There’s so much pressure around Valentine’s these days… the right gift, the right night out, the right outfit to wear. Sometimes the simplest evening creates the most perfect Valentine’s Day in Charlotte.
My husband and I have ‘our usual’ Valentine’s day ritual. We love to go out and eat at one of our favorite restaurants then we go see a movie. It’s a no-frills, simple tradition that works for us! There is something about sitting across the table from someone you love, without the usual distractions, talking and gazing into their eyes.
Charlotte has so many fabulous restaurants springing up all over town. Many offer great food, and great ambiance, but not all of them are perfect for romance. I have always found a relationship between classic older established restaurants and romance. It may just be my preference, however, I suspect I’m not the only one.
As Valentine’s Day approaches I’d like to offer some of my personal handpicked restaurants that I believe are wonderful places to spark romance and support our restaurant scene that has stood the test of time.
- McNinch house. I lived in Charlotte for over 5 years before visiting The McNinch house for the first time. Service is white glove. The beautiful old home setting and history is so interesting and you just feel special. This is a Charlotte institution.
- Poplar St. Cafe. This restaurant is in an absolutely gorgeous home with amazing interior design, beautiful spaces, good food, and a great bar. It is a really intimate setting and the Tapas are just made to be shared! I love it!
- The Fig Tree. I’m here probably once a week. I love this restaurant. They have the best staff in town. Tell Mark the head bartender I said hello. This restaurant is also set in a beautiful old home. It is so romantic and usually always in the top 5 best restaurants in Charlotte.
- Carpe Diem. I love the bar area for an intimate dinner. It meets all the romance requirements too like a beautiful space and spectacular food.
- Luce Restaurant, in my opinion, is the best hand made pasta in town You can’t beat good Italian food on Valentine’s Day. The language itself is so romantic. Oh and let me help you score extra points with your partner. “I love you” in Italian is Ti emo (tee am-oh)
- Stagioni Amazing italian. The Northern Italian wood-fired pizza is outstanding with a great staff. It is usually really busy so make a reservation if you plan ongoing.
- Halcyon: If you want a fantastic view of the city with your romance, this is it. It is located in an urban contemporary setting that shares the same building as the Mint Museum. Cool, right?
If you want to go the extra mile you could throw in some flowers.
Oh, and don’t forget to show your neighbors a little love this Valentine’s Day too.
