With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning some romantic date nights in Dublin. Whether you live in Dublin’s fair city or you’re just visiting on vacation, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the amount of interesting and unique places there to spend Valentines Day.
Here is a list of some varied and interesting things to do with your significant other on Valentine’s Day in Dublin…
Hang Dai Chinese
If you and your partner love Chinese food but want to try something a little bit more classy then Hang Dai is the place for you. It’s a unique Chinese restaurant on Camden Street.
The inside of the restaurant is extremely elegant and designed to look like the inside of a subway. The atmosphere is extremely funky and the music is also great. They even have their own cocktail bar! You usually share a number of dishes and the food is absolutely gorgeous. Their duck is famous and sometimes has its own waiting list.
Sova Vegan Butcher
If one of you is vegan and finds it difficult to order food when you go out then look no further, the Sova Vegan Butcher is the place to go. Everything on the menu is vegan and it is styled like ‘regular’ food. Last time I went I had the scallops followed by the steak. The scallops were a type of legume that tasted delicious and I have no idea what the steak was but the texture was amazing and it was delicious paired with their pepper sauce. This is a lovely little spot to treat your partner and show that you care.
Have the best burger in Dublin
Ask anyone around… Bunsen is the best place in Dublin to go for burgers. It is a no-frills restaurant that has about 5 things on the menu. The burgers are fantastic and bursting with flavour. They also have some delicious fries and milkshakes. If your budget is a bit tight but you still want to enjoy some delicious food then Bunsen is the place to go.
Game the night away
If you are a bit old-school and love video game arcades then you need to check out Token. It’s Dublin’s only retro video-game arcade bar. They have a load of games there to play as well as some pinball machines but it doesn’t end there. Token also has some delicious craft beers and their award-winning food is to die for. We’re very fond of their bacon-jam fries and the boar burger, followed by a peanut butter cup dipped in bacon fat…It’s hard to beat!
Enjoy a little taste of France
Chez Max is a cosy little restaurant right beside Dublin Castle. The food is authentic and finely crafted and their attention to detail really is something to admire. It’s a very intimate spot and if the weather is nice it would be a lovely place to sit outside and watch the world go by. They have a great selection of wines to try as well. Perfect for a romantic Valentine’s Day date.
Visit a luxurious cinema
The Stella theatre recently reopened its doors in Rathmines and it is an absolutely gorgeous cinema to relax and watch a movie in. This isn’t like a regular cinema, the chairs are individual armchairs and incredibly comfortable. You even get your own foot-rest. They also have delicious food and drink that you can order to your chair. We’re not positive what movie they will be playing on Valentines Day yet, but we’re sure it’ll be a lovely soppy one!
Go to a concert
If fancy dinners aren’t your thing then don’t worry, there are loads of other things to do in the city on Valentines Day! Most pubs around the Temple Bar area will have musicians playing but there are also some big-name acts in the city on that night. Sam Beam, aka Iron & Wine, will be playing in The Helix. His music is awfully romantic and would be a lovely date idea.
If you don’t fancy that then Alien Ant Farm, a nu-metal band from the 90s, is playing in the city as well. Paul Weller, $uicideboy$ and Anvil will also be playing in Dublin on the night.
Visit St. Valentine himself
Not many people know but that St Valentine’s remains are in Dublin. St Valentine was the patron saint of lovers and his remains were gifted to Ireland by Pope Gregory XVI in 1836.
They can be found at the Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street and the church has become a bit of a pilgrimage site for those who are celebrating love.
Escape Rooms
The Escape Room craze has been sweeping the world over the past couple of years and they are a great idea. For those out of the loop, they are rooms that you are locked in and you and your partner need to solve a number or puzzles in order to escape.It’s a whole lot of fun and a great idea for a date as you spend the time working together and having fun.
The Clockwork Door has a great Alice in Wonderland themed escape room that is a lot of fun to try out. Another variation is the Escape Boat which begins in the engine room of a ship!
Hopefully, these will give you some ideas on how to have a very special Valentine’s Day with the person you love.