If you need help planning a Valentine’s Day date in Ottawa, we’re here to help. Forget taking your significant other to the same old restaurant you always eat at. The city has much more to offer.
Elevate your February 14 experience by listening to a concert lit by candlelight or try a new activity together, like laser tag or roller skating. Whether it’s your first time out together or you’ve been going on dates for years, here are Valentine’s Day date ideas in Ottawa.
Eat your heart out on a food tour
Explore your city like a tourist and treat your tastebuds to a culinary adventure. C’est Bon Ottawa is a cooking class and food tour company offering multiple daytime and evening tours for all palates. Keep things sweet with the Chocolate Lover’s Tour if you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day on the weekend or discover gems downtown on the Taste of the Byward Market tour, which you can reserve on February 14.
Glide around a roller rink
Did you know Ottawa has a wood-floor roller rink with a DJ and arcade? Try a new activity with your partner and enjoy a retro roller-skating date. You can reserve a spot online to avoid the line and rent skates at the rink (rollerblades are not allowed). There is a Valentine’s Day party on February 14, 2024. Ages 16+ only after 9 p.m. daily.
Listen to jazz as you dine
Queen St. Fare is an ideal spot if you and your date love live music but can’t seem to agree on what to have for dinner. The elevated food hall and live music venue serve food from seven unique restaurants and host various weekly and special events. Wednesdays are jazz nights, so grab a pizza, tacos, pho or burger and enjoy the music in a lively atmosphere.
Wander through a museum
Learn something new together and engage with immersive displays and fascinating demonstrations at the three Ingenium museums in Ottawa. Observe a working herd of dairy cows, check out historic aircraft and silence the outside world in a Quiet Cube. The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum and Canada Science and Technology Museum highlight Canada’s contributions to science and technology, showcasing human ingenuity and creativity from the past into the future.
Save on your museum date. CAA Members receive a 25% discount on single admission tickets and save 10% on museum memberships.
Bundle up to downhill ski
Spend a day on the slopes with your favourite person across Camp Fortune’s three peaks. This nearby ski hill is less than 30 minutes from Ottawa, featuring 27 runs that range in difficulty. The terrain park allows you to practice tricks, and 12 runs are open for night skiing. Ski and board rentals are available for all ages if you don’t have your own. You can grab a cheaper ticket if you plan to visit the ski hill after 4 p.m. on a weeknight.
Sample treats at a cake bar
Le Cheesecake Bar in Gatineau is a sweet date spot boasting many cheesecake flavours. Order an assortment of mini cakes to turn your visit into a decadent cake tasting of your favourite flavours like red velvet, key lime, blueberry, apple streusel, s’mores, and many more to choose from. Make the experience extra fun by selecting cheesecakes for your partner, and they can have a blind tasting.
Go skating on a winter trail
The Ottawa region boasts many outdoor skating trails, including Le Sentier du Petit Pingouin, Patinage en Forêt and the famous Rideau Canal Skateway. Glide along a smooth ice path full of twists and turns while surrounded by trees at RiverOak skating trail. You and your adventure buddy can skate on over three kilometres of trails covering about four acres. Twinkly lights line the nature trails, and there are hills and areas to play hockey. Rent skates if needed, and enjoy a snack after your winter activities.
Browse a cafe and bookshop
Elevate your cozy coffee shop date by visiting a local bookstore that houses a cafe. Black Squirrel Books is open daily until 5 p.m. for those looking for a relaxing daytime rendezvous. Browse books, including new releases and carefully curated used books, as you sip a coffee or tea together. Choose something to read and discuss together at home, or add a neighbourhood walk to the adventure.
Play lawn games
Play various indoor lawn games at Playback Games Bar. Challenge your date to cornhole, bocce, beer pong or shuffleboard. All games are free to play on a first-come, first-served basis. Double-check their online calendar before you go to confirm that a private event is not on that day – it’s completely open on February 14, 2024. They don’t serve food, but you’re welcome to order takeout; they’ve partnered with delivery services like Uber Eats, Skip The Dishes and Doordash.
Enjoy a zero-proof drink tasting
You don’t need to consume alcohol to go for a drink-tasting experience fit for an adult palate. Book a Guided Shopping and tasting Experience at Knyota to sample four zero-proof drinks without sacrificing complex flavours and distinguished aromas. Individual tastings work best for spirits, whereas a group experience allows more tastings of non-alcoholic beer, wine and mocktails to share the discovery and limit waste. Reserve a spot each hour between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on February 14. This Ottawa shop is fully dedicated to alcohol-free drinks, and the tasting is a fun way to try new options before buying.
Battle it out at laser tag
Turn your get-together into a play date and hang out like you are kids again at an entertainment centre. Funhaven has indoor rides, play areas and games so you can spend hours battling it out and bonding over new experiences. Play different games at the arcade, zip around on Ottawa’s only rollercoaster, solve puzzles to beat an Escape Room and battle it out in a laser tag arena.
Relax at a Nordic spa
Lose track of time as you spend the afternoon relaxing at a thermal spa just a few minutes from downtown Ottawa. Soak up the benefits of a luxurious thermal spa cycle from the heat of saunas and tubs, cryotherapy in the form of a cold pool dip and halotherapy in the Himalayan salt room. Kōena Spa has four hot and warm pools, two cold baths, multiple dry and steam saunas, and relaxation rooms. You can also add treatments such as massage therapy, body treatments or a facial to your visit.
Try your hand at axe throwing
Spice up your typical nights out with some friendly competition and go axe throwing. Even if you’ve never thrown an axe, BATL Axe Throwing in Ottawa offers casual lanes for small groups, which start with a quick coaching session. Walk-ins are welcome, but booking a lane online is recommended if you want to secure a spot. Grab a drink and pizza if you need refreshments during your game.
Hunt for the city’s best pizza
Explore numerous Ottawa pizza joints with your partner, discovering new places and rating each slice. Maybe you’ll find your new favourite pizza in the city. The Ottawa Pizza Passport is a little book outlining over 80 handpicked pizza restaurants in the area, highlighting details of each spot with room to add a rating and notes. Of course, you’re not going to try ten or so pizzas in a single day, but you can hit up one or two to compare and follow the passport booklet on multiple dates over time.
Sip and chat at afternoon tea
Transport yourselves to England and check out a new Ottawa café by booking afternoon tea. Carmelito Café serves sweet treats, savoury paninis and a variety of hot drinks along with this specialty experience. Choose from various tea options to pair with your three tiers of goodies, including scones, finger foods and mini desserts. The tea service is by reservation only and requires 48 hours’ notice.
Shoot pool
Sports fans can enjoy an evening at Maclaren’s On Elgin for a casual Valentine’s night of pub-style food and playing pool. They have 25 billiards tables reserved by the hour, so there are many chances to play. The walls are covered with unique sports memorabilia to complete the vibe. Order food late into the night as the kitchen is open until midnight.
Admire art at a free gallery
Discover and admire artwork created by artists from the Ottawa-Gatineau region at the Ottawa Art Gallery. With exhibitions and collections that can help connect you to your city, the gallery is always free to visit. You can join a workshop or event like the Winterlude Edition of Drink And Draw on February 15, 2024. Celebrate the day of love one day later with a social sketching session where all the materials are provided.
Watch a dinner theatre performance
Canada’s longest-running dinner musical is a two-hour celebration of the country, showcasing all-Canadian music from Maritime folk songs to modern pop. Keep your ears tuned for everything from Celine Dion to Justin Bieber. You can look forward to seeing classic characters such as Mounties and Anne of Green Gables. The performers serve you dinner while you watch the show, creating a unique interactive experience. You can buy a show-only ticket if you’re not up for the five-course meal.
Go snowshoeing under the stars
The local tour company, Aventure Outaouais, curates various experiences on the Quebec side of the Ottawa region and can lead you to many hidden gems. One of their seasonal winter tours is the Gatineau Park Nocturnal Snowshoeing Adventure And Dinner, which runs on weekends and Thursdays through March. All the required equipment, like snowshoes and headlamps, are included, and a guide will take you on Gatineau Park trails under the stars to a hidden cabin where you’ll enjoy a warm meal. As always, snacks and transportation are taken care of, so enjoy the night without any stress.
Join a cookie decorating class
Decorate six Valentine’s-themed treats and learn the basics of sugar cookies with Capital Cookie Company at Overflow Brewing Company. The two-hour class includes piping practice and chatting about general concepts regarding icing and dough. Add some sprinkles to your sweet creations, and bring them home. The class is on February 13, 2024, so the goodies will be ready on Valentine’s Day.
Get artsy at a paint night
Uncover a new talent or re-discover your love of being creative with someone you adore. Don’t worry if you aren’t an artist; the focus is on having fun. Go to Atomic Rooster on February 7 to paint a ‘Soaring Love’ partner piece, visit Broadway Bar and Grill on February 10 for a pink landscape design or head to Casa Mexico on February 14 to colour a ‘Written in the Stars’ partner painting, among other places and designs.
Listen to music scores by candlelight
Experience a romantic multi-sensory evening of music as flickering candles surround youyou’re. You can find candlelight concerts featuring different artists in venues across Ottawa throughout the year. You can enjoy A Tribute to Queen and more at Knox Church on February 14 if you’re looking for plans on the day of love or buy tickets to the Valentine’s Day Special show featuring “Romeo and Juliet” and more on February 8 at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre.
Have fun at Winterlude
Ottawa’s massive winter festival runs through the week of Valentine’s Day so that you can celebrate your love with outdoor games and seasonal events. A day or evening downhill tubing, navigating mazes, eating BeaverTails and admiring ice sculpting await. Head to The Rainbow on February 14 to watch Craig Cardiff in concert for free.
Take a horse drawn carriage ride
Bundle up and enter the Byward Market for a romantic carriage ride downtown. The last stable left in the market, Cundell Stables, offers free horse-drawn carriage rides during the winter. Find them ready for a ride between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on February 14.
Don't forget to bring your CAA Membership
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