The next month is going to be a sprint toward the end of the year finish line. Fourth quarter reports are due, finals week has students in a frantic state of mind, and a fit of endless gift giving is about to commence. Wherever your stress lives, it’s nice to know that these festive fears also counter with a heavy dose of holiday cheer right here in San Diego.
The county’s festive spirit is revived and ready to bring its A-game when it comes to themed events—especially date nights. You can basically find every version of a Hallmark movie right here in the city. Santa run? Check. Cooking classes? Check. More tree lightings than you can fit in an entire month? Check.
Here are 12 holiday date ideas to experience with your love this season:
Fireside Films at Rooftop Cinema Club
Dec. 5–24
Starting off with a bang, Rooftop Cinema Club is bringing the heat with “Fireside Films” for the holidays. Known for their intimate evenings, the Embarcadero theater is offering cozy two-person loveseats with wood-burning heaters in their prime seating section facing the downtown skyline. Each ticket (starting at $24) includes a complimentary warm beverage, and the experience will be available for all Christmas films starting at 5 p.m. or later.
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, 1 Market Pl, San Diego
Ocean-View Igloo Dining at Marriott Marquis
Dec. 13–14 & Dec. 20–21
For a truly magical holidate post-skate, consider reserving a private, snow globe-inspired igloo at the Sleighbell Social event. Available on Dec. 13-14 and 20-21, these cozy, winter wonderland-themed igloos offer an intimate dining experience for up to six guests. The event has curated a prix fixe menu from Marina Kitchen, featuring delights like Baja Oyster Rockefeller and Prime Rib, or opt for a la carte selections from Agave Bar & Grill. Priced at $150 for a 90-minute reservation, the igloos are available at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., the perfect setting for a festive and unforgettable evening.
333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego
“Lightscape” at San Diego Botanic Garden
Nov. 15–Jan. 5
To bring an enchanting twist to a typical tree-lighting head to “Lightscape” at the San Diego Botanic Garden. Now in its third year as a showcase, this immersive, after-dark experience features a stunning display of over a million twinkling lights along a one-mile trail, with breathtaking installations that create a festive, dazzling atmosphere. Stroll hand-in-hand through the gardens, take in the unique floral light displays, and make memories beneath the shimmering trees.
300 Quail Gardens Dr. Encinitas
Holly Jolly Bar at Las Tres Catrinas
Nov. 22–Dec. 29
Bucket Listers presents the Holly Jolly Bar at Chula Vista’s well-loved restaurant, Las Tres Catrinas, for their San Diego pop-up this year. This bar is a merry mix of Christmas cheer and colorful Latin flair, offering a themed welcome cocktail or mocktail with each $18 ticket, which also includes a 90-minute reservation. After being taken over for the holidays, Las Tres Catrinas’s over-the-top decor and soulful bites brings out a lively atmosphere and a happy spirit even the Grinch can’t avoid, where you’ll surely have both a naughty and nice time with that special someone.
555 Broadway Suite 1084 Chula Vista
Scenic Marina Skating and Tastings at Marriott Marquis
Nov. 25–Jan. 5
The new “Downtown Skate” roller rink at Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina offers a unique holiday skating experience with stunning views of San Diego Bay. The eco-friendly, 6,000-square-foot rink features a variety of activities, including live DJs, local food trucks, and themed nights like “Swiftmas Skate” for Taylor Swift’s birthday, and industry night where tickets are marked down to $15. Guests can also order treats from local favorite Cali Cream, including exclusive ice cream flavors and gingerbread ice cream sandwiches. A sweet for your sweet.
333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
Dec. 8 & 15
Our wallets are all going to be at their lightest this time of year, so I know we’d appreciate a budget-friendly, seaside date idea when we see one. The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is a great way to have a free and improvisable event that could lead into a picnic by the harbor or perhaps an evening nightcap. Starting at Shelter Island at 5:30 p.m. and ending in Coronado, the “peace on earth” theme includes more than 80 boats decked out in dazzling holiday lights cruising along the bay. It’s like walking through a lit up neighborhood, except you don’t have to move a muscle and the crowds are really kept to a minimum. With the boats gliding past iconic waterfront spots, it’s an easy way to reminisce in the season’s glow without feeling like you’re in a holiday shopping mall.
Starting point: Shelter Island, San Diego
Gulls Hockey Game at Pechanga Arena
Nov. 2–April 19
Nothing screams winter romance like watching men crash into each other on the ice with a $5 beer in hand. And, dare I say, those jerseys with a beanie would make the perfect comfy date outfit. Hockey season is in full swing and weekends at Pechanga Arena are calling your name. The AHL San Diego Gulls have been enjoying a steady season and, whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or a first-timer, a hockey game offers an unforgettable experience that’s just as fast-paced and intense as the sport itself. If you’re able to catch one of their Friday night home games, you can get your hands on the Gulls’s signature Blue Line Blonde Ale collaboration with Mason Ale Works for an Abe.
3500 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego
Holiday pop-up bar at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Nov. 21–Dec. 24
Greenfinch Bar at Estancia La Jolla—an intimate, moody cocktail lounge with a masculine color palette—will transform into The Frosty Saddle, a cozy winter pop-up experience brimming with festive flair. Featuring signature mulled wine and freshly brewed eggnog, the hotel’s lead mixologist, Luis Tovar Zarate, has also curated an impressive menu of Instagram-worthy themed cocktails and mocktails like the Santa’s Milk Punch, Jingle Bell Bomb, Thin Ice (garnished with a white chocolate snowflake) and more. Waltz in during an afternoon or evening for an elevated staycation experience.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla
Tinsel Town at Tako
Nov. 29–Dec. 24
If you’re feeling sultry and daring, Tako’s Christmas jungle-themed speakeasy in Old Town is the perfect fit. Equipped with an intricate cocktail menu to match their sushi bar, this restaurant makes for an intimate, yet fun evening. Known for their vibrant drinks and mouth-watering bites, Tako is the newest trendy place to get a taste of SD’s culinary scene.
2836 Juan St. San Diego
Don’t Tell Comedy Secret Pop-Up Shows Across the County
Nov. 30–Jan. 4
The best nights are unexpected. In a time full of glee, Don’t Tell Comedy combines the element of surprise with infinite laughs from jokes told by local comedians at bars and breweries all over north and south county. In order to attend, you must first purchase a ticket for the neighborhood you’d like to see a show in. Only a week before the gig, the company will release both the location and lineup for the evening of your choice. Mystery and secrets galore. Live performances always leave you with an interesting story to tell. Why not share this unique experience with a date? Besides, if it all goes wrong, it’s not like you’ll run into them here again.
Various Locations
Wheel + Wine Workshop at Terra Terra
Every Friday and Saturday
Feeling creative and inspired even? Try the Wheel + Wine Workshop pottery class at the speakeasy Terra Terra studio in Little Italy. Spend two hours with owner Jazmin Colette learning to craft art on the pottery wheel and through hand-building techniques, all while enjoying wine, snacks, and good company. You’ll leave with 1-3 pieces of your own creation, and the studio provides everything you need—clay, tools, and glazes. Whether you bring a date or fly solo, it’s a relaxed and playful way to get into the holiday spirit. No experience is necessary.
2310-C Kettner Blvd., San Diego
Jingle Jazz Night at Blind Lady Ale House
Every Thursday
Every year, contemporary bar Blind Lady Ale House contributes to the community’s tradition of decorating for the holidays. It’s so inviting and perfectly nostalgic that even Will Ferrell approved. To add to the aesthetic and ambiance, every Thursday the brewpub puts on live jazz to pair with its craft beers and farm to pizza menu for all–making it a laid-back evening of bubbly splendor and closeness. If you can’t make it on Thursdays, BLAHs’ got vinyl spinning and DJ sets popping up throughout the month.
