Make it a holiday season to remember with one -- or more -- of our romantic holiday date ideas. (Photos clockwise from left by M. Stanley for DRWC, others for Visit Philadelphia by R. Kennedy, M. Fischetti, G. Widman)
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas out there, Philadelphia, and the holiday season is arguably the most romantic time of the year.
From the attractive glow of twinkling lights to the snuggle-inducing chilly weather, the City of Brotherly Love is the perfect place to hit a high note with your honey this holiday.
To help you have a merry little Christmas with the one who warms your heart, we’ve rounded up ideas for a dozen seasonally-appropriate date destinations along with a geographically appropriate dining option to accompany.
Read on for our top picks for romantic date nights in Philadelphia during the holidays.
• Waterfront Winterfest: This winter, folks have little excuse to hide from the chilly season thanks to the outstanding outdoor fun in the works at Penn’s Landing — think ice skating, fire pits, hot food, warming libations, local shopping and live entertainment. The Blue Cross RiverRink celebrates 20 years of ice skating on the Delaware River in 2013 by transforming the annual waterfront rink into Waterfront Winterfest, a veritable winter wonderland which happens to make for an ideal date night. Start with a session of ice skating (hand holding, anyone?), followed by s’mores and craft brews by a fire pit. Just try and not to see visions of sugarplums dance in your date’s eyes.
When: Through January 5, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Where: Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard
Where else: The Franklin Fountain, Old City, 116 Market Street. Go for a sweet sharable sundae for two at the nearby ice cream shop, which sets up tables indoors during the winter.
• Fairmount Park Holiday House Tours: History and architecture lovers, take note. The long-anticipated restorations of the elegant Strawberry Mansion and Cedar Grove are complete, and couples should check out the results during the annual Fairmount Park Holiday Tours. For much of the month of December, embark on leisurely self tours of Cedar Grove, Mount Pleasant, Laurel Hill, Lemon Hill, Strawberry Mansion and Woodford Mansion.
When: December 5-8 and 12-15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Various locations throughout Fairmount Park
Where else: Water Works Restaurant & Lounge, Fairmount, 640 Water Works Drive. Dine on Mediterranean-influenced fare overlooking the waters of the Schuylkill River at one of the city’s most romantic restaurants.
• Electrical Spectacle at Franklin Square: This year, Benjamin Franklin’s namesake park unveiled a brand-new holiday light show, Electrical Spectacle: A Holiday Light Show. The show features a 10-foot-tall kite made of lights that sparkle and spread the glow to lights throughout the square and tunes recorded by the Philly Pops. The show runs every 30 minutes between 4:30 and 8 p.m., weather permitting, making for a sweet alfresco stop.
When: Daily through December 31
Where: Franklin Square, 6th and Race streets
Where else: City Tavern, Old City, 138 S. 2nd Street. Tuck into fare that Ben Franklin might have enjoyed at this enchanting and historic tavern.
• Macy’s Light Show: A Philadelphia tradition since 1956, the Christmas Light Show at Macy’s in Center City illuminates a large wall inside the Wanamaker building, a National Historic Landmark, with almost 100,000 LED lights that dance to the sounds of the Wanamaker Organ. Performances take place at the top of the hour, every two hours, from 10 a.m to 8 p.m., and are a lovely way to pass an evening.
When: Daily through December 31
Where: 1300 Market Street
Where else: Little Nonna’s, Midtown Village, 1234 Locust Street. Charm oozes from red-check-clothed tables and modern Italian plates at this jewel-box eatery.
• Comcast Holiday Spectacular: Prepare to be impressed by the Comcast Holiday Spectacular, a festive film experience on one of the largest four-millimeter LED screens in the world featuring enchanting holiday scenes and computer generated animations. Located in the lobby of the Comcast Center in Center City, the shows run every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (no shows at 5 p.m. during the week).
When: Daily through January 1
Where: 1701 JFK Boulevard
Where else: R2L, Center City, 50 S. 16th Street. Take in sweeping views of the city with your sweetheart at R2L, a restaurant located 37 floors above street level that specializes in decadent American fare and modern twists on an array of cocktails.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art Holiday Happenings: The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents museum-goers with tons of festive happenings all season long. From a holiday film series to an ugly sweater party to its inspiring permanent collections, the art museum has something for everyone this holiday season.
When: Various dates through January 1
Where: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Where else: Four Seasons Swann Lounge & Spa, Logan Square, 1 Logan Square. Maintain the majestic tone with a luxurious meal or a spa treatment at the easily accessible hotel.
• Pennsylvania Ballet’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker: Of all the holiday performances, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet at the gilded Academy of Music, may just be the most beloved holiday show in town. Relive past memories or create new ones with your sweetie by taking in one of the many shows on the calendar.
When: December 7-29
Where: The Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street
Where else: XIX, Center City, 200 S. Broad Street. Oysters and champagne are the typical table toppers at this sumptuous restaurant and bar on the 19th floor of the Hyatt at The Bellevue, mere blocks from the Academy.
More date ideas, below.
• Jersey Boys: Grab your best guy or gal to check out the much-loved story of four Jersey-born blue-collar kids with a song and a dream when it returns to the Forrest Theatre this season. A perennial Philadelphia favorite, Jersey Boys runs for four weeks, so there are plenty of opportunities to take in this toe-tapping engagement.
When: December 11-January 5
Where: Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut Street
Where else: Talula’s Garden, Washington Square West, 210 Washington Square. Just a hop from the theater, you might just find produce from New Jersey on plates at this farm-to-table charmer.
• Pig Iron Theatre Company’s Twelfth Night, Or What You Will: For those who prefer a bit of raucous fun, head to FringeArts’ new waterfront theater to take in a lively performance of the Shakespearean comedy Twelfth Night, Or What You Will, performed in signature Pig Iron style with plenty of wit, physical action and live music.
When: December 4-22
Where: FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Boulevard
Where else: High Street on Market, Old City, 308 Market Street. Cozy up in a rustic booth to savor gloriously prepared fare as poetic as The Bard himself.
• Christmas Village at Love Park: The German-style Christmas Village has become a favorite tradition for holiday shoppers, who can peruse more than 50 decorated booths selling international seasonal gifts, traditional German Christmas ornaments, jewelry and high-quality arts and crafts. Hot mulled wine, gingerbread and bratwursts are also among the offerings.
When: Daily through January 1
Where: 1599 JFK Boulevard
Where else: Del Frisco’s, Center City, 1426-28 Chestnut Street. After the dazzle of the village, enjoy the opulence of a steak dinner for two nearby.
• Skate at The Piazza: For the first time, The Piazza at Schmidt’s welcomes a 5,000-square-foot pop-up ice-skating rink to its Northern Liberties grounds for winter revelers. Every day from November 30 through February 23, bring your own ice skates (or rent a pair for $1) and show off your finest twirl at the pop-up rink. Admission is $5 for adults, so it makes for a wallet friendly date night, too.
When: November 30-February 23, Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday, 4-11 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Where: The Piazza at Schmidt’s, 1001 N. 2nd Street
Where else: Bar Ferdinand, Northern Liberties, 1030 N. 2rd Street. Sup on Spanish-style tapas and small plates prepared by chef David Ansill surrounded by dried roses and warm lighting — keep the Rioja flowing.
• Longwood Gardens: The holidays go red, white and green at Longwood Gardens’ A Longwood Gardens Christmas a show featuring 500,000 glowing lights, thousands of poinsettias, vibrantly decorated trees and dancing fountains throughout the vast grounds and conservatory.
When: Through January 12
Where: 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square
Where else: Half Moon Brewery, Chester County, 108 W. State Street, Kennett Square. Minutes away from Longwood Gardens, this casual and cozy saloon serves a crowd-pleasing menu and offers secluded seating at booths in the rear.
• A Brandywine Christmas: In the gorgeous countryside, A Brandywine Christmas takes over the Brandywine River Museum with a display of trees featuring critter ornaments, a Victorian dollhouse, rare antique dolls and one of the largest O-gauge model railroad displays in the country.
When: Through January 5
Where: 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford
Where else: Terrain Garden Cafe, Chester County, 914 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills. Greenery adorns the sun-warmed greenhouse at the enchanting cafe at Terrain, a high-end garden shop.