Dinner remains at the heart of the lovers’ holiday: food quality and atmosphere matter more than the final bill. Reservations are growing and Italian cuisine is back in the spotlight, increasingly at the center of a Valentine’s Day to remember and share.
Lovers’ Day remains a shared ritual
The holiday of lovers continues to hold a solid fascination for Italians: more than seven in 10 people over the age of 24 say they celebrate it. And while modes change-between those who dream of an elegant dinner and those who prefer a more casual atmosphere-one point remains firm: Valentine’s Day is played at the table.
Taking a snapshot of habits and desires is a recent survey conducted by TheFork together with YouGov on a sample of more than 1,000 people, which tells of a country still very much attached to the symbolic value of the holiday.
Dinner, the real focus of the evening
For those who celebrate, dinner is not just a side dish but the heart of the evening. In fact, 56 percent of respondents consider it “very” or “fairly” central, a percentage that rises to 63 percent among men and 66 percent among TheFork users. A figure that confirms the key role of the restaurant in turning a date into a special experience. (If you want to know various proposals around Italy, read our recommendations: Valentine’s Day 2026: restaurants and experiences for romantic moments).
No unique pattern: romantic or informal, the couple decides
There is no one way to experience Valentine’s Day. 33% of Italians say they decide from time to time how to celebrate, with no fixed pattern. 21% choose a casual dinner, while 19% go for an elegant and romantic restaurant. However, there remains a significant share – 28% – of those who prefer not to celebrate the occasion.
Quality and atmosphere first
When it comes to the choice of venue, a very current trend emerges clearly: the overall experience counts, not the price.
The quality of the food is the first factor in choice (65 percent), followed by the atmosphere of the venue (56 percent). Atmospheric locations and attentive service remain important, but more distant. Price, on the other hand, slips to the bottom of the list: only 34 percent consider it decisive. For a special evening, excitement trumps expense.
Growing reservations and mid- to high-end restaurants
This focus on the experience is also reflected in booking figures. For Valentine’s Day 2026, TheFork estimates an increase of about 13 percent over the previous year, aided in part by the calendar: February 14 falls on a Saturday. Average spending increases and the weight of mid- to high-end restaurants grows, along with more structured dining experiences.
Italian cuisine is back in the spotlight (and Valentine’s Day expands)
Changes in culinary preferences are also interesting: Italian cuisine and traditional offerings return to the forefront, while Asian choices decline. Table composition is also diversifying, with a slight increase in reservations for groups of three or four people. A signal that tells of an increasingly less rigid, more convivial and shared Valentine’s Day.
Ultimately, the message is clear: whether it’s a romantic dinner or a more casual table, Italians are looking for quality, atmosphere and authentic emotions. And maybe, we add, even the right glass. Because love passes through the table, but it remains in the memory only when it becomes an experience.
