Patio dining in Tempe

If you want to treat your Valentine to a lovely meal paired with Tempe’s famous early spring ambiance, you can’t go wrong with dining alfresco at one of these amazing outdoor patio spaces. Postino WineCafe, Pedal Haus Brewery, Top of the Rock Restaurant and Caffe Boa are among the options known for delicious cuisine and great patios for chill vibes, superb views and serene settings. Visit our blog featuring Tempe restaurants with the best patios for more options.

Enjoy your favorite meal at a local park

For anyone looking to add a DIY touch to their Valentine’s Day festivities, we recommend planning a picnic. For one, the weather is so beautiful and, second, these Tempe restaurants offer your favorite dishes to-go. Tempe is home to a variety of fantastic parks, which also serve as front-row seats to our spectacular sunsets. Check our Picnics in the Park blog for more inspiration!

Date Itineraries

If your idea (or your boo’s idea) of the perfect Valentine’s Day includes a full day date itinerary — from brunch to sunset — be sure to check out our Date Ideas in Tempe blog. We asked three Arizona couples to document their plans for the perfect date, and they really understood the assignment. From exquisite eats to romantic recreation and can’t miss photo ops to unique experiences, this is your guide for thinking outside the box and stepping your date game up a notch.

Alter Ego at Canopy by Hilton Downtown Tempe
Alter Ego, named “2020 Best Hotel Restaurant” by Phoenix New Times, presents a delicious three-course meal daily from Saturday, February 11 to Tuesday, February 14. Enjoy this dinner for two for $65 per person. Book your reservation on OpenTable or call (602) 612-7871.

Galentine’s at Alibi Rooftop Bar at Canopy by Hilton Downtown Tempe
Grab your girls and head to Alibi, Tempe’s best rooftop bar. This 14th floor perch welcomes you for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 11. Ladies can enjoy $6 mimosas, $20 bottles of rose, amazing rooftop views, a live DJ and delicious brunch favorites! There’s no cover to attend, but reservations are required via eventbrite. Visit the event website, or follow along on Instagram to see the latest details.

Located on the ground floor of The Westin Tempe, Terra Tempe’s limited-time Valentine’s Day dinner menu features plenty of decadent dishes with a romantic twist. Lovebirds can choose from such selections as a half dozen oysters; Strawberry Salad; Butter Cast Iron Braised Short Rib with herb whipped potatoes, fried Brussel sprouts, baby carrots and pomegranate jus; and Queen Creek Olive Oil Poached Chilean Sea Bass with fava beans, yellow baby squash, truffle emulsion and white bean puree, and more. End the evening on a sweet note with Arizona Red Velvet Opera Cake! Reserve a spot on OpenTable.

Foch Cafe & Bistro

21 E. 6th St. #146, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 398-8534

Enjoy dinner and wine tasting this Valentine’s Day with bae at Foch Cafe & Bistro, a locally owned restaurant with American-European-inspired dishes and more. The Valentine’s Day Wine Tasting Dinner includes a five-course dinner, each course paired with a wine from Wagner Family of Wines. Reserve your spot by calling (480) 398-8534.

Spend the day at the Desert Botanical Garden

Desert Botanical Garden is always gorgeous, but spring is when it comes to life. Wildflowers will bloom, and there’s an excellent on-site restaurant called Gertrude’s, where you can enjoy a delicious meal on their lovely patio. Then, prepare to be moonstruck by the Garden’s Museum of the Moon exhibit. On display from February 7 to 14, 2023, this 23-foot diameter glowing moon by UK artist Luke Jerram offers detailed views of the lunar surface fused with a stellar soundtrack by composer Dan Jones.

Go for a scenic hike
Tempe and the surrounding Phoenix area have many hiking options to explore. Make it a sunrise or sunset hike to add some romance! We did all the homework on the best hikes in and around Tempe. For a quick hike with amazing views, check out “A” Mountain, located in the heart of Downtown Tempe. It only takes about 20 minutes to hike, but you can stay for the sunset views as long as you’d like.

Rent a boat on Tempe Town Lake

For a bit of fun, rent a swan, duck, or dragon-themed pedal boat at Boat Rentals of America – Tempe Town Lake. Or, test out their new donut boat to make it a double (or triple) date. If you’d rather experience the lake on dry land, rent a surrey bike to cruise the perimeter. They have both two-person and four-person bikes available for rent.

Head to Downtown Tempe for Second Sundays
Make your way to Downtown Tempe this Sunday for Second Sundays, February 13, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy live music and entertainment, snack vendors, and an outdoor market featuring homemade goods and gifts from local Arizonan artisans, crafters and makers. This event is FREE and both family and pet friendly.

Shop & Dine at Tempe Marketplace

Dazzle through The District at Tempe Market Place and snap the ultimate V-Day shot in front of a love-themed floral installation! Then, you can grab food from one of Tempe Market Place’s many restaurants.