32 Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day in Vancouver
It’s February 1st, Valentines’s Day is creeping up but you wanna convince your partner-in-crime that you’ve spent a little more effort planning a cute date this year (rather than booking whatever’s still available from a random bloggers Top 32 Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day) — don’t worry I got y’all. In this post, I share my favourite 2020 Valentine’s Day affairs in Vancouver. You’ll find something exciting no matter if you’re single, heartbroken, jaded, or in a happy relationship.
Self Love
They say you must learn to love yourself before you can love someone else so it’s the perfect day for some TLC! Spoil yourself by booking a spa appointment or running yourself a hot bath, get a manicure & pedicure, or go get that new outfit or cute lingerie you’ve been eyeing on. You’re worth it and you deserve this.
Treat yourself
Feeling bougie? Get a Spa by JW day pass or treatment and soak your cares away in an outdoor healing hydrotherapy tub at their Aqua Lounge
Your skins needing extra attention? Schedule an appointment with Mags at Spa Diva for a relaxing treatment to rejuvenate your skin — she’s personable, knowledgeable, passionate and so good at what she does!
Gift yourself a pretty manicure, the kind that turns heads & starts conversations! I recommend the Bio Sculpture Gel treatment with cute customized designs by Yasushi from Nail de Kaen
Fuck Bad Hair, life’s too short. Boost your confidence with a cute new ‘do by this talented team!
Cute Valentine’s Day themed bath bombs
“Peachy” Bath Bomb / Photo: Lush Cosmetics
“Eggplant” Bath Bomb / Photo: Lush Cosmetics
“Floating Flower” Bath Bomb / Photo: Lush Cosmetics
Galentines & Palentines
Fact: A way to someone's heart is through their stomach so why not show your appreciation to your best friend by bringing them a heart-shaped pizza or a fried chicken bouquet and eat your feelings out together?
Valentine’s Day themed SAVOURIES
Enjoy a heart-shaped Margherita Pizza at Pizza Farina (Main Street) for $16 or as part of a $68 multi-course dinner at the North Shore location / Photo: Anna Gray (SMC Communications)
Preorder your Fried Chicken Bouquet from Juke Fried Chicken for $29 plus tax / Photo: Julianna Sonntag (SMC Communications)
Preorder your Fried Chicken Bouquet from Win Win Chick-N for $28 plus tax (come with 12 pieces of drumsticks & a personal ube cake) / Photo: @itsjosheats
Valentine’s Day Themed Sweets
Cop BETA5’s renowned trademark Polygon Heart, hand-painted chocolates, *new* heart-shaped 100% plant-based chocolates, and chocolate Polygon Bars, and blushing pink cream puffs for your favourite human(s) / Photo: Sophia Cheng (SCPR)
Hearts are sure to melt over the limited-edition Valentine's Day confectionary items on offer at Temper Chocolate & Pastry! Your BFF will swoon over this beautiful collection! / Photo: Temper Chocolate
Don’t have anyone to kiss? Grab a sweet treat instead! “Ladurée Valentine’s Day collection this year celebrates how special and precious a simple kiss can be,” says Olesya Krakhmalyova of Ladurée Canada / Photo: Sophia Cheng (SCPR)
Something different
Embrace PAL-entine’s Day at Field & Social with Mark Singson ft. 5 courses + snacks for $80 per person (wine available for purchase) / Photo: @marksingson
Dinner, drinks & an improv comedy show about the funny world of romance & online dating? Sign me & the bestie up! Tickets are $49 per person and includes a complimentary glass of sparkling wine each, a shared set menu for two and two theatre seats / Photo: @havanavancouver
Channel your Valentine’s Day emotions into art with artist Tania Anisimova! Tickets are $70 per person for art instruction, art supplies, wine & snacks / Photo: Green Apple Art Center
Do it for the ‘gram
Need a new profile pic for your dating profile? Grab your girls for lots of cute photo opportunities at Dinner with a View
Shu*k Valentine’s Day! Get lit by the fireplace with your crew at The Lobby Lounge for their Anti-Valentine’s Day with a bottle of Nicolas Maillart Champagne and a dozen oysters for $238 / Photo: @fairmontpacific
Who needs cupid when you’ve got sweets? Valentine’s Day marks the the last day of the 10th annual Hot Chocolate Festival so make the most of it!
Celebrating with your ROCK
Romance: such a warm & fuzzy feeling! Make your main squeeze feel special with breakfast in bed, a little sweet (and kinky) care package, a fun activity together, a romantic night out, or cooking dinner together. The sky’s the limit — here are some affairs in Vancouver that caught my eye:
intimate meals under $100
If your date fancies cocktails, make a reservation for Pourhouse ASAP. They will be offering a 4 course prix-fixe feast for $99 per couple featuring gourmet snacks such as foie gras torchon, oysters, a black truffle custard tart, lobster ravioli, salmon wellington and a dessert of chocolate-rose-champagne / Photo: Anna Gray (SMC Communications)
Continue the city’s love affair with Italian cuisine and celebrate amore with a cozy 4 course dinner (ft. prosciutto di parma, insalata mista, ravioli quattro formaggio e tartufo, braised veal cheeks & polenta, chocolate cherry tart) at neighbourhood hotspot LIVIA for $50 per person (optional wine pairings for $45 per person / Photo: @liviasweets
Venture out to the new Seaside Provisions by Lonsdale Quay for a sweet dinner deal featuring oysters, crab & leek tart, sourdough, wagyu flank, scallops, pan seared sablefish, and dark chocolate tart for $59 per person / Photo: @seasideprovisions
Prix Fixe culinary adventures
Dine at one of Vancouver’s most beautiful restaurant, Botanist, for $168: enjoy a welcome glass of sparkling wine, an exclusive 6 course tasting menu, featuring decadent dishes such as Northern Divine Caviar, Butter-Poached Lobster Tail and Brant Lake Wagyu Striploin, and live music / Photo: @botanistdining
Looking for something special & exclusive? Be one of the 10 couples at Mak & Ming for a special 5 course dinner ft. chilled seafood platter, baked egg + asparagus, wild salmon + kombu, handmade mushroom ramen, and chocolate tasting for $235 per couple (includes tax & tip) / Photo: @makandming
If French cuisine is your thing — Tableau Bar Bistro’s decadent dishes highlight its French-meets-West-Coast fare, showcasing Head Chefs Tommy Shorthouse & Levi Johnston’s most recent creations. The Valentine’s Day set menu is $90 per person ft. wagyu beef striploin & sablefish / Photo: Tracey Ayton
My kinda romantic night out always include a cheeky drink before dinner, good thing Hawksworth is 2-in-1. Sneak in a handcrafted cocktail at the lounge before your indulgent 5 course Valentine’s Day dinner reservations at the restaurant. $110 per person, +$58 for wine pairings / Photo: Hawksworth Restaurant
If it’s been a while since your last steak & wine night out, Gotham’s is celebrating Valentine’s Day with dinner features available for one weekend only. Think Seared Prawn & Scallops, and Tournedos of Prime Tenderloin (bacon-wrapped beef & vanilla-butter poached king crab legs) for 2 / Photo: Gotham Steakhouse
Want to impress? Boulevard ticks all the romantic date requirements; ambience, service, food and drinks? You’re in good hands. To make Valentine’s extra special, book one of their Tableside Services / Photo: @blvdyvr
Something Unique
Feeling ‘Sleepless in Vancouver’ about where to take your special someone for Valentine’s Day? If ‘She’s All That’ and deserves a unforgettable ‘Date Night’ this year, the team at PICA invite you to treat your ‘Someone Great’ to a 7 course dinner inspired by some of Hollywood’s greatest on-screen love stories / Photo: PICA
I’ve never personally been on a cruise before so this sounds like the next best thing with little commitment! Go on a Valentine's Day 3 course dinner cruise with Yoho Cruises for $137 per person / Photo: Yoho Cruises
Join H2’s chef de cuisine Brody Paine and his own Valentine, Elsie, widely known for her extraordinary sweet treats at East Vancouver’s renowned Bâtard Bakery for a cooking class! Let them be your guides as you create H2’s signature buttermilk biscuits, an antipasto platter, oysters with cava mignonette, Italian confit lemon and herb risotto, and a dessert of flourless dark chocolate pudding cake with macerated berries / Photo: @h2restaurant
Staycation Packages
Book one of the Loden Hotel’s premium Guest Rooms (Loden Park Vista, Loden Garden Terrace or One Bedroom Suite) frorm $339 and enjoy 15% off your total stay, $25 CAD food & beverage credit to spend at Tableau Bar Bistro, Signature Loden amenity in your room upon arrival, Loden Romantic Turndown upon arrival, which includes satin rose petals on your bed / Photo: @lodenhotel
Enjoy luxurious nature inspired accommodations, $100 daily dining credit to The Victor, the rooftop steak and seafood restaurant at Parq Vancouver, daily in-room dining breakfast for two starting at $379 when you book at the JW Marriott with promotional code ‘ROM’ / Photo: @parqvancouver
Skip the night out and spend your stay between the sheets (or in the tub) with Fairmont’s exclusive Vancouver Romance Package which includes luxury accommodation, chocolate truffles and a complimentary bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut champagne upon arrival and breakfast in bed the morning after starting at $469 / Photo: @fairmontpacific
Quality time with Family
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your family! My definition of quality time with family is cooking a wholesome meal together, having great conversation over a good bottle (or 2) of wine, watching a movie together and obviously belting out in karaoke! Responsible for bringing a dish to a family dinner? Here are some of my favourite dishes to make:
Recipe: Konbi's Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich (+ Fresh Truffles)
Recipe: Green Onion Ginger Fried Rice
Recipe: Simple & Delicious Bone-In Rib Roast
It goes without saying that my suggestions are interchangeable. I’m personally planning on getting all the Valentine’s Day themed treats for my gals, friends, family, AND partner in crime. The plot twist & irony of this entire post is: I’m pretty much off the hook this year because my partner in crime has to work all day. He did make a reservation for my mom and I to dine at his restaurant at a decent time so I can’t ask for more.
Let me know what your favourite idea & Valentine’s Day plans are in the comments below! Hope you enjoy the occasion with your special one!