Click here for 2024 Valentine’s Day dining in Central and Northern California.
What’s more romantic than dinner and a sunset? Find out at these elevated Valentine’s Day dining experiences in California, complete with surf-and-turf specials, the loveliest local wines and colorful coastal views.
Serēa
San Diego
Treat your special someone to a lavish dinner on Valentine’s Day at the beloved Hotel del Coronado. Here, guests can settle in on Serēa’s two-tiered patio to enjoy the Pacific Ocean view while sipping some Champagne, admiring the waving palm trees and listening to the sound of the surf. As for dinner, a special surf-and-turf special will set the mood. Beginning with opulent oysters served with mignonette pearls and strawberry, all of the courses star sustainable seafood. Similarly, the surf-and-turf flaunts a stuffed lobster thermidor paired with a petite filet prepared with a red wine demi. To drink, sip on the His & Hers chocolate Old Fashioned with Ballotin chocolate whiskey, chocolate and orange bitters and a chocolate-dipped burnt orange wheel. Finally, a sweet yet spicy dark chocolate cake complete with chili, berries and Cabernet will be the finale to your festive feast. Serēa’s special menu will be served from 5 to 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. For more information, visit sereasandiego.com.
Tangerine Room
Anaheim
The Westin Anaheim Resort will be hosting a delicious four-course prix-fixe meal with a complimentary Champagne toast at Tangerine Room, the signature restaurant of The Westin Anaheim Resort. For the main entree, diners have a choice of wagyu beef New York strip, paired with beef cheek ravioli, baby mirepoix and cabernet beurre rouge, or Heart & Sole, spotlighting Pacific dover sole, fresh hearts of palm, chanterelle mushroom and bittersweet orange. The special Valentine’s Day menu is served from 5 to 10 p.m., at $80 per person. For more information, visit www.tangerineroom.com.
The Marine Room
La Jolla
At the renowned Marine Room, the surf and sea will surely ignite your passion and your appetite this Valentine’s Day. While situated just off the shore of La Jolla Shores, the romantic views of the sunset will be spectacular. Upon arrival, guests can clink their Champagne glasses, raise a rare glass of wine, or make a toast with a handcrafted cocktail in the name of love. Or, galentines can sip glamorous GNO (Girl’s Night Out) cocktails. From there, guests can anticipate a four-course dining experience curated by Executive Chef Mike Minor. The lovely lineup includes winter truffle risotto for two, passionfruit scallop crudo, bone-in filet mignon and local bluefin tuna. And, of course, your Valentine’s Day dining experience in California can’t be complete without something sweet. Luckily, for dessert lovers, The Marine Room will wow you with a chocolate lava cake with wild flower gelato. The Valentine’s Day menu is available for $150 per person, and additional wine pairings will be available for $75 per person. For more information, visit marineroom.com.
Grange Restaurant & Bar
Sacramento
For a memorable Valentine’s Day date night in Downtown Sacramento, look no further than Grange Restaurant & Bar, The Citizen Hotel’s renowned restaurant. After all, nothing makes sparks fly like a fabulous farm-to-fork Valentine’s Day dining experience in California. This unique four-course menu starts off with sustainably farmed meats and seafood. From smoked salmon with crème fraiche to a citrus salad covered in pistachio and avocado mousse, the flavors will be nothing short of flirtatious. As for the mains, guests can fall head over heels for a traditional surf-and-turf pairing of Maine lobster risotto and Niman Ranch filet mignon. Finally, the finale to your elegant evening will undoubtedly be the dark chocolate torte dessert topped with ruby-red raspberry whipped cream. Grange Restaurant & Bar’s Valentine’s Day menu is available for $145 per person, and additional wine pairings will be available for $80. P.S. The Citizen Hotel is also providing the perfect package for those seeking a Valentine’s Day getaway, which includes a recently refurbished guest room or suite, an intimate gift box, an in-room movie, a bottle of sparkling wine, a $50 food and beverage credit and even late check-out. For more information, visit grangerestaurantandbar.com.
20 | Twenty
Carlsbad
At the beautiful beachfront restaurant 20 | Twenty, guests will fall in love with flavors from around the world made modern with locally sourced ingredients. Plus, in honor of Valentine’s Day, this date-night destination will host an elaborate three-course dinner for two. This means that you and your special someone can be wined and dined by Chef Jeremy Belshaw while the sky transforms into a watercolor painting. The tempting trio of courses includes citrus yellowtail crudo, a surf-and-turf combination of filet medallions and jumbo prawns, as well as a decadent dessert of honey-lavender panna cotta with raspberry coulis. 20 | Twenty’s Valentine’s Day menu is available for $220 per couple, and additional wine pairings will be available for $40 per couple. Dinner will be served from 4 to 10 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. For more information, visit 20twentygrill.com.
Shearwater Tavern
Carmel-By-The-Sea
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the hallmark hotspot of the Carmel Mission Inn, Shearwater Tavern, will celebrate the most romantic night of the year with an exclusive four-course meal full of locally sourced seafood, fresh fruit and plenty of sweet surprises throughout the evening. First, guests will be greeted by oysters and caviar, followed by California citrus baby winter greens and an interesting intermezzo of passionfruit and lime sorbet. In addition, guests will have the chance to choose between Executive Chef Fabian Di Paolo’s wagyu sirloin served with succulent shrimp and saffron cauliflower puree or a beautiful black cod accompanied by roasted heirloom tomatoes and spinach pesto. Then, to top off your Valentine’s Day dining experience in California, Shearwater Tavern will steal your heart with a remarkably rich flourless chocolate cake served with Godiva cremosos, green tea and lime crème fraiche gelato. The Valentine’s Day menu is available for $170 per couple. Dinner will be served from 4 to 10 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. For more information, visit shearwatertavern.com.
Puesto
San Diego
At Puesto, San Diego’s much-loved Mexican restaurant, you can celebrate Valentine’s Day and Taco Tuesday at the same time. To honor the day of love, all of Puesto’s house-made tortillas will be dyed red using vegetable juice to add a perfect pop of color to your plate. Guests can order their favorite chicken al pastor tacos with a colorful twist, or they can try the chicken en mole negro, which is made with free-range Jidori chicken, mole negro and Mexican crema, all wrapped in a cheesy blanket. And be sure to take a taste of one of Puesto’s recently released cocktails while eating your red tacos. From guava margaritas to espresso martinis, the bar will have you buzzing with love all evening long. Puesto will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. For more information, visit eatpuesto.com.
Ranch 45
Solana Beach
At Ranch 45, you can spend your Valentine’s Day dining in California beneath the stars or warm up at home with their date night to-go special. For those who want to go out, visit Ranch 45 to experience a three-course dinner made with the best local ingredients for $135 per person, with an optional wine pairing costing $55 per person. More like a surf-and-turf spread, the courses will consist of seared diver scallops, filet mignon and even a bone-in beef ribeye for two. However, if you’re looking for an intimate night in to celebrate Valentine’s Day, the date night at home to-go special for $200 is the way to go. This carryout feast includes a salad starter, choice of protein, Chino Farms vegetables, mashed potatoes or wild rice, and even a dessert duo. Orders must be placed by Thursday, Feb. 9, and will be available for pickup on Valentine’s Day. Ranch 45 will be serving its in-house exclusive dinner from 7 to 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. For more information, visit ranch45.com.
Marisi
La Jolla
Make a reservation at Marisi if you want to spend this Valentine’s Day on the Amalfi Coast without having to travel. At Marisi, Valentine’s Day begins with creamy cacio e pepe gougere, to which a half-dozen oysters can be added, accompanied by tuna crudo and squash blossoms. Decadent dishes like the doppio agnolotti and black truffle cappelletti will be served for the second course, followed by entrees like the prime flat iron and grilled halibut. These fresh flavors will all be perfectly paired with classic Marisi cocktails, from espresso martinis to bellinis. But save space for dark chocolate desserts to be the cherry on top of a romantic evening. The Valentine’s Day menu is available for $125 per person. For more information, visit marisilajolla.com.
Garibaldi
San Diego
On the rooftop of Garibaldi, guests can take in a lovely evening watching the sunset over the coastal scenery. And if it couldn’t get any more romantic than that, Garibaldi will also be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special prix-fixe menu and live music from guitarist Robert Chini. From pancetta carbonara and poached San Diego spiny lobster to beautifully braised lamb, the menu will make your mouth water. In addition, desserts like the dolce amore, a light concoction of green tea sponge, raspberry jelly, white chocolate and cherry blossom mousse, or the formaggi, a very Italian quartet of cheeses and compotes, round off a night made for indulging with loved ones. The Valentine’s Day pre-fixe menu is available for $85 per person. Dinner will be served from 5 to 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. For more information, visit catchgaribaldi.com.
Valentina Restaurant
Encinitas
For an extra-dreamy Valentine’s Day, spend a romantic evening with your special someone at Valentina Restaurant. The scene will be set with seaside breezes and twinkling lights as this European-style bistro serves you a tempting three-course dinner. The mouthwatering menu features a curated selection of classic Valentina Restaurant favorites like the oysters and sea bass with potato pave and picada sauce, joined by scrumptious specials fit for the occasion, including the pepper-crusted carpaccio and lamb chop with sunchoke purée and chimichurri sauce. Plus, Valentina also offers an extensive wine list with 120 bottles from wineries from the Napa Valley highlands to the Rhône Valley’s rolling hills for those wishing to really impress their date. The Valentine’s Day menu is available for $89 per person. Dinner will be served from 5 to 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. For more information, visit restaurantvalentina.com.
Vistal Bar + Restaurant
San Diego
From Friday, Feb. 10, until Valentine’s Day, Vistal Bar + Restaurant will be offering special meals and drinks to help you rein in the most romantic day of the year. Located in the The InterContinental San Diego Hotel, Vistal Bar + Restaurant marries California Baja-inspired fare with inspiring views of the San Diego Bay. Guests can begin their dining experience with a stunning seafood tower for two, which is filled with fresh oysters, shrimp cocktail, coconut ceviche, tuna poke and jumbo crab claws. From there, the exclusive menu will also wow you with braised beef cheeks and bone-in New York strips. Lastly, you’ll love the churros con chocolate with mole poblano and the duo lover cake with chocolate sponge, cherry jelly and vanilla whipped ganache for dessert. For more information, visit vistalsd.com.
Beeside Balcony
Del Mar
At Beeside Balcony, Valentine’s Day diners will savor a prix-fixe feast specially curated and presented by head chef and owner, Christophe Cevasco. For $75 per person, diners be greeted with a refreshing of rosé and prosecco upon arrival, following by three tempting courses. For the main entree, guests choose from filet mignon Oscar-style (topped with lump crab and hollandaise), salmon with veg risotto or a tofu veg option. For more information, visit beesidebalcony.com.
The Mayor’s Table
Newport Beach
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at The Mayor’s Table, only steps away from Lido Marina Village. Couples can enjoy a prix-fixe, four-course menu from Executive Chef Partner Riley Huddleston with menu highlights including TransparentSea Farm prawns, chateaubriand beef tenderloin and a passionfruit-yuzu curd pavlova for dessert. And cheers to the evening with a specialty cocktail, like C’est L’Amour (for two!), with pomegranate-infused Grey Goose, lemon, goji berry tea and cardamom, or a Rosé Sangria, with spiced pear, St. Germain, fresh berries and a Champagne float. The Valentine’s Day meal is $214 per couple. For more information, visit lidohousehotel.com.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
La Jolla
Estancia La Jolla will be offering two culinary experiences including star-lit Sweethearts & Symphony Prix Fixe Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 11, with live music, bottomless bubbly and a four-course menu. On Valentine’s Day night, Greenfinch Restaurant & Bar will host an intimate four-course dinner, inclusive of Champagne toast. Menu highlights include Baja Kumiai oysters, potato and lobster chowder, a choice of a filet or cauliflower steak, and dessert. The tastings are $125 and $90 per person, respectively. For more information, visit www.estancialajolla.com.
Vessel Restaurant + Bar
San Diego
Kona Kai Resort & Spa is offering a romantic waterfront dining experience on Valentine’s Day at Vessel Restaurant + Bar with a four-course prix-fixe menu set for two. Romantic dishes will include rice cracker amuse topped with goat cheese, prosciutto and red pepper jam; a winter green salad with smoked almonds, watermelon radish and an orange chili vinaigrette; dual entree including prime filet mignon topped with pickled shallots and mushroom jus; and sweet chocolate delights to round out the Valentine’s Day dinner in California. Tickets are available for $159 per couple. Reservations can be made on Resy.
The Bamboo Club
Long Beach
Long Beach’s original Tiki bar is serving a chef-curated, four-course, prix-fixe menu this Valentine’s Day, kicking off with a daquiri and featuring dishes like surf and turf, Hawaiian salad and coconut pudding. During dinner, all-vinyl DJs will select the perfect songs to spice up your mid-week night out. Tickets for the romantic night include reservations and dinner for two for $140 and can be purchased here. For more information, visit www.bambooclublb.com.
Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen
Fullerton
Michelin-rated Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen dishes up an exclusive five-course prix-fixe menu that is sure to spice up dinner date. On Feb. 14 only, the 100 percent Halal eatery in Downtown Fullerton presents a stunning menu that highlights the dynamic, yet decadent flavors of Desi cuisine at a price of $80 per person. Guests can make reservations now from 4 to 11 p.m. To book, visit https://www.khansaaboc.com/reservations1.
Fly N Fish Oyster Bar
Newport Beach
How does a beachside holiday sound? This Valentine’s Day, guests can sip handcrafted cocktails and enjoy a coastal Valentine’s Day menu at one of Newport Beach’s most popular oyster bars, Fly N Fish. The special menu features grilled eggplant caprese, linguine with crab, surf and turf and New York-style cheesecake. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made at www.flynfishoysterbar.com.
The Blind Pig
Rancho Santa Margarita and Yorba Linda
On Valentine’s Day, The Blind Pig Kitchen & Bar is serving a special prix-fixe menu, featuring elevated dishes crafted from the freshest ingredients and paired with a selection of craft beers and specialty cocktails. At $90 per person, the six-course menu will be available at both restaurant locations, and includes seared scallops or ribeye medallion as the main course. For more information and to make reservations, visit www.theblindpigoc.com.
Comedor
Laguna Beach
Comedor, at Laguna Beach’s historic hotel, La Casa del Camino, is offering a tasting for two this Valentine’s Day. The five-course feast is priced at $200 per couple, and the menu includes lobster gnocchi, chocolate tart, three-cheese raviolini and much more for a romantic holiday spread. Reservations at Comedor are highly recommended and can be made at www.resy.com/comedorlaguna.
Calaca Mamas Cantina
Anaheim
Calaca Mamas Cantina, the Day of the Dead-themed Mexican restaurant in Anaheim, invites guests in for its San Valentín Dinner For Two, a special menu available Feb. 10 to Feb. 15. Diners can enjoy two cocktails, one appetizer, two entreés, one dessert and two glasses of Champagne for $120 for two. Reservations for Calaca Mamas’ San Valentín Dinner For Two can be made by visiting calacamamas.com.
Oak + Violet
Menlo Park
Oak + Violet at The Park James Hotel is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special three-course, prix-fixe menu, with pricing at $125 per adult and $60 per child 12 and under. The delectable courses feature the freshest, regionally sourced ingredients, and include options like lobster bisque, seared Nordic Blu salmon, O+V filet mignon, dreamy lavender-vanilla bean pots de creme and more. For more information and to make reservations, visit www.opentable.com/r/oak-and-violet.