Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co.

A little slice of Nantucket right here in the Midwest. A loud and bright space with exposed white-washed brick, concrete floors and one hell of a classic rock playlist. Colorful glassware and incredible photos of fisherman pop against the white. Break out the bib and get messy; in a town not known for many seafood options, Peacemaker shines as a dependable place for oysters, shrimp boils and clam chowder. Wash it all down with their boozy slush concoctions or end the meal with a slice of delicious homemade pie.

Cinder House

If you ever went to Cielo at the Four Seasons St. Louis, you already know it’s not that hard to make the 8th level bar feel sexy—with a massive terrace and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city and river, it’s always felt sexy. But with the recent Cinder House renovations, things got even more beautiful. A new bartop made out of South American blue granite makes a bold statement, but the restaurant as a whole is gorgeous, with hues of blue and gold throughout. Impress your loved ones, guests, or first dates here.

Olio

Who’d have thought that one day a tiny abandoned gas station in Tower Grove would be one of the city’s sexiest restaurants? At night, a seat at the bar feels dark and intimate, but during the day it’s equally beautiful—just an airy and bright spot, perfect for a day date. The dining room feels contemporary while simultaneously housing reflecting the age of the building; it’s a dynamic that makes eating here feel, well, cool. In warmer months, the enclosed patio is the place to be.

Bar Les Freres

No one does romance like the French, which is where this restaurant/bar gets its inspiration. The cocktail list and vintage paintings hearken back to another time, and the dishes (souffle, mussels, duck confit, and of course, cheese) will take your mind to the city of love. Dark red walls, a crystal chandelier, vintage art - Bar Les Freres oozes ambiance. Whether it’s your anniversary or just a Friday night, a visit here almost guarantees some romance later.

Photo courtesy of Bar Les Freres

Brasserie

French cuisine, romantic string lights, outdoor café-style seating just like what you’d see in Paris…Brasserie is perfect for a special occasion dinner or Sunday morning brunch with friends. Seriously, you could pick Brasserie up with a magical crane and drop it off in Paris and no one would look twice. With acclaimed chef and Francophile Gerard Craft at the helm, you know you can’t go wrong.

Sardella

Gerard Craft can do no wrong. Trendy and photogenic, with Mediterranean-style blue tile walls and a warm wooden bar top, sitting at the bar will make you feel like you’re in Europe—or, at the very least, Chicago. Peek above the open kitchen and you’ll see sardine cans used as decor. Food and drinks are treated with equal importance, and as you might expect, both change with the seasons, but their team of bartenders can handle anything from the classics to the wildly creative.

Vicia

We'd have always eaten our vegetables as kids if chef Michael Gallina had been there to cook them for us. The restaurant itself is as refined and beautiful as the food itself. It’s almost starkly black, white, and grey, with pops of color from the seasonal decor and, of course, food on the plates. Regardless of the season, their large indoor/outdoor patio is great for drinks and small bites while you watch them cook on the enormous hearth. Pop in for their fantastic lunch, which lets you pick up to three different mains to try. Once you're convinced, head in for dinner, but make sure to do the tasting menu--at $85, you're getting the deal of a lifetime.

Photo courtesy of Vicia

Elmwood

Elmwood's not just on this list because she's the hot new girl at school—this is a seriously stunning restaurant. Tall ceilings, dark blues, warm woods, and lots of metal. It sounds like it would be cold and uninviting, but NOPE. This place is sexy. This place is where you impress a date. And this place has a really cool neon sign inside.