I unabashedly love Valentine’s Day, but I don’t love spending money. So Feb. 14 can sometimes put me between a rock and a hard place, especially when the holiday falls on a Saturday.
If you want to go all out and celebrate your sweetie, there are plenty of ways and places to do that in the Burgh. There are tons of top-notch restaurants offering specials, prix fixe menus and more. You could get crafty at Pittsburgh Glass Center, participate in a themed paint and sip, hit a partner yoga class or “learn about the anatomy of pleasure” at the Kamin Science Center’s 21+ night, among many other options.
If, for whatever reason, you want to make the holiday special without spending $50 before you get in the door, we’ve got you.
One quick note: Some of these activities have daily patron limits, so consider this a guide to a Valentine’s-ish date.
Inexpensive or free activities
The Rink at Schenley Park. Photo courtesy of City of Pittsburgh Parks & Recreation Department.
Go ice skating
Let’s get this one out of the way first. It’s a quintessential Valentine’s date for a reason: Holding hands is encouraged, as is snuggling up by a fire and warming up afterward. Many of the area ice rinks will host special Valentine’s Day skates, but any other day works just as well. Admission ranges in price from $5 to $12 and skate rental is $2 to $6, depending on where you go. Temperatures have been beyond frigid lately, but forecasts show temps slightly above freezing predicted for that weekend.
Use a RAD pass to experience Pittsburgh institutions for free
You may have heard of RAD days or RAD summer, but did you know that you can snag free tickets to Pittsburgh museums and other cultural locations year-round if you have a library card? Once you create an account using your library card, you can reserve passes for the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, Carnegie Museums of Natural Art & History, The Mattress Factory, New Hazlett Theater and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. There’s a limited number of passes available per month, but as of press time, all those locations still have February availabilities.
The interior at Ketchup City. Photo courtesy of Ketchup City Creative.
Try an art gallery
Another way to take inspiration from art: Visit some of Pittsburgh’s numerous galleries. Many of our favorites, including Wood Street Galleries, Spinning Plate Gallery, Ketchup City Creative and BoxHeart Gallery, are free and open to the public, but check hours beforehand. Looking for a specific type of art? Our NEXT in the Gallery series has everything you need to know about art show openings happening each month.
Visit the Bayernhof Museum or another small museum
For $10 per person, you can tour the “extremely unique, 19,000-square-foot” former residence of Charles B. Brown III. The historic house is home to a collection of music boxes, automatic music machines and other off-the-wall treasures. You can see some of the music boxes online, but we suggest showing up without doing much research and letting the house tell the story. The museum is open every day (except major holidays) by appointment only. Call 412-782-4231 to schedule a tour.
If the Bayernhof is booked, try one of our four other favorite house museums in the area.
Light Up Bellevue 2024. Photo courtesy of BonaFide Bellevue.
Explore a new town or neighborhood
For those with an adventurous spirit, go to a town or neighborhood you’ve never been to before, park once and explore. You might be surprised at the cafes, restaurants, museums, theaters and other gems that you’ll find within the small towns and boroughs that surround the city, or even in some underrated city neighborhoods. Ambridge, Bellevue, Dormont, Etna, Millvale, Sharpsburg, Wilkinsburg and Zelienople are at the top of our list, but in Pittsburgh, there’s no wrong move.
Try thrifting
While you’re out, why not look for a new fit? The Pittsburgh area is rich with options for secondhand shopping, from Goodwill locations to the Red, White & Blue Thrift Store and many more. We even rounded up some of the best options for you back in 2021. What could be more romantic than picking out a new look for your love and putting on a fitting room fashion show?
Meals that won’t break the bank:
Photos courtesy of Dad’s Dog & Burger.
I haven’t personally been here yet, but it’s where you might find my husband and me on Valentine’s Day. The vibe of the place is classic, old-school Pittsburgh: red plastic booths, vintage art on the walls, milkshakes in to-go cups and dogs piled high with toppings. Hot dogs are $5 to $7.50 depending on toppings. Burgers are $7.50 to $10. There are sides, other sammies and desserts, too. They’re open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. After dinner, visit Dad’s neighbor, the Big Idea Bookstore & Cafe, or the many other Liberty Avenue shops. It’s a perfect Yinzer day date.
Go for the coffee, stay for the arepas and flan. Do I need to say anything else? An arepa combo is about $12, or they’re about $7.50 to $8.50 each, depending on the flavor. They’ve also got Colombian chocolate in the drinking and bar varieties for sale, plus pure cacao pulp if you’re going to whip up something later. COLOMBINO is open Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A patacon, empanadas, yuca fries and a cachapa from Cilantro & Ajo. Photo by Roman Hladio.
Venezuelan empanadas are the perfect handheld street food for eating while you walk around either of the bustling neighborhoods where these restaurants are located. The menu at Cilantro & Ajo is large, so come hungry and maybe peruse online before you go. Empanadas are $5 to $10 each, depending on the type and filling. If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, check out the Patacon Deluxe: a whole fried plantain cut in half and topped with meat, tomato, coleslaw salad, queso fresco, pink sauce and ketchup. Don’t skip the yuca fries. They’re open until 9 p.m. every day except Sunday and Monday, so Cilantro & Ajo is a good dinner option if you’re not into a day date.
Two old standbys…
Pizza
There are too many places to list here; If actor Joe Manganiello is to be believed, Pittsburgh has better pizza than New York City. I’m not going to weigh in on that debate, but the Burgh does have some great slices on offer. Try a spot you’ve never been to, or visit both and pit your favorite joint against your date’s. Either way, depending on what you order, you can keep the bill from getting too out of control. This could be cute for a late-night, post-drinks meal, too.
A diner
Again, there are too many options to list, but I’ll still try: Pamela’s, Kelly O’s, Ritters (my personal fave), DeLucas, The Dor-Stop, Upstreet Diner (a new-ish place in Squirrel Hill), Valliant’s Diner, Don’s Diner, Nancy’s Revival … I could go on for a while. The gist is that pancakes, coffee and great conversation make for a sweet date any day of the year. Some close early and others are open late, so be sure to check before you settle on a place.
Looking for more Valentine’s Day date ideas? Check out our Weekend Event Guides for the next two weekends for romantic events and other festivities.
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