Here are seven different ideas to heat things up and create an experience you won’t soon forget this Valentine’s Day in Chicago.
1. Sweet home Chicago
Photo courtesy of Katherine Anne Confections / Tuan Bui Photography
Some of the world’s most popular candies are made in Chicago. The National Confectioners Association formed here in 1884 and thousands of buyers attend the annual Sweets and Snack Expo that takes place in Chicago, too.
- Rather than defaulting to a drugstore aisle display of chocolates in a red cardboard heart-shaped box, step it up with some decadent truffles from Chicago chocolatiers like Vosges or Katherine Anne Confections
- Or book a chocolate-making class for the two of you with Chef Uzma at her namesake chocolate studio in Pilsen
2. Get salty
No one will really argue with you if you get them a gift certificate for a day at the spa but if you’re truly looking for something completely out of the ordinary and your mate is particularly adventurous, book some time at Galos Caves located in the most inconspicuous spot on the northwest side.
The caves are located next to a Polish restaurant that offers an incredible buffet and across from a discount strip mall. Filled with sea salt from the Dead Sea meant to provide both relaxation and help with respiratory issues, each session in the cave begins with dim lights and calming music to help guests unwind and breathe easy. Don’t forget to bring the required white socks. Afterward, hop over to the Polish restaurant for a bite.
3. Get Aire-y
Photo courtesy of AIRE Ancient Baths / Andrew Day Studio
If Galos Caves is just too-out-there for your love, perhaps AIRE Ancient Baths is more your taste. The River West Greco-Roman-style bathhouse in a restored historic building offers a number of experiences, including the Ancient Thermal Bath surrounded by candles or, in keeping with the salty theme, the Himalayan Salt Experience.
Or book an experience for both of you at the same time and choose the Red Wine Experience for Two in which you first bathe in red wine and then enjoy an hour-long massage with grapeseed oil.
4. Posh digs
For a stunning backdrop for a meal or drinks, check out the Three Arts Club Café, located within Restoration Hardware. This is not your ordinary Restoration Hardware retail outpost.
It’s truly a one-of-a-kind merging of retail and hospitality that features a carefully thought-out menu alongside elegant furnishings. The open-air space and the fountain and chandelier in the center will make you feel like you’re dining in Paris.
5. Hidden locales for candlelit dinners
Who are we to argue with a peaceful and intimate dinner for two? Sure, there are Michelin-star restaurants and well-known romantic hotspots that book up quickly like Geja’s in Lincoln Park and the Signature Room in Streeterville.
But lucky for Chicagoans there are hundreds of other just as darling restaurants that fly under-the-radar:
- Ask for a table enveloped in curtains at Penumbra Wine Bar in Logan Square
- Check out the warm atmosphere of Le Sud, a new restaurant in Roscoe Village featuring Southern French cuisine
- Take in Taxim in Wicker Park for Greek and Cypriot dishes
6. Get sweaty
Photo courtesy of Megy Karydes
Want to try climbing new heights together? Literally and figuratively? Try rock climbing at First Ascent Chicago at one of its four locations, including one in the loop at Block 37 or at Brooklyn Boulders in the West Loop.
7. Maybe not so sweaty
If you want something a bit more laid back, try the Game Room at the Chicago Athletic Association. Enjoy a cocktail while playing classic games like bocce, billiards, shuffleboard, chess and checkers.
Valentine’s Day can be a delightful way to show those you care about how much they mean to you. It doesn’t need to be an expensive showcase. Being thoughtful and part of the experience can mean more than you think.
If you’re looking to move to Chicago, you can find an apartment to rent or a home to buy that meets your needs.
