Valentine’s Day Plans For You and Yours!
Choosing a place to eat on Valentine’s Day can always be a pain. Luckily for you we have narrowed down a few of our fave spots to check out on this romantic day. It doesnt matter if your single, taken, or just looking for love, check out these amazing spots.
Romantic Dining
Low lights, warm wood, sparkling accents and dishes from the heart make Cozobi in Boulder an ideal spot for Valentine’s Day dining. Husband-and-wife duo Michelin-starred Chef/Owner Johnny Curiel and co-owner Kasie Curiel know how to turn up the romance for any kind of celebration: cozy up in an intimate booth, score a spot at the energetic central bar or settle in at the feels-private chef’s counter where you’ll find your server is also your chef. Sip on a cocktail or choice from the global wine menu and explore the beauty of Mexican culture through dishes like the all new Aguachile De Piquin with Japanese hamachi, orange supremes, orange oil, chile piquin; Carne Asada with Angus NY strip, morita salt, roasted onions, salsa de molcajete, frijoles puercos; and Lubina Rayada, Pacifico striped bass with corn chile atole, roasted potatoes, and charred tomatoes.
Fueled by the romance of Spain and the Mediterranean coasts, tapas are more a way of life than just a dish, and few things are more intimate than handheld foods. At Barcelona Wine Bar, RiNo’s tapas-and-wine mecca, the hand-held food and tastes of tapas practically guarantee connection. For a romantic date night kickstart flirtation with paellas, crispy and sizzling and ideal to share directly from the pan while cozied up in the intimate romantic interior dining space that's reminiscent of a languorous night in Europe. Don’t miss a tabletop porrón service of one of Barcelona’s award-winning roster of organic and natural wines, cocktails, spirits, or sangrias.
Stepping into Corsica in RiNo feels like transporting into the old-world, coastal inspired country of romance. Exotic dishes, ingredients, and shareable cocktails and drinks encourage connection, while the artwork and photographs on the walls suggest intimate and personal moments caught on camera and the space encourages romance with deep booths, cozy two tops, and a dreamy back room with a gallery wall of couples in frames. Try an apéro like Warm Stuffed Dates with nduja, hazelnut, and tarragon; follow it up with the romantic-red Tuna Carpaccio with citrus, calabrian chili and crispy quinoa. Try the Barbajuan, crispy ravioli with ricotta, greens and parmigiano or the gemelli cacio y pepe with parmigiano, pecorino romano and hazelnuts. The Mussels l’Aziminu with saffron lobster broth and gals crouton is a can’t miss, as is the Grilled Pork Belly with fennel and saffron. The chocolate ganache served with seeded crackers for swiping or the creme brulee with bay leaf and Demerara sugar are excellent desert choices.
Take a Valentine’s Day trip to Mexico City without leaving the Mile High City. At Mezcaleria Alma, Chef Johnny Curiel, owner of Michelin-starred Alma Fonda Fina, is taking diners to CDMX through small plates inspired by the culinary innovation found there. Take your date on a tour of the capital city with bites of Crudo de Atún with jalapeño kizami, orange supremes, black garlic aguachile and crispy leeks; Carne Apache with NY strip, manzanilla olive vinaigrette, dried chile salsa and hoja santa puree; or the arroz a la tumbada de hongos, an indulgent and comforting dish with wild mushroom broth, cured egg yolk, chive jocoque and crispy wild mushrooms. Pair your choices with agave-forward cocktails featuring Mexican spirits for a Valentine’s Day away – all while staying close to home.
The sexiest table in Denver is upstairs at Chef Dana Rodriguez’s Carne. Grab a reservation at the James Beard Award nominee’s stylish RiNo restaurant to globe-hop via dishes like Argentinian Bife de Chorizo, Italian Beal Osso Bucco, French Duck Confit and Brazilian Picanha. Don’t forget to make the classy move and beckon the Martini Trolley for tableside pours for two before indulging in housemade Baked Alaska for dessert.
Make it a Date
Sure - flowers and chocolates are fine for Valentine’s Day, but what about the gift of time? Spend the day together at reclaimed aviation factory Stanley Marketplace for experiences light years from the tired Dinner and A Movie routine. First, couples who learn together stay together, so roll up your sleeves for a pottery throwing class at Friend Assembly, followed by a drink and snacks (served by a robot) at Chi Lin Asian Eatery before heading over to spruce up with a relaxing hydrafacial for two at Clementine’s Salon and Skincare. Meet back up for a pre-dinner beer at GABF multi medal-winner Cheluna Brewing and then head across the hall for a dinner of elevated homestyle classics at intimate James Beard award winning restaurant Annette. Finish the night with a stroll and a cone from Sweet Cow and consider a take-home bottle of bubbly from Mr. B’s Wine & Spirits to continue celebrating at home.
Stupid Cupid
Dreading the clichéd romantic scene or romantic antics at the white-tablecloth spots? Surround yourself with fellow skeptics at Federales (2901 Larimer St.) and make it the actual happiest of hours with an all-day Happy Hour. On Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14, doors open at 11 am for Happy hour specials stretching all day until 6pm. Think taquitos, queso blanco, guacamole, grande nachos alongside beverage specials like $9 select margarita, beer buckets and $8 Flecha Azul Reposado ice shots to take the chill off. The restaurant will be decorated and additional specials for the day will be on offer. You can reserve your table online here.
Grab your girls – and a reservation – and get to Chef Dana Rodriguez’s Work & Class for a perfect Galentine’s Day. Take turns ordering apps, meats and sides to build a table worthy of a girls’ night out. From the Lemon Brown Butter Chicken and Cabrito (Red Chili Braised Goat) to the Smoked Pork and Coriander-braised Lamb, perfectly prepared meats pair with Fontina Mac & Cheese, Mustard Cream Braised Greens and more to create a memorable celebration.
Gather your crew and head to Mecha Noodle Bar, where group dining gets a serious glow-up. Perfect for singles, skeptics, and anyone chasing good vibes, Mecha brings the fun with communal tables, slurpable bowls and cocktails that are anything but basic. Embrace pink drinks with the Strawberry Matcha Boba, a sweet-meets-earthy treat with vibrant layers of strawberry and matcha, or grab the Tropic Like It’s Hottt, a large format cocktail made to share with the whole squad. No booze? No problem. The With A Cherry on Top NA option delivers tangy cranberry rosemary shrub, a kick of ginger and fizzy club soda for a cheers-worthy sip.
Help a Friend Out
The Golden Mill has partnered with Pitch-A-Friend - an organization that celebrates friendship by allowing people to give short slide presentations about their remarkable single friends to a lively audience of other singles - for a special Valentine’s Day event. Anyone can sign up to create a 3-5 minute slide presentation about how awesome their single friend is, then pitch them at The Golden Mill on Valentine’s Day starting at 6:30. Everyone is invited to get pitched, make a pitch, or just hang out in a singles-friendly environment.
