Yes, you’ve got a few days before you need to buy that last-minute card… but if you want to spoil your other half with a nice dinner, time’s running out to secure a decent table.
So if you’re stuck for where to go, we’ve thrown together a list of places offering up special deals for the day (which this year falls on a Tuesday – mark it in your calendar now, forgetful spouses).
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Coya
The modern Peruvian restaurant is putting on its first Valentine’s menu this year, and it sounds like a goodie. With four courses to choose from, options include oysters, sea bass, chimichurri lobster and lime cheesecake.
Coya, Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah 2, Dubai, 7pm to 11.30pm, Dhs620 per person. Tel: (04) 316 9600. coyarestaurant.com/dubai.
Cabana
Dinner with a view? Cabana’s got one of the best in town when it comes to gazing at the Burj Khalifa. There’ll be a resident DJ, and you’ve even got the option to nab a private cabana for that little bit of extra romance.
The Address Dubai Mall, Dubai. February 14. Dhs700 per couple for a four-course set menu. Dhs1,100 per couple for a private cabana, six-course set menu and a bottle of bubbly. Tel: (04) 4388640. theaddress.com.
Gaucho
One of Dubai’s favourite Latino joints is offering up a curated Valentine’s menu, including the salmon carpaccio for her and the ancho rib-eye for him. To make things extra special, the whole restaurant will be candlelit, with an Argentinian grape package on offer for each table. Oh, and if you want to treasure the memory, there’ll be an illustrator on hand to capture your romantic moment.
Podium Level, Gate Village 5, DIFC, Dubai. February 14. Dhs600 per couple, Dhs215 per person for grape pairing. Tel: (04) 4227898. gauchorestaurants.com.
Hakkasan
This Japanese restaurant will be serving a limited-edition menu for Valentine’s Day on their candlelit terrace. Expect dishes along the lines of steamed roe scallops and glass noodles, as well as wok-fried Canadian lobster or seared lamb tenderloins in Mongolian sauce.
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Dubai. February 14. Dhs458 per person, Dhs498 with bubbly cocktail. Tel: (04) 3848484. hakkasandubai.com.
BiCE Ristorante
Classic Italian dishes in a romantic setting have February 14 written all over them. Enjoy a three-course meal on BiCE’s new terrace overlooking the beach for just Dhs250 per person. See, Valentine’s doesn’t have to be mega-expensive.
Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach, The Walk at JBR, Dubai. February 14. Dhs250 per person inclusive of bubbly drink. Tel: (04) 3182520. hilton.com.
INKA
Few places in Dubai can rival INKA’s city view. This Peruvian hotspot will be serving up authentic cuisine (think ceviche, wagyu beef and more), alongside tasty cocktails and panoramic scenery.
Sofitel Dubai Downtown, Dubai. February 14. Dhs630 per couple inclusive of a three-course meal and bottle of red grape. Tel: (04) 3469295. inkadubai.com.
Zoco
This Latin-inspired restaurant will have Chef Jimmy Rojas Lopez at the helm for Valentine’s Day, with a live band that takes requests so you can treat your loved one to one of your favourite romantic songs. In front of everyone.
The Atrium, Al Habtoor City, Dubai. February 14. Dhs400 per couple for a three-course meal inclusive of a glass of bubbly. Tel: (04) 4370044. zocodubai.com.
Marina Social
Love dinner with a view? Then check out this British restaurant, which will be offering up a six-course menu including confit duck and foie gras terrine, beef wellington with black truffle and more. Packages start from Dhs900 per couple for food only, with packages at Dhs1,500 for beverage pairing and Dhs1,800 for premium beverages.
Intercontinental Dubai Marina, Dubai. February 14. Tel: (04) 4466664. marinasocialdubai.com.
Namu
Fancy something a little more Eastern-inspired for the big day? Namu’s hand-picked Japanese and Korean set menu will serve up a bundle of authentic delights, with sprawling views of the city from the 31st floor.
Namu, W Dubai, Al Habtoor City, Dubai. February 14, 7pm to 11pm. Dhs1,495 per couple inclusive of bottomless bubbly. Tel: (04) 4366666. wdubaialhabtoorcity.com.
Armani/Ristorante
If you love Italian food, you’ll love this. All seven courses of it. You might not understand the names of most of the dishes – mantecato risotto served with nasturtium flowers and caviar – but it all sounds delicious. All the way down to the tonka bean mousse dressed with forest berries, rose cremoso, meringue and a raspberry sorbet.
Armani Hotel, Downtown Dubai, Dubai. February 14. Dhs700 per person, Dhs1,835 for Romance Package, includes food, 12 red roses, 16 Armani/Dolci pralines and rose petal decoration. Tel: (04) 8883888. armanihoteldubai.com.
Level 43 Sky Lounge
Feel like you’re 18 again (except, thankfully, with a bigger budget than just pocket money allows) with this spot’s prom-themed night. Whether you want to relive the magic, or write a better ending than the last one, throw on your best ’80s ballgown – yes, there’s a strict prom dress code, there’ll even be a king and queen crowned. You’ll also get a three-course dinner, 360-degree views, and plenty of slow dancing to a live DJ.
Level 43 Sky Lounge, Four Points by Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Dhs600 per couple. Tel: 056 212 4413. level43lounge.com.
La Môme
This Parisian-inspired diner is all about l’amour, offering up three, three-course meal packages from the a la carte menu. Dhs990 will get you three courses and a bottle of grape for two people, Dhs1,390 for premium bubbly or Dhs1,590 for pink premium bubbly. Expect authentic French dishes, including escargots de bourgogne, boeuf bourguignon façon grand-mere and more.
Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. February 14. Tel: (04) 3080470. lamomedubai.com.
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Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant
For Valentine’s Day (and for a couple of days beforehand), Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant will be serving up special raspberry chocolate pancakes – cooked fresh and with all the chocolate chunks you could ever want. So if you’d rather eat dinner at home, perhaps just cook a main and then pop out for a pudding.
Citywalk, Al Mustaqbal Street, Building 10, Dubai. February 12 to 14, 8am to 11pm. Tel: (04) 3440705. clintonstreetbaking.ae.
Take a Valentine’s cooking class at Solo
Would you rather show you care with a home-cooked menu, but don’t know where to start (other than beans on toast)? This hands-on cooking class will teach you how to create authentic Tuscan dishes to share with your partner. Learn all about how to make roasted tomato and olive crostini, creamy polenta with pecorino and wild mushrooms, as well as how to cook the perfect steak.
13 Street, Sheikh Rashid Road, Dubai. February 11. Dhs300 per person. Tel: (04) 3248888. solodubai.ae.
Picnic under the stars at Manzil Downtown Dubai
If you’re looking for something a little more personal, the Manzil Downtown are hosting a poolside picnic under the stars, or a four-course dinner with a view in the Boulevard Lounge.
Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, Dubai. Dhs1,000 per couple for poolside picnic inclusive of house beverages, Dhs550 per couple for four-course dinner at the Boulevard Lounge inclusive of house beverages. February 14. Tel: (04) 4285888. vida-hotels.com.
Okku
For Valentine’s Day, Japanese restaurant Okku will be serving up special dishes including hamachi truffle grilled rice, yuzu-saikyo miso black cod, o’ style hamachi carpaccio and more. For the occasion, the bar-team have also created a bundle of special cocktails.
H Hotel, Dubai. Dhs795 per couple. February 12 to 14. Tel: (04) 5018777. okku.com.
Images: Supplied
