Love Is in the Air

Cocktails Wine & Jazz

Let a fine wine make this Valentine’s Day your most memorable yet.

• Reserve your seats at Wines for Lovers at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. The array of alluring wines is sure to set the tone for an unforgettable evening. Light fare also provided.
• If you can’t commit to a date on the calendar, set your sights on any Wednesday at The Royce Detroit for free wine tastings.
• Cliff Bells is also a go-to spot for romance, well known for its live jazz and extensive martini selection.

Romantic Restaurants In Detroit

The right dinner setting in a romantic restaurant is a sure way to start your date off right.

• Take in the view of the mighty ice-covered Lake St. Clair at North 42 Restaurant at Mac Ray Harbor.
• Just down the street, you will also find Luigi’s. A Harrison Township gem, it’s one of the area’s most well-kept secrets, with a cozy, elegant atmosphere that’s a surefire way to spark the spark ⎯ if you know what we mean.
• Want to take dinner a little more upscale? Make reservations at The Whitney in Detroit. This iconic, historic home-turned-restaurant has an unparalleled menu that changes with the seasons.
• Also downtown, Ottava Via serves delicious homemade Italian fare in an unpretentious atmosphere.
• Thinking more affordable, yet authentic? Share a combination plate of tacos, tostadas and beans with rice at Mexican Village.
• Go with Greektown, and you also can’t go wrong with your girl or guy. A glass of wine paired with saganaki and lamb will surely leave a good impression. Choose Pegasus Taverna for a slightly higher-end dining experience. If you want casual with your kabobs, the Parthenon is a solid choice.

For more romantic dining spots in metro Detroit, visit blog post 9 Romantic Restaurants in Detroit.

Winter Activities

Remember, a splash of cold can make the heat feel so much better.

• Shop with your sweetie at the open-air The Mall at Partridge Creek. When your arms are finally full of gifts for her and him, grab a hot cocoa and snuggle by the mall’s huge outdoor fireplace.
• Freeze your toes, but warm your heart, at one of metro Detroit’s outdoor skating rinks. Detroit Zoo lovebirds can glide on the new skating rink located in front of the frozen facade of the Polk Penguin Conservation Center. The Winter Rink, which is made of a synthetic plastic know as Glice rather than ice, is open through February 2017. A bit of couple skating at Campus Martius Park should also be a top choice. The park’s outdoor rink is close to all of downtown’s festivities and plays host to several of its own.
• If the hustle and bustle of downtown is not for you, check out other outdoor skating facilities in the metro Detroit area: City Square Ice Arena in Warren, Auburn Hills Ice Skating Rink or Riley Park in Farmington Hills.

Casinos and Gaming in the D

For all of those free-spirited couples, you can spice up your night with lots of things naughty and nice.

• Plan a weekend getaway at either MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City Casino Hotel or Greektown Casino-Hotel. All three of these heavy hitters of downtown entertainment offer romantic getaway and/or spa packages regularly.
• If just relaxation is more your style, visit one of the many independent spa’s in metro Detroit and treat yourselves to a couples massage. See our working list of local spas.

Getting to Know You

Learn more about what catches your sweetie’s eye by walking and talking through one or many of metro Detroit’s houses of art or houses full of art.

• Visit the Red Bull House of Art or the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art for the more quirky and contemporary in downtown Detroit. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts.
• Or, you can take it totally opposite and enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. The entire house is a work of art furnished with works of art.
• You can also get artsy together at Painting With A Twist, where you take home what you paint to mark the moment.

And while these next suggestions aren’t really about art in the classical sense, they sure require talent that has the potential to impress.

• Show off your throwing arm at The Fowling Warehouse in Hamtramck
• Karaoke, bowl and play vintage arcade games at Punch Bowl Social
• Visit Cadieux Cafe for feather bowling, plus karaoke every Wednesday.

See a Show at a Detroit Theater

A flick or a show is always a good excuse to hold hands. Luckily, metro Detroit is flooded with productions, musicals, movies and more that fit for Valentine’s Day and any other date night.

• Snuggle in the front seat at the Ford Drive-In in Dearborn and take in a double feature. Car heaters available.
• The Redford Theatre also shows classic movies on the big screen. If a live production is more your dream-date material, check out a full list of the performances happening in metro Detroit.

Photos by Bill Bowen; movie watchers from iStock