Date Night Dining: Five Romantic Restaurants in the New Smyrna Beach Area

With a vibrant dining scene and settings ranging from waterfront tables to hidden garden patios, the New Smyrna Beach Area offers plenty of options for a memorable meal for two. An anniversary, special celebration, or relaxed date night can be paired with creative cuisine, thoughtfully selected wines, and some of the area's most distinctive dining atmospheres.

1. The Garlic

For an Italian-inspired evening in a distinctive setting, The Garlic has long been a New Smyrna Beach favorite. Guests enter through a vine-covered arbor before discovering rustic indoor and outdoor dining spaces surrounded by lush vegetation and eclectic décor.

The experience begins with fresh-baked bread and roasted garlic, while the menu features pasta, seafood, steaks, and Italian specialties prepared under Executive Chef Michael Perri. An expansive wine selection and live entertainment every night add to the atmosphere. The restaurant does not accept reservations, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

2. Spanish River Grill

Spanish River Grill offers another distinctive choice for a special evening. Located on South Dixie Freeway just south of Historic Downtown New Smyrna Beach, the tapas bar and restaurant focuses on fresh ingredients and modern interpretations of traditional flavors.

Chef Henry Salgado, a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist, leads the kitchen, with carefully selected meat, seafood, and vegetables complemented by handcrafted cocktails and a selection of Spanish wines. Couples celebrating an especially memorable occasion can also inquire about the restaurant's private five-course tasting experience at the Chef's Counter.

3. The Grille at Riverview

Waterfront views remain the centerpiece of a meal at The Grille at Riverview, located along the Indian River at the base of Flagler Avenue.

The restaurant's Key West-style deck offers views across the water, creating an inviting setting for watching the sunset and possibly spotting dolphins while enjoying dinner. The menu includes fresh seafood, steaks, pastas, salads, wine, and signature cocktails.

For couples who want to turn dinner into a longer experience, The Riverview Hotel is located next door, along with The Spa at Riverview.

4. Norwood's Eatery & Bars

A New Smyrna Beach landmark since 1946, Norwood’s Restaurant & Treehouse Bar combines dinner, drinks, and live entertainment in one of the area's most recognizable settings.

The property features three distinct spaces: the 1946 Restaurant, Treehouse Bar, and Roots Bar. The main restaurant serves fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, and scratch-made dishes, while the multi-level Treehouse Bar is built into a historic oak tree and features craft cocktails and daily live music. The Treehouse Bar is reserved for guests ages 21 and older.

Couples can also keep an eye on Norwood's calendar for special experiences, including its wine dinner series and other culinary events.

5. Third Wave Café

Hidden behind Flagler Avenue, Third Wave Café & Wine Bar creates an intimate setting with a lush garden patio surrounded by tropical greenery and café lights.

Its cuisine blends international influences with Southern coastal traditions, with menus that evolve seasonally to highlight fresh ingredients. Curated wines and handcrafted cocktails complement the dinner experience.

Sustainability is also reflected in Executive Chef David Moscoso's approach to food. Moscoso is a member of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Blue Ribbon Task Force and has partnered with the Marine Discovery Center on its Tide to Table event, which highlights sustainably sourced seafood and local conservation. Third Wave also serves brunch, offering another option for couples who prefer a daytime date.

The New Smyrna Beach Area's dining scene offers plenty of ways to make an evening together feel special. Waterfront sunsets, garden patios, live music, creative menus, and distinctive local settings give couples plenty of options for enjoying a memorable meal while discovering another side of this coastal community.