By Chris Gomez | Little Italy News

We have entered the month of love, which means Valentine’s Day planning is in full swing. What better way to show your sweetheart how much you love them than by planning a romantic date in Little Italy!

The perfect date is well-planned and full of thought, and Little Italy has all you need from good food, a romantic ambiance, entertainment, shopping, drinks and a great time.

Many may be anxious to make the night as special as possible, so get ahead of the game and start thinking about your plans the week before. Here’s a great Saturday-Tuesday Valentine’s Day plan in Little Italy with some extra insight on local specials happening just for the heart-filled holiday.

Little Italy Mercato on Saturday: Stroll through more than 130 vendors at the Mercato on Saturday morning and pick up a bouquet of fresh, locally grown flowers to spark the romance with your special person. Or get them a hand-made gift from one of the artisan vendors. You can also plan a farm-to-table homemade meal by shopping for your ingredients at the Mercato from all the local farmers and small food makers to ensure you have the freshest ingredients for your romantic meal.

Shop for the perfect gift on Sunday: Shop the many Little Italy boutiques to find your valentine the perfect gift for the gentleman or lady in your life. Check out special Valentine’s Day deals at Azzura Capri, Adelman Fine Art, Irelia Fine Jewelry, Be Boutique, and Kapreeza European Lingerie & Swimwear. You can also make a pit stop at Vocabulary, Stroll, Little Apple and other shops for clothes, accessories and home décor items.

Don’t forget to make that reservation on Monday: Little Italy is full of amazing restaurants to take your date. Don’t forget to reserve your table at one of the many popular spots including Kettner Exchange, Buon Appetito, Civico 1845, Herb and Wood, Craft & Commerce or another famous hot spot that’s sure to impress.

Take advantage of Valentine’s Day packages: Why choose one entrée when you can get a four-course Valentine’s Day special at Juniper & Ivy or prosecco and dinner specials at Davanti Enoteca. If you’re more of a sweets lover, you can stop at Café Gratitude on Valentine’s Day for their “Loving” dessert special — a strawberry meringue heart on pecan date cacao crust, topped with cashew coconut whipped cream, chocolate sauce and marinated strawberries or stop by and pick up a heart cookie that Caffe Italia is handing out with every purchase this day.

Enjoy the big night on Tuesday: After your date-planning success, don’t forget to take it all in. Enjoy every minute by walking around Little Italy’s scenic streets lit up in red this time of year and explore the European-style piazzas. If you just don’t want the night to end, grab a drink at Glassdoor, Sorrento, Ballast Point or another bar to end the evening.

To find out more information on where to wine, dine and treat your special someone with a memorable and romantic evening, visit littleitalysd.com. To stay connected with us during the month of love, check out what’s going on in our neighborhood by following us on Instagram and Twitter @LittleItalySD and Facebook/San Diego Little Italy.

—Christopher Gomez has been Little Italy’s district manager since 2000. Reach him at [email protected].