Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, which means Atlanta restaurants are going all-in with prix fixe menus, pop-up cocktail bars, and cooking classes that range from genuinely romantic to delightfully chaotic.
We’ve sifted through the flood of heart-shaped everything to find the Valentine’s Day plans actually worth your time and money. Book early, because nothing tests romance quite like racing the OpenTable clock.
AltaToro
Cupid’s Cove is back for its second year, transforming AltaToro’s heated patio into a Valentine’s wonderland from Friday, January 30 through Sunday, March 1. Expect larger-than-life florals, pink-and-neon décor, and plenty of photo ops alongside the full Latin-inspired menu and exclusive Valentine’s cocktails. Friday and Saturday nights heat up with live fire shows, while a four-course prix fixe feast (complete with Champagne) on Saturday, February 14 makes things extra romantic. Reservations for Cupid’s Cove are available via Resy. 33 Peachtree Pl NE, Atlanta, altatoro.com
9-Mile Station
The Roof at Ponce City Market is going all out for Valentine’s Day with three skyline-view options. Start with brunch (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), opt for the four-course prix fixe dinner, or book the private dining igloo experience—a candlelit, climate-controlled setup complete with champagne, a chef-driven four-course meal with wine pairings, and a dozen roses to take home. All options offer add-ons like bubbly ($115) or Dom Perignon ($250) for extra romance points. 675 Ponce De Leon Ave, NE, Atlanta, 9milestation.com
Serena Pastificio
This West Midtown pasta spot is keeping Valentine’s Day weekend sweet and simple with a heart-shaped chocolate raspberry red velvet cake (think raspberry caramel sauce, whipped cream, and candied almonds), plus a strawberry citrus Prosecco cocktail—strawberry and lemon-infused vodka topped with bubbles and fresh strawberry. Not drinking? The bubbly cocktail is also available as a mocktail. Specials run from Friday, February 13 through Sunday, February 15, and reservations can be made via OpenTable. 1197 Peachtree St. NE, Ste 140, Atlanta, serena-pastificio.com
Your 3rd Spot
This entertainment venue behind Chattahoochee Food Works is shaking up Valentine’s Day with Sparks Under the Stars. Family-friendly vibes from noon to 4:30 p.m. feature brunch and gaming. After 5 p.m., the 21+ ambiance turns romantic with curated packages, ranging from gaming-focused date nights to a romantic seven-course tasting menu (filet mignon, lobster tail with brown butter, the works). Expect Champagne toasts, astrology compatibility readings, couples’ crafts, DJ slow-dance moments, and plenty of Instagram-worthy photo ops. Reservations can be made here. 400 Chattahoochee Row NW, Atlanta, your3rdspot.com
Tiny Lou’s
The dimly lit French brasserie at Hotel Clermont serves up a three-course Valentine’s Day menu ($110 per person) that’s all velvet banquettes and old-school charm. Expect seafood-forward favorites like chargrilled oysters and lobster risotto, paired with over-the-top desserts like the triple chocolate “heartbreaker.” Book your table now and prepare to be thoroughly wooed by one of Atlanta’s most swoon-worthy dining rooms. 789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, tinylous.com
Chichería Mexican Kitchen
Forget the traditional Valentine’s dinner. Chichería is transforming into the Rose Garden from Wednesday, January 28 through Sunday, February 15, with all the flowers, candlelight, and moody ambiance of a ‘90s rom-com. The rose-filled pop-up centers on tequila, mezcal, and an all-pink cocktail menu built for Instagram. Whether you’re celebrating early or extending the love past Valentine’s Day, reservations are encouraged for this highly photogenic takeover. 202 Chattahoochee Row NW Ste. C, Atlanta, chicheriamx.com
Amore e Amore
This beloved Inman Park Italian spot isn’t doing Valentine’s Day; it’s doing Valentine’s Month. Throughout February, expect Cupid-approved décor and a special multi-course menu, alongside the restaurant’s full dinner offerings. Valentine’s Day itself gets the full treatment with Valentino’s Feast, a $200 per person multi-course dinner with complimentary bubbly. It’s fitting for a restaurant celebrating 25 years and built on Mama Gale and Professor Giovanni’s own love story. 467 N Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, amoreeamore.com
Distillery of Modern Art
You can buy yourself flowers, or arrange your own, at this Chamblee distillery. On Friday, February 13, aka Galentine’s Day, gather your girlfriends for a pro-led flower-arranging workshop from 6 to 7:30 pm. Learn to create a beautiful take-home floral arrangement while sipping a cocktail or mocktail and nibbling on snacks as you work. Tickets start at $99.95 and can be booked via Eventbrite. 2197 Irvindale Way, Chamblee, distilleryofmodernart.com
Atrium
Executive chef Trevor Shibuya is rolling out a Valentine’s Day four-course prix fixe menu worth dressing up for at this swanky Ponce City Market restaurant. Start with options like hamachi crudo or oysters Rockefeller, move into lobster and flounder or a 12oz strip steak with black truffle butter, and end on a sweet note with chocolate pots de crème or lemon olive oil cake. Be sure to nab a martini from the bar—the French Kiss fits the theme nicely. The festive menu runs $95 per person. 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, atriumatl.com
O-Ku Atlanta
Is there anything more romantic than not having to make any decisions? This Westside Japanese spot is heeding the call with executive chef Chris Hong’s six-course Osusume experience this Valentine’s Day weekend, featuring plates like lobster and mushrooms with sake miso glaze, short rib bao buns, and namelaka for dessert. The pre-determined menu is designed to let you focus on your date while the kitchen handles every detail. The experience is available to book via OpenTable on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14 for $125 per person alongside O-Ku’s regular menu. 1085 Howell Mill Rd NW A3, Atlanta, o-kusushi.com
Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall
Ladybird is leaning into Valentine’s week with equal parts romance and chaos, no reservations required. Thursday’s Galentine’s Day movie night features 10 Things I Hate About You with popcorn and drink specials. Friday the 13th gets the full treatment with a “Love is Dead” theme—think Heartbreak Happy Hour with themed cocktails, a screening of John Tucker Must Die at 7 p.m., and a “Burn Your Ex in the Grove” activation at 8:30 p.m. during which you can toss photos or notes into the fire pits. $5 Jello shots all night, because why not? 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE Unit J, Atlanta, ladybirdatl.com
5Church Midtown
This Midtown staple is stretching Valentine’s through the entire weekend. Start Friday, February 13 with the four-course “Love on a Plate: The Prelude” prix fixe ($100, with champagne included). Then go all-in on Saturday, February 14 with a main event dinner ($110), before heading upstairs to Virtue Rooftop’s “Skyline & Sweethearts” party—think Valentine’s cocktails, pink décor, fire pits, and a DJ from 8 p.m. to midnight, no cover required. Cap it off on Sunday, February 15 with a post-Valentine’s brunch buffet (11 a.m. to 4 p.m., $65 per person). 1197 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, midtown.5church-atlanta.com
Buena Vida Tapas Bar
Skip the stuffy Valentine’s dinner and head to this Old Fourth Ward wine bar for the Candlelight Series, running through Sunday, February 2). Once 5 p.m. hits, the lights dim, candles flicker, and curated specialty cocktails and wines shine alongside shareable Spanish tapas. Expect jazz performances on Valentine’s Day that set the mood for low-key conversation that flows as freely as the drinks. 385 N. Angier Ave NE, Ste. 100, Atlanta, buenavidatapas.com
Vino Venue
This Marietta wine shop is stretching Valentine’s across three nights with experiences for every kind of romantic. Thursday, February 12 kicks off with “Sip & Swoon,” a wine tasting featuring four curated pours and light bites ($25, 6 to 8 p.m.) Friday, February 13 brings “Passport to Romance” ($90, 6 to 8 p.m.), which takes guests through six tasting stations inspired by romantic destinations worldwide, each with wine or cocktail pairings, plus a live bananas foster demo. Saturday, February 14 wraps with a hands-on cooking class ($99, 12 to 2:30 p.m.) where guests can prep a globally inspired brunch with their date before sitting down to enjoy it family-style. 4478 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Georgetown, Atlanta, vinovenue.com
Le Bon Nosh
Executive chef Forough Valiki is crafting a French-inspired three-course prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day, complete with live cabaret vocals to set the mood. Start with Beausoleil oysters or Waldorf salad, move into options like grilled entrecôte or local snapper, and finish with crêpes Suzette or dark chocolate mousse. The intimate Buckhead spot charges $140 per person for the evening, and reservations can be made via Resy. 65 Irby Avenue NW, Ste. 103, Atlanta, lebonnosh.com
Waffle House
We all know Waffle House is the answer to late-night cravings and storm survival, but on Valentine’s Day, it’s also the most Atlanta way to celebrate romance. Roughly 40 metro locations are rolling out white tablecloths, candlelight, dimmed lighting, and curated music for the one night of the year they actually take reservations. The menu stays the same (scattered, smothered, and covered forever), but the vibe is ironically fancy. Slots fill up weeks in advance, so secure your booth now if hash browns over filet mignon is your love language. Multiple locations, wafflehouse.com
