As Valentine’s Day approaches, love is in the air. But just because you ♥ someone the most, that doesn’t mean one has to break the bank. There are plenty of cheap, free and fun ways to celebrate the day of romance, from photo opportunities to inexpensive tasting menus to something sweet. Read on for tips and tricks, and some good deals worth making googly eyes over.
Wine and Dine
Going out for a romantic meal is one of the top activities on Valentine’s Day, and it can be pretty pricey. Many restaurants offer multi-course meals on this holiday. Some are a good deal, but others may be way more than you want to eat or spend on a date.
Skip the expensive tasting menus and look for places you either know you enjoy a lot, or want to try. Then find out if there’s a special deal for Valentine’s Day. Make sure to book a reservation too, many restaurants fill up.
Denver Valentine’s Restaurant Deals for 2023
Have a multi-course meal with your honey at Rewind in Nurture/Photo by The Hip Photo
Taco Tuesday falls on Valentine’s Day this year, perfect for combining your love for tacos with you love for your sweetheart. Head to Guapo Taco in the Colorado Mills mall where all tacos are $2 off and house margaritas are just $5. 14500 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood.
Make the night fancy for just $69 at Rewild at Nurture in Highland. The cost covers two people and features four courses including a celery root fritter, winter salad, seared scallop (or vegetarian option), and gluten-free chocolate raspberry cake. Make a reservation HERE. 2949 Federal Blvd., Denver.
Coconut curry at Urban Village Grill/ Photo by Urban Village Grill
For a multi-course meal complete with sparkling wine, the lauded Urban Village Grill at Park Meadows mall has all the spices to heat things up. It runs $100 for two people and includes a four-item appetizer platter; five-item entree sampler with butter chicken, shrimp coconut curry and dal makhini; and dessert. 8505 Park Meadows Center Dr., Lone Tree.
And, if your honey loves fried chicken, Noble Riot in RiNo is offering a bucket and bottle special for $34.50. The deal is only available Friday, Feb. 10, Saturday, Feb. 11 and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Make sure to get a reservation too, space is limited. 1336 27th St., Denver
At Home Romance
Take home a feast for two from Chook Chicken/Photo by Chook Chicken
Who says you need to go out to have a romantic date? Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday this year, so keep things low key by staying in.
Make it special by cooking your loved one’s favorite meal. Find high-end ingredients to make the dinner more special. For example, get inexpensive caviar from Asian grocery stores. Oyster, an aphrodisiac, usually cost less when you shuck your own.
Whole Foods also has a special oyster happy hour each Friday featuring 12 oysters for $12. And for dessert, make your own chocolate-covered strawberries or create a chocolate fondue fountain.
For families, a Valentine’s celebration at home might mean heart-shaped pizza either whipped up in the kitchen or ordered from one of the many pizza chains that do a special pie on February 14 (think Papa John’s, Papa Murphy’s and Pizza Hut).
Add on a DIY ice cream sundae party and make it a day everyone will love.
Or, instead of creating a meal at home, get a special feast to go. You might be dining en la casa, but skipping the cooking and dish washing is sure to make everyone involved feel special.
Denver Valentine’s Take Out Deals for 2023
For couples wanting to enjoy dinner at home, Chook Chicken has the ‘Chook for Two’ meal deal. For $29.95 you half rotisserie chicken, two shareable sides like mac n’ cheese, mashed potatoes or browned butter squash and a small salad. Add on a bottle of Attimo wine or desserts. Order for pickup or delivery through the website, chookchicken.com.
Now until February 17, visitors can bring home special to-go packs from any of the Postino WineCafe‘s locations. The Takeout & Takeout pack runs $55 and includes one each of snacky things, bruschetta, board and salad. Add on a bottle of wine for $20 and make a real date of it, at home.
Have a Romantic Adventure
Look for this fairy house in Golden. Photo by Linnea Covington
Take a walk on the wild side and go do something fun this Valentine’s Day. No, it doesn’t have be as spectacular (or expensive) as a hot air balloon ride or horse and carriage romp through the city.
Instead, find a place for a really cute photo shoot. The RiNo neighborhood is a good spot for this, and there are plenty of walls covered in stylish street art for the perfect background.
Other swank spots with plenty of photo opportunities include The Maven Hotel, the public areas around the Denver Art Museum, and the natural beauty of City Park.
Stop by the Maven Hotel for some cute photo ops with the art and furnishings/Photo by Linnea Covington
Another idea, take FREE art tour. Check out this list for spots to go on Valentine’s Day, or any other time.
If looking to get thrown into your sweetie’s arms, why not take them ice skating. There are many options, but if you have your own skates the ice rink in Skyline Park in Downtown Denver is FREE.
Of course taking a small trip can be fun too. Just make sure to look for deals and, if possible, plan that romantic getaway the week before President’s Day weekend, which is one of the most expensive times to travel outside the major holidays.
Denver Valentine’s Special Spots for 2023
Visit Lovin’ on the Block in the Dairy Block complex downtown and see its special installation. Created by Sky Armstrong of Denver’s RLY RLY Studio, the giant sculpture basically looks like all the holiday candy one would get inside their elementary school Valentine’s box. Find it in the Alley for the entire month of February. 1800 Wazee St., Denver.
Another ice skating option can be had a McGregor Square. Here there’s two-for-one skating from Feb 1 to 14. Prices run $15 for skating and skate rental, or $6 if you bring your own skates.
This year YMCA of the Rockies has a Valentine’s Day package that includes a stay on February 14 for just $14, when you book at least three nights there. This deal works at both the YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby.
Spend the time canoodling with your honey while ice skating, taking a wintery hike, snowshoeing, sledding, tubing and of course, sipping hot cocoa after it all.
For the Love Of Animals
Love isn’t just for humans, plenty of people would rather spend Valentine’s Day with their beloved pet, with or without other people. That’s okay, you’re not alone.
And, lucky for all those cat and dog lovers there are fun ways to celebrate, even if it’s just going to a pet-friendly bar and hanging out.
Head to The Maven Hotel for FREE dog caricatures in the hotel lobby. While not on Valentine’s Day, pup owners can head here on Friday, February 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. Just remember, it’s BYOD, bring your own dog. 1850 Wazee St., Denver.
Toast to Love
It’s Valentine’s Day, why not have a drink with your honey or you group of beloved friends. On this special day many places turn on the tap of love and offer an array of drink specials and pairings.
Denver Valentine’s Day Drink Specials in 2023
The Great Divide Brewing will release its Chocolate Strawberry Yeti in February, and on Valentine’s Day guests can order the $15 Gnarly Mountain Cookie pairing to go with it. The price includes a quartet of four-ounce pours. plus four cookie samples. Visit either Denver taproom starting at 5 p.m. for the deal. 1812 35th St., and 2201 Arapahoe St., Denver.
Make a gnome and have a pint at Front Range Brewing Company in Lafayette. Tickets are $20 a person and include instruction, materials and a beverage. Reserve a spot via Eventbright.com. 400 West South Boulder Road, Lafayette.
Sample local whiskey and chocolate at Vapor Distillery in Boulder for a special Valentine’s Day pairing. The chocolate is made by Moksha Chocolate, and the whiskey is by Boulder Spirits.
Each person pays $30 to participate, but that includes the four-part tasting, notes on how the whiskey and chocolate is made, as well as discounts on both products. Tickets available via Eventbright. 5311 Western Ave., Boulder.
The Perfect Gift
Okay, perfect and gift don’t always go hand-in-hand, but if looking for the classic flowers, chocolates and perhaps a sensual lotion or token of affection, well that’s certainly doable.
Don’t spend too much on these things, chances are no one will care and/or notice. After all, it’s the thought that counts (most of the time).
Sweets
Before shelling out for a box of overly-pricey candy, make something better for cheaper. At Sprouts grocery store locations you can find bins of bulk candies, which is a great and economical way to give high-quality treats that are exactly what your honey craves.
Once the gummy bears, chocolate-covered almonds or malt balls are procured, you’re ready to package. To do this, clean out discarded pasta or salsa jars, or go to a thrift store for a pretty glass container, and fill it with the goodies. All you need is a festive ribbon and a note card.
Another sweet way to get some sugar this Valentine’s Day, go take a FREE tour of Hammond’s Candies. This confectioner has been churning out candy since 1920, and runs daily, public tours from 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 5735 Washington St., Denver.
Flowers
Book a FREE library pass to the Denver Botanic Gardens and frolic in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory for some tropical plant time. Usually orchids and other flowers are popping up here, and it’s a good way to get a dose of greenery without filling up the house.
Better yet, give the gift of a membership so your honey can have flowers all year long. 1007 York St., Denver.
Give the flowers all year long with a Denver Botanic Gardens membership/ Photo by Linnea Covington
When shopping for flowers it’s easy to get overwhelmed with choices, and the cost of a bouquet. While independent flower shops are worth visiting, to save money it’s best to hit up your local grocery store.
Nowadays, King Soopers and Sprouts have quiet a selection of plants to pick over, from large and frilly bouquets to potted house plants to modest flower displays themed around the holiday.