11 Romantic Valentine’s Day Date Ideas in San Diego That Aren’t Restaurants (2024)

Whether your romance is fresher than a bouquet of red rose buds or you’ve been wining, dining and morning-breath-surviving for decades, we’ve got you covered in the date department. Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays when emotions (and expectations) can be at an all-time high—and while a relationship should be sustained with a healthy dose of romance all year long, it’s time to up the ante! We’ve rounded up a handful of our favorite things to do in San Diego for couples that’ll make your Valentine’s Day together one for the books!

Shopping, Florals and Brews at One Paseo

Valentine’s Day only rolls around once a year, so why not make a day of it?! Del Mar’s One Paseo is a vibrant lifestyle destination packed with name-brand shops, charming cafes and restaurants and all kinds of unique entertainment options. Spend a leisurely day strolling this center with your lovebird, and pop into stores like Roark, Land & Sea Golf, and Faherty for him and Pigment, Whiskey x Leather, Sephora and Lululemon for her!

After you’ve found the perfect gifts for each other, stop by One Paseo’s Valentine’s Day Flower Truck for some blooms from The Flower Boy Co.—a Southern California-based floral design house that will offer their best bouquets for sale from Feb. 10-14.

To round out your day together, head over to Harland Brewing for a pair of pints (which are $1 off during happy hour!). And if you’re up for some friendly competition, purchase a trivia game from Whiskey x Leather and play while you sip the afternoon away.

Location: Del Mar

Pet and Sip at Whiskers & Wine Cat Bar

Whether you’ve just hard launched your relationship or your romance has aged like a fine wine, you’ve come to the purr-fect place. The Whiskers & Wine Cat Bar, located in North Park, offers 75-minute sessions where you can cuddle kitties while sipping on specialty co*cktails, local craft beer and wine. You may even walk away with a newly adopted feline to test the endurance of your connection. Is it the 2024 version of Kate Hudson’s love fern? Reserve meow and see for yourself!

Location: North Park

Tap Into Your Creativity at Craft on Third

Craft new memories with your cutie at Craft on Third this Valentine’s Day. With open studio hours, you can pop into this sweet Chula Vista space for a date filled with creativity and fun. Lounge on comfy chairs or stay laser-focused at the table—and, with a plethora of activities from crafts to painting, what better opportunity to color the canvas of your relationship? Whether you’re there to let loose and sprinkle your significant other with some paint splatters or you’re down to get serious about some art, you’re sure to walk away feeling more connected than ever.

Location: Chula Vista

Enjoy Some Self-Care at Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara

Relax those overworked muscles of the body and mind as your skin soaks in the healing qualities of revitalizing sea salts at the all-new Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa. Treat yourself and your lover as you indulge in ginger-oil-infused massages and water-based Thai massages, as well as breathwork, sound therapy and more. What better way to spend your holiday than spa-ing your stresses away and then debriefing your favorite parts of the day over dinner? Those who self-care together stick together—that’s how it goes, right?

Location: Carlsbad

Cruise the Bay With Triton Charters

Love is in the air, and you’ve set your sights on sailing this Valentine’s Day. Look no further than Triton Charters, where you can kick back, cuddle up in the sun and sip on a co*cktail or two as you cruise San Diego Bay. Replete with a Coast Guard-certified captain and crew, this experience is a safe and sophisticated way to spend your special day—whether you’re impressing a new Valentine or wooing your boo for the thousandth time. Follow your compass toward either Coronado or La Jolla, as this excursion sets a picture-perfect scene for you and the co-star of your personalized rom-com.

Location: San Diego Bay

Oceanfront Picnic at Torrey Pines Gliderport

Ready, set, pack a picnic—replete with prosciutto, provolone, prosecco and maybe even a Polaroid camera. If you and your honey head to the Torrey Pines Gliderport this year, we’ve got you covered with a sweet yet simple date idea. First off, grab a couple of your coziest blankets—one to perch on and one to get cozy under, of course. Then, grab your favorite picnic basket and stock it full of charcuterie goods—i.e. the above-mentioned items, along with a few olives, grapes, crackers, a smidge of hummus and a handful of veggies. Dream big for your relationship as you watch the paragliders fly high over glassy waves.

Location: La Jolla

Catch a Flick at Rooftop Cinema Club

Nestled on the top of a downtown San Diego rooftop, this amazing movie venue is the perfect spot for this year’s Valentine’s Day date. Step onto the scene of Rooftop Cinema Club and be transported to another world with personal headphones, cinema-style seating and popcorn available for purchase. Cuddle up with your boo as you enjoy one of your favorite cult films, classics or recent releases—and don’t forget to pop over to the full bar, where a romantic meet cute is in store with your soon-to-be new favorite co*cktail.

Location: Downtown San Diego

Outdoor Bouldering at Asylum

Scale new heights with your Valentine this year at Asylum Climbing. This outdoor rock-climbing gym in San Diego offers an authentic experience, with exposure to the natural elements (mainly sun here, but still!) while providing the structure and safety of a climbing gym. Offering classes and coaching for different levels, this spot is perfect for an activity-based date, whether you and your significant other are already pros or have never heard the term “belay” before.

Location: Logan Heights

Get Crafty at Handled Pottery Studio

Whether you’ve been thrown into the fire of a new relationship or you’ve been going steady for a while now, we hope you’ll try your hand at throwing some clay this Valentine’s Day. Bond with your significant other as you learn a new art (or hone-in on your skills for those who are already pottery masters). With a skilled instructor at the helm, you’ll walk away with some good insight, a fun time and two pieces of pottery. You’ll make it with their tools and then pick it up two weeks after class—once the firing process is complete.

Location: Carlsbad

Build a Bouquet at Native Poppy

Sow new seeds in the soil of your relationship this Valentine’s Day at Native Poppy’s build-your-own bouquet bar. Visit this quaint little shop, filled to the brim with locally grown flowers, for the ultimate romantic outing with your sweetheart. What better gift than to go together and see what your partner naturally gravitates toward? And while you’re there, don’t forget to browse through their curated collection of gifts, which include stickers, self-care products, totes, apparel, candles, cards and more.

Locations: South Park and Solana Beach

Wine Down at Domaine Artefact

Sip on a flight of wine while soaking in the beauty of Escondido’s scenery at Domaine Artefact. With a breezy outdoor patio and cozy indoor seating, you can choose your own adventure for the day. This boutique winery offers a handful of varieties, ranging from noirs to syrahs and blancs to Entavs. Whether you schedule a private wine tour on the rolling green ribbons of the 30-acre terrain or keep it simple and gaze into one another’s eyes under the market lights, you’ll create memories which will last a lifetime.

Location: Escondido