte's menu is inspired by the Mediterranean and offers plates such as tuna tartare, grilled octopus with crushed potatoes or fettuccine with ricotta, anchovies and bottarga.
Courtesy Sunset Monalisa
<strong>Le 1131, Burgundy, France:</strong> France's Burgundy region is world-famous for its wines and cuisine, and few of its destinations are as romantic as Abbaye de la Bussière.
Le 1131, Burgundy, France: France's Burgundy region is world-famous for its wines and cuisine, and few of its destinations are as romantic as Abbaye de la Bussière.
Courtesy Abbaye de la Bussière
<strong>La vie belle: </strong>What was once the cloister houses the restaurant is named 1131 (after the year the abbey was built), meaning diners eat under vaulted arches and columns.
La vie belle: What was once the cloister houses the restaurant is named 1131 (after the year the abbey was built), meaning diners eat under vaulted arches and columns.
Courtesy Abbaye de la Bussière
<strong>Tate Dining Room & Bar, Hong Kong:</strong> With one Michelin star to its name, Tate Dining Room & Bar under chef Vicky Lau has continued to impress since opening in 2012.
Tate Dining Room & Bar, Hong Kong: With one Michelin star to its name, Tate Dining Room & Bar under chef Vicky Lau has continued to impress since opening in 2012.
Tate Dining Room & Bar
<strong>Ode to Red Fruit: </strong>The menus are inspired by love poetry, translated beautifully into exquisite seasonal dishes called Odes. Lau's "Ode to Red Fruit" brings yoghurt meringue with raspberry sorbet and white chocolate mousse.
Ode to Red Fruit: The menus are inspired by love poetry, translated beautifully into exquisite seasonal dishes called Odes. Lau's "Ode to Red Fruit" brings yoghurt meringue with raspberry sorbet and white chocolate mousse.
Tate Dining Room & Bar
<strong>Pimms, Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla:</strong> The tiny island of Anguilla in the British West Indies is a Caribbean escape for romantics set on a combination of privacy and luxury and Pimms at Belmond Cap Juluca offers both in style.
Pimms, Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla: The tiny island of Anguilla in the British West Indies is a Caribbean escape for romantics set on a combination of privacy and luxury and Pimms at Belmond Cap Juluca offers both in style.
Richard James Taylor/Belmond Cap Juluca
<strong>Hyper-local: </strong>It serves refined Anguilian cuisine and Caribbean classics which make the most of hyper-local ingredients and the daily catch.
Hyper-local: It serves refined Anguilian cuisine and Caribbean classics which make the most of hyper-local ingredients and the daily catch.
Richard James Taylor/Belmond Cap Juluca
<strong>The Kitchen at The Dunlavy, Houston:</strong> The dining room at The Dunlavy is bathed in light, be it from outside or from chandeliers, making it a popular destination for weddings.
The Kitchen at The Dunlavy, Houston: The dining room at The Dunlavy is bathed in light, be it from outside or from chandeliers, making it a popular destination for weddings.
AMA by Aisha/The Dunlavy
<strong>SoCal cuisine:</strong> Executive Chef Jane Wild oversees the plates at The Kitchen. Southern Californian cuisine influences the menu and features produce sourced straight from the property's three gardens.
SoCal cuisine: Executive Chef Jane Wild oversees the plates at The Kitchen. Southern Californian cuisine influences the menu and features produce sourced straight from the property's three gardens.
<strong>Passerelle Bistro, Greenville SC: </strong>As a regular award-winner among national al fresco dining spots, Passerelle Bistro is rightfully popular, exuding southern charm and excellent food from Chef Jen Rodgers.
Passerelle Bistro, Greenville SC: As a regular award-winner among national al fresco dining spots, Passerelle Bistro is rightfully popular, exuding southern charm and excellent food from Chef Jen Rodgers.
Passerelle Bistro
<strong>Cassoulet: </strong>French classics such as baked goat's cheese, escargots, mussels and decadent cassoulet of duck are some of the most popular items.
Cassoulet: French classics such as baked goat's cheese, escargots, mussels and decadent cassoulet of duck are some of the most popular items.
Passerelle Bistro
<strong>Sentido Norde, Costa Rica: </strong>The Guanacaste coast is a perfect spot for an intimate getaway, partly because it has only come to the attention of visitors comparatively recently.
Sentido Norde, Costa Rica: The Guanacaste coast is a perfect spot for an intimate getaway, partly because it has only come to the attention of visitors comparatively recently.
Bentley Fachner/Sentido Norde
<strong>Stunning location: </strong>Casa Chameleon is a boutique property in a stunning location overlooking the Catalinas Islands below, and its restaurant Sentido Norte has quickly won acclaim.
Stunning location: Casa Chameleon is a boutique property in a stunning location overlooking the Catalinas Islands below, and its restaurant Sentido Norte has quickly won acclaim.
Bentley Fachner/Sentido Norde