If you’re looking for a romantic getaway in one of California’s oldest wine regions, look no further than the Livermore Valley Wine Country as we share the top things to do in Livermore for couples.
Nestled in the Tri-Valley area, the Livermore area is filled with award-winning wineries, cozy dining spots, and plenty of outdoor activities.
Offering a number of dog-friendly spots, it’s also a great place to bring your pup.
Whether you’re into sipping Cabernet Sauvignon, enjoying downtown Livermore’s historic buildings, or exploring nearby natural areas, this guide will show you the best places for couples to make unforgettable memories.
Plan a Romantic Getaway on a Vineyard
The Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort & Spa is a perfect destination for couples craving a romantic getaway.
Surrounded by rolling vineyards and open space, it’s a great place to relax, sip on local wines, and even sample different samples of honeys in their lobby (yes, really!).
If you’ve been searching for the best way to reset, this spot is pure bliss.
We checked into the Orchid Retreat; a room with a fireplace, jacuzzi tub, big comfy bed and an outdoor patio area.
A true bed and breakfast that’s nestled amongst the vines and a full olive orchard, place your breakfast order ahead of time to enjoy french toast and eggs in your room, in the dining area, or poolside.
Another perk for foodies? From 4:30-5:30pm daily you can enjoy complementary wine, cheese, and olive oil harvested from the trees.
Hop on the Livermore Wine Trolley
Looking for a unique way to explore local wineries without the hassle of driving?
The Livermore Wine Trolley is your answer.
It’s like a downtown adventure on wheels—complete with fun guides, great playlists, and of course, a wide selection of wines.
For the weekend Sip & Savor tour, pick your launching point and then roll your way through three popular Livermore vineyards: Garre Winery, Concannon Vineyard, and Las Positas Vineyard.
All wineries offer something special but we were most excited to stop at Concannon Vineyards.
Dating back to 1883, Concannon is one of the oldest wineries in America and is offering some pretty remarkable wines.
They’re responsible for the clone that makes up 80% of California cabernet to this day and were the first winery to bottle Petit Syrah, a grape that was previously only used for wine blends.
They offer stunning grounds featuring hedges that have been manicured into various shapes and animals – it’s as if Edward Scissorhands stopped by for a tasting too!
The Livermore Wine Trolley is hands down the best way to enjoy Livermore Valley Wine Country and such a cute date idea for couples.
Or Plan Your Own Wine Tasting
What most people don’t realize is that Livermore Valley is the oldest wine region in America.
They were growing grapes and producing wine long before the big name wine regions of Napa or Sonoma had roots in the ground.
With 3,000 acres of grapes and 44 wineries, there are a number of wine experiences to choose from.
Livermore is also known for having more affordable prices and a warmer, more personable tasting experience compared to more big-name wine regions.
Sip your way through 140 years of winemaking history by exploring the wineries through the Livermore Valley Winemakers Association.
In addition to the three stops on our wine trolley, we also experienced wine tastings at these vineyards:
Murrieta’s Well Winery
With a rich history dating back to the 1800s, Murrieta’s Well is known for its award-winning wineries experience and romantic date night vibes.
Their barrel room was constructed in 1884 and the (now remodeled) tasting room features the original beams and concrete walls, but is now elevated with lush leather furnishings and twinkling chandeliers.
Sold to Wente Vineyards in the 1940s, the winery offers flights that include varietals like Petit Verdot, giving you a new adventure beyond the usual Cabernet Sauvignon.
We typically don’t obsess over Sauvignon Blanc, but their rendition was the best Sauv Blanc that has ever graced our lips.
Murrieta’s Well is our favorite vineyard thanks to the incredible wine list and impressive history.
Wente Vineyards
As one of the most iconic names in the California wine region, Wente Vineyards has been producing wine since the early 1900s.
Couples can enjoy a leisurely lunch in their beautiful gardens followed by a wine tasting in their elegant tasting room.
If you’re a fan of award-winning wines, this family-owned winery is a great place to spend the afternoon.
Wente has something for everyone, including a golf course with a grill restaurant for those who love to hit the green.
McGrail Vineyards
Perched on a hill with panoramic views of the valley, McGrail Vineyards is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the scenery.
It’s also one of the best places for couples who love live music paired with their wine tastings.
They grow and bottle a number of wine varietals but the Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon was our favorite sip.
Indulge in a Wine Country Spa Experience
Yes, the Purple Orchid Resort makes a second appearance—because it’s just that good!
Treat yourselves to a couples massage, soak in the hot tubs, and feel like royalty in this wine country spa experience. It’s the ultimate way to say, “we deserve this.”
You’ll wander through flower gardens and grapevines to arrive at the dedicated cottage for spa services.
The couples massage room was impressively large and even had bars above the tables for an ashiatsu massage which uses feet and body weight as part of the massage.
What’s impressive about this experience is that the massage oil is made from the olive oil from the trees that are grown on the resort’s estate. You can get any more farm-to-massage table than that!
Share a Sweet Treat
For couples who believe dessert is the highlight of any day, Patisserie By Simone offers French and Hawaiian inspired delights that are perfect for sharing (or not).
All of the pastries are absolutely stunning.
From a danish stuffed with fresh figs with edible flowers, to pistachio-filled croissants, to savory options stuffed with cheese, there is something for every craving.
Each bite is pure romance in pastry form.
Take Photos with Downtown Livermore Murals
If you’re on the hunt for unique things to share on Instagram or even TikTok – make a date out of exploring the colorful murals in downtown Livermore.
They’re playful, artsy, and make for the cutest couples’ photo ops.
Leverage the Visit Tri-Valley Downtown Livermore Murals Guide for an interactive map showcasing where to find each of the murals.
Or wander the charming streets of downtown and try to discover them all as you hunt for beautiful art.
Eat Delicious Food Throughout the Tri-Valley
All Things Raw and Cured
For a modern, coastal-inspired dining experience, Cured Fish Bar brings creative plates and a chic atmosphere to downtown Livermore.
Think fresh crudo, impressive sake offerings, and a vibe that screams romantic date night.
The plate of oyster accouterments included fresh grated horseradish, which was terrific.
We loved the build-your-own handroll option with one of the raw fish options.
However, the most delicious bite we had at Cured (and maybe all throughout the Tri-valley area) was the tuna crudo with the “cowboy style” add on.
Raw tuna was gently kissed with melted wagyu fat, which created a rich, melt-in-your-mouth bite!
High-end Farm-to-Table Fare
The most critically-acclaimed restaurant in Livermore has to be Range Life.
This chic spot serves up an ever-changing menu based on what’s in season and what they have purveyed from local farmers.
The local oysters were complemented with a thin slice of fresh nectarine, which was bright and refreshing.
We also couldn’t get enough of the crispy squid which was as beautiful as it was tasty.
For proteins you’ll find local poultry, fish, as well as grass-fed steak. We never order chicken, and theirs was a showstopper.
The decor is elegant and just begging you to celebrate a date night or a special occasion.
It’s the kind of romantic date night where you’ll want to linger over every bite.
A Taste of South America
Take your taste buds on a trip around the globe at Oyo Pleasanton, where the menu is as diverse and full of flavor.
Think Caribbean flavors, Latin influences, and cocktails that taste like a mini vacation.
Start off with doubles, a Guayana flatbread, that has been topped with a flavorful chickpea curry and jerk chicken for an explosion of flavors to your tastebuds.
For your entree, don’t shy away from the goat curry.
The meat is tender and served in a sauce packed with spices, that is just begging to be scooped up by the homemade roti bread.
In terms of libations, be sure to order their espresso martini. Made with sweet plantain syrup and a homemade whiskey coffee liquor, it’s smooth, satisfying, and gives a slight kiss of the tropics.
Authentic Dim Sum
If you love dim sum, you can’t get any more authentic than Koi Palace in Dublin.
Head there on the weekends for steamers loaded with dumplings.
You’ll find colorful, vibrant dumplings with unique flavors like squid ink, black truffle, wasabi, and even turmeric crab.
We loved the daikon cakes with XO sauce as well as the seared pork soup dumplings as well.
If you’ve had your fill of dumplings, order their BBQ meats, fried rice, or noodle entrees.
Be warned, the entree portions are huge!
Upscale Mexican Cuisine
Spice things up with modern Latin cuisine at Posada Alta Cocina.
Their vibrant flavors make this spot a perfect place for couples who want more than just wine and cheese (though we love those too).
Posada Alta Cocina has an impressive wine list and craft cocktails using elevated spirits.
Start off with the watermelon salad that’s a crowd favorite.
Topped with cheese and tajin, watermelon, arugula, and mango add a pop of flavor that beats out any other boring salad.
For a perfect date night, share a tablas platter.
It is a spread of roasted corn, guacamole, salsa, rice, and the most irresistible fried potato chorizo taco.
Pair all that with the protein of your choice (we opted for the Australian wagyu steak) for a feast you can share.
Another dish that knocked our socks off was the beef aguachile which was a perfectly cooked steak served in a citrus soy broth, it’s a party for your taste buds.
We’ve had our fair share of aguachiles with sashimi fish, and we love tasting it for the first time with a perfectly cooked steak.
Amazing All-You-Can-Eat Sushi
Sometimes love is spelled S-U-S-H-I.
Just a quick drive away, Mad For Sushi in Dublin is a good excuse for a little Tri-Valley area adventure.
The all-you-can-eat setup means you’ll have so much fun sampling rolls until you can’t eat another bite.
Let us tell you we’ve had our fair share of all-you-can-eat sushi around the world, and this was one of the best.
We love that the sliced fish on top of nigiri is a nice size compared to most other all-you-can-eat-sushi spots.
The escolar sashimi was actually the best escolar that we’ve ever tasted.
Everything across the menu is included. From appetizers, to nigiri, to even speciality rolls!
For a small upcharge you can enjoy premium fish selections, like the salmon belly.
Be sure to order the Korean Fried Chicken appetizer, it was juicy, flavorful, and perfectly crisp.
It is truly better than the KFC chicken we get from Korean restaurants.
Incredible Sourdough + Pizzas
Not your average bakery, Wingen Bakery transforms into a cozy dinner spot with seasonal menus that highlight local wineries and fresh ingredients.
The origin of Wingen is a heartfelt one. This husband and wife team began baking in 2020 when their newborn daughter was diagnosed with a terminal genetic disorder.
They quickly gained a following and the community rallied behind the family, selling out every week at the local farmers market.
Today, the couple is cooking up love for the community in their daughters honor with a brick and mortar location.
Recently Wingen Bakery started offering dinner service where you can find sourdough pizzas and small Italian bites.
You’ll find typical pizza offerings as well as some unique pies topped with ingredients like shisito peppers, green garlic, and even yellow peaches.
We loved our two pizzas, but the standouts were all of the appetizers, specifically the gnudi.
The ricotta gnudi was light and fluffy, and in a shallot cream sauce that was so good we would buy bottles of it.
Have an Ice Cream Date at a Dairy
Few things are more classic than an ice cream date.
Meadowlark Dairy has been serving sweet “scoops” for decades, making it one of the best places for a delicious date in the Tri-Valley area.
This icon is so popular that there is literally a dedicated traffic lane in Pleasanton for their overflow of cars waiting for the drive through.
You can also opt to wait in line to order up their straight-from-the-farm soft serve, ice cream sandwiches, pints, or slushies.
Choose between chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, orange, pineapple, or the special rotating featured flavor.
During our visit that flavor was cookies and cream, which was a soft and creamy version of a familiar flavor.
This is a quick drive from Livermore and the perfect way to cool off on a warm day.
Head to Danville to Hike Mt. Diablo
Couples who are nature lovers will fall for a sunkissed hike at Mt. Diablo.
The observation deck offers panoramic views all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge in the San Francisco Bay on a clear day.
You won’t get a better view of the sweeping hills of the Tri-Valley.
Once you reach the base of Mt. Diablo, be prepared for a winding hour drive to the summit as you pass cyclists.
Reward yourselves afterward with buttery pastries and coffee at Maison Benoit in downtown Danville.
Hit the Tri-Valley Beer Trail
If you’re more of a hops than grapes couple, the Tri-Valley Beer Trail is a better place to bond over pints.
Start with Altamont Beer Works in Livermore. They’re a long-running brewery with a ton of taps.
There are numerous IPAs to choose from but we opted for the Altamont Festbier, a golden lager that’s a nod to Oktoberfest.
If you’re getting full of beer, opt for a Waui Water hard seltzer. The Cara Cara Orange and Pineapple seltzer was tropically refreshing without being too sweet.
Then, make your way to Danville Brewing for a full day of much fun. Offering a full food menu, you can have a bite while you take a sip.
Create your own custom beer flight or choose their standard selection.
Our favorite beer was the Belgian ale, but it’s up to you to taste your way through the menu to find a favorite.
Toast over a Craft Cocktail
Honeycomb Cocktail Lounge
Who can resist a speakeasy?! Honeycomb Lounge is a new cocktail bar in Livermore with stunning decor and tasty libations.
Follow their instagram to get the week’s secret password, then head through the secret entrance to arrive at a dark, moody and chic lounge.
Without question, Honeycomb is serving up the best drinks in the area. One of our favorite things to do when traveling is to seek out cocktail bars on the world’s top 100 list.
If they keep this quality up, the cocktails being served at Honeycomb are worthy of being considered for that list.
From a sesame cocktail where the garnish is torched prior to serving which leaves a lingering aroma that compliments the delicate sesame flavor of the cocktail, to a melon drink with a foam that seemingly hovers above the glass, every sip is artistry.
The Fat Pigeon
Cap off your adventure with cocktails at The Fat Pigeon in downtown Livermore.
With creative drinks and a creative vibe, it’s the perfect place to toast to a day well spent in the Livermore area.
The Fat Pigeon changes seasonally with a new theme. We visited right after it changed from an Alice in Wonderland pop-up to a full-on Halloween display.
The cocktails were spookily themed and served in festive glassware, some of which come with a show!
The boozy creations lean to more of the sweet side, so keep that in mind as you determine your cocktail crawl.
From wine classes to mountain biking and outdoor activities, California’s Tri-Valley area is packed with unique things to do for couples.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway at the Purple Orchid Resort or just looking for a new adventure in Livermore Valley Wine Country, one thing’s for sure—you’ll have so much fun discovering the best things to do together.
Be sure to check out Visit Tri-Valley for more trip planning resources.
Click this link to pin this guide on the Best Things to do in Livermore for Couples on Pinterest.
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more recipes and romantic travel recommendations, we love to see when you visit our favorite spots!
Looking for more travel recommendations across America? Read all of our USA Travel Guides.
If you’d like to automatically receive our posts in your email, register here.
No Comments