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We love Valentine’s Day but can acknowledge that it is a tricky holiday filled with many unspoken rules. Roses, chocolate, a heartfelt card, the perfect setting for a romantic night — one misstep and you’ll wish you did better research and laid out a game plan. Lucky for you, we’re making it simple: flowers, cards, sweets, and a couple of our favorite restaurants in Hartford that are unique, delicious, and romantic.
Nothing brightens up a dreary Connecticut winter better than a bouquet filled with your favorite flowers. Our go-to spots throughout the city are listed below. Pro tip: ordering Valentine’s Day flowers is serious business. This is not one of those things you can accomplish well if you save it for the last minute — our recommendation is to play it safe and order ahead!
Bloom Bake Shop - Downtown on Pratt Street
De Vars-Phillips - West End
Persimmon Petals - Frog Hollow
House of Flora - Southwest
Buying cards from Hallmark and CVS is so early 2000s. We love local. We love funny. We love cards designed with personality, humor, and affection. That’s why we always recommend Hartford Prints! because they carry a huge selection of unique cards designed by talented artists. Another great spot to check out (for cards and ~cute little gifties~) is Gentle Bull Shop.
Your sweetheart deserves a sweet treat! For dessert and pastry lovers, we cannot recommend Modern Pastry Shop in the South End enough. Scratch-made Italian and French pastries, cookies, cakes, and cheesecakes — you name it! It is heaven for those of us with a chronic sweet tooth and the perfect gift to give your Valentine!
If you’re already downtown buying cards and gifts at Hartford Prints! or Gentle Bull, check out Bloom Bake Shop right on Pratt Street (yup, they do flowers AND baked goods, best of both worlds). Bloom Bake Shop is a full-service coffee shop that, in addition to bouquets, offers a variety of homemade baked goods ranging from breakfast pastries like pecan sticky buns and apple cinnamon knots to customized cakes, cookies, brownies, and more.
For chocolates, old-fashioned candy, and other little confections, check out Emrey’s Specialty Sweets & Sodas! The brightly lit, entirely pink place will already get you feeling in the Valentine’s Day spirit. Pro tip: an ice cream float is the perfect thing to sip on while you browse the shop for gifts!
Romantic Dinner Spots
We love that Hartford is home to so many amazing restaurants! If we could, we’d include every single one in this guide, but we’re just going to mention three and send you to other guides on Experience Hartford in case you’re hungry for more inspo.
