Adventures don’t just have to be filled with adrenaline and wandering off the beaten track. They can be culinary, celebratory, indulgent, or even better– all of these.
Cape town
15 on Orange Hotel, Gardens
Your front row seat at 15 on Orange. Photo: Supplied.
When not staring into the eyes of your loved one, staring at a view of a spectacular mountain is not a bad second option. The dining room in 15 on Orange Hotel has double- and triple-volume glass walls which allows you to peek out and see Table Mountain and Lions Head.
Cost: R550 per person for a five-course meal
Contact: 021 469 8000 or email [email protected]
Lanzerac, Stellenbosch
Small plates to share are also served in the Craven Lounge at Lanzerac. Photo: Supplied.
Lanzerac has a menu and setting for any Valentine mood and budget, all under a canopy of vine leaves. From the Taphuis’ sharing-style plates to the four-course menu of its fine-dining restaurant, there’s sure to be a good match.
Cost: fine-dining set menu R595 per person
Contact: 021 887 1132 or [email protected]
Incognito bar at the Alphen Hotel, Constantia
The bar offers tapas as well as cocktails, local wines and craft spirits. Photo: Supplied.
Dining on one’s own is often dampened by the glances or whispering of couples sitting around you. ‘Mingle with the Singles’ in peace on the lawns of the Alphen hotel and refresh your drink at the bar while enjoying tapas. No need to be incognito about being single here – everyone’s in the same boat.
Cost: No entrance fee
Contact: 021 795 6300 or [email protected]
Idiom, Somerset West
Image: supplied
Ditch the usual cheese and wine for wine and macarons. The pastry team at Idiom has conjured up three different macarons to complement the estate’s wines. Imagine a macaron made of chamomile jelly, peach buttercream, white chocolate, and bee pollen dust. This is paired with the Romeo and Juliet Prosecco.
Cost: R150 per person. The pairing is available from Friday to Sunday until the end of February.
Contact: 021 858 1088 or [email protected]
Johannesburg
Valentine’s day picnic at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Roodepoort
The Verreaux’s Eagle couple nest to the left of the waterfall. Photo: Facebook.
Before the garden was established, two local residents already had a special bond with one another and the place. The resident couple of Verreaux’s Eagles (Black Eagles) has been nesting on the cliffs of this urban garden for years. Enjoy a picnic on the lawns on Valentine’s eve while listening to music under the stars and the watchful eye of the two love birds.
Cost: R50 for adults, scholars R25 and children under 6 years old enter for free.
Contact: Buy tickets online at webticket
The Living Room, Maboneng
The Living Room flourishes with curated plant life. Photo: Supplied.
The Living Room is literally alive. This rooftop restaurant and bar is the living proof of the ‘plantscaping’ and ‘floracraft’ of this business. Sit down to a three-course meal and a bottle of bubbly at a table designed and decorated by the Living Room itself. If you can’t get to the forest for Valentine’s Day, it will come to you in the middle of the urban jungle, right here.
Cost: R1,100 per couple
Contact: Book online via quicket
Arbour Café and Courtyard, Birdhaven
Arbour Café styles itself as a French-inspired café with the galettes to boot. Photo: Supplied.
Romance done the traditional way is just as sweet. Cue a courtyard with fairy lights, twirly-backed chairs and a Veuve Clicquot bubbly and food pairing and you have a darling night ahead.
Cost: R995 per couple
Contact: 011 788-4111 or [email protected]
Durban
Granny Mouse, Midlands
Tucked away in the eaves is Granny Mouse’s fine-dining restaurant. Photo: Supplied.
This famous Granny has had a facelift just in time for Valentine’s day. Check out the redone bistro, Mouse and Lion Bar and pool deck before settling down on the new deck of the fine-dining restaurant The Eaves for a five-course ‘aphrodisiac-inspired’ menu.
Cost: R650 per person for meal and wine pairing
Contact: 033 234 4071 or visit www.grannymouse.co.za
Moyo uShaka
Across the promenade from Moyo uShaka is the Moyo uShaka Pier Bar. Photo: Supplied.
The à la carte menu will go unchanged, but live entertainment and welcome drinks promise to make the night special. This dining spot is the perfect distance from the beach for a romantic stroll before or after dinner. A nightcap at the Moyo uShaka Pier across the promenade will be a sweet send-off.
Cost: R100 deposit per person
Contact: 031 332 0606 or [email protected]
9th Avenue Bistro
The Valentine’s dinner at 9th Avenue Bistro promises decadent desserts. Photo: Supplied.
Join chef Graham Neilsen for a special Valentine’s Day dinner menu. Adventures bring people together, so a culinary one will do just the same. The menu has a balance of fish and red meat with a vegetarian option too. The selection of desserts alone sounds worth going for.
Cost: R650 per person
Contact: [email protected]
