Valentine's Day

With more than 1,000 restaurants in and around town, Grand Rapids can satisfy every taste and budget for a holiday meal. Last year, our social media followers told us these were the local eateries they’d recommend for a special V-Day dinner. These will fill up early, make your reservations ASAP:

• Amore Trattoria Italiana, where celebrity Chef Jenna Arcidacono serves up authentic Italian.

• Mangiamo, an elegant Italian eatery in a historic mansion in Uptown GR.

• MDRD, a modern Spanish restaurant nestled atop the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel tower.

• Gin Gin’s, a swank eatery featuring a diverse menu of American classics.

• Café Mamo, a relaxed American café with an award-winning wine program.

• Bistro Bella Vita, long beloved for its modern French and Italian cuisine.

• Max’s South Seas Hideaway, a Polynesian-themed escape from the ordinary.

• Butcher’s Union, named the most romantic restaurant in Michigan by Yelp.

• Grove, 2025’s #3 Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant in the U.S., per Newsweek.

• San Chez Bistro, whose tapas-style sharing dishes are perfect for V-day.

• Scholar, offering American history-inspired fare in plush surroundings.

Craving something new and different? Consider a restaurant just opened in the last year:

• Allora, an upscale eatery showcasing fresh coastal Italian dishes.

• Garden District, featuring authentic Cajun and Southern cuisine.

• Char + Barrel, a steak and bourbon-focused eatery in Rockford’s Hotel Rose.

• Dirty Plate Bistro, serving a rotating array of from-scratch American-French fusion dishes.

• Haludam, a Korean restaurant with “the warmth of a mother’s touch in every meal.”

• Kawa Sushi, a casual yet sophisticated sushi bar on Bridge Street.

• Prime Casual Steak House, offering aged steaks and fine wine in Comstock Park

• SILVA, downtown GR’s premier “dinnertainment” destination.

• Somos is a Latin-fusion from-scratch kitchen in Byron Center. 

• Texas de Brazil at Woodland Mall is a Brazilian-style steakhouse.

For something truly memorable, consider the Valentine’s Day Dinner at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, complete with a wine welcome and cocktail hour, four-course dinner and live music. Feb 14.

Raise a toast to love at these cocktail lounges recommended by our social media followers:

• Lumber Baron Bar, a plush setting in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

• Nightwatch Lounge, a “hidden” luxury cocktail lounge in downtown GR.

• Sidebar, an intimate bar nestled behind downtown’s Big O’s Pizza.

• Drip Drop Cocktail Lounge, a late-night cocktail destination on Bridge Street.

New cocktail bars to try:

• Ashton Cocktail Lounge in downtown GR’s B.O.B. (Big Old Building).

• Bridge Street Bar, a sports-themed bar full of Detroit team memorabilia.

• Hard Times, specializing in affordable classic cocktails just east of downtown.

• Sugar Bar Sips & Sweets, serving handcrafted drinks and delightful desserts.

• Twisted Tap Distillery, a whiskey distillery tasting room in downtown and Kentwood.

Check out these Cocktail Bars,  Wine Bars and Dive Bars for additional distinctive drinking options.

Make V-Day even more special with an overnight stay at one of these properties touted by our social media followers:

PrairieSide Suites Bed & Breakfast in Grandville has been named the 3rd Best Overall B&B in North America and one of the World’s 10 Most Romantic Inns, so you can be assured of an unforgettable experience. Guests can choose from nine beautifully appointed rooms, each with a fireplace, oversized whirlpool tub, king-size bed, and more.

CityFlatsHotel in downtown GR artfully combines modern comforts, eco-friendly amenities and historic charm. Each of the hotel’s 48 rooms is individually decorated for a truly one-of-a-kind stay. The hotel’s Romance Package includes a chilled bottle of champagne upon arrival, breakfast in bed for two and more perks.

The Leonard at Logan House is a Heritage Hill B&B named one of the Top 10 Romantic Accommodations in Michigan. Each of the 1914-era home’s eight guest rooms is outfitted with a comfortable bed, desk, flat-screen TV and antiques. Downtown GR is just a four-minute drive (or 12-minute walk) away.

Embassy Suites is an all-suites hotel offering views of the Grand River and walkable access to 300+ restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and entertainment venues in downtown GR. The hotel is hosting A Pink Tie Affair Gala with dinner, dancing and fun on Feb 14.

Downtown GR’s luxurious Amway Grand Plaza Hotel offers a Romance Package including overnight accommodations for two, parking, a bottle of wine, a food & beverage credit at a hotel restaurant and more. Make your stay extra special by attending The Celestial Summit Ball on Feb. 14, featuring interactive experiences, eye-catching performances, decadent culinary delights, sensational libations, curated vendors and more. The day before (Feb. 13), The Queen’s Quest, invites you to explore downtown Grand Rapids on a self-guided tour, where you’ll find discounts and more at each stop. You don’t have to book a hotel room to enjoy these events!

Here are some ideas for a Romantic Getaway Weekend Itinerary to complement your hotel stay.

Fun date? Friend meetup? Family outing? Here are some things that fit every bill:

See the sights: World of Winter, America’s largest free winter festival, is in full swing all February long. Stroll downtown GR to see 100+ outdoor art installations, many of which are light-based and absolutely magical after dark. World of Winter overlaps with the Downtown Refreshment Area, so you can grab an adult beverage from a participating business and enjoy it as you see the sights.

Play a game: Big Mini Putt Club offers nine holes of miniature golf, House Rules Lounge offers 600+ board games to play, Grand Rapids Game Show delivers an interactive TV game show experience, Gimme’s Par & Grill features indoor golf simulators and SILVA has bocce ball courts. They’re all indoors, all in downtown GR.

Take a romantic walk amidst the outdoor theme gardens and snow-covered sculptures at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

Pamper yourself and your significant other at a local spa – many offer couples’ massages and body treatments.

Ski, ice skate, snowshoe and snowboard together in our wintry sports wonderland.

Join a tour of the city’s best breweries. Not a fan of the city’s signature drink? Tours Around Michigan also offers wine, distillery, art, church and historic home tours (just to name a few).

Planning to pop the question this V-Day? Here are 14 places that will make your proposal more special.

Flower shops all over Grand Rapids are stocked with fresh roses, floral arrangements, balloons and other mementos for the big day. Local favorites include Ball Park Floral & Gifts, Crescent Floral & Gifts, Eastern Floral, Good, Good, Good Wine and Flowers, Niksi Home & Floral and Southside Flower Market.

Get sweets for your sweetie at Kilwin’s Chocolates, Love’s Ice Cream and Chocolate, Mokaya and Sweetland Chocolates. You can also check out our Local’s Guide to Finding Sweet Treats to score chocolates, cupcakes, cheesecakes and other goodies.

Do Valentine’s Day your way in Grand Rapids – learning, dancing, laughing, girl powering, romancing and more!

Cookie Classes

DreamScape Desserts present Sealed with a Kiss is a sugar cookie decorating class at The Honeysuckle Company vintage and gift store just off Plainfield Ave., Feb. 12.

Sweet Details Grand Rapids, known for its bespoke confections and desserts, offers two hands-on cookie decorating experiences for the holiday: Galentine’s Cookie Soiree on Feb. 13 and a Galentine’s Cookie Brunch on Feb 15. 

Crafting

Spruced Studio hosts an Acrylic Heart Painting Workshop on Feb. 12 and Savor The Love: A Valentine Charcuterie Experience, on Feb. 14.

The Galentine’s Candle & Flower Bar at Treetops Collective gives you everything you need to craft a three-piece candle flight plus a nine-stem wrapped bouquet, food and drinks. Feb. 13.

The 2^nd Annual ValenPal Date Night at Grand Rapids Pottery is an evening of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and mud to make your own mugs. Feb. 13. 

Painting with a Twist on Alpine Ave. presents 20 different Valentine-themed paint-and-sip classes from Feb. 6-15, including a family event on Feb. 15. Check their website for schedules.

Dancing

My Bloody Valentine: A Silent Disco at JW Marriott Grand Rapids is a Friday the 13^th anti-Valentine’s celebration. Dance through multiple wireless DJ channels to dark beats, throwback hits and high-energy anthems – no romance required.

The Mint at downtown GR’s The Intersection presents New Romantics <3, a Taylor Swift-themed dance party, the evening of Feb. 13.

Start Valentine’s Day off on the right foot at Armentality Movement Arts Center’s Valentine’s Dance Party, a matinee dance bash for adults who want to make memories and dance with joy. Feb 13.

An Evening in Red Valentine’s Ball at Social Dance Studio includes a complimentary dance lesson, elegant social dancing, themed drink specials and a dinner menu available for purchase. Feb. 14.

Entertainment

Put some music in your heart this V-day:

• Heart Beat is a three-room takeover at The Intersection featuring eight musical acts, Feb. 14.

• Shane Smith & The Saints appear at GLC Live at 20 Monroe, Feb. 14.

 • The Fab Four Beatles tribute band comes to DeVos Performance Hall Feb. 14.

• Troy and Deee Love R&B Valentine’s Edition takes over Billy’s Lounge Feb. 14

They say laughter is the music of love, so get your tickets for:

• Comedian Matteo Lane at DeVos Performance Hall, Feb. 12.

• Comedian Brad Williams (Feb. 13) and the Legends of Laughter comedy tour (Feb. 15) at DeVos Performance Hall.

• Broads Burlesque: Heart U, an uproarious evening of burlesque and comedy at Küsterer Brauhaus on Feb. 13.

The High Five GR in downtown Grand Rapids hosts Heartbreak Hotel: A Murder Mystery Party, featuring champagne, a dinner-style grazing board, decadent desserts, live jazz and a fully interactive murder mystery experience. Feb. 13.

The Villaintine’s Dark Academia Party at Grimsby Hollow Meadery invites you to come dressed in your best dark academia school uniforms, gothic attire or spooky monster costume for a new role-playing game, a local photographer taking dark school pictures and a lineup of Villainous Mead Releases, including a Valentine-appropriate chocolate-strawberry concoction, Villains Need Love, Too. Feb. 14.

Galentine’s

The Galentine’s Event at Vintage + More in Kentwood is an evening of appetizers, wines, exciting deals and a thrilling scavenger hunt. Feb. 12.

The GALentine Party at Spruced Studio includes a bubbly & chocolate bar as well as an earring bar and charm bracelet bar for crafting your own custom jewelry. Feb. 13.

Pages & Grapes, West Michigan’s first romance-only bookstore, hosts a Dark Romance Galentine’s event where you can meet dark romance authors, sip local wine samples, get tarot readings and more. Feb. 13.

Galentine’s Paint & Sip at Flo’s Pizzeria Ristorante & Sports Bar is a low-key business mingling event that includes a paint-your-own wine glass or mason jar component. Feb. 15.

Pub Crawling

The Official Valentine’s Day Stoplight Pub Crawl takes you through some of the city’s hottest bars to mix, mingle and celebrate love (or just good vibes) with music, laughs and plenty of drinks to go around. Feb. 14.

Romance

Luv’n Lunch at World of Winter is a Valentine’d Say Pop-up featuring 2-for-1 ice skating, live music, free roses, food trucks and festive surprises at Rosa Parks Circle. Noon-1:30pm, Feb. 13.

The Art, Love and Chocolate Tour at the Grand Rapids Art Museum is an annual crowd-pleaser that explores love, companionship, passion and dedication depicted in artwork throughout the galleries, followed by a special chocolate treat. Feb.14.

Love on Ice at World of Winter is a romantic, fun-filled evening of 2-for-1 ice skating, photo ops, sketch portraits and tacos at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown GR. 6-9pm, Feb. 14.

Take a romantic Valentine’s Luminary Night Hike through the self-guided trails at Blandford Nature Center, Feb. 13 & 14.

Shopping

The Galentine’s Sip ‘n Shop at downtown GR’s CityFlatsHotel invites you to grab a drink and enjoy shopping local makers. Feb. 6.

The Valentine’s Craft & Vendor Market at Tanger Outlets is a fun-filled weekend featuring local vendors, sweet treats and perfect gift ideas for every Valentine. Feb. 7-8.

The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce presents its second annual Valentine’s Mercadito, an open-house style community market where guests can stop by throughout the evening to shop, connect and celebrate the season of love while supporting local businesses. Feb. 12.