By Hannah George By Hannah George | January 23, 2024 | Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Feature, Eat, Date Night, Resto Bar for Solo Dining, Resto to Socialize, Steakhouse, Date Place, Play, Happy Hour, Cocktails, Drink, Wine and Spirits, culture, Food & Drink, Food & Drink Feature, Lifestyle Feature, Culture Feature, food, Entertainment, Community, Apple News, Guide, City Life, Restaurants, Guides,
If you're newly dating, a married couple or anything in between, here are the best ways to celebrate Valentine's Day in San Diego.
Dine with your loved one at Valle’s new El Sillón. PHOTO BY DEANNA SANDOVAL
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine
Join Lionfish for a classic Valentine’s dinner featuring lobster and Champagne. You and your date will enjoy grilled Main lobster, ricotta agnolotti and two glasses of Veuve Clicquot bubbly to toast to the occasion. Or, gather your girlfriends for buy one, get one free pours of Chandon sparkling wine and a complimentary platter of decadent chocolate-covered strawberries. Book your reservation online.
The grilled Maine lobster at Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine; PHOTO BY ROBERT REYES
If your significant other is a sushi lover, treat them to the Cupid’s Catch Valentine’s Day Special at Temaki Bar in Encinitas. Indulge in an eight-piece nigiri platter featuring a surf and turf set of beef tataki, king crab and truffle butter, along with other delicacies, or book an omakase experience for a multi-course journey of chef’s favorites. If you're celebrating Galentine's instead, be sure to order glasses of Hana Hou Hou Shu Rosé Clouds, as they are buy one, get one free! Call 760.704.8888 to reserve your spot on the waitlist.
The Valentine’s Day surf and turf at Temaki Bar; PHOTO BY ROBERT REYES
Chef Roberto Alcocer’s Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant, Valle, is the perfect spot for a romantic evening this Valentine’s Day, and this Feb.1, the establishment will open the all-new El Sillón experience. Serving four signature dishes and optional wine or non-alcoholic pairings, this exclusive dining option is a one-of-a-kind way to celebrate the day of love. Book your reservation here.
Enjoy a romantic evening at Valle’s new El Sillón. PHOTO BY DEANNA SANDOVAL
Jeune et Jolie partner John Resnick and executive chef Eric Bost are planning a spectacular evening of French fare and amour for you and your Valentine. Cozy up in the cushy interior amid funky pink decor while enjoying a five-course prix fixe meal. To reserve, visit the restaurant's website here.
A dinner of fresh seafood is a sure way to impress your date this Valentine’s Day. Executive chef Aidan Owens will offer a four-course menu, serving delicacies ranging from oysters to pork belly to mushroom risotto, before executive pastry chef Laura Warren presents her gooey chocolate lava cake or winter citrus tarte. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
Herb & Sea's delicious dinner spread; PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MOTOS
What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than to wine and dine? Sip on specialty flights featuring five wines, each paired with rich and delicious light bites of oysters, curated cheeses and a lovely plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. If you’re both still hungry, order from the Pali Wine Co. menu for some signature dishes to split. Make your reservations here. And on Feb. 13, gather your girlfriends for vision boards and wine to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Wine pairings and light bites await at Pali Wine Co. PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MOTOS
From its verdant velvet-filled interior design to a four-course Valentine's menu of Asian-inspired dishes, Animae invites couples to bask in a candle-lit glow on Valentine’s Day while indulging in shrimp cocktails, Taiwanese fried chicken and flavorful adobe au poivre filets, before capping off the night chocolate cremeux plated with miso sesame foam. Both the ambiance and haute cuisine will ensure a swanky evening out this Feb. 14. Book your table here.
Dessert offerings at Animae; PHOTO BY JAMES TRAN
With stunning views of the San Diego Bay as your dining backdrop, Garibaldi wants to help you celebrate love Italian-style. On Valentine’s Day, Garibaldi will offer a four-course tasting menu centered around sustainable seafood and the allure of Mediterranean coastal regions, Sicily and Sardinia. Enjoy playful dessert options like the Oops, I Dropped the Cannoli with sweet pistachio cream, and cozy up on the terrace after with complimentary parkas while taking in the sunset sky. Book your table via Resy here.
The romantic outlook on the terrace of Garibaldi; PHOTO COURTESY OF GARIBALDI
California English is turning up the romance with a curated menu from celebrity chef Richard Blais, including fare such as seafood, steak and indulgent desserts. With its intimate atmosphere and delectable dishes like a 6-ounce filet with lobster and sticky toffee date cake, California English promises couples a memorable Valentine’s Day celebration. Call 858.201.3461 to book or reserve online.
California English’s playful interior; PHOTO BY HALEY HILL
Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree Cucina Urbana has mastered tempting Italian cuisine. This Valentine’s Day, indulge in a luxurious three-course prix fixe menu with a variety of hearty and light options—think braised short ribs and kampachi crudo—that make for a perfect date night that is sure to impress. Reservations can be made here.
The colorful dining room at Cucina Urbana; PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MOTOS
Take Valentine’s Day to-go this year. At Morena Provisions, dinner is taken care of with an all-in-one basket for two that includes a beet salad, mushroom risotto, two entrees, chocolate-dipped strawberries and a bottle of bubbly, of course. Whether you and your partner choose to dine on the couch or head out on a romantic picnic, Morena Provisions makes it both simple and delicious! To place your order, click here.
Valentine’s Day-themed pastries from Morena Provisions; PHOTO COURTESY OF URBAN KITCHEN GROUP
Chef David Sim welcomes romantic duos as well as families to his Michelin Guide-recommended Kingfisher restaurant, presenting French-Vietnamese cuisine unlike any other eatery in San Diego. The Valentine's Day multi-course shareable dinner is a delicious mix of dishes, offering both truffle add-ons and wine pairings to round out this incredible evening. Reservations can be made on the Kingfisher website.
The bar at Kingfisher; PHOTO COURTESY OF KINGFISHER
Banker Hill’s new bar and restaurant is serving up romance, from its curated plates to its performance-filled stage. Chef Sam Deckman’s elevated dinner menu is the perfect pairing to live musical entertainment based on the rom-com Shakespeare In Love. To book, visit the Books & Records website here.
A peek inside Books & Records; PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MOTOS
Liberty Station’s dynamic Liberty Public Market is all the rage this Valentine’s Day. With jam-packed festivities, like Beer Bingo on Feb. 13 and a Galentine’s Market featuring 30+ female-owned small businesses on the 18th, this vibrant locale offers delightful dining alongside entertainment and great gifting for couples or friends to enjoy.
Get your sweetheart into the Parisian spirit this Valentine’s Day with a charming prix fixe dinner at San Diego’s newly opened Little Frenchie. Alongside the regular á la carte menu filled with French classics, this gem is rolling out a three-course menu with stunning dishes, including duck torchon and brûlée camembert. Take the evening to another level with optional wine pairings while basking in the romantic atmosphere. Reserve your table here.
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