It’s that time of the year when a yearning for romance arises. 

Hearts flutter and faces blush, as if time moves lightly, slowly in shared moments of togetherness. February has its share of this season, but truthfully, moments of romance should be celebrated year long.

From modern motel courts and high-rise hotels to riverfront dining and Venetian gondolas, Irving, Texas, offers moments that warm these colder February nights while heating up the rest of the year with passion, making this city the Romantic Capital of Texas. Now Visit Irving is even inviting you to enter for a chance to score your dream proposal. Read on to learn more.

Meet Your Amor at Texican Court

Run away with your love to Texican Court, a desert psychedelic, retro-inspired motor court where wild hearts roam free. Combining raw exterior textures of stucco, terracotta, and agave with minimally processed interior elements of leather, steel, and wood, Texican Court creates a one-of-a-kind stay that seduces with the romance of a classic hacienda village and the allure of a cross-Texas road tripping adventure.

Kindle your love’s passion while staring into a kicking fire pit in the courtyard, or toast to first-date nights or Valentine’s adventures to come at Salt Tequila Bar, where premier tequila flights and craft cocktails make for year-long romantic outings.

Cozy with moody nostalgia, the rooms at Texican Court inspire moments of close togetherness, allowing couples to slow down and embrace one another. Whether breathing each other in the late morning as the early sun slices through the curtains or lounging on the custom western-serape-inspired sofa with a paloma or margarita in hand, Texican Court evokes a celebration of love, from sunrise to sunset.

Couples are encouraged to relish the experience and add the Mi Amor Valentine’s Dinner Package, which includes the chef-driven Valentine’s Dinner for two, detailed below; complimentary valet parking for peace of mind; a bottle of champagne, chilled and sweating in a bucket of ice upon arrival; and late checkout at 2 p.m. for those slower mornings.

Satisfy Cravings at Two Mules Cantina

Mark your calendars for February 13–14, as Executive Chef Marco Collins prepares a three-course feast for lovers at Two Mules Cantina for two nights only.

For $75 per person, this date-night decadence features a limited-time menu of heart-warming starters, succulent meats, and sweet finishes, set against an authentically inspired cantina reflecting Latin romance and Texas hospitality.

Perfect for cold February nights, the chef experience begins with the Wild Rice Soup, which warms the soul with a rich, herby delight, featuring toasted rice, onions, and carrots that add a crunchy texture.

Live large and love much with Braised Lamb Shank, an unctuous, slow-cooked shank that falls right off the bone with a glistening tenderness that melts hearts and in your mouth. The accompanying celery root potato cake offers a crisp texture and herbaceous notes for a refreshing contrast.

Another lavish option is the Smoked Half Chicken with serrano cheddar mash and roasted rainbow carrots. The crispy, spiced chicken skin delivers classic backyard barbecue flavor that seeps into the glistening meat, while the whipped mash is elevated by notes of heat and smoke.

The Giant S’more is a pillowy treasure. Tipped with edible gold and buoyantly playful, the firm yet bouncy toasted marshmallow cap atop a cookie crisp is the perfect follow-up to the decadently robust entrées. Boasting a light-as-air finish, the whipped chocolate filling inside the s’more whispers sweet nothings to the palate, enticing the taste buds for more. Another sweet yet light dessert is the fresh fruit tart, whose silky lemony custard rolls off the tongue, inviting closer togetherness through sharing with your better half.

Go Big with Gondola Cruises Along the Mandalay Canal

Romance is afloat along the calm waters of the Mandalay Canal, where Irving’s gondola cruises sway smoothly with gondoliers serenading lovers onboard, each of them smiling with their fingers laced and waists embraced. This desire-inducing experience brings a certain closeness together, locking souls in harmony as a charming gondolier belts out classic Italian love songs.

With three unique options, a traditional motorized gondola, a stargazer, or a classic Venetian rowing gondola, it’s like love in slow motion in any setting of your choosing: under an indigo blanket of stars, lost in the morning haze, sun kissed on bright afternoon, or radiating abundantly at golden hour.

Enrich this experience with a decadent dessert and bottle of wine. Then, earn additional bonus points from your better half with a personalized message in a bottle, allowing that special someone to come across a certain lyric, quote, or note along the way, forever sealing that moment for a lifetime.

Rise to the Occasion at Omni Las Colinas Hotel

Elevate your romantic rendezvous at the Omni Las Colinas Hotel, a bustling Irving Las Colinas hub for yearlong business and pleasure. Here, amid the vibrant business district, Omni Las Colinas creates moments of intimacy through thoughtful design, leveraging waterfront views, quaint walking paths, and spa amenities.

Towering above Lake Carolyn, Omni Las Colinas offers a unique vantage for romantic evenings on the balcony. Couples can indulge in high-rise views, watching gondolas float by during the day, and the warm glow of tree lights dotting the shimmering canal.

Then, spend mornings in repose with one another, calmly basking in the natural light falling into LRH Restaurant & Bar. Share a board of charcuterie and a dessert before a day’s walk along the canal, or recharge the body and mind at Mokara Spa, all of which set the stage for a weekend-long romantic adventure.

On warmer days, the recently renovated pool and Lakehouse Pool Lounge bring an early-summer energy that can be enjoyed even in February.

With its ideal location, Omni Las Colinas offers amorous activities like mid-day strolls or starry-eyed evening walks along the canal, which lead you straight to waterfront dining, like Pacific Table.

Pacific Table is a welcome breath of fresh ocean air in the Las Colinas culinary scene, bringing an elevated menu of Pacific Northwest fare to Irving’s lively waterfront dining scene. Fun with modern nods to classic Pacific Coast nautical culture, Pacific Table offers a fun date night with favorites like the Cedar Plank Salmon, featuring roasted Atlantic salmon and rosemary Dijon butte, or a shareable sushi tower.

Lock in the Moment of a Lifetime

Located just a short walk from Omni Las Colinas, Love Lock Bridge encourages couples to lock in their courtship on the pedestrian bridge overlooking the juncture of Lake Carolyn Promenade and Las Colinas Blvd East, a frequent stop for lovers in the Romantic City in Texas.

Afterwards, fill your cups and hearts with drinks at the Thirsty Lion. Then catch a show at Toyota Music Factory or a movie at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. For those looking for a date night to remember, one that locks in two souls in a forever union of love, Visit Irving is hosting a Dream Proposal Giveaway contest, gifting one lucky couple with an iconic gondola proposal, a stay at an amazing Irving hotel, a professional photo shoot, and customized touchpoints along the way, cementing this moment in eternity.

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Cover Photo courtesy Visit Irving.

Martin Ramirez is a brisket-eating, Shiner-loving, road-tripping enthusiast of all things Texas. This Dallas-born writer / adventurer is ready to take his ‘78 El Camino to find the best in food, fun, and fitness throughout the Lone Star State.