The best things to do on Valentine's Day in Melbourne
Coupled up on Valentine's Day? There are lots of events around the city to celebrate this day of love.
Single and ready to mingle? There's plenty on for you to meet that special someone (or someones).
And if you're not looking for love, that's great too! Spoil a friend or just yourself at one of these cool events.
Check out our complete guide to Valentine's Day in Melbourne, where you'll find everything from Melbourne's best restaurants to the best bars to take your date.
What to do on Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day High Team at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto
Treat your sweetie (or yourself) to a special Valentine's Day degustation. Of course, the 'precinct dessert trolley' is the star of the show, featuring desserts from local venues such as
Vue de Monde, Le Petit Gateau and Merchant. There are also special Valentines's Day-themed cakes and desserts available. It's $99 with a glass of Perrier-Jouet rosé Champagne or $149 with free-flowing French rosé Champagne.
Hosted in the sun-drenched Alluvial atrium, your intimate dining experience will be accompanied with a
glass of delicate rose Perrier-Jouet Champagne or a deconstructed Champagne Cocktail.
Massages and pizza at Pizza e Birra
What could be more romantic than a massage on Valentine's Day? A massage and a pizza, that's what. If you book your Valentine's Day dinner at Pizza e Birra and quote "pizza and massage" when you book, you'll get a free five-minute shoulder and neck massage from 3 Minute Angels while you enjoy your pizza.
QT Cupid BYO Ex Party
The folks at QT are hoping that one person's trash is another person's treasure, as they are asking that you bring your ex-partner to their Valentine's Day party. Just because someone isn't right for you doesn't mean they're not right for someone else, so you and your ex are encouraged to find love with other people's exes at this mixer. The party kicks off at 6pm, so send that awkward text message.
Valentine's Day lunch aboard Puffing Billy
Fancy a train ride on Valentine's Day? Puffing Billy is hosting an atmospheric three-course meal or Natter Platter (your choice) in its beautiful old carriages. For $115 per person, you can take a three-hour ride along the train's well-worn path as it wends through the lush forest and across the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge.
Luna Love
Luna Park's Luna Love event returns on Valentine's Day with unlimited rides and plenty of fairy floss to sweeten the deal on date night. From 6-11pm on Thursday, February 14, Luna Park will host couples as they watch the sun go down on St Kilda Beach from the Ferris Wheel, or as they take a thrilling ride on the Great Scenic Railway. Tickets $75 per couple.
Dinner at Tokosan
For an economical change on the stock-standard 'multi-course dinner for around $100 per person', Tokosan is offering a free bottle of champagne for couples who order the $55 ten-course set menu.
Bridesmaids at QV Outdoor Cinema
QV is opening its outdoor cinema on February 14 with a screening of Bridesmaids. Comedy troupe Fringe Wives Club will perform before the screening, and you are welcome to bring the love of your life – your dog.
Love song dedications at Natural History
Pianist Matt Ganim is doing a residency at Natural History on Thursday and Friday nights, and on Valentine's Day he's putting on a special show. Gamin will be taking requests for love song dedications, inspired by the inimitable Richard Mercer. Tickets are $55 per person and include a set menu and a glass of sparkling.
Dinner at Ides
You can book a four-course menu for $100 per person or a seven-course menu for $180 per person at Ides. The coolest part is probably dessert – the high-end restaurant is preparing a 'black box dessert', which diners smash with a small silver hammer to get at the sweet treats within.
Dinner at Bluebonnet
Brunswick East's cavernous temple to meat is offering a three-course meal with a black Bellini on arrival for $85. And there's going to be a mariachi band to serenade you and your main squeeze while you dine.
Single Mingle party at Hawker Hall
Meet like-minded singles at Hawker Hall's Valentine's Day party. Tickets are $55, which includes roaming food. Drinks are available to purchase at the bar, and the party includes speed dating and love song dedications from DJ CC Babcock.
How about a Valentine's Day dinner?
The 50 best restaurants in Melbourne
Unless you have the metabolism of a nine-year-old, and the finances of a Kardashian, you never stand a chance against Melbourne's ferocious dining machine. The openings just don't stop and ain't nobody got time to keep on top of what's what. Except us, that is. So behold, our eat-and-destroy list – a guide to Melbourne's 50 best restaurants.
