Your ultimate guide to Valentine’s Day 2019 in Canberra
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Love is in the air! Here’s where to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Canberra.
Whether you’re impressing a certain someone with an evening that pulls out all the stops or wanting something decidedly anti-Valentine’s, here’s what’s happening around town.
Something fancy
BUVETTE
Nothing is more romantic than French food and art. Buvette has teamed up with the National Gallery of Australia to offer complimentary tickets with every dinner booked to ‘Love & Desire: Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces from the Tate’ so you can continue the romance past Valentine’s Day.
Enjoy a 3-course dinner with canapes and champagne on arrival.
Buvette Bistro and Wine Bar | Thursday 14 February | 3 courses, $100pp | Website
THE HOWLING MOON
The Howling Moon has two options for Valentine’s – one on Thursday 14 and one on Saturday 16 February.
THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY
This is for all the seafood lovers! Enjoy a VIP seafood plater, a glass of sparkling each on arrival and reserved seating, all while enjoying the panoramic views from Howling Moon’s rooftop bar.
Howling Moon | Thursday 14 February | $49 per couple | Website
SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY
With romantic views in an intimate setting, this is the best way to treat your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day weekend.
Indulge in a glass of sparkling to go with your decadent high tea stand. Included in the price is a single rose.
Howling Moon | Saturday 16 February | $75 per couple | Bookings are essential | Website
NATURAL NINE
Natural Nine‘s Pop Chinese Valentine’s banquet will ensure you’re in the good books for the rest of the year.
Start your three-course meal with oysters on arrival, following by Natural Nine favorites like lemon myrtle chicken taro cakes, vegetable spring rolls and smoked duck sticky rice in bamboo leaf. Delicious.
Natural Nine | Thursday 14 February | 3 courses, $68pp | Website
SCHMICNICS
Want all the romance of a picnic for two with none of the preparation? Schmicnics is business for you.
Their special Valentine’s Picnic Hamper comes fully stocked with a selection of snacks, breads, salads and sweets, sparkling water, disposable plates, cutlery – and even a picnic rug for you to keep. Add a bottle of Moet for $90 and toast to the easiest Valentine’s Day ever.
Schmicnics The Duet Hamper | $150 for two | Website
CHAIRMAN AND YIP
There are two options at Barton’s Chairman and Yip – an early lovebird menu with five courses for $70 per person (with the table to be vacated by 7.30 pm), or the Valentine’s Degustation Menu, featuring seven courses for $98 per person
Chairman and Yip | $70 – 98 pp | Website
PIALLIGO ESTATE
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic five-course dinner to share in the Garden Pavilions at Pialligo Estate. Indulge in a shared menu with ricotta stuffed zucchini flowers, a classic filet mignon and their famous smoked pork loin.
Pialligo Estate | Thursday 14 February, seatings from 6 – 8.45 pm | Five courses, $120pp | Website
THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA
This decadent evening at the National Gallery of Australia begins with a drink on arrival and then proceeds to a luxurious dinner in Gandel Hall.
Local sound artist Happy Axe will create sonic dreamscapes and Santa Fe based singer Wendy Rule and her band will perform their Persephone songbook.
Included in the ticket is entry to the NGA’s Love and Desire exhibition.
National Gallery of Australia | Friday 15 February, 6 – 10.30 pm | $165pp | Website
LANTERNE ROOMS
Ready to get to the food as soon as possible? Lanterne’s early lovebird menu features six courses for $70 per person or, if you’re keen to take your time, their Valentine’s degustation menu features eight courses and a complimentary glass of bubbles for $100 per person.
Lanterne Rooms | $70 – $100 per person | Website
LERIDA WINES
Looking for a romantic destination just a short drive from Canberra? At Lerida Estate, choose from a specially crafted menu for the night and enjoy a sparkling wine or beer on arrival.
1882 Bar and Grill, Lerida Estate| Thursday 14 February | From $73.88pp | Website
Valentine’s Day Cocktail Degustation with Ali King
Dessert goddess Ali King is back at Black Market for a Valentine’s Day-themed cocktail degustation.
Treat your special someone to an evening featuring Ali King desserts, perfectly matched with Black Market Cocktails.
Black Market | Thursday 14 February, 7 – 11 pm | $80pp | Website
LILOTANG
Modern Japanese establishment Lilotang has two options for lovers this Valentine’s Day – six or nine courses. Take your pick.
Lilotang | $78-92 per person | Website
Something Different
Love Is In The Air at the Carillon
Pack a romantic picnic and watch the sunset over Lake Burley Griffin. Relish in a free Carillon concert full of love inspired music to set the scene for a perfect Valentine’s Day by carillonist Leonard Weiss, vocalist Charles Hudson and violinist Helena Popovic.
Drinks will be available from the Lenton Bar.
The Carillon | Thursday 14 February, 6 pm – 8 pm | Free Entry | Bookings are essential | Website
Bad Romance: Drag Rave
(Anti) Valentine’s Day is here! Celebrate giving V-Day the bird by dancing until your feet drop at Verity 112. Canberra’s first Drag Rave will be featuring Canberra’s best DJs and drag performers and is not to be missed.
Verity 112 | Thursday 14 February, 9 pm to 2 am | $20 pp | Website
Hypnotist Comedy for Valentines Night
Enjoy a show and some laughs with your loved one! Just be wary of being called on-stage…
Watch as Gerard V and Andy Vening invite audience volunteers to the stage to be hypnotised right before your eyes, then they will put them into the most outrageously funny situations you can possibly imagine.
Mercure Hotel, Braddon | Thursday 14 February, 8 – 10.30 pm | $69 per person for dinner + show + drinks | Website
Paint at Portrait Pop Art Style
Who needs chocolates and candy this Valentine’s Day when you could be sipping on wine and eating delicious canapés at The Front?
This is your chance to paint your lover “Pop Art” style and then have them paint you!
The Front | Thursday 14 February, 6 – 9 pm | $85.49 pp| Website
Cupid’s Undie Run
Celebrate V-Day in your Y-fronts and take part in this charity fun run that raises money for neurofibromatosis.
Taking place on Sunday 17 February, the 1.5-kilometre fun begins at the Southern Cross Club and runs through Lennox Gardens, so you can celebrate Valentine’s twice and for a good cause.
Cupid’s Undie Run |Sunday 17 February, Registration 10 am, Run starts 11 am | Free | Website
Galentine’s Day
GALENTINE’S DAY BOTTOMLESS AFTERNOON TEA
Celebrate the special women in your life this Valentine’s Day with Buvette’s Galentine’s Day Bottomless Afternoon Tea.
Get the girls together and enjoy a bountiful spread that includes a selection of savouries, charcuterie and cheeses and a selection of decadent desserts. Wash everything down with two hours of bottomless mimosas.
Galentine’s Day Bottomless Afternoon Team | Saturday 16 February 2 pm – 4:30 pm | $68 per person for afternoon tea and bottomless mimosas | hotelrealm.com.au
Single and ready to mingle?
Read our guide to finding your Valentine before the 14th here…
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