Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and while it certainly doesn’t have to be the only day that you and your bae celebrate one another, it does make for an excuse to do something a little spicier than ordering takeout and watching Netflix. Read on to discover 14 ways to make Valentine’s Day extra special this year. [Featured image: @togna_bologna via Unsplash]
1-2. Experience An Enchanting Candlelight Concert
Whether you’re looking for a beautifully unique classical music performance or a romantic candlelit experience, this performance is for you. You don’t need to know all things Tchaikovsky to enjoy the evening, simply sit back and savor the stunning atmosphere and pieces you’ll hear.
Walk into one of Houston’s most exquisite buildings where the walls will be flickering by candlelight to create a magical atmosphere. Prepare to be taken into the clouds with some of the most treasured wintertime classics from Vivaldi and other master composers!
- Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special ft. “Romeo and Juliet” and More
- Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special ft. “Romeo and Juliet” and More
3. Catch a Movie with a Skyline View
Can’t get enough al fresco cinemas? Located at Midway’s 150-acre East River development on 100 Bringhurst St., Moonstruck Drive-In screens a variety of 4K features on a 80 x 40-foot screen with a stunning skyline backdrop.
4. Dine Down at the Most Romantic Restaurants In Houston
If you’re looking for somewhere sultry to dine out or have a drink this season, these local romantic restaurants in Houston set the table as well as the mood.
5. Get a Drink at this Sultry New Cocktail Garden
The Ivy House gives the word “hot spot” a whole new meaning. Located on Washington Ave., Ivy House is a sultry new upscale bar and patio that features handcrafted cocktails in an enchanting garden environment.
6. Gaze Into Another Universe
The rise and setting of the sun are spectacles all on their own: captivating natural phenomena that imbue us with feelings of wonder, awe, and romance. At the James Turrells’ Twilight Epiphany installation, you’ll see the sky in entirely new colors. The installation has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic, but is opening the day after Valentine’s Day.
7. Plan Future Meet Cutes
Valentine’s Day can be a doozie for all the lonely hearts out there. For many, love seems to be frustratingly elusive. All the movies, Lifetime specials, and rom-coms we watched as kids told us that chance encounters with future soul mates were always just waiting around the corner – potential “meet-cutes”, if you will.
On a park bench, an airplane, or at the bar of a Honky Tonk, were prime locals where people were always one dreamy glance away from propelling one another head over heels into a happy-ever-after relationship. In Houston, there are plenty of like idealized places, where, if life were a movie, one would meet the partner of their dreams. As our lives aren’t actually romantic comedies, you probably won’t meet too many lovers in these places. But, who knows, you can always dream.
8. Dine At A Secret Garden Bar
Even in cold of winter, the Secret Garden patio is vibrant with floral splendor. Planted on the 2,000-foot patio of Bravery Chef Hall, Secret Garden offers an enchanting Downtown escape. Its precious greenhouse is adorned with a multiplicity of striking floral arrangements fit for a wedding. At nightfall, neon lights compliment its charming fairy tale ambiance in dreamlike hues.
9. Have a Couple’s Skate at the Foot of the Houston Skyline
Discovery Green in Downtown, Houston has announced the return of their outdoor rink this season. Beginning February 10, the organization is hosting public skates in Downtown Houston with tickets now on sale!
10. Glamp In The Cosmos
New resident Texan, Elon Musk, promises that humans will land on Mars by 2026. If you can’t wait that long, you can spend a few nights at Basecamp Terlingua, an other-worldly glamping experience that integrates the future with the past, giving its visitors the impression of luxury camping in the cosmos.
11. Step Into Infinity at this Breathtaking Experience
Houstonians can experience the indescribable as MFAH becomes the new home of Kusama’s Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity.
Using a network of mirrors, Kusama is able to create an illusion of infinity, or otherwise boundless twinkling galaxies unfolding before the eyes. Space City is the new permanent home of one of Kusama’s famous works of art; Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity is a piece Kusama made in celebration of her 80th birthday upon returning to Japan.
12. Mold Clay
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Do your best Ghost impression this Valentine’s Day at Smashed Clay in Houston. Here, you can get your hands messy on handmade pottery and barware with instruction from studio artists– no experience necessary. Plus BYOB!
13. Set the Mood at This Couple’s Cocktail Class
Mix it up this Valentine’s season with mixologist-lead cocktail-making class. On top of learning the basics of mixology, you can enjoy a mood-elevating atmosphere with a spirited group!
14. Visit the Most Romantic Places in Houston
Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or any of the remaining 364 days, Houston exudes romantic possibilities. Explore the city’s enchanting rooftop venues boasting stunning skyline views, charming parks perfect for picnics, and abundant lush gardens. Find out where to experience a romantic date in Houston by answering the question: What is the most romantic place in Houston?
In short, the city is blessed with romantic spots and swoon-worthy plans that any couple can enjoy no matter your interests. And if you’re not one to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day or life simply gets in your way, there are these romantic dinners in Houston that tantalize the senses and flip the script on the ordinary dinner date. With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find something to charm your sweetheart.
See also: 20 Solid Solo Dates In Houston For A Little Me Time