The best things to do on Valentine's Day in Melbourne

Impress the object of your fancy by stepping back in time for a romantic evening at one of Melbourne's jazz venues. Jazzlab has a special Valentine's Day show with singer Thndo performing soulful tunes and love songs for one loved-up night. Buy tickets here. 

During the warmer months, Melbourne's long days and balmy nights make for the perfect backdrop for an outdoor cinema. This is exactly why Melbourne has so many of them. From 1950's style drive-ins to outdoor rooftop cinemas scattered across the suburbs, our city has plenty of locations to catch an al fresco film – these are just a few of our favourites. 

You’d have to have been living under a rock not to notice that life’s been getting ridiculously expensive lately, but in the words of Jennifer Lopez, love don’t cost a thing. Or more accurately, taking your lover on a memorable date doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg.

Artisan chocolatier Koko Black is doing several cute Valentine's Day chocolate packs that you can pick up for your loved one. Prices start at just $24.90 and you can handpick flavours especially for your Valentine. Check it out here.

Melbourne is home to some super romantic hotels that are perfect for setting the scene for seduction. But if you're looking to dial things up a notch this Valentine's Day, consider booking one of these fancy packages. Leave the guesswork and planning to the professionals and enjoy late check-outs, bottles of Champagne and romantic dinners to boot.

You don't need to go all out on a fancy dinner for a romantic date – sometimes, less is more. There's a lovely simplicity to a picnic, where you can enjoy your favourite snacks and the company of a someone you love, surrounded by a tranquil green space. Hit up your local grocer or market for some fresh fruit or some moreish cheese (or both) and enjoy a relaxing outing. We've put together a list of the best spots for a picnic in Melbourne here. 

If you and your boo are adrenaline junkies, this is the perfect Valentine's Day date for you. Luna Park is inviting lovers to go on a romantic ride at its special V-Day event, Luna Love. Cosy up on the ferris wheel, or squeeze your boo's hand as you zoom along the historic Great Scenic Railway. A ticket to the event includes unlimited rides, as well as a photobooth session, carnival game token and heart-shaped ice cream. Book a ticket for this wholesome date night here. 

If you’re seeking a complete escape into opulence and luxury, then look no further than the Spa at Crown Towers. Book in for a couple's massage or facial and then spend some time in the Aqua Retreat, a room complete with a vitality pool, Swiss showers and steam rooms. 

Anyone with even the slightest interest in Melbourne’s food and hospitality scene has been talking about Reine and La Rue as of late. The highly ambitious project from Nomad Group has transformed Melbourne’s hallowed old Stock Exchange building into a European-inspired restaurant as ritzy as it is regal, with a speakeasy bar (the Rue part) accessible through an adjoining courtyard. It’s the first time the space has been open to the public in more than 20 years and the obsession is real. This Valentine's Day, the stunning restaurant is putting on a special shared set menu for $280 a head. A glass of NV Ruinart Brut on arrival is included in the package, and you can find out what's on the menu and book a spot here.

The Museum of Desire is an adults-only, multi-sensory space designed to celebrate all things love, pleasure, and yes, sex. It’s all in the name of flirty fun and switching up social norms around desire and sexuality. Take your beau to this attraction for a cheeky V-Day outing, complete with a kissing booth, a ball pit full of boobs and an ‘orgasm harp’. Tickets for the Museum of Desire are available via the website. 

For a special edition of the weekly Planetarium Nights, Scienceworks is inviting Melburnians to experience the romance of outer space, with a Valentine's Day Under the Stars event. The Planetarium will screen three films, the first of which will be Love is in the Stars, featuring ancient celestial love stories. Plus, gaze lovingly at the huge Museum of the Moon installation – a four-metre realistic model of the moon hung in the foyer. Plus, there'll be food and drinks to enjoy as well as a mesmerising bubble artist performing all evening. Find out more and buy tickets here. 

Take your special someone on a sunset river cruise, just the two of you. GoBoat is an electric boat hire service in Melbourne that makes it super easy to have a private jaunt out on the water, and you even don’t need a boating licence. The best part? They come equipped with a built-in wooden picnic table in the middle of the boat, and you can bring your own food and drinks. So you can make a toast to your love while you cruise on the water. Make a booking here. 

Melbourne’s cutting edge digital art gallery, the Lume, has brought back the beloved Van Gogh exhibition for a summer season, and are inviting loved-up Melburnians to a romantic evening event. Experience the artworks with a soundtrack provided by a live jazz band, while you sip on a complimentary glass of bubbly. For an extra special evening, there's an option to include a dining experience, complete with a bottle of champagne. Find out more and book tickets here. 

Why would you spend February 14 sardined in a crowded restaurant with other awkward couples when you can celebrate the best kind of relationship – the one you have with your gal pals aka your true soulmates – a day earlier on February 13? Galentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your friends, honour your special bond and, most importantly, have some fun. Whether it's getting a mani-pedi, catching a flick at the movies or grabbing a cheeky glass of vino together, the options for a guaranteed good time on this unofficial holiday are endless.  

"You choose the place" is a phrase that hardly anyone wants to hear when it comes to arranging the perfect date – the pressure! Your choice of spot can really make or break the evening, so let us help you with our fail-proof list of romantic spots.

While there's no Eiffel Tower, Melbourne is actually full of spots to land an unforgettable kiss. If you and your honey are looking for a fun place to lock lips, here are 13 places across Melbourne that'll turn your cheeky pash into a romcom-worthy scene. 

"When done right, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, better in the cinema." That’s Tom Hiddleston talking about romantic movies. And he has a point, doesn’t he? The best romantic films have given cinema some of its most unforgettable films and heartstopping moments. We’ve brought together 101 experts to choose the best romantic movies of all time. These are people who know romance: The Notebook writer Nicholas Sparks, Notting Hill director Richard Curtis and not forgetting a diva who has devoted a lifetime to seducing a shy frog, Miss Piggy.

Space: the final frontier. While we can't all be Jeff Bezos-ing up to space on a joyride, we can still admire the majesty of the universe from afar. Sure, you could just head outside anywhere after dark and look up. But if you're ready to take stargazing to the next level, these Melbourne locations and organisations can help you get the most out of your astronomical endeavours.