It’s that time of year again… here’s how to spend this Valentine’s Day with your loved one in Cape Town.
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1. Harvest at Laborie
This is a beautiful estate in Paarl that’s been making wine since the 1700s. The restaurant, Harvest, is offering a surprisingly affordable three course meal for R245 per person. You can have a look at the menu here.
Book a table here or on 021 807 3095
2. La Mouette
If you’d rather stay within the city limits for your celebrations, La Mouette is offering a beautiful four-course meal for R350 a person. The menu sounds very impressive, from pan-fried duck breast to passionfruit curd. If you want to sample the wine pairings too, the cost is R550 a person.
Find out more here, or book on this number +27 (0)21 433 0856
3. Chocolate Lindt Studio
What happens when Lindt chocolate is only the starting point?
This may be the sweetest treat possible: a chocolatier lesson, where you get to take your creations home with you. One of the three desserts is an 85% cocoa chocolate truffle torte served with Chantilly cream. Are you salivating yet?
You can book here.
4. The Red Table at Nederburg
This beautiful restaurant at Nederburg estate is a treat year-round, but for Valentine’s Day they are upping their game. Newly introduced starters include oysters with chilli, lime and rice vinegar, and the brand-new dessert is an upside-down honey cheesecake with berry compote.
If you’d prefer a more rustic lunch, you can pre-order a picnic at R250 per person, and treat your partner to delicious gourmet food (and a bottle of sparkling wine) under dappled sunlight.
You can book here.
5. The Eatery at Durbanville Hills Winery
The Eatery at Durbanville Hills is offering a special three-course set menu for R350 per person (you can get particularly excited about the beef fillet: it’s served with sage-infused gnocchi, wild mushrooms and truffle sauce). You might prefer to sample the views of this gorgeous estate, in which case you can also settle down under the olive trees and enjoy a picnic. For R420 per basket, you get a bottle of the estate’s Merlot Rosé, the use of their blankets and cushions, and a spread of artisanal bread with paté and cheese, red onion marmalade quiche, parmesan chicken, and all sorts of other goodies.
You can book for the restaurant or a picnic on 021 5581337, or check out their website here.
6. Sidecar adventure
A side-car journey is just the thing for adventure-loving couples
Love is a journey, and you have to enjoy the view. How about a surprise side-car trip for your loved one? The two of you will be chauffeured in a vintage side-car for two hours around the Cape Peninsula, with complimentary chocolates and a bottle of bubbly. Pick up and drop-off is at the V&A Waterfront, and the outing will cost R1 000 per couple.
Book on 021 434 9855, or check out their website here.
7. Romeo and Juliet at the Pink Flamingo Cinema
Hmm, we aren’t sure that the greatest Shakespearean tragedy is the most uplifting choice for a night with your loved one – have you heard about the ending? It certainly does a good job of portraying young love though, and snuggling up under blankets with popcorn at an open-air theatre will make you all the more grateful that your loved one hasn’t taken poison on account of an SMS that wasn’t delivered.
Find out more here.
9. Pick your own roses at Chart Farm
When it comes to Valentine’s Day, a bouquet of roses is nestled somewhere between romantic and stereotypical. If you’re a fan of old-school charm though, one way to revamp the classic move is to make a day of it, and pick your own roses. Chart Farm in Wynberg allows you a choice of their rose gardens, and you can stop off for tea and cake at The Terrace afterwards: or pick up some jam at their farm stall.
Contact them on 021 762-0067 or check out their website here.
10. Savour the Moment at African Pride 15 on Kloof
This special gives you the option of extending your Valentine’s dinner into a luxurious night out in a deluxe suite. For R 1 099 per person you’ll receive a bottle of Methode Cap Classique and a chocolate platter upon arrival, followed by a massage and a two-course candlelit dinner. The next morning, you’ll be served breakfast in bed and your checkout is delayed. If Valentine’s day itself is already fully booked, don’t worry: the special is on until the end of April.
You can book here.
