When celebrating Valentine’s Day, it’s important to put a lot of thought and effort into your plan. Whether it be a significant other, a family member, or a group of friends, it’s a nice gesture to give the day a little forethought.

For Pensacola residents, picking a location can be as easy as planning any regular get-together. With loads of restaurants, tourist attractions, and a few locally known gems, there’s sure to be a place you and your plus-one (or more) can enjoy!

Below is a list of a few places recommended by fellow Pensacola locals to put in your Valentine’s Day plan.

The Melting Pot

Located on Palafox, this place was recommended multiple times when asked where they would like to go on Valentine’s Day, and for good reason. The Melting Pot has an amazing atmosphere, wonderful food and a friendly and considerate staff who will do their best to make the day memorable.

They recommend reserving a table ahead of time if you want to guarantee a spot, but if you find yourself running out of time, no worries! Their Valentine’s Day specials extend throughout the entire month of February, so you can surprise your loved one with a future reservation they can look forward to.

Seville Quarter

If you’re not looking to go anywhere specific and just want to walk, explore, and have fun along the way, then Seville Quarter is a wonderful place to go. The area is lined with all sorts of unique and fun places.

Go to karaoke after a few rounds with friends at one of their many bars, or sit down at one of their couples-themed restaurants and order a fancy French meal. The beautiful architecture of the buildings and the warm lights that turn on after dark will make you want to stay even after midnight passes.

Bay Bluffs Park

If you and your partner, family, or friends are nature people, then this is a wonderful place to go hiking and exploring. The park contains 42-acres of preserved land with countless walking trails, some of which lead down to the bay. 

The only concern some people have had in the past was the abundance of spiders in the trees (which some of us find quite nice), but in the cool months of February this shouldn’t be an issue. There are plenty of scenic views to take photos at and, best of all, is completely free.

McGuire’s Irish Pub

If you’ve lived in Pensacola for at least a year, then you’ve probably heard at least one person talk about McGuire’s. This is one of the most popular places in Pensacola to eat, drink, and have fun! They may not have any special Valentine’s Day theme, but you can be sure that it’ll still be fairly packed.

Featuring live music, a large outdoor public area, and tasteful Irish foods, this is a wonderful place for sociable party people to enjoy with each other. It’s also great if you (or all of you) aren’t very into the holiday and would rather get away from it while still having fun.

I Heart Bento

If you’re looking for a calmer atmosphere without too many people, then this is a wonderful restaurant to check out. It’s a small building with a small staff and a nice selection of bentos, poke bowls, sushi and boba teas.

The restaurant isn’t very popular with the tourists due to its tucked away location, but the locals who know of it usually have good things to say. It’s especially quiet after the lunch rush passes, so you can listen to calm Lo-Fi music and enjoy a nice conversation with your loved one.

Dreamland Skate Center

A classic event that doesn’t immediately come to everyone’s mind is roller skating! Dreamland is a popular roller-rink with all sorts of fun periodical games in between the open skating time.

It can be a romantic way to skate side-by-side with your partner, to compete and race against friends, or to casually enjoy with the entire family. You can be sure that there will be some specific events planned for Valentine’s Day as well.

These are only a few of the many places that people love to go to on Valentine’s Day with their loved ones. It’s quite lucky to live in a place like Pensacola with so many options, touristy or not, to pick the perfect place to make a day of. Happy Valentine’s Day!