What To Eat & Where To Dine This Valentine’s Day In Melbourne 2026
While some may argue that Valentine’s Day is a sham, we're in the camp that backs everyday displays of affection. So whether you landed here to find something sweet for your long-term partner, hot and heavy fling, or plain old situationship, we're all about it.
Starting with romantic restaurants, here's our take on Valentine’s Day in Melbourne:
Sending love from abroad or can’t get to your lover on a Wednesday? This is a job for Melbourne’s best flower delivery services.
Poodle Bar & Bistro
Image credit: Poodle Bar & Bistro | Instagram
Romantic dinners are on all year round at Poodle Bar & Bistro, but they're really putting on a show this Valentine's Day. Impress your date with spanner crab, coffee-rubbed scotch fillet and shark bay scallops (just to name a few). Top it all off with a crème diplomate profiterole with ruby chocolate and raspberry. Lunch is just $60pp and dinner is $100pp, bookings can be made on Poodle’s website here.
Marmelo
Image credit: Marmelo | Website
At Marmelo, love is something you make by hand—it's carefully prepared plates and perfectly curated menus, and Valentine's Day is no different. Maremelo invites guests to celebrate Dia dos Namorados—V-Day, the Portugese way. For $185pp, expect a four-course dinner guided by deeply treasured traditions passed through generations, with storytelling led by the team and quiet, slow moments to soak it all up. Book your table here.
Elio's Place
Image credit: Elio's Place | Supplied
Elio's Place is Flinders Lane's answer to laid-back, all-day Euro dining. They're keeping things simple this V-Day, no set menus, no rules, just a couple of romantic French-inspired specials for you to fall head-over-heals into. Setting the tone for the day is Pain Perdu (classic French toast) served with strawberries and cream. For lunch and dinner, King George whiting is served with a rich butter sauce, with chocolate terrine to finish. Book your table here.
Firebird
Image credit: Firebird | Instagram
High Street's Firebird is keeping things hot this Saturday with an $88 set dinner menu of plates made for sharing, think fresh oysters, beef carpaccio, smoked muscles and snapper tartare. Looking to keep things a little more casual? Head in at lunch time for their usual à la carte menu and order as you please. Whatever you do, secure your table here.
Piccolina
Image credit: Piccolina | Instagram
If sweet treats are the way to your date's heart (same), then we say skip dinner and get straight to the good stuff at Piccolina. The beloved ice creamery is sweetening the day by scooping chocolate-dipped love heart gelato pops. This year's special is a red velvet-inspired pop; cream cheese gelato is layered with red velvet cake and raspberry jam, finished with a dark chocolate glaze. Available at all stores across Melbourne from now until Feb 14.
Lido Cinemas
Image credit: Lido Cinemas | Supplied
In case you somehow missed it, Wuthering Heights has officially hit cinemas, and Lido is keeping us fed with screenings all day on the 14th. If that's not your thing, they're also showing some of our fave romance and drama-filled classics, with The Princess Bride and 10 Things I Hate About You at the top of our list. Take a date, a mate, or go solo. Book you session here.
Alba Thermal Springs
Image credit: Alba | Supplied
Run away with your other half to a wellness oasis—Alba—this Valentine’s Day. For $390 for two, pop on the provided bathrobe and access: all 22 tranquil geothermal springs, the steam room and sauna, plus the cold plunge pool. When it’s time for a bite, head over to the Karen Martini-led restaurant for two-course lunch or dinner, and your choice of tipple. Now repeat after me: breathe in, breathe out, and book now.
Want a romantic weekend getaway instead? Check out Melbourne’s most luxe hotels, Victoria’s best Airbnbs and Victoria's best glamping.
And if you’re hunting for a pressie, check out our non-lame cringe-free gift guide.
Header image credit: Piccolina (supplied)