Where to eat: Valentine’s Day in Breckenridge

Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to indulge and treat yourself (and your sweetie or BFF or dog walker…anyone you heart, really) to a decadent meal.

Look to these key Breckenridge restaurants for a memorable night out, and keep checking the Breckenridge Ski Resort’s calendar for new Valentine’s Day events to spend with your sweetheart.

Sevens

Snuggled into the snowy 10,010-foot base of Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Peak 7, aptly named Sevens is the spot for upscale mountain bistro dining. Soak in the warmth radiating from the vast open-hearth oven and get cozy with a bottle of red while Executive Chef Michael Girl masterminds a special three-course Valentine’s Day feast. Call 970-496-8910 for reservations and menu details. (Tip: Don’t feel like going out on Feb. 14? Head to Sevens for all-you-can-eat crab night Wednesdays from 5 to 9:30pm.)

TenMile Station

Up the romance factor with a Starlight Dinner at TenMile Station. Take a moonlit sleigh ride from the base of Peak 9 to TenMile Station where you’ll enjoy a prix fixe menu of gourmet Colorado cuisine. Menu highlights include espresso and red chile braised Berkshire pork belly and apple brined venison chops with cranberry wild rice and Breckenridge Bourbon apple jus. View the full menu here. Call 970-547-5740 for reservations.

Blue River Bistro

A Main Street local’s favorite, Blue River Bistro is loved for their chic atmosphere, live jazz and dangerously creative martini list. On Valentine’s Day, the Bistro serves up a four-course epicurean extravaganza that includes roasted Colorado lamb rack served with jalfrezi curry and cucumber kiwi riata with sticky jasmine and red pepper scallion sauté. Seafood fans will appreciate the baked sea bass with sweet chili relish duck schmaltz, roasted tomato herb Israeli couscous and mint falafel cake. For dessert, banana pecan bread pudding or a cherry flan. Call 970-453-6974 for reservations.

Relish

This tucked-away upstairs gem invites diners to linger with comfy ambiance, friendly servers and a worldly wine and beer list (ask about the beer cellar). Centered around the finest seasonal Colorado fare, Relish offers a special three-course Valentine’s Day dinner. A sample menu begins with clam and red potato chowder with habanero bacon; moves on to a dry-aged bone-in New York Strip steak with crème fraiche horseradish mashed potatoes and roasted haricot verts with a caramelized shallot truffle demi; culminating with key lime coconut crème brulee. View the full menu. Call 970-453-0989 for reservations.

Hearthstone Restaurant

A Breckenridge special occasion hotspot, Hearthstone Restaurant is situated in a charming Victorian home on Ridge Street. Executive Chef Michael Halpin prepares fresh, elegant dishes such as ginger sea scallops in orange butter sauce and their famous garlic granola-crusted blackberry elk. Hearthstone is serving their full menu on Valentine’s Day and tables are almost completely booked for the holiday. (Tip: Dine on Feb. 13 or Feb. 15 for a more intimate experience.) Call 970-453-1148 to check availability.

– Lisa Pogue