Whether you’re looking for a classic white tablecloth dinner and night out, romantic weekend escape or casual and adventurous date night, Costa Mesa is home to some of the best Valentine’s Day ideas in Orange County.

Valentine’s Day traditionalists can plan for a dinner out and Broadway show like the New York Times’ Critics’ Pick Frozen on stage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts from February 1st through 19th. Or, if music is more your style, the legendary Righteous Brothers come to the Concert Hall on February 10-11, and the Pacific Symphony performs the ever-romantic Romeo and Juliet on Feb. 5.

For a pre-show dinner sure to impress your date, book a table in the center’s stunning glass walled Leatherby’s Café Rouge for a meal or craft cocktail. Enjoy a salad, charred octopus, hamachi tataki and select a Maple Leaf duck breast or Chilean sea bass for your entree, followed by a decadent Black Forest cake for dessert. Or, take a short walk across the campus and you’ll find former “Top Chef” contestant Amar Santana’s Spanish-inspired Vaca, where you can find an impressive Spanish wine list and share a stunning seafood paella – or keep a premium steak or seafood entrée to yourself.

One Costa Mesa hotel is offering a Valentine’s Day package perfect for turning date night into a romantic stayover for two. At Avenue of the Arts, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Valentine’s Day guests will enjoy a prix-fixe dinner for two at Silver Trumpet Restaurant, plus a rose-petal turndown service with a complimentary bottle of champagne in their room.

Not planning to spend the night? You can still enjoy Silver Trumpet’s decadent Valentine’s Day dinner – reservations required.

Creative couples (or galentines!) can flex their artistic talents at Costa Mesa Ceramics – they will even send you off with a new addition to your kitchenware! Friday and Saturday mornings and evenings have one-off classes. Classes are open to every level of artist and perfect for a playful date night activity.

In the 17th Street neighborhood, another fun idea is candle making. Spend Galentine’s Day with Lovely Curated Things and learn the basics of soy wax candle making & take home your hand-made candle! Class on Feb. 11 at 2:00 pm, book your spot here.

Experience a world of Spanish-style romance at Cafe Sevilla, where they’re offering a romantic Flamenco dinner show experience on the 14th. Start with a welcome charcuterie platter & then enjoy a three-course Spanish lobster paella dinner, plus an orange tart with raspberry meringue for dessert. The shows are a sensory indulgence of sight and sound, leaving guests with a taste of Spanish culture. Cafe Sevilla is home to the longest-running Flamenco Dinner show in Southern California. Reservations are a must with assigned seating.

The CAMP is hosting a “Spread the Love” event that sounds like a great day with your sweetie or friends. Enjoy live saxophone by Kole Weber and acoustic guitar by Emily Laliotis throughout the day, along with a beading workshop, free photos, mocktails and even a pack of wildflower seeds to take home. The event is all day Saturday, Feb. 11.

Adventurous couples can make a date night of rock climbing at Rockcreation, one of Orange County’s best climbing gyms. The facility offers more than 12,000 square feet of indoor terrain and bouldering, and day passes are available for $20.

Afterward, cool down with a beer at Gunwhale Ales or a flight of wine tastings and bites at Wine Lab, both just down the street in the SoBeCa District.

What about LGBTQ+ couples? Costa Mesa is a great place to find your vibe. Check out this blog post giving some more hotspots and activities for the LGBTQ+ traveler.

How about just a fun evening out? The Harp Inn has a Valentine’s comedy show starring The Cass Man, with other stand-up comedians, on Feb. 13. The show is free, but RSVP for a table via the link.

Regardless of exactly how you plan to spend the day, you can turn Valentine’s Day into the perfect weekend getaway in Costa Mesa! Find your hotel!

Find more things to do in Orange County here. What are you planning for the big day? Let us know in the comments!