These romantic restaurants and wine bars are the best places in Phoenix and Scottsdale to bring your sweetheart this Valentine's Day—or any other day for that matter. From breakfast stops to fine dining, this list has you covered.
Vovomeena: Whether you love a specific person or any decent cup of coffee, visit this cafe for a substantial start to any day (except Mondays, when it’s closed). The most decadent entrée is a waffle stacked with a smoked pork chop, two eggs and a Portuguese donut—plenty to share with a partner. Smaller plates carry tinkered traditions, like a Benedict with chorizo and a sope (peppery sausage instead of ham; corn cake instead of muffin) or French toast served bread-pudding-style. The house’s cold-brewed coffee, called Mornin’ Moonshine, is a point of pride.
Virtu: If a bed-and-breakfast inn is romantic, so is dinner in its bulb-strung courtyard. Virtu Honest Craft at the four-room Bespoke Inn takes a rustic approach to public-welcome suppers, applying exotic spices, truffled essence or a smoky char to plates of pastas and proteins.
V95: Leave it to style-conscious Scottsdale Fashion Square to provide cocktails at a prime people-watching perch. Belly-up with a bestie at the open-sided V95 Wine Lounge (adjacent to the concierge desk) for sparkling wine, mixed nuts, and the bonding that comes with a shared giggle at someone else’s outfit.
Veneto Trattoria Italiana: The opposite of an open bar is a quiet table dressed with linens and candles inside Veneto. Conversation comes easy over tender fare like ricotta ravioli or cod with grilled polenta—and marinara on one’s lip may be an invitation to a kiss.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood: A low-lit lounge with live piano is a sociable setting for dates and meet-ups, while a separate room of booths and tables grants small parties some personal space. “Prime Seafood” is part of Eddie V’s formal name—so go for the showy shellfish tower if you’re trying to impress, simple sea bass if you’re comfy, or oysters if you’re hoping to head home early (wink-wink).
Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen & Bar: While seated inside a glass box on one of Scottsdale’s busiest streets, guests of Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen are reminded of how good they’ve got it, lounging instead of driving, with nothing but green lights between them and their next plate of calamari or bowl of mussels.
Vivo! Ristorante: The charms of Vivo! are noisy, utilitarian and soothing: exposed ductwork, suspended links of cured meats awaiting use, and a glowing fire inside the pizza kiln.
Vintage 95: The lure of the lengthy wine list makes some visitors wish they were walk-in locals. Bruschetta, flatbreads, Berkshire pork chops and ahi with kimchee make good accompaniments.
Vincent on Camelback: Inside this Phoenix institution, 1993 James Beard Award-winning chef Vincent Guerithault has been known to coax French ingredients (duck, lobster) into Southwestern shapes (tamales, chimichangas). Outside, on Saturday mornings (in season), he stages a farmers market in the parking lot with his wife and sons.