12 romantic date ideas to try out in Vancouver this winter

There’s nothing more romantic than taking your date out on the town for a night of art, culture, and delicious food, and winter is the best time of year to do it all. Whether it’s a tiki-themed night, a multi-course meal at Canada’s largest food and drink festival, or a contemporary circus show, here are 12 romantic date ideas to try out in Vancouver this season.

Canada’s largest food and drink festival is nearly back, and there are hundreds of participating restaurants to choose from this year. The festival showcases curated, fixed-price menus spanning everything from inventive seafood plates to vegan fare, to a dumpling festival. The festival is a great way to check out a new dining hotspot or place you’ve had your eye on for a while without breaking the bank.

When: Jan. 21 to Feb. 8, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 1502 Duranleau St. 
Cost: $15 to $25 per person

Kick off the month of February with a different kind of party, fuelled by caffeine and live DJs. The seventh edition of Coffee Party offers guests unlimited coffee, fresh pastries, and bumpin’ music that will have you and your date in a dancing mood before noon.

When: Feb. 1, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 1502 Duranleau St. 
Cost: $35.99

The Donn of Tiki is a documentary about Donn Beach, also known as Don the Beachcomber, the creator of the tiki bar. He was also known as a maverick, constantly creating his own opportunities and reinventing himself.

For one night only, Vancouver’s Shameful Tiki Room is taking over the Rio during the screening of the film, allowing movie-goers to enjoy curated cocktails and event-themed drink specials all night long.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: 1660 East Broadway 
Cost: $22

Founded over two decades ago, B.C.’s signature cultural event (PuSh) is a mid-winter celebration of all things bold and creative. The showcase brings together local, national, and international artists alike for a series of immersive shows and workshops, and there are all kinds of mediums and subject matters to explore.

Ticket prices vary per show, but you can snag a four or six-show pass to take advantage of any handful that catch your eye.

When: Jan. 22 to Feb. 8, 2026
Time: Various showtimes
Where: Locations across Vancouver
Cost: Varies per show, or $120 for a four-show pass or $165 for a six-show pass

True Story is The Improv Centre’s newest show, which is fuelled by audience members sharing their true stories, with no hesitations or reservations. If you’re looking to break the ice with someone, there’s no oversharing here—just plenty of laughs and fun stories to go around.

When: Wednesdays from Jan. 7 to 21, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 1502 Duranleau St. 
Cost: $15 to $25 per person

Aerospace engineer and National Geographic Explorer Tracy Drain is presenting at National Geographic Live for one day only this February, and space lovers won’t want to miss it. Among her projects are rovers on Mars, a mission to Jupiter, and a hunt for exoplanets that challenged everything we know about our galaxy. The show will cover fascinating topics like deep space exploration, the neuroscience of memory, and the ecology of tree canopies.

When: Feb. 12, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 600 Hamilton St. 
Cost: $53.05

With the Lunar New Year rapidly approaching, now is the time to try something new at the Taste of Chinatown festival, a month-long celebration of one of Vancouver’s most iconic neighbourhoods. Whether it’s at the Chinatown Cocktail Showdown on Feb. 6, 2026, or a Sip and Paint Workshop on Feb. 15, 2026, there’s plenty to do this February.

When: Starts on Feb. 6, events throughout February 2026
Time: Varies per event
Where: Locations across Chinatown 
Cost: Free and ticketed events

DanceHouse and The Cultch present the North American premiere of Paradisum, an immersive, haunting show by Bence Vági that fuses contemporary dance, circus acts, and physical theatre. The show comes to Vancouver all the way from Hungary, where a contemporary circus company, Recirquel, has created a story like no other.

When: Jan. 21 to 24, 2026
Time: 8 p.m. from Jan. 21 to 24, and at 2 p.m. on Jan. 24, 2026
Where: 600 Hamilton St. 
Cost: $40.75

While now under new management by the Rio Theatre, the historic Park Theatre on Cambie retains its charm and community spirit and has some exciting films on the roster. This week, you can catch Golden Globe-nominated films like Bugonia, Father Mother Sister Brother, and Nuremberg.

Where: 3440 Cambie St.

If you’re looking for a cute outdoor ice skating rink to glide across, the Robson Square Ice Rink is open until Feb. 28, 2026, and the Shipyards Skate Plaza operates until March 29, 2026, giving you plenty of time to impress your date with your skating prowess, or use your lack of balance as a reason to hold their hand.

When: Open daily until Feb. 28 and March 29, 2026, respectively
Time: Robson Square open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Shipyards open from noon to 8 p.m.
Where: 800 Robson St. and 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Cost: $5 to $8 for skate rentals

The VSO has tons of concerts coming up this winter, including performances of the works of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, and a special performance ringing in the Year of the Horse on Feb. 12, 2026.

When: Concerts throughout January and February
Time: Varies per event
Where: Venues across Vancouver
Cost: Varies per event

Vancouver has plenty of art galleries and museums that are completely free to visit, and this is the time of year when many introduce new exhibitions. If you wanted to, you could even plan an art crawl and visit them all!

Where: Locations above

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