Discover the Best Date Night Spots in Marana

Make plans for a memorable and romantic evening in Marana!

Marana is brimming with fun, creative date ideas near you. Whether it's for Valentine's Day or an anniversary, you can celebrate your love with our dining scene, out-of-this-world activities, shopping centers, and more. Make your own rom-com movie in real life with your special someone with our romantic guide.

CreditAaron Tremblay

Make a Reservation at a Top-Notch Restaurant

Take your date out for a romantic evening at one of Marana’s restaurants, whether you want exquisite fine dining or a more casual environment. If you’re looking for fine dining, there’s no place like The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain and its Forbes Four-Star Certified signature restaurant, CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar. Enjoy a variety of innovative, gourmet dishes inspired by the Sonoran Desert, along with over 1,000 bottles of wine. Cayton’s Restaurant, also located at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, has a more casual atmosphere, but still features excellent Southern-inspired comfort food.

Please note that both CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar and Cayton’s Restaurant require reservations.

PicturedCORE Kitchen & Wine Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
CreditRitz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

Marana is also home to a variety of other restaurants, that can suit every desired experience and palate. Have a steak grilled over a mesquite fire at Li'l Abner’s Steakhouse, which is as staple of Marana that dates back to the days when many western movies were filmed in Southern Arizona, and was a favorite of the likes of John Wayne.

If Mexican food is what you’re after, La Olla Café, Guadalajara Grill, Humo Cocina Mexicana, and Nana’s Kitchen are excellent choices for sit-down dining, or if you’re wanting Italian, check out Amore or Dominick’s Real Italian. Sushi Cortaro is another community favorite!

If you're looking to make plans around Valentine's Day, several of the restaurants in and around Marana are offering special Valentine’s Day menus!

For after-dinner drinks, stop by Casa Marana, featuring rotating beer and wine taps, an extensive list of spirits, and creative cocktails made with fresh ingredients.

CreditLi'l Abner's Steakhouse

Gaze At The Sparkling Desert Sky

Southern Arizona is known as one of the best places in the country for stargazing. Marana’s location on the edge of the wild desert, as well as light pollution mitigation measures taken across the Tucson area, combine to provide an environment ideal for stargazing, at least, the best you’re going to get while still near a city.

The Tortolita, Tucson, and Catalina Mountain Ranges also do a great job of blocking most of the light from the built-up area, allowing you to see the night sky. Locations such as Ironwood Forest National Monument, Saguaro National Park, Oracle State Park, and most places west of the Tucson Mountains or east of the Catalina Mountains offer secluded stargazing experiences.

PicturedIronwood Forest National Monument's secluded location allows for great stargazing.
CreditWendy Islas

Unique Gemstones, Minerals, and Jewelry Make Excellent Gifts!

Late January and early February are Gem and Mineral Show Season in Southern Arizona. The over 50 gem, mineral, and jewelry shows in the Tucson area provide an excellent opportunity to shop for a one-of-a-kind, stunning piece that your special someone will be sure to cherish for a lifetime! You can find rocks, gems, jewelry, and more from all over the world. Whether it’s a birthstone or a stone that ties back to family history, you’re likely to be able to find it at one of the shows.

Stop by the Miner’s Co-Op Rock Show, the only gem and mineral show to take place in Marana! It features vendors (many of whom mined their products out of the Earth) selling geologic artifacts from all around the world, many with unique, personal stories.

Be sure to check the schedule for each individual show, as several of them end prior to Valentine’s Day.

PicturedThe Miner's Co-Op Rock Show, a gem, mineral, and rock show right here in Marana!

Many More Unique Gifts!

Looking for some inspiration on what to get your special someone? You can find all kinds of unique gifts and experiences in Marana.

  • Take an exhilarating flight over the desert on a crisp morning on a hot air balloon with Foolish Pleasure Hot Air Balloon Rides, or soar over the desert in – well -- a different way by skydiving at Skydive Marana! Either way, it’s sure to be a memory that both of you will hold for the rest of your lives.
  • Marana is home to the Tucson Premium Outlets at Marana Center, perfect for a shopping spree with dozens of high-quality brands at affordable prices.
  • Eden's Echo Country Store, a new, local business in the Gladden Farms neighborhood, has something for everyone - handmade foods, soaps, decorations, Christian gifts, jewelry, and much more! Faith and family go into all of their farm-inspired products.
  • Saguaro Harley-Davidson, with a wide selection of apparel, novelties, and more if you’re both into motorcycles!
  • Arizona Artisan Creations, a local shop with all sorts of handmade crafts, made by local artisans. There are also several other special-interest stores here in Marana.
  • Spoil your valentine with a day of relaxation and pampering in the height of luxury at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dove Mountain!
PicturedThe Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dove Mountain

Ready To Tie the Knot?

While we’re on the topic of love and romantic occasions, if you’re ready to take your relationship to the next level and tie the knot, Marana can take care of that as well! Delight in romantic indoor and outdoor venues – each with the versatility for your ceremony, reception and special event. With breathtaking mountain views in all directions, Marana venues cater to groups from 15 to 500. Event and wedding specialists will help create a masterpiece of a celebration that captures your every dream.

Planning a destination wedding? Arrangements are available, from transportation and accommodations to a complete weekend itinerary, with shopping excursions, outdoor adventures, and more for your visiting friends and family. Make it memorable in Marana!

PicturedThe Glover Ranch

This itinerary/blog post showcases local businesses in our community. We feature partners that serve food and drink, offer recreational opportunities, places to stay, and shopping. We value accuracy, fairness and balance in our advertising and marketing. We would love to showcase your business to our visitors. These advertising and marketing opportunities (social media, articles, website, and ads) are open to all businesses within Marana and the designated two-mile “Pima County Tourism Partner Zone” around the town limits that meet this criteria. If you want to be featured on our website or in social media, please contact us at MaranaInfo@Maranaaz.gov.

Ryan Wissmann

Author

Ryan Wissmann

Economic Development Specialist, Town of Marana/Discover Marana

Ryan Wissmann is the Economic Development Specialist for the Town of Marana, and is passionate about the growth, development, and quality-of-life in Marana, which of course includes tourism. He is from Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Arizona in 2021 after completing his Master’s Degree in Economic Development. He enjoys hiking the many trails in and around Marana and Southern Arizona, and can often be found outdoors during spring, fall, and winter weekends when the weather is the most pleasant for hiking.
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