February 7, 2024 | Part 3: Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is now officially a week away! Designed to celebrate love in all of its forms, this day is used as an opportunity to spend time with loved ones and commonly involves the exchange of gifts, flowers, and more. If you are still on the lookout for some ideas on how to celebrate this special occasion, there are plenty of amazing businesses within the downtown core that can help. Whether you are looking to attend a fun event with your loved ones, go out for a romantic meal, or grab some gifts, continue reading for some ideas on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day within the downtown core.
EVENTS
If your ideal Valentine’s Day celebration involves dancing the night away, Electric Diner is hosting an 80’s Valentine’s Day Dance Party that would be perfect. On Saturday, February 10 from 9 pm to 1 am, their location at 28 James Street North will be transformed for the Valentine’s Day festivities and feature DJ Fazooli pumping out the jams, themed cocktails, complimentary champagne on arrival, a photo booth and Valentine’s décor. You can buy tickets for this event here. Don’t worry if you cannot make it to the dance, as Electric Diner is continuing to spread the spirit of love throughout the rest of the month. Each Thursday in February they will be transforming their regularly scheduled 80’s Movie Nights into 80’s Valentine’s Day Movie Nights. February’s remaining movies include Dirty Dancing, St. Elmo’s Fire, Moonstruck, and Say Anything. Booking a table between 8 and 9 pm will guarantee you a spot, and you can make a reservation here. Either one of these events is not only sure to be a great time, but the 80’s flair is sure to make for a unique event that you will remember for weeks to come. You can find more information about Electric Diner and view their menu through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Another amazing event that is sure to be a great addition to your Valentine’s Day plans is RELAY Coffee Roaster’s Valentine’s Tea. Visit 27 King William Street on Sunday, February 11 at either 5:30 or 6 pm for a full tea service. Each package is designed for two people and includes a large three-tier tray of treats with a variety of sandwiches, scones desserts, and a pot of either tea or a French press of your favorite RELAY coffee roast. There is also an option for smaller serving sizes of each option for any children who would like to join, allowing you to easily transform it into a family outing if you wish. The delicious flavours and inviting atmosphere of RELAY Coffee Roasters will make this one-of-a-kind event even more special, so get your tickets now! You can purchase tickets for this event here. You can find more information about RELAY Coffee Roasters and view their menu on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
For those who want food and a show for their Valentine’s Day, make sure you grab a ticket for Mystic Ramen’s Drag Brunch. Take a stroll down to 51 King William Street on Saturday, February 11 at 11 am or 1 pm for delicious food and jaw-dropping performances by drag queens Claudia Silva and Vanity à la Mode. This event will also feature a special menu and cocktails, sure to be the perfect addition to an already great day. Whether you want to go with your loved ones or best friends, this event is sure to be a great time filled with plenty of great food and an even better atmosphere. You can purchase tickets for this event here. You can find more information about Mystic Ramen and view their menu through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
RESTAURANTS
If you are in need of a delicious restaurant to visit for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, look no further than Conversate Steak & Seafood. Located at 38 King William Street, this restaurant couples traditional steakhouse fare with a modern and unique flair, making it the perfect backdrop for your Valentine’s Day date. They have released their special Valentine’s Day menu, which includes starters such as lobster bisque, onion soup and wagyu carpaccio, mains that include lobster risotto, prime cut steaks, organic chicken, and a dessert for two plate or Cinnabon cheesecake to end the night. Valentine’s Day will also include the musician Taylor-Rae Scott live on-site, serenading guests. Both the food and the carefully cultivated atmosphere are sure to impress, so call 905 525 3730 to make a reservation. You can find more information about Conversate Steak & Seafood on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Another amazing restaurant that is sure to impress for Valentine’s Day is Undefined, located at 35 King William Street. With the mantra eat, drink and enjoy, this restaurant takes familiar flavours and ideas before turning them on their head into something totally unique. Their Valentine’s Day celebrations run from February 14 to 17, and feature an exclusive 5-course Chef’s menu specifically designed to be enjoyed in twos. There will be a focus on both sharable and individual plates, and you can make the night all exclusive by adding a wine or cocktail pairing as well as a custom box of 1 dozen roses alongside hand-made chocolate. Their menu hasn’t been released yet, so make sure you keep an eye out or go to experience it for yourself! You can make a reservation here. You can find more information about Undefined through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Berkeley North would make the perfect backdrop for your Valentine’s Day plans, with a special Valentine’s Day celebration that is sure to impress. Located at 31 King William Street, this restaurant was inspired by the coast of California and in turn focused on sharing plates, sourcing the best ingredients, and prioritizing the guest experience. Their Valentine’s Day includes a delicious 4 course pre-fix menu, filled with all new dishes that have been designed specifically for the day. Each course has options to choose from, with dishes that include items such as beet tartare, spicy lamb noodles, 30-day dry-aged pork chop, yuzu coconut panna cotta, and more. The combination of the delicious food and welcoming atmosphere will make your Valentine’s Day that much more special. You can make a Valentine’s Day reservation here. You can find more information about Berkeley North on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
** All six of the above restaurants are participating in NOSH 2024, a contest designed to support the culinary industry in Hamilton. Running from February 1st to 29th, each post you make at a participating location within the Downtown Hamilton BIA will enter you into a gift card giveaway held at the end of the month. To enter:
- Dine in or order from any of the participating locations within the Downtown Hamilton BIA
- Post a photo of your meal/dessert/drink etc. on Instagram using the hashtag #NOSH2024
- Tag the business where the photo is taken and the Downtown Hamilton BIA (@dwntwnhambia)
You can find more information about NOSH 2024 here.
GIFTS
If you are racking your brain trying to think of gift ideas for your special someone, look no further than LEN: Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things. Located at 22 Wilson Street, this store has a truly impressive range of products, selling everything from art prints and clothing to books and home products. Regardless of whether you are looking to get the bulk of your gifts or grab a card to top everything off, LEN: Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things has you covered! Valentine’s Day shopping is made even sweeter during their online sale, where you can save some money by using the code VALENTINES14 at checkout. You can find more information about LEN: Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things and shop online through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram and X.
If the special person in your life is a music fan, make sure that you visit Dr. Disc in advance of February 14th. Located at 20 Wilson Street, this record store sells new and used vinyl, CDs and audio equipment, any of which will be the perfect addition to a music lover’s collection. Their newest vinyl restock includes artists such as Nirvana, Sufjan Stevens, Noah Kahan, Ice Spice, David Bowie, The Cranberries and more, ensuring that they have something that appeals to everyone’s music taste. Pop into Dr. Disc and browse their impressive range of stock soon! You can follow Dr. Disc on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Another great place to stop if you are looking for gifts is Container 57, located at 65 John Street South. This women’s shoe store offers a combination of shoes and purses for women, combining quality and affordability. Their stock includes boots, sneakers, loafers, heels and more. The team behind this store keeps a careful eye on the latest trends to ensure their stock is exciting and timely. You can learn more information about Container 57 and shop online through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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Visiting any one of these amazing businesses above will help make this year’s Valentine’s Day the best yet! Whether you are looking to go to a fun event, grab a bite to eat or get your special someone the perfect gift, the downtown core has you covered. These are only some of the amazing businesses within the area, a full directory can be found here. Valentine’s Day is a day filled with love, and showing these businesses some love helps them enrich our community for the entirety of the year.
If you are a Downtown Hamilton BIA member business and would like to be featured in a blog post, please email Emily Gilruth at operations@downtownhamilton.org.