Well that sounds a bit wrong doesn’t it, ha! Here’s our annual Valentine’s Day guide for you lovely folks. We like to cater for all tastes, relationship statuses and fetishes (not quite ALL…) here at Sydney Social 101.
Sure, sure I know from my Dating 101 Sydney days that there are arguments for and against this ‘holiday’ – should we feel pressured into showing the love we feel for our significant others on a specific day because you know, well Hallmark tells us to. OR should we feel free to break the constraints of what a card company tells us and show the love all year round? Well I have a declaration to make, I’m in both camps – show your love all year round, but why not ramp it up a bit on Valentine’s Day.
We’re not suggesting that you have to book a table and pay over the odds, whilst having a lovely time we might add, why not just show your significant other that you care in your own way. I’m a believer that the small gestures go a long way!
Here are our suggestions for what to do this Sunday 14th February – whether it’s an anti Valentine’s Day, or a loved up smush fest – we don’t care, as long as you’re happy.
Take a sunny stroll along cobbled laneways, enjoy harbour side views and hunt for the perfect gift for your special someone at The Rocks Markets this Valentine’s Day.
On Sunday 14th February, 10am to 5pm find something unique and handcrafted for your loved one in The Rocks Markets treasure trove. From Playfair and George Streets, to Jack Mundey Place The Rocks is bursting with one-off designs and rare trinkets.
Falling on a Sunday this year; The Langham, Sydney has curated the ultimate in sophisticated Sunday romance with a Couples Champagne Afternoon Tea; presented by champagne legend, Laurent-Perrier for 60 couples only, in lavish Palm Court.
This luxury couples event will see scattered rose petals on Parisian style marble tables; designer afternoon tea stands by Langham Lead Patissiere, Chef Miguel Jocson, over flowing with hand curated cakes, truffles, chocolates, macarons and gateaux’s to share plus savoury creations from Executive Chef, Thomas Heinrich. To accompany this incredible menu, there is a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne on ice, to share over the course of your two hour sitting.
Included in the $150 per person exclusive ticketed event, is a live pianist playing modern love songs in a jazz tempo for the afternoon who will serenade you both whilst you sip, indulge and smile the afternoon away.
Tropfest, presented by CGU Insurance, is a cool alternative for Sydneysiders who don’t want to get involved with Valentine’s specific activities and it has announced that Academy Award winning Australian filmmaker and Hollywood acting legend Mel Gibson will join Tropfest’s judging panel for short film’s night of nights – this Valentine’s Day, Sunday 14 February, 2016.
Gibson, a NIDA graduate who catapulted onto the global stage with the Mad Max trilogy, and has too many films to his credit to count, will join The Mentalist star Simon Baker, Rebecca Gibney (Packed to the Rafters and Wanted), Cinematographer Don McAlpine (Moulin Rouge!), and Director Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker), on the judging panel.
Visit www.tropfest.com/au for festival details, screening venues and regular updates on all things Trop!
Treat your loved one while satiating your own love of fine food this Valentine’s Day with decadent set menus available for lunch and dinner on Sunday, 14 February at a variety of Sydney’s best restaurants:
CHISWICK Woollahra is offerring a romantic four course set dinner in the beautiful, light-filled Woollahra dining room, offering views of the lush CHISWICK garden. Menu items include Mangrove Mountain Figs with Hawkesbury goat curd and roasted hazelnuts, pan roasted Petuna ocean trout with pickled fennel and pink grapefruit and Valrhona white chocolate mousse with strawberry sorbet and champagne for dessert.
Silvereye is the perfect spot for Valentines Day. Guests will start with a glass of champagne on arrival followed by a special 17-course menu designed by Sam Miller, which can be paired with a choice of matched wines or juices. Reservations can be made for 6.30pm, 7pm and 7.30pm on (02) 8277 8520.
Take your Valentines Day date to the hottest new restaurant in Sydney at Clayton Wells’ Automata. Indulge in a seven-course menu including two arrival snacks, five savoury courses and two dessert courses for $130 per person, with wine pairing by Automata’s renowned Sommelier Tim Watkins for an additional $80. Bookings can be made on (02) 8277 8555.
Spend Valentines Day overlooking panoramic views of the Sydney city skyline at The Butler. Share the Valentines Day banquet including dishes such as scallop ceviche, roasted ocean trout with zucchini flower, lamb rump with smoked eggplant and pomegranate, and a special Valentines Day dessert. $120 per couple. Bookings can be made on (02) 8354 0742.
Sydney Morning Herald‘s 2015 Chef of the Year Brent Savage has designed a 7-course tasting menu that will be the sole offering on both Saturday February 13 and Sunday February 14 at Bentley Restaurant + Bar. The tasting menu is $200 per person with optional wine pairing by 2015 Gourmet Traveller Sommelier of the Year, Nick Hildebrandt, for an additional $100. Bookings can be made on (02) 8214 0505.
Monopole in Potts Point will be doing a 7-course set menu only on Saturday February 13 and Sunday February 14. The tasting menu is $120 per person with optional wine pairing by 2015 Gourmet Traveller Sommelier of the Year, Nick Hildebrandt, for an additional $100. Bookings can be made on (02) 9360 4410.
Yellow in Potts Point will be doing a 5-course set menu only on Saturday February 13 and Sunday February 14. The tasting menu is $120 per person with optional wine pairing by 2015 Gourmet Traveller Sommelier of the Year, Nick Hildebrandt, for an additional $80. Bookings can be made on (02) 9332 2344.
Treat your loved one to either lunch or dinner at Guillaume Brahimi’s elegant Paddington restaurant, Guillaume. Choose from a 5-course Valentine’s Day lunch for $150, or a $180 dinner degustation. Bookings can be made on (02) 9302 5222.
Ladurée macarons are the perfect way to say ‘I love you’ this Valentine’s Day. To celebrate Valentine’s Day Ladurée have designed a special love heart patterned box, that as you take the lid off, plays a surprise ‘I love you’ message and fits six macarons. Flavours range from their limited edition cherry almond flavour (especially for Valentines Day) to their classics such as salted caramel, rose petal and pistachio. $38 for the box and macarons. Available from the Woollahra and Westfield stores.
Biota Dining will be offering a special set menu on Valentine’s Day for $140 per person which includes dishes such as green tomato with pickled elderflower and raw white fish, a dish of pork with clams and eel, and indulge in one of James Viles’ most popular dishes, Mum’s Roses, for dessert. $140 per person, with matching wines available. Accommodation at Biota’s onsite rooms is still available for a romantic weekend away.
Lake House is the perfect location for a romantic Valentine’s Day escape, whether just for dinner or for a whole weekend away. Enjoy an 8 course tasting menu in the award winning Lake House Restaurant for Valentine’s Day dinner on Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th February for $155 per person, or a five course lunch including a glass of sparkling rose on arrival on Sunday 14th February for $150 per person.
For those loved up lovelies looking to escape from the norm, the Lake House also has indulgent one or two night Valentine’s Weekend Escapes available which include accommodation, full country style breakfast daily, Champagne & artisanal chocolates on arrival, and your choice of our 8 course tasting menu on Saturday or Sunday night or our 5 course lunch on Sunday. Prices start from $541 for a one night escape, and from $771 for two nights. Bookings can be made on (03 5348 3329)
Ananas Bar & Brasserie with its gilded fixtures, rich colours and golden flourishes is a premium choice for those wanting to splash out and make it extra special. A seven-course menu, including glass of Champagne ($125pp), includes steak tartare, ricotta ravioli, Glacier Toothfish 51 ‘En Papillote’ and ‘Le Chocolat’ dessert with tonka been ganache, caramel crémeux and raspberry sorbet.
At The Cut Bar & Grill a five-course menu for lunch or dinner includes a glass of Champagne, rabbit and pork terrine, scallops, wagyu bavette steak with caramelised onion and foie gras jus and dark cherry chocolate tart. ($120pp, including glass of Champagne)
Saké The Rocks is offering a delicate chocolate cake with strawberry mousse and raspberry yuzu sorbet, which will complete a seven-course menu that also includes Hiramasa jalapeno, scampi tempura and robata grilled Darlings Down wagyu (yuuuummmmm, simply salivating at the thought!). ($110pp, including glass of Champagne)
Saké Double Bay’s menu includes smoked wagyu rump, poached fragrant duck, sushi moriawase and chocolate lover’s mousse with textures of rose and wild Korean berries. ($110pp, including glass of Champagne)
This is one reason King Street Wharf is proposing you experience a “roaming degustation” this Valentine’s Day, mixing it up with delicious food and drink from an impressive selection of waterfront venues. If nothing else, it will certainly give you something to talk about.
So why not start with cocktails on the lounges at Bungalow 8, then some freshly shucked oysters from Nick’s Bar and Grill? Why not then enjoy an aromatic vindaloo at Manjit’s at The Wharf, followed by indulgent desserts and matching wines at Casa Ristorante Italiano?
Throughout the night, enjoy the precinct’s waterfront views without being too far from the CBD should you need transportation to carry you home at the end of the night.
The variety of food venues at King Street Wharf is guaranteed to keep everyone in a loving mood this Valentine’s Day weekend.
For a treat to all the beer guzzling lovers out there, either attached or otherwise, the Bavarian Bier Café is celebrating ‘Valenstein’s’ Day, with all guests invited to raise a stein to their greatest love of all – beer. Special menus are available ($59pp) or diners can find their own perfect match from the range of new Crafty Bavarian house-brewed beers and craft food pairings. There are hand-crafted hotdogs, burgers and salads to choose from, which pair well with the four new craft beers.
It’s all about the big beers, big food and a big party at Löwenbräu Keller in The Rocks. The special Valentine’s menu ($59pp) includes creamy surf clam chowder with lobster, Bavarian charcuterie and cheese platter, the famous pork knuckle, or Tasmanian ocean trout.
Valentine’s Day @ The Morrison includes a set menu for a long lingering lovers lunch or decadent dinner. Two courses (main and dessert) and glass of Croser sparkling for $59 or add oysters to start for $65pp.
Located in three picturesque and waterside locations across the Sydney CBD (Circular Quay, The Rocks and Darling Quarter), Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafes are the perfect venues to indulge with your loved one and spoil them on this special day.
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Challenge your tastebuds with your loved one this Valentine’s Day – only at Ovolo Woolloomooloo for only $99.00 / person, which includes a glass of champagne per person on arrival. Download Menu Here
Lo Lounge @ Ovolo Woolloomooloo
6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo
Breakfast at Tiffany’s will screen at Moonlight Cinema for Valentine’s Day Sunday 14 February in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Presented by Lindeman’s, who are providing everyone a free glass of sparkling on arrival, take your romantic night-in, outdoors, for unforgettable evening under the stars. This timeless cult classic starring film and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn as flighty Manhattan party girl Holly Golightly,is the perfect mix of funny, romantic and classy. Pack your own lovers picnic for two with wine.
Struggling to think of an original date idea for this Valentine’s Day? Look no further than HOYTS LUX! Valentine’s Day packages are available February 13 and 14, you and your date will enjoy great in-cinema service and a specially designed food and beverage package, all while seeing one of the latest releases from the best seat in the house!
Guests will enjoy two HOYTS LUX tickets PLUS a selection of drinks, delicious food including sliders, duck pancakes and fries to share, all for $149*. To finish, you and your special someone can treat yourselves to a Ben & Jerry’s Shortie ice-cream. With your tickets, food and drinks sorted you’re free to sit back, relax and enjoy your movie in comfort.
In a first for an Australian museum, art-loving sweethearts visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) on Valentine’s Day, Sunday 14 February, will have the opportunity to participate in a global social media campaign called #HeartsforArt.
The idea stems from the simple gesture of placing a paper heart on the ground in front of the artworks that a visitor loves the most. All participants are encouraged to then share their experience on social media via the hashtag #HeartsforArt, joining a global conversation amongst art aficionados from around the world.
For sweet-toothed sweethearts, the date continues at the MCA Cafe on Level 4 with a Valentine’s Day offer including Eton Mess for two (meringue, cream, strawberries and passionfruit GF) and two glasses of Tatachilla sparkling wine from McLaren Vale for just $30. These are accompanied by panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge which is sure to spark romance.
Proof that were all about catering for all needs here at Social 101, we’re loving The Argyle’s Anti Valentine’s weekend will be a celebration of the single life. Guests can enjoy their freedom with friends and some of the hottest names in Sydney music. Friday night welcomes Yolanda Be Cool, Jesabel and Tass, and Saturday sees the return of Denzal Park, Minx, and Lavida to the decks. The Sex Appeal Cocktail, a concoction of Hendricks gin, crème de framboise, lemon juice and raspberry puree, will be the cocktail du jour – or du weekend. (Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 6pm. Free entry before 8pm)
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