Seattle Date Night

The Importance of Date Night

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! And whether you & your honey plan on hitting the town or not, I wanted to share some of my favorite Seattle date night spots perfect for any occasion! Kevin & I usually stay in on Valentine’s & cook up something special at home. In the past we’ve made rack of lamb and flourless chocolate cake – and treated ourselves to some bubbly! I know Valentine’s Day can get a bad rap – commercialized hubbub,  but I am someone who doesn’t need much of a reason to celebrate. I’ll take any excuse to put on some lipstick and do something special!

I personally love all of the hype that having a regular “date night” is getting. It is so important to continue to date, even if you’ve been married for decades! Remember why you fell in love in the first place! It’s the ritual and habit of setting aside time to be present with and focused on your partner. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or expensive. Or even out of the house if you have little ones at home! Keep reading to find some of my favorite Seattle Date Night ideas!

Special Occasion Dinner Date

There are an insane amount of amazing restaurants in the Seattle area. Honestly, it can be totally overwhelming to choose! Here are some of my favorites:

Bateau – Capitol Hill, Renee Erickson, French/Steak
Rock Creek – Fremont, Seafood
Ba Bar – SLU & Capitol Hill, Vietnamese
Delancey – Ballard, Italian/Pizza (grab a drink at Essex next door and Frankie and Jo’s for dessert!)
How to Cook a Wolf – Queen Anne, Ethan Stowell/Italian

If you’re thinking about just getting drinks out (or want to add on to a very nice evening out!) these are some my favorite cocktail bars:

Percy’s (Ballard), Bar Mesuline (next to Bateau), Westward (right on the water!), Radiator Whisky (above Pike Place), Canon (Cap Hill)

Looking for a nice dessert? Try Hot Cakes molten chocolate cakes, Lady Yum macarons or one of my favorite Seattle ice cream shops!

Casual Date Nights

Date night doesn’t have to mean a fancy, expensive restaurant! Here are a few ideas for a more casual date night!

1. Putt Putt or Bowling – Our favorites are Interbay Miniature Golf & The Garage (Capitol Hill)

2. Grab a sandwich at Other Coast Cafe (or Trader Joe’s!) & picnic at Golden Gardens or Discovery Park

3. Go on a run or to yoga class! I love the idea getting your work out in together – it’s fun to get your sweat on, and who doesn’t love multi-tasking! If you have kiddos, try taking them with you in the jogging stroller, or doing a workout video at home while they sleep!

Resources

One of my favorite episodes of the Rise Together Podcast talks all about dating your spouse! Check it out here!

Relationship experts at the Gottman Institute just released a book all about the essential conversations to have in your relationship – broken up into date nights! Purchase it here!

I hope this inspires you to set aside an evening with your special someone! Comment below with your favorite Seattle date night ideas! xx

Photos by Meredith McKee Photography