The Best U.S. Cities for Valentine’s Day Dinner Reservations in 2025
Planning a Valentine’s Day dinner can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to securing a reservation in time for the big night. To help lovebirds across the country navigate this challenge, we analyzed OpenTable data for two-person dinner reservations on February 14, 2025.
By calculating the total number of restaurants available per 100,000 residents in each metropolitan statistical area (MSA), we’ve identified the cities where scoring a reservation is a breeze — and those where it’s a bit more of a challenge.
Key Findings
- San Jose, CA, offers the most dining options for Valentine’s Day, with 33.19 restaurants per 100,000 residents available for reservations.
- On the opposite end, New York, NY, has the fewest available options, with just 3.05 restaurants per 100,000 residents, highlighting the city’s intense demand for reservations.
- Richmond, VA, leads with the highest proportion of “romantic” restaurants available — venues categorized by OpenTable for their ambiance and appeal for special occasions — making up 38% of its dining options.
- In contrast, Birmingham, AL, has the smallest proportion of romantic restaurants, with only 12% of its available options fitting the category.
- Across the U.S., steakhouses are the most popular Valentine’s Day dining choice, ranking as the most Googled cuisine in 14 states.
The Top U.S. Cities for Securing a Valentine’s Day Dinner Reservation

Planning the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner often hinges on finding a restaurant with availability — and some cities make this easier than others. To determine which cities offer the best and worst chances for securing a reservation, we analyzed OpenTable data for two-person dinners on February 14, 2025. By calculating the number of restaurants available per 100,000 residents, we identified the cities where options abound and those where competition for tables is fierce.
Cities with the Most Restaurants Available for Valentine’s Day Reservations
If you’re looking for plenty of options for a romantic evening, these cities have you covered:
- San Jose, CA – 33.19 restaurants per 100,000 residents
- Las Vegas, NV – 16.36
- Hartford, CT – 15.51
- San Francisco, CA – 14.12
- San Diego, CA – 12.48
- New Orleans, LA – 12.05
- Boston, MA – 11.67
- Orlando, FL – 11.11
- Denver, CO – 10.53
- Cleveland, OH – 10.21
Cities with the Fewest Restaurants Available for Valentine’s Day Reservations
In contrast, couples in these cities may face stiff competition for limited dining options:
- New York, NY – 3.05 restaurants per 100,000 residents
- Memphis, TN – 3.74
- Birmingham, AL – 3.77
- Minneapolis, MN – 4.25
- Buffalo, NY – 4.30
- St. Louis, MO – 4.38
- Riverside, CA – 4.60
- Detroit, MI – 4.65
- Los Angeles, CA – 4.65
- Kansas City, MO – 4.82
Cities With the Most (and Least) “Romantic” Restaurants Available on Valentine’s Day

Not all restaurants are created equal when it comes to setting the perfect mood for Valentine’s Day. Some cities excel in offering romantic dining experiences, while others have fewer options designed for special occasions. To uncover the best cities for a romantic dinner, we used OpenTable’s “romantic” filter, which highlights restaurants known for their intimate ambiance, elegant decor, and appeal for date nights.
Cities with the Highest Proportion of Romantic Restaurants Available
If you’re looking for cities that prioritize romance, these top 10 cities offer the largest percentage of romantic restaurants compared to overall availability:
- Richmond, VA – 38.03%
- Buffalo, NY – 32.00%
- Jacksonville, FL – 31.00%
- Memphis, TN – 30.00%
- Virginia Beach, VA – 29.21%
- Oklahoma City, OK – 26.92%
- St. Louis, MO – 26.83%
- Sacramento, CA – 26.67%
- Milwaukee, WI – 26.55%
- Raleigh, NC – 26.13%
Cities with the Lowest Proportion of Romantic Restaurants Available
On the other hand, couples in these cities may find fewer romantic settings for their Valentine’s Day dinners:
- Birmingham, AL – 11.90%
- Miami, FL – 12.19%
- Washington, DC – 13.54%
- Las Vegas, NV – 14.13%
- Nashville, TN – 14.75%
- Phoenix, AZ – 14.79%
- Boston, MA – 15.03%
- Dallas, TX – 15.38%
- Tampa, FL – 15.97%
- Philadelphia, PA – 16.03%
See the full city data below.
What Are the Top Searched Valentine’s Day Restaurant Cuisines in Your State?
Food is at the heart of every great Valentine’s Day celebration, and preferences can vary widely depending on where you live. To uncover the most popular Valentine’s Day cuisines, we analyzed Google Trends data for 20 popular dining options from February 1 to February 14, 2024. The results reveal not only the top-searched cuisines nationwide but also unique regional favorites that set the tone for romantic evenings.
- Steakhouses emerged as the overall favorite, ranking as the most popular Valentine’s Day cuisine in 14 states, including Alabama, Texas, and Indiana.
- Italian Restaurants followed closely, topping searches in 9 states such as New York, Connecticut, and Maryland.
- Mexican Cuisine captured hearts in 6 states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
- BBQ Restaurants brought smoky charm to Valentine’s celebrations in 4 states, including Tennessee and South Carolina.
- Other notable mentions include Vietnamese Cuisine (California, Ohio, Washington), Indian Cuisine (New Jersey, Virginia), and even Burger Restaurants (Hawaii, Utah).
While steakhouses and Italian restaurants dominate much of the map, the diversity in cuisine preferences showcases the unique culinary culture of each state. Most states in the Northeast favored Italian cuisine, with New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts leading the trend.
Southern states showed a strong preference for steakhouses, including Texas, Kentucky, and Mississippi. Meanwhile, Southeastern states like South Carolina, Tennessee, and Maine leaned toward BBQ as their top Valentine’s Day dining choice.
Mexican cuisine was popular in the Southwest and West, with Arizona, Kansas, and Idaho opting for it. Vietnamese cuisine stood out in Illinois, Ohio, and Washington, while sushi was the top choice in D.C..
Other notable preferences include Cuban cuisine in Florida, Mediterranean food in Michigan, and Indian cuisine in New Jersey and Virginia. This variety highlights the regional and cultural influences shaping Valentine’s Day dining across the country.
Closing Thoughts
No matter where you are, planning ahead is key. With Valentine’s Day being one of the busiest nights of the year for dining, securing your reservation as early as possible can help ensure your evening goes off without a hitch. Whether you’re opting for a cozy steakhouse, a trendy sushi spot, or something more unique, booking now ensures you’ll have the perfect setting for a memorable night.
At The Matchmaking Company, we believe meaningful connections start with shared experiences — and what better way to build those bonds than over a table filled with great food? Let us help you find the people who make every day — not just Valentine’s Day — extraordinary. Visit our website to learn more about our personalized matchmaking services and start your journey to lasting connections.
Methodology
To identify the best U.S. cities for a Valentine’s Day reservation, we analyzed OpenTable data for two-person dinner reservations on February 14, 2025. The total number of restaurants available on OpenTable in each metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was calculated and normalized by population to determine the number of restaurants available per 100,000 residents. This approach allowed us to highlight cities with the highest and lowest restaurant availability for Valentine’s Day.
To further refine our findings, we used OpenTable’s “romantic” filter to identify the proportion of available restaurants in each city specifically categorized as romantic. This provided a closer look at where couples can find intimate, ambiance-focused dining experiences for their special night.
Additionally, to determine the most popular Valentine’s Day cuisine in each state, we analyzed Google Trends data for 20 popular restaurant cuisines from February 1 to February 14, 2024. This analysis identified the top-searched cuisine in each state leading up to Valentine’s Day.
*Data is accurate as of December 2024.