Whether you want a fancy Valentine’s dinner or something a little more out of the ordinary, we’ve got a nice list for you and yours. Most of the places on the list — and pretty much any restaurant at all, for that matter — will require reservations, so get on it.
Citizen Rail
Where: 1899 16th St., Denver
When: February 14, 5 – 10:30 p.m.
Lowdown: Citizen Rail will have a special $85 pre-fixe menu with starters, entrees and sweets — including entrees like roasted monkfish with roasted baby carrots, sweet onion, beluga lentils, sunchoke chip and charred grapefruit butter sauce. See the full menu here. For reservations, call 303-323- 0017.
If you aren’t coupled up, on the 15th there will be a Lonely Hearts Late-Night Happy Hour from 10 p.m. – 12 a.m., featuring ’90s ballads, Jello shots and a spiked punch bowl.
Poka Lola Social Club
Where: 1850 Wazee St., Denver
When: February 14, 4 – 11 p.m.
Lowdown: Did someone say ’70s-themed Valentine’s Day party? Count us in. Poka Lola Social Club is hosting a ’70s-themed costume contest at 8 p.m. and providing Polaroid cameras to capture your groovy Valentine’s evening. There will be drink specials like a Bitter Hearts Campari Spritz ($14) with Campari and sweet vermouth or a Rubus Deus Punch for two ($14) with Stoli vodka, maraschino liqueur, Fantinel prosseco and raspberries. And several food specials like a Lobster Blini ($15) with caviar, crème fraiche and chives or Caviar Deviled Eggs ($12) with spicy mustard and pickled onion.
Bamboo Sushi
Where: 2715 17th St., Denver
When: February 14, 5 – 10 p.m.
Lowdown: Bamboo Sushi has a Special Valentine’s Day Omakase experience starting at $45 per person. V-day guests can also enjoy half-priced saké by the bottle all night. What is omakase, you ask? It’s Japanese for “I’ll leave it up to you” or “leave it up to the chef.” The server will ask what your preferences are, and based on that the chef will craft a menu just for you and yours. Doesn’t get much cooler than that. Reservations are limited — so make sure to reserve through OpenTable or call 303-284-6600.
Cerebral Brewing
Where: 1477 Monroe St., Denver
When: February 14, 4 – 9:30 p.m.
Lowdown: Looking for a non-traditional AND no reservation option? Cerebral Brewing has teamed up with Copia Confectionery and put together a menu of four beer and truffle pairings for $18. An example pairing is the Pineapple-ing Through Dimensions (100% Brettanomyces fermented Saison with pineapple) paired with a rum-spiced pineapple upside-down “cake” truffle. The full event listing here.
Bar Helix
Where: 3440 Larimer St., Denver
When: 4 – 10 p.m.
Lowdown: The theme of the evening at Bar Helix is “Love the One You’re With,” featuring a three-course food and beverage #soulmatepairing menu for $49 which consists of champagne, beer and cocktails paired with savory and sweet small plates. The back room will have DJ Big Styles spinning Valentine grooves, and the bar will be offering special giveaways all night. For reservations, call 720-449-8587 or email info@barhelixdenver.com
Del Frisco’s Grille
Where: 100 St. Paul St., Denver
When: February 10 – 18
Lowdown: For all of you steak couples out there, Del Frisco’s Grille is hosting a one-week-only 12 oz. Wagyu bone-in steak. This sought after marbled cut is served topped with truffle butter for $58. Pair it with one of the restaurant’s many wines like the Portillo Malbec or the Aquinas Cabernet Sauvignon. For reservations call 303-320-8529.
Avelina
Where: 1550 17th St., Denver
When: February 14, 4 – 10 p.m.
Lowdown: Avelina‘s Valentine’s Day menu features a $65 per person three-course dinner. Choose from four appetizers, four entrees and four desserts, and add a supplemental wine pairing for $30 with the choice of the Oremus Late Harvest Tokaji from Hungary or the Grahams 10 year Tawny Port of Portugal. A few samples from the menu are beet-and-cauliflower soup and Alamosa striped bass. The full menu is here. For reservations, call 720-904-6711.
Editor’s note: The wine pairing cost has changed from $20 per person to $30 per person and we updated the listing accordingly.
Black Shirt Brewing
Where: 3719 Walnut St., Denver
When: February 14, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
Lowdown: Black Shirting Brewing and Cultura Craft Chocolate are hosting a fun Valentine’s event with live music from the Dollhouse Thieves, dubbed as “Denver’s Most Unique Brewery Band.” No tickets are required, and the team will offer a $15 beer & chocolate pairing consisting of four beers and four chocolates. A cool way to spend your post-Valentine’s dinner or as the main event of the night. Check out the event page here.
Urban Farmer
Where: 1659 Wazee St., Denver
When: February 14, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Lowdown: Urban Farmer has put together a menu of Valentine’s-inspired dishes with something special for each course. The featured cocktail is called Between the Satin Sheets ($12) with plantation rum, cognac and raspberry gomme. There will be a tableside dessert for two with a pairing of prosecco for $21. Check here for the full menu. Make a reservation through OpenTable or call 303-262-6070.
Bombay Clay Oven
Where: 165 Steele St., Denver
When: February 14, 4 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Lowdown: Here’s an interesting option: Bombay Clay Oven is hosting a Valentine’s Kama Sutra Lovers’ Dinner. The menu is $69.96 — pause to let that sink in — and features a four-course meal full of ingredients known for their aphrodisiac properties such as oysters, ajwain, ginger, garlic and cardamom. You can expect dishes like the Lover’s Bisque Oysters, simmered in coconut milk with a hint of fresh ginger, garlic and mushrooms and Oooh Baby Shrimp Pulao, lightly sautéed with a hint of cinnamon and cardamom and mixed with saffron long-grained Basmati rice. There will also be a box of sweet and gooey chocolate samosas filled with chocolate hazelnut Nutella and imported Belgian chocolate made from roasted whole cocoa beans — a box of two is $3. For the rest of the menu, you’ll have to go and see for yourself. For reservations, call 303-377-4454.
Departure
Where: 249 Columbine St., Denver
When: February 9 – 14
Lowdown: Departure is offering a special Valentine’s menu not just on Valentine’s Day, but also the five days leading up to it. There are five special dishes to get the love flowing, featuring Kumamoto oysters ($18) with wasabi ice, blood orange and sturgeon caviar and housemade Cod “Noodles” ($22) with yellow curry and maitake mushrooms. You will also receive a voucher for a complimentary glass of wine on your next visit. Find the full menu here. So make it easy on yourself and go to Departure on one of the days leading up to Valentine’s day.
Watercourse Foods
Where: 837 E 17th Ave., Denver
When: February 14, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Lowdown: Vegetarians, reserve your meat-free Valentine’s dinner at Watercourse Foods. The team is serving a $35 per person three-course, prix-fixe dinner. In addition to being vegetarian, many of the dishes are gluten-free, but some contain nuts and soy. Check out the menu here. Call 303-832-7313 for reservations.
White Pie
Where: 1702 Humboldt St., Denver
When: February 14, 5 – 10 p.m.
Lowdown: Nothing says love like pizza. In collaboration with TRVE Brewing, White Pie is hosting an Anti-Valentine’s Day Collab Dinner. TRVE will take over the taps and the night is inspired by its beer & heavy metal brewery. One can expect some black pies, black pastas (charcoal and squid ink) and a blood orange frose, plus a few other menu items. The event will be first-come, first-serve.
Postino
Where: 2715 17th St., Denver
When: Happy hour, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lowdown: Maybe you just want a light Valentine’s Day, happy hour-style dinner? Postino is the place. Head there for any glass of wine or beer on the menu for $5 from when 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. That means even the most expensive beer or wine is $5. Pair it with sharable bruschetta platter or meat and cheese board. And for dessert, check out the Chocolate Bouchon cake with vanilla bean ice cream paired with a glass of the exclusive Redwood Alley Carignan blend.
BONUS: The Fort
Where: 19192 Highway 8, Morrison
When: February 14, 5 – 10 p.m.
Lowdown: If you’re looking to get out of the city for the night, The Fort is the perfect option. It’s not too far out of the city, but it’s just enough to feel like a getaway. The $59 three-course Valentine’s Day menu includes options like a six-ounce buffalo filet mignon paired with four-ounces of Alaskan sockeye salmon, topped with a chili honey glaze and served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables for the main. A sweet, heart-shaped chocolate chile bourbon cake is served for dessert. Select sparkling, white and red wines are just $5, and the traditional menu will also be available. For reservations call 303-697-4771.