Sydney’s top restaurants for food and romance on Valentine’s Day
It’s considered the most romantic day of the year – and one of the busiest for restaurants. Here are The Sunday Telegraph and delicious. 100’s picks of the most romantic restaurants for Valentine’s Day. SEARCH NSW’S TOP 100 RESTAURANTS
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It is the one night of the year when Sydney restaurants are awash with tables for two. Valentine’s Day is on the horizon so we’ve run our rule over the best and most romantic Sydney restaurants for gazing at the view, at the food or lovingly into your partner’s eyes.
ARIA
The original statement restaurant that just oozes the right kind of drama, Matt Moran’s Aria – perched on the lip of Macquarie Street and overlooking Sydney Harbour – remains hands-down the quintessential date-night destination.
“We’ve put rings in cakes, heart-shaped petite fours … I’ve even walked out with a ring on a plate once,” Moran, who admits the best part of being a hub for proposals is the return business. told The Sunday Telegraph.
“Because they come back for every anniversary.”
Aria is offering a six-course Valentine’s Day degustation this Friday for $320.
RESTAURANT PENDOLINO
Owner and head chef Nino Zoccali has seen “countless” marriage proposals over the years at his stunning Italian fine dining institution.
“Some well received, others not so much,” he laughs, adding that his favourite memory involved an elderly gentleman dining solo.
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“He was dressed so immaculately – he even had a flower in his lapel – and was sitting alone so I just had to go and talk to him.
“He told me that he had been coming here every year with his wife but she had recently passed away. But he made the decision to celebrate her life at her favourite restaurant. I almost cried at the table. I said to him; “Dinner is on me’.”
CATALINA
Such is the high rate of marriage proposals at Rose Bay’s iconic harbourfront restaurant Catalina that something of a “proposal protocol” system is in place.
Would-be grooms send rings in advance, the perfect tables are carefully arranged, flowers prepared and advice administered by staff on how – or how not to – present the bauble in question.
“We advise against dropping it in the champagne glass or hiding it in the cake,” owner Judy McMahon, who has witnessed the start of “hundreds” of engagements, said.
“And as far as we know … no rejections. So we have a good record.”
XOPP
A newcomer to the Sydney dining scene, XOPP is a sexy, modern spin-off to its older cousin and beloved Sussex Street institution Golden Century.
Both owned by the Wong family, XOPP is run by son Billy and puts a sultry spin on the traditional Chinese diner. Located inside the breathtaking Exchange building designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, XOPP has stunning interiors and string of dishes – drunken abalone, wok-fried lobster, pan-seared A5 wagyu sirloin to name a few – to get pulses racing.
ICEBERGS DINING ROOM AND BAR
Arguably one of the best situated dining rooms in the world, Icebergs remains a Sydney icon and among the most seductive places to eat in the country. Begin with their famous aperitif of strawberry liqueur, Martini Blanco, watermelon and tonic while soaking in the view over Bondi.
Then enjoy the glorious wine list and a long list of Italian dishes – seasonal cured meats, fresh seafood and their famous Bistecca con limone – designed to stir the soul.
KITCHENS ON KENT
“All-you-can-eat” doesn’t necessarily scream romance but Kitchens On Kent, at the Langham Hotel, is no ordinary buffet.
The Valentine’s Day menu includes a seafood haul of Queensland spanner crab, Moreton Bay bugs, Exmouth tiger prawns from WA and Kinawokka black mussels as well a dessert table offering around 30 options including two types of chocolate fountain – light and dark. For an additional price you can also order bottomless Laurent Perrier champagne.
BEPPI’S
“A couple a month” is the rough estimate of Beppi’s owner Marc Polese when asked about the proposal frequency at his Italian fine-dining institution in Paddington. And it’s little wonder. Steeped in old-world tradition, Beppi’s gets the romance formula just right; White tablecloths, muted lighting, hidden private enclaves (pictured) which can be filled with flowers on request. And, of course, elegant Italian dishes – prosciutto and fresh figs, scampi tagliolini and its acclaimed vitello tonnato – to fuel the fires of desire.
QUAY
It is hard to overstate Quay’s place in the world of fine dining.
Guests literally cross oceans for a seat at Peter Gilmore’s acclaimed restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour which holds the mantle of Australia’s undisputed destination restaurant.
For those planning on going all out this week, Valentine’s Day packages this range from $340 per person for six courses with champagne and flower packages reaching as high as $870 per guest.
CIRRUS
Nothing says romance quite like caviar and champagne mixed with sweeping harbour views. Luckily both are in abundance at Cirrus – the Barangaroo standout operated by the food and wine geniuses from the Bentley restaurant family.
Throw in sensationally prepared seafood – this year’s Valentines menu includes whole BBQ flounder with smoked mussel butter and spanner crab with fennel custard – and you’re in for a memorable night.
LUCIO’S
With the For Sale sign posted outside Lucio’s, the grand duke of Italian Sydney dining is officially in its swan song year in Paddington – a perfect reason to revisit the site of many a romantic feast or marriage proposal. (Tom Williams is among those who popped the question here, to now-wife Rachel Gilbert).