Once the capital of the Virginia Colony in the 1700s, Williamsburg forms the ‘Historic Triangle’ together with Jamestown and Yorktown and boasts a rich and vibrant history. It is also home to several romantic restaurants which offer ideal places to celebrate love from elegant restaurants overlooking shimmering waters and flaming sunsets to intimate eateries with intimate candlelit booths and Old-World charm.
Christiana Campbell's Tavern
Famous for being a favorite haunt of George Washington’s for fresh seafood, Christiana Campbell's Tavern is a historic tavern that has been faithfully recreated and now serves fine Southern fare and fresh seafood as it did in the times of the founders. Adorned with period décor from the 18th century, including brass sconces, pewter candlesticks, and reproduction chairs, the restaurant serves a menu of fresh seafood such as crab, shrimp, fish, and scallops based on Mrs. Campbell’s original recipes. Diners are served by servers dressed in fashions from the 1700s while listening to members of the Waterman’s Family play and sing in the lobby.
Christiana Campbell's Tavern, 101 S Waller St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 800-447-8679
Aberdeen Barn
Locally owned and operated by the White family for over four decades, the Aberdeen Barn is a classic steak and seafood restaurant with an open-hearth grill, a raw bar, and a casual, rustic, candlelit atmosphere. Locally known as a “special occasion” restaurant with an intimate clubby ambiance, the Aberdeen Barn specializes in serving food hot off the grill, including the finest USDA corn-fed beef, organic chicken and pork, and fresh seafood. The award-winning restaurant also offers a selection of curated wines from around the world, local craft beers, and signature cocktails.
Aberdeen Barn, 1601 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-229-6661
Berret's Seafood Restaurant & Taphouse Grill
Located in Colonial Williamsburg's Merchants Square, Berret's Seafood Restaurant & Taphouse Grill has been serving fresh seafood and other regional cuisine since 1983. Offering two dining choices in one convenient location, namely Berret's Seafood Restaurant and the Taphouse Grill, diners can enjoy a seasonal menu of regional seafood and a variety of fresh seasonal catches at the restaurant, and an expanded 80-bottle wine list with 15 wines by the glass and a selection of microbrews.on tap and by the bottle at the Taphouse. The nautical eatery boasts an outdoor grill on which summer fish such as cobia, tuna, wahoo, and bluefish are grilled to perfection, along with rockfish, redfish and sea bass in the spring. Landlubbers can tuck into steaks, chops and poultry entrées, and there is a special menu for children.
Berret's Seafood Restaurant & Taphouse Grill, 199 S Boundary St, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185, Phone: 757-253-1847
Blue Talon Bistro
Located in Colonial Williamsburg's Merchants Square, the Blue Talon Bistro is a cozy bistro that serves classic French brasserie fare in a bright and sunny teal-and-tangerine space. Seamlessly blending casual comfort and top-notch quality, the restaurant serves classic dishes such as traditional French onion soup, boeuf bourguignon, bucatini pasta with ground duck and pork belly and delicious crème brûlée. Chef David Everett creates Plates of the Day and Weekly Specials, and don’t miss the World's Best Coffee and fresh-baked croissants, coffee cake and morning pastries for breakfast.
420 Prince George St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-476-2583
Cochon on 2nd
Cochon on 2nd is a friendly open-kitchen restaurant in the heart of Williamsburg that serves refined New American cuisine and craft cocktails in an inviting atmosphere. The brainchild of Executive Chef Neil Griggs, Cochon on 2nd is the newest restaurant to hit the Hampton Roads dining scene, offering rotating menus of innovative cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The perfect spot for everyday, exceptional, or indulgent experience, the restaurant offers a unique dining experience at the Chef’s Table, which overlooks the open kitchen and is designed to be fun and adventurous. Guests can enjoy a personalized multi-course dinner with wine pairings based on personal preferences.
311 2nd St #106, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-229-1199
Fat Canary
Overlooking Colonial Williamsburg's Merchants Square, the Fat Canary is an award-winning bistro-style restaurant that promises an unforgettable evening for those wanting romance. The refined, green-walled bistro adds a special touch to couples celebrating their love by printing personal menus with messages of love. The contemporary bistro serves seasonal menus of creative cuisine which includes fresh seafood such as Pan Seared Sea Scallops and Grilled Atlantic Salmon, along with entrées of Pan Seared Quail, Free-Range Guinea Fowl with Parmesan Gnocchi, and Heritage Breed Pork Chops with Goat Cheese Soufflé. The restaurant has a charming patio for outdoor dining in the summer months and an adjacent cheese shop which sells a variety of handmade cheeses and deli items.
Fat Canary, 410 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-229-3333
Fireside Chop House
The Fireside Chop House is a long-standing steakhouse that has been serving the finest cuts of aged steak, prime rib, and beef for the past 40 years. Boasting traditional steakhouse décor with dark wood and leather accents, elegantly dressed tables and gleaming silverware, the steakhouse serves a menu of thick house-butchered cuts of USDA choice steaks, free-range chicken and pork, fresh seafood and a range of vegetarian options. The full-service bar has an extensive menu of fine wines from around the world, which can be enjoyed by the glass or bottle, craft beers on tap or by the bottle, and handcrafted cocktails.
Fireside Chop House , 1995 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-229-3310
Giuseppe's Italian Restaurant
Located in a charming brick building, Giuseppe's Italian Restaurant is a family-friendly restaurant that serves both classic and contemporary Italian cuisine in a warm and welcoming setting. Loved by locals and visitors alike, the casual eatery specializes in authentic Northern and Southern Italian cuisine with starters of Italian tapas like broiled sea scallops, bruschetta, and fried oysters. Entrées include pasta primavera Bianco, chicken picatta, mussels Calabria, steak al gorgonzola, pan-seared lamb loin chops, and Frutti de mar, and desserts of Tartufo, spumoni, and chocolate decadence torte. The cuisine is paired with a variety of casual wines from Italy and other wine-growing regions, along with craft beers by the bottle, and made-to-order cocktails.
Giuseppe's Italian Restaurant, 5525 Olde Towne Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23188, Phone: 757-565-1977
King's Arms Tavern Dining
Originally opened by Jane Vobe in 1772, the King's Arms Tavern Dining is an 18th-century Colonial reproduction restaurant offering hearty American specialties from waitrons in traditional costumes. The authentic reproduction public house boasts period décor and an air of colonial elegance and serves a menu to match prime ribs, pork chops, and beef steaks, and roasted lamb. Signature dishes include venison game pie, rabbit and duck braised in port-wine sauce. Diners can enjoy an array of drinks from the full-service bar, including casual wines, craft microbrews, and classic cocktails, along with live flute music while they dine.
416 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 855-578-0080
Maurizio's Ristorante Italiano
Located in the Festival Marketplace Shopping Center, Maurizio's Ristorante Italiano is a family-friendly Italian restaurant that has been serving traditional dishes and homemade pies since 1984. Owned by Silician-born Maurizio Fiorello, the restaurant prides itself on using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and Italian herbs and preparing each dish from scratch from age-old recipes. Signature dishes include antipasto Siciliano, mozzarella Caprese salad, Insalata di mare, veal saltimbocca, shrimp Gaetana, penne alla Capri and vegetarian options of ricotta vegetarian and eggplant cacciatore. Beverages range from casual wines and craft beers to imported Italian sodas, and specialty coffees.
Maurizio's Ristorante Italiano, 264 McLaws Cire, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-229-0337
Opus 9 Steakhouse
Located in New Town Commercial Association, Opus 9 Steakhouse is a traditional steakhouse that promises an unrivaled dining experience. The restaurant features elegant décor in dark hues with plush leather booths, spacious tables with gleaming silverware, and a crackling fireplace that creates a warm and intimate glow. Exuding a club-like lounge sophistication and impeccable hospitality and service, the restaurant serves a menu of classic steakhouse fare including prime USDA steaks and chops, fresh seafood, hearty sides, and fresh salads, along with an extensive wine list of famous and little-known labels, craft beers on tap and by the bottle, and signature cocktails. Opus 9 Steakhouse caters for private events and functions with several private dining and board rooms, and a seasonal patio is a perfect spot for alfresco summer dining.
5143 Main St, Williamsburg, VA 23188, Phone: 757-645-4779
Rockefeller Room
Located in Williamsburg Inn, the Rockefeller Room is a contemporary fine dining restaurant that embraces Southern tradition by serving a menu of New World tastes and flavors. Offering a ‘culinary adventure in modern fine-dining,’ the Rockefeller Room boasts trendy décor and an elegant Regency style with menus to match. Diners can savor innovative dishes such as Tangier Island Oysters, Virginia Crab Cakes, Loch Duart Salmon, Rockefeller Steaks, and Lamb Rack against a backdrop of live music on select evenings. Paying homage to the evolution of American cuisine, Executive Chef Travis Brust injects the rich Southern tradition of fresh oysters throughout the menu.
Rockefeller Room, 136 Francis St E, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 866-299-8521
Seafare of Williamsburg
The Seafare of Williamsburg is a culinary gem on Richmond Road that promises an exceptional dining experience. The traditional, family-friendly restaurant boasts nautical décor and an inviting ambiance and serves an array of fresh seafood and prime steaks in an elegant, yet casual atmosphere. Established over four decades ago, the restaurant has been providing romantic dining experiences ever since, with a menu of fresh seafood ranging from South African crayfish tails and Chesapeake Bay oysters to England Dover sole. Starters of homemade rum buns set the tone, followed by fresh salads, and palate-cleansing sorbets before hearty entrées of certified Black Angus steaks, tender veal, fresh ocean seafood, and homemade pasta follow.
Seafare of Williamsburg , 1632 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-229-0099
Second Street American Bistro
Owned by Williamsburg-raised brothers, John and Mickey Chohany, Second Street American Bistro is an upscale tavern with gold-hued décor and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Established by the brothers over 30 years ago, the now reinvented space presents several seasonally changing menus that feature local specialties and culinary surprises such as grilled salmon, prime steaks, homemade lasagne, and hearty burgers. Diners can enjoy the fare and an array of drinks in the modern dining room or on the outdoor patio next to the koi pond, which makes for an intimate and romantic setting. Don’t miss the impressive desserts, which range from the Choco Grande Four Layer Cake and Banana Foster Cheesecake to the Second Street Signature Sundae, which will leave a lasting memory.
140 2nd St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-220-2286
The Whaling Company
Best known for serving fresh seafood and catch-of-the-day fish, The Whaling Company has long been recognized as Williamsburg's seafood specialist. Guaranteeing the highest quality and freshest seafood in town, the restaurant serves a menu of local, fresh fish, oysters, scallops, and shrimp and homemade dishes, along with salads, vegetarian dishes, and hearty sides. Exuding the charm of a charming New England style boathouse, the restaurant has comfortable décor and a warm and welcoming ambiance.
The Whaling Company, 494 McLaws Cir, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-229-0275
Tuscany Ristorante Williamsburg
Located in Olde Towne Shopping Center, Tuscany Ristorante Williamsburg is a family-friendly Italian restaurant that serves authentic Northern and Southern Italian fare, mouth-watering desserts, and an array of casual wines. Using locally sourced ingredients and imported Tuscan herbs, extra virgin olive oil, and other Mediterranean produce, dishes are prepared from scratch and served with passion and flair. Signature dishes include housemade pasta and wood-fired pizza, prime beef and veal plates, and fresh seafood platters, fresh salads, vegetarian options, and sensational desserts. A wine list features a selection of casual wines, craft beers, and spirits for creating classic cocktails.
Tuscany Ristorante Williamsburg, 4854 Longhill Rd #16, Williamsburg, VA 23188, Phone: 757-378-3486
Waypoint Seafood and Grill
Located at the intersection of Kingsmill and Route 199 in Williamsburg’s Quarterpath Crossing, the Waypoint Seafood and Grill is an elegant eatery with contemporary yet comfortable décor, well-lit tables and plush leather booths, and original artworks from regional artists. Celebrating the very best of local Chesapeake ingredients and regionally grown produce, the Waypoint menu features seasonally changing dishes including fresh seafood from the surrounding waters, prime meats and chicken, organic salads, vegetables and herbs, and delicious desserts. The full-service bar serves casual wines, craft beers, and handcrafted cocktails to accompany the cuisine.
Waypoint Seafood and Grill, 1480 Quarterpath Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-220-2228
