Valentine’s Day Dining in Orlando: Something for Every Mood

By Erica Rudnick Macalintal

Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to have a cozy meal with the one you love, and Orlando has no shortage of romantic dining experiences. Whether you want something adventurous and spicy, formal and traditional, or low-key and relaxed, Orlando has you covered.

Dessert

If you are feeling extra frisky (and know your date very well), Better Than Sex lives up to its namesake, offering a variety of decadent desserts and drinks. Located in Ivanhoe Village just east of College Park, the space is small and intimate and makes you and your date feel as though you are the only couple in the restaurant. The menu descriptions are a little risqué, but there is no need to be shy— you are among like-minded patrons all out for something sumptuous. Their selection of rimmed wines and beers offer spirited libations with caramel, white chocolate, or other delicious surgery concoctions to coat the glasses, giving you an even more indulgent feel to your experience. There are no savories here, so enjoy your main course before you come.

Dinner

If you want a more traditional dinner, Adriatico in College Park is also a sweet space to take your date. The intimate Italian trattoria has a romantic ambiance and offers familiar and delicious favorites like Caprese Antipasti, Fettuccine Alla Carbonara, and Pollo al Marsala. The wine list is thorough and well-paired— and the establishment also boasts of being the first – and only –Italian restaurant in the greater Orlando area to receive the Marchio Ospitalita Italiana Seal of Quality. This prestigious recognition requires a rigorous certification process from the Italian Chambers of Commerce, which accredits Italian restaurants around the globe, making this an excellent choice for an authentic Italian dining adventure.

Drinks

For something more low-key, be it for a first date, drinks before dinner, or (no shaming here) if you did not make a reservation for Valentine’s Day, East End Market is always a fun option. The neighborhood food hall and market offer a multitude of vendors offering coffee, drinks, dinner, and desserts, so you and your date can sample a little bit of everything. Al fresco seating is available upstairs on the balconies and downstairs in the courtyard.

Drinks are available from the extensive bar at Domu or The Neighbors. If you are feeling hungry after libations, there are tons of choices for both full meals and tastings— Hinckley’s Fancy Meats (which also offers craft beer and wine), Wafu for sweet and savory taiyaki, Domu for ramen, La Femme du Fromage for your cheese fix, and Winter Park Biscuit Company and Farm and Haus for brunch fare. Sweets are also available from Dochi donuts, Skybird Juice Bar, and the ever-irresistible Gideon’s Bakehouse.

By Alexis George