So, Valentine’s Day as a concept is super divisive. Some love it, some not so much, others just use it as an excuse for dinner. That’s where this comes in handy.
Here’s a list of 11 of Melbourne’s trendiest and top-notch places to smash a romantic dinner with a special someone – or group of them – you need to book before Sunday.
Spice things up this Valentine’s Day at Melbourne’s newest Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, Mejico. Sip on all kinds of margaritas and celebrate with a special set menu including oysters, Mejico’s signature tableside guac, salmon ceviche, Yucatan style BBQ empanadas, porterhouse steak with chimichurri and a margarita cheesecake to finish.
Mejico’s Valentine’s Day set menu is available or dinner for $75 per person. Bookings online at Mejico’s website
Lock yourself and the one you love in at Chin Chin with its special ‘Love Me, Feed Me’ menu. The delicious set menu includes all the dishes you know and love from the CBD favourite including kingfish sashimi, grilled king prawns with Chin Chin papaya hot sauce and more. To finish with something sweet, lovers can indulge in a special Valentine’s Day heart-shaped chocolate and coconut mousse with chilli caramel and raspberry sorbet. Couplers can sit back and relax while they sip on liquid loving cocktails including the ‘Easy Lover’ with Aperol and elderflower and ‘Two’s Company’ with gin, raspberry and rhubarb flowers.
The Love Me, Feed Me menu is available for $89 per person and bookings are available at Chin Chin’s site
Treat your loved one to a delicious Spanish fare at Bomba Bar & Rooftop. Couples can start with a drink on the Rooftop overlooking Lonsdale Street and the Melbourne city skyscrapers before enjoying a four-course sharing menu sharing menu including oysters with caviar, wagyu cecina and a manchego croquetta to start, chicken liver parfait, Abrolhos Islands scallops with brown butter and cava, roast striploin with baby carrots and heirloom tomatoes with shanklish and sumac for something more, and baked chocolate ganache to finish.
The Valentine’s Day menu at Bomba is available for dinner for $79 per person. Bookings at the Bomba site
Celebrate this Valentine’s Day at acre farm & eatery, Melbourne’s largest urban rooftop and farm, and be treated to a unique dinner experience in the Glasshouse.
Couples can soak up views across the evening sky and sunset from the rooftop and enjoy a special set menu from Chef PJ with a special Valentine’s Day cocktail to start for just $79 per person. Lovers can indulge in a menu including Sydney rock oysters, snapper with watermelon and chilli, smoked trout with cucumber, chicken liver pate, flank steak and a triple chocolate trifle to finish. acre farm & eatery will be open from 5pm for its special Valentine’s Day dinner with bookings available at the acre farm website or by calling (03) 9888 7950.
Baby is giving lovers a ‘pizza’ of its heart this Valentine’s Day with its Banchetto menus featuring all the Italian classics you love. Lovers can get stuck into fresh oysters, porcini mushroom ravioli, gamberi e vongole linguine and more. Those looking for some extra decadence can enjoy the exclusive lobster pizza and lobster salmoriglio, on the menu just for Valentine’s Day.
Baby’s ‘Be My Valentine’s menu is available for $55 or $66 per person with extra lobster specials and lovers cocktails on the menu too. The first 100 bookings will also enjoy a complimentary Mecca Boss Gloss lip gloss too! Bookings online at the Baby pizza website
Hattie Molloy will be teaming up Pidapipo this year for Valentine’s Day. Keeping on the floral theme, Molloy will be installing custom floral windows in all three storefronts next week in line with three special floral flavours – lavender & meringue, elderflower & caramel and rose & raspberry swirl. It’s on offer from Thursday 11 – Sunday 14 Feb.
Single, taken or it’s complicated, Pontoon have you covered this Valentine’s Day.
Spoil yourself or your special someone as Pontoon turns PINK. There’ll be all the makings for a day love with $2 Oysters and half-priced frose and pink Chandon pouring all day.
Bookings can be made via the Pontoon website and Pontoon deck will be available for walk-ins only.
For Valentine’s Day, Turkish and Middle Eastern-inspired cafe Babajan will be bringing you two special hampers to share or gift to your lover. The first ($95 per hamper) includes simit, hummus, eggplant Aleppo, cheddar, salads, 12hr lamb shoulder, borek, baklava with pistachio & rose, a bottle of Negroni blossom (150ml) and a Babajan tote bag. The other option is for those with a sweet tooth ($55 per hamper), including Hey Tiger chocolate, hazelnut & chocolate baklava, Turkish delight and more. Orders can be made online or in store.
Impress your lover and go all out with Agostino’s set menu for Valentine’s Day. For $95pp, enjoy dishes like yellowfin tuna with white asparagus, WA lobster ravioli, Fremantle octopus with peach and ‘nduja oil and poached rhubarb with strawberry and diplomatica cream. Make a booking
This Valentine’s Day, show your special someone just how much you love them with the ultimate Kisume experience. Romance the one you love a five-course chef’s tasting menu featuring an indulgent selection of sashimi, sushi, tempura and more. There’s also a special heart-shaped hazelnut dacquoise to finish off the evening on something sweet.
The five-course lover’s menu is available for $165 per person with bookings online
Ignite the fire at Hawker Hall with your choice of three banquets to share. Keep it spicy with the one you love most and dig into a selection of Hawker favourites with Valentine’s Day specials of kolo mee with char siu pork, spicy kung pao chicken beef rendang and special fried rice. Hawker Hall are also shaking up some liquid love for couples with special cockatiels including ‘In The Mood’ with gin, Aperol and strawberry wine, ‘I Got You Baby’ with vodka, ruby red grapefruit, hibiscus and elderflower.
Banquet menus available fro $55, $66 or $88 per person and bookings online