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

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.

Keen to take someone special on a picnic date in the park, but can't really be bothered making sandwiches or packing a basket? That’s where Twilight Picnics comes in. Melbourne's first-ever luxury picnic service is your go-to for gourmand get-togethers, celebratory occasions and everything in between. Better yet, the crew has just collaborated with the legendary cheesemakers at Maker and Monger to create a custom romantic picnic experience that's jam-packed with famous foodie names. For more info, check the website and then hit up Melbourne's best picnic spots to enjoy a very tasty date night. 

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.

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. 

Ballers Clubhouse is a 2,500-square-metre temple devoted to the kids at heart, and the biggest licensed venue in Melbourne's CBD. This year, the fun-packed destination is launching an exciting 'Love Lab' experience from February 13-18. So what's it all about? Love, of course! Upon arrival, a gift bag sets the mood for crafting the ultimate love potion. What follows is a lab-style cocktail masterclass, a ball pit dive (yes, really!) and a cheeky love meter so see your how love game is faring this year. The experience is suited for couples, singles and gal pals alike, and you can find out more here.

Craving an escape from all that warm and fuzzy Valentine's Day nonsense? Evie's Diner, an '80s-inspired eatery on Gertrude Street, is hosting a fabulous Anti-Valentine's Day party for singletons and the sassy alike. Forget the roses and choccies, here your $55 ticket gets you a hearty dinner, themed cocktails and an upbeat soundtrack of the DJ's fave anti-love songs, plus surprises and performers to keep you on your toes all night long. We've heard there'll be mingle zones and even a photo booth (cute!), with tickets selling out fast. Go here to secure yours.

Sitting high above Flinders Street on the 28th level of Quincy Hotel is the Q rooftop, an indoor-outhaven rooftop haven with expansive views of our picturesque skyline. This year, the newly renovated hot spot will be hosting a celestial Valentine's Day date night, complete with 360-degree views of Melbourne CBD, Southeast Asian snacks, French Champagne and cocktails. Make a booking here.

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.

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. 

Try and book a vegan-friendly Valentine's Day dinner out in Melbourne and you're not exactly flooded with options. Most restaurants typically offer duck breast, fancy roasts and seafood banquets on February 14, but CBD terrace eatery Henry and the Fox is doing something different this year. The Very Vegan Valentine's menu offers a creative plant-based feast to celebrate love across six super fancy courses – think oyster mushroom 'scallops', watermelon Margarita granita, and sweet corn and almond ravioli – with a glass of local vegan sparkling on arrival. The feast is $80 per person, and you can check out everything that's on the menu 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. Oh, and if you love tacos and great beer, this 'Date your Mates' Valentine's Day event has your name written all over it. 

"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. 

Work up a sweat with your significant other this Valentine's Day at Ronnie's. The CBD restaurant has teamed up with Italian artisan chilli brand Bippi for a 'Red Hot Week of Amore, and lovers of spice (and all things nice) will swoon over the limited-edition chilli menu available from February 10-17. Expect spicy savouries and snacks, alongside red-hot cocktails with Italian chilli syrup and a show-stopper dessert of prosecco and Bippi-poached pairs with white chocolate mousse. Consider us wooed!

CBD hotspot Yakimono is partnering with Melbourne florist Bush this year to streamline your Valentine's Day. Visit Yakimono on February 14 where you can purchase a beautiful bunch of flowers from the foyer. While you're admiring your bouquet, feast on the Valentine's Day set menu for $110pp, which includes a cocktail on arrival and showcases some of Yakimono's signature dishes like the edamame and wasabi dip and the barbecue sake king salmon. You can pre-order your flower bouquet here and book a table here.  

Join Poodle this February 14 for a romantic Valentine's Day evening in the art deco-inspired bistro space. The set menu features an array of fancy (and very tasty) dishes, including stuffed fig and porcini profiteroles, foie gras parfait and pinot jelly brioche, vintage scotch steak with a cherry and red wine jus, and a mouthwatering white chocolate mousse with Champagne strawberries to tie the night up in a neat red bow. You can choose from either the $80 or $100 per head set menu options, with all dishes designed for sharing. Here's the booking link.

It’s been 27 years since Titanic premiered, and our hearts still go on. Cap off your Valentine's Day by watching the classic love story at IMAX in breath-taking 3D. Relive all the beloved moments of Rose and Jack’s forbidden romance and make sure you bring plenty of tissues so you can dry the eyes of your special someone if they get teary. If you're really into Titanic, check out the themed exhibition next door at Melbourne Museum, or tack on a decadent high tea to turn the date into a first-class experience. Find out more and book tickets here. 

Instead of putting on a single-night offer on February 14 like most other restaurants, CBD favourite Nomad is taking things up a notch with the 'Things We Love' campaign, which will run throughout February. It's all about showing love to Nomad's extended family of premium ingredient suppliers, which the kitchen will incorporate into a weekly rotation of special lunches, dinners and cocktails. Highlights include a Gippsland jersey milk sorbet with fig leaf granita and wood-roasted figs; a baked ricotta dish with Ortiz anchovies and peppers; and smoked wagyu ribs, courtesy of David Blackmore. To see the full roll-call of menus and make a booking, visit the website. 

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.

"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.

Oche is what you’d get if you took the darts corner in a pub and gave it a luxurious, fine-dining makeover. If you're looking to impress your other half or want a fun mate date idea, book in at one of its 22 semi-private electronic dart booths and enjoy tasty cocktails, share plates and a free dessert (for groups of four or more) if you book between February 8 and 22. Book here.

Snugly situated in the basement of the new Le Méridien Melbourne, Dolly is an immersive restaurant and cocktail bar that transports its guests back in time to the glamour and mystique of 1930s cinema. The theme of the night on February 14, 'Roses and Rosé,' showcases a stunning three-course menu of nostalgic European flavours, served with a complimentary pour of the world's most rosé, Whispering Angel. There'll be red roses tableside, of course, to set the ambience for romantic dishes of oysters with strawberries, grilled peach burrata crostini, beef wellington and Dolly's famous Bombe Alaska – and there are no shortage of loved-up cocktails if you'd like to linger long into the night. Make a booking here.

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.

For lovers of all things smoky, barbecued, sticky and carnivorous, Le Bon Ton is one hot spot in Melbourne that needs no introduction. So if sky-high cocktails or stargazing is just a bit too sentimental for you and your partner (because hey, some of us just want to tuck into a damn good feast), then give the legendary Collingwood restaurant's Valentine's Day offer a red-hot go. The kitchen will be preparing a special feast at $89 a head, featuring smoked beef cheek croquettes, lobster mac and cheese and plenty more delish eats inspired by the Deep South, plus a stunning dessert of dark chocolate fondant with white chocolate and raspberry granita. Swoon! Make a booking here.