The season of love hearts, roses, and romance is upon us again, and whether you’re celebrating with a partner, or friends or flying solo, now is the perfect time to start planning. If you’re looking to go beyond the usual dinner-and-flowers routine, we’ve put together a handy guide to help you make the day extra special.
From indulgent dining experiences to artsy events, dreamy getaways and everything else in between, and not just for sweethearts, there are a bunch of exciting events taking over Sydney in and around Valentine’s Day.
Share a sultry plate at AALIA
Fall hard at AALIA, where warm timber pillars, curved wood screens and plush grey banquettes craft sultry, intimate nooks in Sydney’s CBD. Chef Paul Farag’s Valentine’s Day set menu ($150pp) seduces with sea urchin waraq simsim, zesty tuna rishta with finger lime and hand-stretched halloumi with persimmon. Cap the night off with a decadent milk chocolate tart with Egyptian tea and plum.
Book your moody dinner here today.
Or splurge on a five-course dinner by the Harbour
Let Aria’s Circular Quay glamour and sparkling water views set hearts racing with Executive Chef Tom’s five-course V Day menu ($295pp). Start with NV Louis Roederer Champagne, then savour yellowfin tuna with native limes, hand-cut lobster linguine, dry-aged Maremma duck with fig-thyme, Ranger Valley Wagyu rump cap and milk chocolate-hazelnut for a satisfying finish. Elevate your evening with wine pairings or Sydney Rock oysters and Oscietra caviar for an additional $130pp.
Book your indulgent night out here.
Can’t get away from work on Valentine’s Day? There are super romantic Candlelight Concerts happening around the big week which will see venues like St Stephen’s Uniting Church and the Sydney Masonic Centre glow in the light of hundreds of candles and an orchestra for a romantic evening of songs. Featuring songs like All You Need Is Love from Love Actually, My Heart Will Go On from Titanic and more, this multi-sensory musical experience is sure to impress.
Let Candlelight light up your Valentine and get your tickets.
Arrange for a Graze & Gaze luxury picnic
Graze & Gaze whips up your dream private picnic for 2 (from $798) right on Sydney Harbour, just for Valentine’s weekend. They’ve got the full spread: Mr Roses 12-stem reds+ petal scatter with a luxe 6-course bento with drinks (vego available as well), a set of cushions, a rug and table, your names propped up on a message board and even a Bluetooth speaker for your make-out playlist (BYOB or ask for some). Now this is one extravagant picnic.
Rock up for 2 hours of uninterrupted romance in the park, book here.
Dip into a warm sonic romance at Sunset Variations
Sydney Observatory’s Sunset Variations ($10) delivers intimate romance with Aarti Jadu’s live genre-bending sound performance as the sun dips over the city. Pack a picnic blanket, graze Aplenty’s Mediterranean bites, sip Lo-Fi natural wines and soak in the golden-hour rays—making for the perfect low-key Valentine’s or Galentine’s for couples or mate. Kids under 12 attend for free.
Grab your tickets to the orange-hued evening here.
Plan a romantic getaway near Sydney
Looking to go all out this Valentine’s Day? You can’t go wrong with a quick trip out of town. There are plenty of excellent options to choose from in and around Sydney. From a safari-like sleepover at Taronga Zoo to cute cottages by Hyams Beach, plan your perfect getaway here.
Cosy up at Frenchies Bistro & Brewery
Slip into warm French romance at Frenchies Bistro & Brewery across Valentine’s weekend (6pm & 8:30pm sittings). Their $95pp five-course spell stars an amuse of comté cheese gougères, Chef Jean’s spanner crab with finger lime and nori, salmon wellington in Avruga caviar beurre blanc, hazelnut madeleine pre-dessert and red berry pavlova with lemon diplomate cream—utterly local yet extravagant.
Plan your dinner date with a lover or a gal here.
Buy your dessert-lover a V-Day Mousse Heart
Da Orazio’s Pasticceria’s handcrafted Valentine’s treats from Alexandria are pure romance. Snag the coconut-raspberry mousse heart ($10) for stolen bites, or the love cakes topped with heart macarons ($30)—pink perfection to share or savour solo, especially when looking to indulge on a budget. Preorder online or grab ’em in store; these dreamy delights vanish quick.
Order the sweetest V-Day weapon before Cupid does.
Go on a private Valentine’s Day Skywalk
Love is literally in the air with Sydney Tower Eye’s private Valentine’s Day SKYWALK, running for three days only and limited to just a handful of lucky couples ($399 for 2 people). Step out 268m above the city for a private session with unbeatable harbour views, pretty photo moments, access to the Observation Deck, an all-inclusive photo pack and special Valentine’s surprise to take home.
Book your slot to romance up above here.
Play with pups at Paws & Paintz: Valentine’s Edition
Cupid’s hauling in the fluffballs for a unique Valentine’s activity guaranteed to make your day. Choose between sessions with dachshunds and pomeranians for 75 mins of painting, playing and straight up melting. The date includes complimentary drinks and nibbles, along with Polaroid keepsakes of the evening, plus a couples’ gift bag—just note that it’s 18+
Slot your day with the adorable pups here.
Book a dreamy staycay at Bannisters
Extend your Valentine’s Day(s) all February at Bannisters‘ three luxe escapes across Bannisters by the Sea, Pavillion (Mollymook) and Port Stephens—with their two-night twin share package. The offer includes daily brekkie, arrival bubbles, a two-course Rick Stein dinner (Entrée + main, no shellfish) and a 45-min couples’ relaxation massage. Midweek or weekend, it’s an oceanfront recharge with salty kisses and a sunset backdrop.
Plan your romantic stay here.
Taste the land and sea at Kingsleys Woolloomooloo
Picture Sydney Harbour twinkling as you dive into Kingleys’ Terra & Tide V-Day feast (159pp). Their seasonal dishes include yummy oysters with sherry zing, scallops in caviar foam, tiger prawns dripping garlic and a massive 600g dry-aged ribeye with duck fat spuds. Level up with 75pp sommelier wine pairings or $135 Moët bottles on arrival for romance fuel as you make your way to your candlelit seating.
Journey your palate through land and sea, right from your table here.
Book a romantic glamping adventure
NSW is full of romantic and sufficiently secluded glamping experiences. From serene beachfront locations to dreamy domes, pick from one of these brilliant glamping sites for some quality time with your love.
Watch a movie cuddled up under the stars
For something fun and casual, head to one of Sydney’s many outdoor cinemas on Valentine’s Day. One of our favourites is Moonlight Cinema which is screening their Week of Romance with some of the most romantic titles, perfect for date night. Swoon with classics like Notting Hill, Dirty Dancing, The Notebook and Emerald Fennell’s new adaptation of Wuthering Heights Moonlight Cinema.
Book your movie shows here.
Get love-warped at the Museum of Illusions
Ditch the dinner date this year for optical anarchy at Sydney’s Museum of Illusions—now twisted with St. Valentine’s across 900sqm and 80+ exhibits to check out. Couples or solo explorers can lose themselves in the heart-themed Cloning Room, Infinity chaos, Head on a Platter shocks, Kaleidoscope spins, glowing projections, love note wall and hands-on Heart Origami—rounded off with a free Valentine’s gift.
Buy 2 adult tickets and snag 14% off heart-eyed merchandise here.