Commune Group is sharing the love this Valentine’s Day, with diners at its beloved Melbourne restaurants Firebird and Moonhouse able to indulge in a slice of shared sweetness for dessert. Commune has teamed up with renowned Melbourne baker Alice Bennett, also known as Miss Trixie Drinks Tea, to offer diners a dessert to be remembered, a piece of one of her show-stopping tiered, vintage-inspired love cakes.
On the night, Firebird and Moonhouse will serve a slice of the amazing love cake creations decorated in the colours and designs of each venue.
Firebird
223 High St, Windsor VIC 3181
Fire up your lover’s heart this Valentine’s Day, with a fabulous set menu at Firebird. A welcome cocktail will be followed by a selection of snacks, including grilled oysters with green nuoc mam, pickled eschalots, rice cake with smoked tomato, pickled radish and preserved mustard greens and a Vietnamese baguette with summer vegetables and black garlic. Entree of beef carpaccio and grilled squid noodles. Firebird’s famous duck à l’orange is the star of the show, alongside charred wombok and aromatic tomato clay pot rice. Firebird’s piece de resistance will be a show-stopping dessert, a vintage-inspired ‘Love Cake’ by the renowned baker, Miss Trixie Loves Tea, available for all guests to indulge in. Roses will be available for purchase on the night.
Price: $90 per person
Book via: Seven Rooms
Instagram: @firebirdmelbourne
Moonhouse
282 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183
Moonhouse will be bringing the love this Valentine’s Day – lovebirds will be welcomed with a strawberry daiquiri with toasted marshmallow foam on arrival. The beautiful Cantonese-inspired set menu will include favourites such as scallops with orange and ginger, roast duck pancakes, prawn toast and Chinese doughnuts with caviar. Pepper crab noodles will be followed by a feast of supreme chicken with spring onion relish, wok-tossed snake beans and rice. Moonhouse’s piece de resistance will be a show-stopping, vintage-inspired ‘Love Cake’ by the renowned baker, Miss Trixie Loves Tea available for all guests to indulge in.
Price: $90 per person
Booking via: Seven Rooms
Instagram: @moonhouse_melbourne
Audrey’s
1 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943
Celebrate this Valentine’s Day at Victoria’s premier seaside restaurant, Audrey’s, with a truly romantic experience. Guests can wine and dine their Valentine with a lovingly curated set menu by Scott Pickett. This includes a selection of seafood appetisers, followed by Papasley pearl meat and caramelised leek and Audrey’s famous squid noodles with shitake XO. For main, guests have the choice of Hapuka and marron or Blackmore Wagyu rump and to finish, a cavalcade of desserts and sweet treats. This special dinner includes a welcome glass of André Clouet Rosé Champagne to set the tone for the evening.
Price: $250 per person
Book via: Seven Rooms
Instagram: @audreys.sorrento
Ishizuka
Basement level b01/139 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
If you are looking to take Valentine’s Day to the next level, Ishizuka has opened its doors for the special evening. Lovers will be greeted with a glass of pink bubbles on arrival before indulging in a 10-course kaiseki experience that includes winter melon, lobster, snow crab, A5 Kagoshima Wagyu and an extra dessert made exclusively for the night. Concluding the evening, guests will receive an individual take-home castella cake as they ascend out of this intimate, subterranean restaurant.
Price: $315 per person
Website: ishizuka.com.au
Instagram: @ishizuka_australia
Grossi Florentino
80 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Those looking to dial up the romance this Valentine’s Day, Grossi Florentino is bringing cupid’s bow to the table. To set the scene, the spiral staircase leading up to the illustrious dining room will be laced with red rose petals, setting the mood for an evening of indulgence. Inside, guests will be surrounded by lavish floral installations on tables and throughout the space. With the option of the classic three-course menu or the six-course Gran Tour, guests will enjoy modern Italian creations whilst being immersed in the romantic, regal venue.
Price: $175 per person (three-course), $210 (Gran Tour)
Book via: www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/florentino
Instagram: @grossiflorentino
Flying Duck Hotel
67 Bendigo Street Prahran 3181
Whether you’re committed or not, Prahran’s iconic Flying Duck Hotel is giving everyone an excuse to dine out this Valentine’s Day, because, who doesn’t love a good feed? Diners will be treated to three decadent courses starting with a shared seafood platter including Sydney Rock Oysters and finger lime, WA scallop tartare, and prawns on toast with creme fraiche and salmon caviar. For main, select from fish of the day served with broccolini and Tom Berry dressing OR MB+2 scotch fillet steak with celeriac, wood-fired mushrooms and café de Paris butter – both served with crispy potatoes and green salad. To finish, sink your spoon into the Chocolate Nemesis with Davidson Plum and Hokey Pokey ice cream. Cocktail lovers will also enjoy a limited-edition Twilight Margarita with coconut 1800 tequila, Aperol, pineapple liqueur, agave, lime, roasted coconut and orange salted rim.
Price: $65 per person
Book via: flyingduckhotel.com.au
Instagram: @flyingduckhotel
New Quarter
79-83 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Neo-Vietnamese favourite, New Quarter. Guests will enjoy a Lavender Love Machine cocktail on arrival – Patient Wolf dry gin, St Germain, lemon, lavender, honey. Begin the night with a Banh Mi finger, whipped chicken liver pate, chicken skin followed by Crayfish tartlet, nuoc mam gel, finger lime and sawtooth and a Betel leaf with mushroom sambal and banh hoi. Butterflied tiger prawn noodles are next, followed by a choice of Cha ca barramundi, spring onion, burnt butter nuoc mam or lemongrass pork cutlet with Banh Tieu flatbread and other sides. The meal will be finished off with a raspberry, lychee and sesame tart, rosella thach dua. New Quarter will also be playing host to the photography exhibition ‘Love is Love’, highlighting the many relationships amongst the Commune Group’s staff. Roses will be available for purchase on the night.
Price: $90 per person ($80 alternative vegan menu available)
Book via: Seven Rooms
Instagram: @newquarter_
Omnia
625 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141
This Valentine’s Day, European-style bistro and bar, Omnia is turning up the romance for those looking to surprise their lovers with something a little extra for the dinner reservation. Available for pre-order only, Omnia is offering a personalised love letter and red rose at the table upon arrival. Book now via OpenTable.
Tokyo Tina
66A Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
Feel the love at Tokyo Tina this Valentine’s Day with a four-course premium set menu. Guests will be welcomed with a gin blossom cocktail on arrival to set the mood. A selection of appetisers will kick things off, including spiced edamame, salmon tartare and crispy sticky eggplant. Shared entrees and mains will feature chicken yakitori, and prawn katsu, beef tataki, green beans and potato salad with yuzu mayo. Lovebirds will round their meal off with a fabulous chocolate custard-filled dorayaki, with Koji caramel and roasted peanuts. Why not really wow your Valentine and go all out, with fine wines and French champagne available as an upgrade. Both early and late evening sitting times will be available. And what is a Valentine’s Day without a red rose, which will be available for purchase on the night.
Price: $90 per person
Book via: Seven Rooms
Instagram: @tokyotina_
Hanoi Hannah Vol. II
306 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick VIC 3185
For those wanting a touch of Valentine’s Day, without the full shebang, Hanoi Hannah Vol. II provides the perfect date spot. With Valentine’s Day specials available on the night, guests will also be able to give their special someone a token of their love on the night, with roses available for purchase.
Book via: Seven Rooms
Instagram: @hanoihannah_
Luci Melbourne
472 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in style this year inside the sophisticated CBD Luci restaurant located in what was once Melbourne’s Equity Chambers building. Luci is offering an indulgent six-course tasting menu with inclusions of octopus, roasted spatchcock and tiramisu created by esteemed Head Chef, Jason Lear. The evening will include a special live musical performance to make it an evening to remember and the perfect way to celebrate love.
Price: $180 per person
Book via: www.opentable.com
Instagram: @lucimelbourne
Chancery Lane
430 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Impress your loved one with an amorous Valentine’s Day dinner at Chancery Lane’s intimate bistro. Commence your rendezvous under the dim lights with seared yellowfin tuna, and bass grouper before indulging in the main event, Angus eye fillet. Finish your romantic date night on a sweet note with white chocolate mousse and stone fruit.
Price: $180 per person (Vegetarian menu $110)
Book via: sevenrooms.com/reservations/chancerylane/
Estelle
243-245 High St, Northcote VIC 3070
Treat your loved one this Valentine’s Day to an intimate candle-lit dinner at Estelle. Indulge in courses featuring an Estelle twist on modern Australian flavours. For $140 per person, feast on some of Estelle’s fan-favourite dishes including oysters, ricotta agnolotti, Murray cod, wagyu bavette and white chocolate with passionfruit pave.
Price: $140 per person
Book via: sevenrooms.com/reservations/estelle/
Longrain
44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Spice up your Valentine’s Day with a banquet for two at Melbourne’s Longrain. Relish in some of Longrain’s crowd-pleasing dishes including smoked trout betel leaf to start, followed by Harvey Bay scallops, Wagyu beef tartare and southern yellow curry with tiger prawns, finishing with cacao and coconut baked custard just for the occasion.
Price: $99 per person
Book via: sevenrooms.com/reservations/longrainmelbourne/
Matilda
159 Domain Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Matilda, with four courses honouring cooking techniques harnessed with fire. Indulge in Matilda’s signature favourites including the Loddon Estate Duck and Merimbula oysters along with the all-new Murray Cod, with some oscietra caviar along the way. Conclude your romantic date with decadent Valrhona chocolate with rose and strawberry.
Price: $160 per person
Book via: sevenrooms.com/reservations/matilda/
Smith St Bistrot
300 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Valentine’s Day coupled with the bistrot’s one-year anniversary celebration, February 14 at Smith St Bistrot is a date not to be missed. For $130 per person, indulge your way through a French degustation featuring Merimbula oysters, yellowfin tuna, oscietra caviar and a ballotine of chicken. Cap off your indulgent evening of Parisian romance with a Valentine’s Day treat of chocolate tart with summer berries and raspberry sorbet.
Price: $130 per person
Book via: sevenrooms.com/reservations/smithstbistrot/
Ronnie’s
Rialto Piazza, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Spoil that special someone at Ronnie’s this Valentine’s Day with its chef’s selected four-course menu. Indulge in a selection of classic Italian favourites including salumi, slow-cooked octopus, cacio e pepe waffle, and Grandma’s gnocchi bolognese. Finishing off the night on a sweeter note, guests will enjoy a decadent baked cheesecake with strawberries.
Price: $79 per person
Book via: https://ronnies.melbourne/book/