A Curated Selection Of Irresistible Valentine’s Day Experiences Throughout Melbourne
Audrey’s
1 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943
This year, take Valentine’s Day to a new level of indulgence and treat yourself and your loved one to a bump of Oscietra caviar, a glass of Portsea Estate Sparkling Vintage 2018 on arrival, and Audrey’s bonbons to take home.
Price: $50 pp
Bookings: Here
The Atrium
1 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943
The Atrium will be open for both lunch and dinner services with a seven rooms upgrade available at checkout to include a special Valentine’s Day dessert. Elevate your Valentine’s Day and treat yourself and your loved one to a white chocolate and vanilla mille-feuille featuring chocolate parfait, strawberry rose jelly and raspberry sorbet.
Price: $16 pp
Bookings: Here
Grossi Florentino, Grossi Grill, Cellar Bar, And Ombra
80 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Melbourne icon, Grossi Florentino along with its sibling restaurants, Grossi Grill, Cellar Bar and Ombra are making Valentine’s Day (also known as La Festa Degli Innamorati in Italy) a little sweeter – with two delectable add-on specials for $28 each.
Sit upstairs within the grand walls of the Mural Dining Room or opt for a more casual setting downstairs or next door at Ombra and relax with a Birichino cocktail made with gin, Aperol, lemon and Amarena cherry in hand.
After main, savour the moment and devour a classic Pesche Piemontese – considered one the classiest desserts in the Italian repertoire. This traditional dish combines peaches stuffed with Amaretti biscuits, chocolate and zabaglione.
Price: $28 for add-ons
Bookings: www.florentino.com.au/
Lona Misa
234 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141
‘L’ is for a week LONG celebration of Love at Lona Misa. Cupid is back in town, and he has something special lined up this Valentine’s Day. From Monday, 12 – Saturday, 17 February, lovers can enjoy a five-course set menu that heroes stone fruits created by Head Chef, Pamela Tomio along with a complimentary glass of Taittinger Rose Champagne on arrival. To start, expect corn and chilli rissoles with plum crema bandera skewers with dried apricots, ‘stracciatella’ with grilled peach and a side of grilled focaccia. For the main course, savour the flavours of a lionsmane ‘steak’, with nectarine tango chimichurri paired with a grilled radicchio salad with fermented macerated cherries vinaigrette. For an extra dose of indulgence, tuck into a second main of smoked calabaza served over lentil and apricot stew. To finish, enjoy a decadent, yet refreshing camomile chocolate mousse with red plum meringue, beets apricot and nut crumble and lemongrass yoghurt ice cream.
Price: $120 pp
Bookings: Here
Amphlett House
19-25 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
No plans, no worries, there are no strings attached at Amphlett House this Valentine’s Day. Embrace simplicity and enjoy your lover’s company with a $79 steak for two and a complimentary glass of house sparkling.
Price: $79 pp
Bookings: Here
Studio Amaro
168 Chapel Street, Windsor, VIC 3181
Studio Amaro will be bringing love to the table this Valentine’s Day with special set menus. MDI (Murray Darling Italy) is born from the passion and expertise of renowned Australian winemaker, Kevin McCarthy, known as the godfather of pinot grigio. Indulge in love and flavour with interactive love letters as you dine, try experimental wines and choose from two set menus, starting at $75 per person, or level up to the premium set menu for $95 per person. Menu highlights include sourdough focaccia, rigatoni arrabbiata, market fish fillet and chocolate & cherry bombe alaska, with vegetarian menu options also available.
Price: Set Menu – $75pp or Premium Set Menu – $95pp
Bookings: via Studio Amaro
Moonhouse
282 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183
This Valentine’s Day, Moonhouse is bringing Cupid’s bow to the table with special menus for the occasion. MDI (Murray Darling Italy) is born from the passion and expertise of renowned Australian winemaker, Kevin McCarthy, known as the godfather of pinot grigio. Indulge in love and flavour with interactive love letters as you dine, try experimental wines and choose from two set menus, starting at $75 per person, or level up to the premium set menu for $95 per person. Menu highlights include do yee sang, roasted duck pancakes, longevity noodles, half-roasted chicken and mandarin sorbet.
Price: Set Menu – $75pp or Premium Set Menu – $95pp
Bookings: via Moonhouse
Tokyo Tina
66A Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
Celebrate love this Valentine’s Day, where local maker, MDI’s exceptional wines will take centre stage. MDI (Murray Darling Italy) is born from the passion and expertise of renowned Australian winemaker, Kevin McCarthy, known as the godfather of pinot grigio. Indulge in love and flavour with interactive love letters as you dine, try experimental wines and choose from two set menus, starting at $75 per person, or level up to the premium set menu for $95 per person. Menu highlights include spiced edamame, kingfish sashimi, sticky eggplant, miso-zuke salmon and iceberg & wombok salad. A vegan set menu is available upon request.
Price: Set Menu – $75pp or Premium Set Menu – $95pp
Bookings: via Tokyo Tina
New Quarter
Ground Level, 79 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
Celebrate love with Valentine’s Day at Melbourne’s favourite Neo-Vietnamese restaurant, New Quarter. Guests will enjoy the choice of two set menus, featuring New Quarter’s popular plates such as Bahn mi finger, fried eggplant, chilli tiger prawn noodles, curry roasted savoy cabbage and coconut granita. For those feeling extra hungry, add on a side of Pacific oysters, beef tartare or kaffir lime cured kingfish to level up the occasion.
Price: Set Menu – $75pp or Premium Set Menu – $95pp
Bookings: via New Quarter
Firebird
223 High St, Windsor VIC 3181
Join Firebird on Valentine’s Day, where local maker, MDI’s exceptional wines will take centre stage. MDI (Murray Darling Italy) is born from the passion and expertise of renowned Australian winemaker, Kevin McCarthy, known as the godfather of pinot grigio. Indulge in love and flavour with interactive love letters as you dine, try experimental wines and choose from two set menus, starting at $75 per person, or level up to the premium set menu for $95 per person. Menu highlights include fresh oysters, flat-pressed baguette, grilled squid, smoked beef short rib, egg noodles and tiramisu. A vegan set menu is available upon request.
Price: Set Menus – $75pp or Premium for $95pp
Bookings: via Firebird
Ronnie’s
Rialto Piazza, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
A spicy love affair is set to sizzle this Valentine’s Day when Italian artisan chilli brand Bippi partners with Melbourne CBD restaurant Ronnie’s for its Red Hot Week of Amore. The pair has conceived a limited-edition chilli menu in the name of love, with the specials running from Saturday, 10 to Saturday, 17 February 2024. Get the heart pumping with an Inferno’, a cocktail mixing tequila, dry cassis, raspberry and Bippi Italian chilli syrup. Menu items will include Fried Mac and Cheese Bites’ garnished with a swipe of mayo spiced with Bippi’s Italian-style Sriracha, Ronnie’s ‘Greens and Cheese’ lasagne made with Bippi Chilli Olive Tapenade and ‘Chilli Mussels’ in a tomato and white wine sauce.
Price: Various
Bookings: Ronnie’s website
Luci
472 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Experience an enchanting evening of romance at Luci. Guests celebrating with their special someone will indulge in a delectable 4-course dinner with an exquisite degustation menu while immersing themselves in the delightful ambience as live jazz music serenades the night.
Price: $150 pp
Bookings via OpenTable
Neighbourhood Wine
1 Reid Street, Fitzroy North Victoria 3068
Neighbourhood Wine is bringing romance to the room this Valentine’s Day with seasonal share plates and fine wines for pairings. Treat your loved one to a date night in the intimate dining room and Neighborhood Wine’s seasonal sharing menu. For $95pp, the four-course menu includes crowd-favourites such as naturally leavened sourdough, marinated eggplant, Cape Grim bone-in-sirloin, Ramarro Farm leaves and Blancmange. To mark the occasion, the restaurant will be offering dinner to add Coffin Bay Oysters into the evening – nature’s own aphrodisiac – with smoky soy vinaigrette, alongside spelt tart and Robbins Island wagyu. Elevate the evening by embarking on a romantic escape to a wine region from across the world of your choosing, where a delightful 750-bottle lo-fi wine list awaits.
Price: $95pp
Bookings: via Neighbourhood Wine
Old Palm Liquor
133B Lygon St, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Cosy up with your loved ones this Valentine’s Day at Old Palm Liquor and indulge in a 4-course seasonal feast. For $95pp, embark on the perfect date night and relish in seasonal sharing plates including coconut creamed lentils, woodfired flatbread, raw kingfish, scotch steak and spiced tea cheesecake. Opt for an additional round of oysters if you are feeling extra peckish and elevate the date with wine pairings for each dish. Whether you take a seat at the beat or cosy up by the fire, Old Palm Liquor exudes a timeless charm, making it your perfect date night spot for Valentine’s Day.
Price: $95pp
Bookings: via Old Palm Liquor
Pipis Kiosk
129A Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park VIC 3206
Dine by the seaside this Valentine’s Day at Pipis Kiosk with a luxurious 4-four course menu by chef Jordan Clay. Taking cues from the seasons in both its produce and its preparation of ingredients, diners can expect a romantic evening by the bay with a seafood-focused menu and a welcome drink before ending the evening with a sweet treat.
Price: $165 per person
Bookings: via OpenTable
Officina Gastronomica Italiana
532/534 Malvern Rd, Prahran VIC 3181
This Valentine’s Day, Officina Gastronomica Italiana will be sharing the love with a special set menu, curated for the occasion. For $79pp, embark on a 3-course romantic Italian affair, with dishes including housemade focaccia and freshly shucked oysters as optional staters, followed by fresh “fatta in casa” pasta, Italian classics such as calamari and eggplant parmigiana as the main event, and the choice of pavlova or flourless chocolate cake for dessert.
Price: $79pp
Bookings: via OGI
Akaiito
349-351 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, 3000
This Valentine’s Day, Akaiito, the fine-dining Japanese restaurant situated off Melbourne’s Flinders Lane, is the perfect place to spoil your loved one. Its brand new offering and concept has just been unveiled for summer, ‘Omakase at Your Table’; a chef-led experience is brought to life by a brigade of expert Robatayaki & Sushi Chefs, led by Head Chef Winston Zhang. The two new menus: an ‘Aka’ five-course degustation ($178pp), and a seven-course signature ‘Kojin’ experience ($228pp), will showcase expertly prepared dishes of high-end Japanese cuisine, using native Australian ingredients. With a maximum of 30 patrons per evening, diners will embark on an incredibly intimate culinary journey, with each course served and intricately explained by the chefs, bringing the heart and soul of the menu to the forefront. Furthermore, guests will dine beneath the ‘red thread of destiny’ – symbolic of the ancient Japanese legend, stating that those connected by the thread are predestined to have an important story, making for the perfect place for lovers to celebrate.
Price: Five-Course – $178pp or seven-course – $228pp
Bookings: here
Main image credit: Kate Shanasy