Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s time to sort out those dinner plans and score some serious brownie points with your significant other. The good news is that plenty of Queensland restaurants have done the hard work for you, coming up with special Valentine’s Day menus and romantic extras guaranteed to spread the love.
Image: GOMA Restaurant, South Bank
Dinner with a View
Image: Il Centro, Brisbane
With sunset views over the Brisbane River, you couldn’t ask for a better backdrop for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner than the Eagle Street Pier precinct. At Il Centro, choose from a two- or three-course, Italian-influenced menu ($90pp/$120pp) that includes dishes such as handmade burrata with grilled zucchini, hazelnuts, and vincotto, and Il Centro’s famous sand crab lasagne.
Can’t go past a steak? Neighbouring Cha Cha Char is the pick for carnivores with two- or three-course menu options ($90pp/$120pp) or a $95pp shared banquet menu with Wagyu beef and grass-fed eye fillet featuring. Or head upstairs to Pony Dining, where the VIP package offers guarantees window seats, a single stem rose, and a range of extras to choose from such as oysters or cocktails.
On the other side of the CBD, twinkling city lights set the scene for a special Valentine’s Day dinner at Prive249. Indulge in a French-inspired four-course meal accompanied by a bottle of Mumm champagne and a surprise gift ($219/pp or $239 for window seats).
Fine Diners
Image: The Euro, Brisbane
If your valentine knows their consommé from their croustade, impress them with your foodie credentials by booking dinner at one of Brisbane’s fine dining restaurants. Urbane has been a leading light on Brisbane’s dining scene for nearly a decade, serving degustation-only menus to diners in its understated, moodily lit dining room — and winning more than a few awards along the way.
Otto Brisbane’s views over the Story Bridge, stylish interiors, and mod-Italian menu will help bring the romace this Valentine’s Day. The menu boasts beautiful southern Italian dishes, with plenty of seafood items and incredible pastas . Enjoy a three course menu with a bottle of Charles Heidsieck Champagne, or add a little extra with a dozen oysters to set the mood.
Across the river at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, the elegant GOMA Restaurant is hosting a seven-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu ($150/pp) with serious wow factor. Focusing on sustainable, organic and biodynamic ingredients, the food is guaranteed to be as beautiful and satisfying as the artworks within the gallery. All these restaurants are in the CBD, so if you’d really like to go all-out, combine dinner with an overnight stay at a five-star hotel nearby.
If seafood is more your thing, you can’t go past Yellowfin Seafood & Grill. Serving the freshest fish and seafood on Little Stanley Street, your seafood loving Valentine will be spoilt for choice. Indulge in salt and pepper calamari, king prawns or fish of the day. You can choose from a two course ($50/pp), three course with wine ($65/pp) or four course with wine ($80) menu or splash out on a seafood platter for two ($89).
International Flavours
Image: Motorwagen, Brisbane
The new kid on the CBD block, Motorwagen is a chic Mediterranean restaurant housed alongside the recently opened Mercedes Benz showroom. They’ve put plenty of thought into wining and dining on Valentine’s Day, with a six-course degustation menu with four optional add-ons ($95-195pp) from oysters to matching wines.
Finding it hard to narrow down your options? Sofitel Brisbane’s Thyme2 covers all the bases with its extensive seafood buffet ($124pp), or for an extra $74 you can also share a bottle of Mumm and baked lobster tail delivered to your table.
While you might not be able to whisk your date off to an exotic locale, the European or Asian flavours at some of Queensland’s top restaurants might be the next best thing. Be transported to Tokyo by the innovative Japanese cuisine at Saké Brisbane, where head chef Daiseke has developed a special Valentine’s Day menu ($125pp including a glass of bubbles) that gives traditional ingredients like tuna, miso, and crab a contemporary twist.
At suburban favourite Portabella, a complimentary glass of Bird In Hand sparkling wine on arrival will start your evening in style; their Valentine’s Day menu ($75) will take you around the Mediterranean with arancini, crostini, gnocchi, and more.
If you want to take in a romantic movie before or after dinner, then West End’s French Bistrot, is the place for you. Dine at the 5pm or 9pm sitting and receive 50% off on their a la carte menu when you book via TheFork. Treat your loved one to delicious French food and have money left over for flowers and a movie!
Further afield, you can channel la dolce vita in Toowoomba at ONS Italian restaurant with classics like carbonara or mushroom risotto and a complimentary heart cake.
Coastal Romance
Image: Temple of Tastes, Palm Cove
In Far North Queensland, live music, sparkling wine, four courses and a surprise gift are the ingredients for a romantic evening at Temple of Tastes Restaurant in Palm Cove ($89pp).
The torch-lit poolside setting, champagne cocktail and chocolate fondue are drawcards at the newly opened Aluco Restaurant and Bar in Port Douglas — ask for a table next to the water.
Book Temple of Tastes Restaurant here
Book Aluco Restaurant and Bar here
On holidays or keen to dine by the seaside? Try Avvia Restaurant at Palm Beach, where the sound of crashing waves provides the soundtrack to their seafood-focused four-course Valentine’s Day menu ($79pp).
For something more laid-back, consider Dublin Docks Tavern at Biggera Waters, which has a great value Valentine’s Day package for $75 for two with a main, dessert, and bottle of wine.
If none of those take your fancy, click here to check out all of the Queensland restaurants available to book on TheFork. From exclusive fine dining, casual cheap eats, to local hidden gems, you’ll be sure to find the right restaurant for your Valentine’s Day meal!