CAFE MONARCH
Impress any date with a visit to Old Town Scottsdale’s Cafe Monarch, an intimate space featuring an ornate courtyard with a sparkling water feature, dim lighting and glittering chandeliers that create a seductive ambiance. The four-course prix fixe menu is ever-changing, but sample menu items include Berkshire pork belly with balsamic-poached pear and Argentine shrimp paired with konro-grilled pineapple. cafemonarch.com
ÉLEPHANTE
Scottsdale Fashion Square’s Élephante is a delicious love letter to Italy’s southern coast. Mediterranean influences abound, with vibrant pops of reds and blues, lush greenery, imported travertine tile and bespoke furnishings that transport diners to Pantelleria and the Aeolian Islands. Decadent mains, from a branzino with salsa verde butter and sea beans to a 10- ounce prime skirt steak, are crafted to transport guests back to the old country, and they definitely deliver. elephanterestaurants.com
The black truffle spaghetti at Society Swan is deliciously indulgent. Photo Courtesy of Fox Restaurant Concepts
FRANCINE
Francine brings Riviera romance to Scottsdale Fashion Square’s luxury wing. Founded by celebrity chef Laurent Halasz, raised in southern France, the French-Mediterranean menu channels his roots through dishes such as grilled octopus, flambeed sea salt-crusted branzino, steak frites, rosemary lamb chops, indulgent lobster pasta and bone marrow bucatini. francinerestaurant.com
MARCELLINO RISTORANTE
The Italians know romance, and Marcellino Ristorante is no exception. Be sure to impress with the chef ’s intimate dining cove, a sensual hideaway draped in plush velvet with a personalized five-course menu and complementary wine pairings. Prefer to dine alfresco? The chic outdoor patio is surrounded by large olive trees and a mural of Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo. marcellinoristorante.com
Creamy espresso martinis at Élephante amp up the romance. Photo Courtesy Of Élephante
OLIVE & IVY
Cozy booths, mood lighting and California-Mediterranean fare transport diners to the French Riviera at Olive & Ivy. Dine tapas-style with a variety of flavorful small plates (the black truffle arancini is one of our faves!), or savor an exceptionally prepared entree—the sea scallops are perfect for an alluring night out. oliveandivyrestaurant.com
SEL
Husband-and-wife team Branden and May Levine’s modern American hot spot, Sel, is a vibrant eatery in Old Town Scottsdale. The bright, airy space houses shimmering chandeliers, eclectic art and an a la carte menu to die for. Expect global, sophisticated cuisine with a twist—think grilled Spanish octopus paired with fried rice and beluga lentils, littleneck clams served with squid ink capellini, and Imperial Osetra caviar accompanied by crispy pommes paillasson. selrestaurant.com
Tasty bites at The House Brasserie. Photo Courtesy of The House Brasserie
SOCIETY SWAN
Sam Fox’s latest concept brings Parisian polish and everyday glamour to Scottsdale Fashion Square’s thriving dining scene. The menu features refined yet approachable fare, including a dedicated frites section with wagyu skirt steak and a coastal twist on fish and chips, a raw bar anchored by stone crab claws and oysters, and the Waldorf grain bowl—a modern homage to culinary heritage. societyswan.com
TELEFÈRIC BARCELONA
A candlelit celebration of connection and cuisine unfolds at this Scottsdale Fashion Square hot spot, where dining is meant to be shared. The family-owned Catalonian concept pairs authentic tapas, showstopping paellas and innovative cocktails with a 100-plus wine list. Highlights include fresh Iberian oysters, braised oxtail empanadas, lobster or squid ink paella, and a dramatic 40-ounce Catalan tomahawk. telefericbarcelona.com
THE ENDS
A soulful take on romance unfolds through globally inspired comfort food at The Ends, rooted in the food travels of Anthony Bourdain. This intimate Scottsdale spot treats each dish as a memory, pulled from somewhere real. Pair the crispy egg yolk nigiri with hamachi crudo, then linger over bison ribeye, lamb, veal in vodka sauce, or butternut squash and crab ravioli. endsrestaurant.com
THE HOUSE BRASSERIE
One of Old Town Scottsdale’s oldest-standing residences doubles as an epicurean hot spot perfect for passion. Modern American dishes juxtapose Victorian-inspired decor, tantalizing the taste buds with succulent escargot dripping in bone marrow butter, Hudson Valley foie gras and 28-day dry-aged steaks. For dessert, opt for one of the housemade ice creams, the flavor of which changes weekly. thehousebrasserie.com
