February in Austin means fixed-price menus, sold-out reservations and roses with a luxury markup. Romance, suddenly, feels like a budget line item. But dating in this city doesn’t have to cost as much as rent.
Each month, we’re tracking down smart, affordable date ideas that prove you can keep the spark lit without torching your bank account — even on Valentine’s Day.
Related: Austin first dates gone wrong: Lessons in love, tequila and dancing
Article continues below this ad
$20: Coffee, culture and classic movie romance
Austinities visit and enjoy the Austin Public Library in Austin on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. [LOLA GOMEZ / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]
Lola Gomez
If you can’t get to the Central Library downtown, the Austin Public Library has introduced an eCard that allows adults who don’t live in Austin to get a year of access to the library’s online materials for $22.
Start your day at Intelligentsia Coffee in downtown Austin near the Central Library, where an avena latte warms your hands and a flaky pastry warms your heart. You can steal sips from each other’s cups while the world hustles past outside the window.
Article continues below this ad
Then, wander over to the Central Library and dive into its DVD collection. Sure, streaming is convenient, but nothing says “romantic nostalgia” like physically picking up a copy of “Before Sunrise,” “Cinema Paradiso,” or “Mississippi Masala.” If you don’t have a DVD player, you can stream titles on Kanopy, Hoopla or Libby using your library account. Settle in at home for a cozy movie night.
Three experiences, one day, less than $20. Who says love can’t be thrifty?
Central Library: 710 W. Cesar Chavez St. 512-974-7400, library.austintexas.gov.
Article continues below this ad
Intelligentsia: 607 W. Third St. 737-414-6696, intelligentsia.com.
$30: Latin beats and tacos on a Sunday
Popular bar Hotel Vegas is located at 1502 E. Sixth St in Austin, Texas.
DEBORAH SENGUPTA STITH/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
If early rising is your love language, Sunday mornings are for Primos on the Patio at Hotel Vegas. Imagine swaying to Latin rhythms, a taco in one hand, your partner’s hand in the other. The crowd is lively, the energy contagious — and the best part? Free tacos.
Article continues below this ad
Add a couple of drinks from the bar, and you’ve got a date that’s festive, flirtatious and just a little spicy — much like your relationship should be. The morning ends, the sun dips, and you leave with memories rather than scary card statements.
1502 E. Sixth St. texashotelvegas.com.
$50: Sunset kayaking on Lady Bird Lake
Denise and Bekeris Edward paddle their kayak towards shore after completing the Paddles for Puppies fundraiser with their two dogs Maggie and Sophie. Austin Pets Alive! hosted its third annual Paddle for Puppies event at the Rowing Dock Sunday morning August 24, 2014. Lady Bird Lake was filled with dogs and their owners on paddle boards and kayaks in support of raising awareness and money for the Parvo Puppy program. The first of its kind in the nation, Austin Pets Alive!’s Parvo Puppy ICU provides shelters as an alternative to euthanasia for puppies that contract parvovirus.
Austin American-Statesman
Skip the crowded restaurant and take your romance to the water. A two-hour kayak rental from Lady Bird Lake Rentals runs $50 — just enough time to paddle past downtown’s skyline as it turns cotton-candy pink.
Article continues below this ad
There’s something about being on the lake at sunset that does the flirting for you. The city softens, the breeze cools and conversation comes easy. Drift for a while near the Congress Avenue Bridge, and let the birds provide the evening entertainment. It’s intimate without being cliché. And when you dock back on shore, you’ll feel like you’ve gone somewhere far beyond your budget.
20 N. Interstate Hwy. 35 Service Rd. 512-522-1228, ladybirdlakerental.com.
The perfect Valentine’s date if you want to go the extra mile
For the foodie couple who wants a slightly more intimate night, grab a weekly sushi bento from the foodie + tina pop-ups at Strangelove ($40) and a bottle of wine recommended by the cafe’s friendly staff. Pre-orders can be placed online every Monday, and pick-ups happen every Friday. Eat under string lights on the patio, toast to love and let the city fade away for a few hours. Or take your haul to go and pair it with one of those library DVD classics. Romance has never been so simple.
Article continues below this ad
2614 E. Cesar Chavez St. 512-337-2170, strangelove.wine.