If you're trying to think of ways to spoil your partner on Valentine's Day this year, you'll be glad to know restaurants in the UAE are going all out, with delicious meals served in the most romantic of settings.
Here’s a look at some of the best deals.
Under Dh250 for two: sweet and simple
Bol Gappa
The Bollywood-inspired restaurant is offering couples a Valentine's Day three-course meal that includes two beverages, one starter, two mains and one dessert from the main menu – complete with heart-shaped bread. The deal is available for dine-in and delivery, but diners also get a chance to enter a Bollywood quiz, in which participants have to get as many right answers in the shortest possible time to win. The winner gets a food voucher for another dining experience.
Sunday, February 14; 11.30am-midnight; Dh119; behind Dubai Central Post Office, Al Karama; 04 335 5144
Butcha
Couples can tuck into a meaty offering over at the Turkey-born steakhouse, which is offering a sharing-style platter for two. Main courses include one kilogram of Butcha’s signature meat with Turkish spices, sucuk, merguez sausages, lamb shashlik, as well as additional plates and sides. The meal includes soft drinks, special mocktails and Turkish tea and coffee.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm onwards; Dh245 for two; City Walk and The Beach; www.butchasteakhouse.ae
Eggspectation
Start your Valentine's Day on the right note – with limited-edition heart-shaped pancakes. On the day, popular breakfast joint Eggspectation will be serving every table a complimentary strawberry and cream cheese heart-shaped pancake when they order a main course.
Sunday, February 14; timings vary; The Beach, JBR; City Walk, Al Safa Street; eggspectation.ae
Farzi Cafe
The modern Indian bistro sets the scene with a single rose on every table. Diners can tuck into a three-course feast, including dishes such as the beetroot tikki with a green apple and mint chutney, mascarpone risotto with tomato gravy or homestyle chicken curry. Dessert will be a "Farzified" mille feuille layered with strawberry halwa. It comes with two spoons.
Friday to Sunday, February 12 to 14; noon onwards; Dh99 per person; City Walk and Barsha, behind Mall of the Emirates; farzicafe.ae
M&S Cafes
Marks & Spencer cafes are spreading the love this Valentine's Day with a two-for-one offer on its breakfast items. That means that, throughout the weekend, residents can start their day with indulgent dishes such as the buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs on toast, croissants and even crushed avocado with poached egg, with their sweetheart's breakfast on the house.
Friday to Sunday, February 12 to 14; until noon; prices start at Dh19; The Dubai Mall, Dubai Festival City Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Marina Walk and Springs Souk; marksandspencermena.com
Parlour Boutique
The French-Mediterranean restaurant has three set menus for breakfast, the most popular being the French breakfast with croque madame (a pan-fried sandwich with bechamel sauce topped with an oozy poached egg) to transport you to mornings by the Seine. For lunch, they have the special Valentine's Day offer wherein guests can choose any one salad, main and dessert for Dh99 per person. It also has a "tower of love" afternoon tea experience and a gift box filled with sweet treats available for purchase.
Saturday and Sunday, February 13 to 14; timings vary; Dh99 onwards; Dubai World Trade Centre; 04 386 5333; parlour.ae
Vietnamese Foodies
Couples looking for something offbeat can tuck into a four-course southern Vietnamese spread at this popular venue. The menu is available for one day only for lunch or dinner (dine-in only) and includes all the restaurant's classics – chicken satay skewers, salt and pepper calamari, beef brisket pho noodle soup, Szechuan chicken stir fry and more. The regular menu is also available.
Sunday, February 14; timings vary; Dh219 per couple; Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah Lakes Towers; vietnamesefoodies.com
Dh250 to Dh500: Spoil them silly
Masti
The restaurant aims to add a little spice and sizzle to Valentine's Day plans, with a three-course menu that gives global cuisine an Indian twist. On the menu are starters such as the foie gras tarte tatin, mains including the truffle-coriander tortellini wagyu nihari and beetroot podi prawns, and a decadent Love at Last Bite dessert to share.
Sunday, February 14; 8pm onwards; prices start at Dh400 per couple; La Mer; 04 344 4384; www.mastidubai.com
MasterChef, the TV Experience
The restaurant inspired by the reality TV show is all set to make Valentine's Day one to remember by offering a four-course set menu for two. Begin the evening with a caviar and waffle amuse bouche, and choose between the brie cheese creme brulee and bloody valentine, which is a mix of blood oranges and salmon carpaccio. Diners can then choose between the duck crepe suzette or a vegetarian option of balsamic pearl onions, mixed mushrooms, parmesan meringue and rocket greens in a tart base. Round up the evening with the melon d'amour, a poached melon dessert.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm-11pm; Dh249 per person; Millennium Place Marina; 04 550 8111; www.masterchefdxb.com
Perry & Blackwelder’s Original Smokehouse
The smokehouse is going all out for Valentine's Day, with a "Mr and Mrs Valentine's" event on Sunday, February 14. The dinner invites couples to participate in the fun couple knowledge game "who's the better half?". The couples who know each other the best stand to win a breakfast brunch for two, all while digging into a three-course menu, which includes dishes such as coconut shrimp, Cajun chicken and a warm chocolate cookie.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm-10pm; Dh398 per couple; Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai; 800 666 353; jumeirah.com
Trattoria
The authentic Italian restaurant on the Souk Boulevard at Souk Madinat Jumeirah will be dishing out scallops with parmesan crust, prawn and spicy lobster bisque and even heart-shaped pizzas as part of a specially curated three-course Valentine's Day meal. Follow it up with the chocolate mousse with a hint of spice in the romantic Souk Madinat location.
Thursday to Sunday, February 11 to 14; 6pm onwards; prices start at Dh399 per couple; Souk Madinat Jumeirah; 800 666 353; www.jumeirah.com
Dh500 to Dh999 per couple: An evening to remember
Bistro Des Arts
The restaurant is inviting couples to celebrate over a three-course Parisian menu. There’s lobster soup or poached egg yolk with beetroot carbonara foam and caviar, followed by seared salmon or slow-cooked short ribs for the main course. The three-course menu is topped off with a stack of profiteroles or a chocolate fondant with strawberry sorbet. All this, plus a welcome drink, and a romantic setting.
Sunday, February 14; 6pm-11pm; Dh390 per person; Dubai Marina Promenade, Marina Mall; 04 551 1576; www.bistrodesarts.ae
Bread Street Kitchen & Bar
Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at Atlantis, The Palm, may be just the place to express your feelings. The restaurant is hosting a five-course Valentine's Day dinner featuring everything from Kelly Oysters served with Sturia Caviar to lobster ravioli with Jerusalem artichoke veloute. Couples can share a chateaubriand for two with truffle mash and asparagus, while a flambeed apple tart ends the meal on a grand note. Ladies can also expect a rose and a selection of chocolates in a customised box.
Sunday, February 14; 6pm-11pm; Dh295 per person; Atlantis, The Palm; 04 426 2626; www.atlantis.com
Couqley French Bistro & Bar
Travelling has been hard, so why not allow Couqley to transport you to Paris? The cosy French bistro has all the makings of an ideal date night, including a special three-course Valentine's Day meal. Guests can choose between several starters and mains (the escargots de Bourgogne, burrata, grilled octopus and steak frites all make the cut). To round off the meal, there is the limited-edition Valentine's Day heart-shaped dessert.
Sunday, February 14; noon-1am; Dh259 per person; Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Cluster A, 04 514 9339; www.couqley.ae
La Serre
The Downtown Dubai bistro will offer a cosy setting and three-course menu come Valentine's Day. The dinner includes a choice of starters such as the Scottish salmon carpaccio and burrata with heirloom tomatoes. For mains, there's an option between the black Angus tenderloin with fondant potato and bordelaise sauce, or tagliatelle with black winter truffle. A diamond-inspired dessert will bring the meal to a close. Guests can also expect a gift to take home.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm onwards; Dh950 per couple; Vida Downtown, Downtown Dubai; 04 528 3779; www.laserre.com
Koko Bay
Dinner under the stars, elegant tabletops, floral arrangements, candles and more – Koko Bay sets the scene for a romantic evening out. Guests will receive a special welcome drink on arrival, followed by a four-course meal. On the limited-edition menu will be dishes such as sea bass ceviche, winter squash soup and char siu wagyu short ribs. Plant-based options are also available.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm onwards; Dh999; West Beach Palm Jumeirah; 04 572 3444; kokobay.co
Pai Thai
It’s regularly voted as one of the most romantic culinary destinations in Dubai and with good reason – there’s a lot to love about the Jumeirah Al Qasr hotel setting, with the sight of abras gently bobbing away in the distance. For Valentine’s Day, the restaurant has a three-course menu, with vegetarian options also available. Guests can enjoy a choice of starter and main, such as the grilled scallop salad, marinated chicken wrapped in a pandan leaf, creamy red prawn curry, smoked duck breast with pineapple, and braised beef rib. This is all followed by coconut panna cotta for dessert. Guests will also receive a gift when leaving.
Friday to Sunday, February 12 to 14; 6pm onwards; prices start at Dh695 per couple; Jumeirah Al Qasr; 800 666 353; www.jumeirah.com
The Meydan Hotel
For those wanting lush scenery with their meal, The Meydan Hotel is offering a romantic dinner for two, complete with candlelight, white tablecloths and views of the Meydan Racecourse and Dubai skyline. There are two menus to choose from: an international menu with Canadian lobster, pan-seared herb-crusted salmon, strawberry rhubarb crumble and raspberry sorbet; or the smoky barbecued flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine, including beetroot hummus, harira soup, mixed grill and more. The a la carte menu is also available.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm-11pm; Dh300 per person; Millennium Lounge terrace or Farriers at The Meydan Hotel, Nad Al Sheba; 04 381 3231; www.themeydanhotel.com
Dh1,000 and more: Go all out
Atlantis, The Palm
If it's a candlelit dinner on a beach you're looking for, Atlantis, The Palm's Royal Beach has something that may strike your fancy. The seven-course meal includes dishes such as a royal seafood tower, mushroom risotto, lobster bisque and sea bass. The meals also include an "experience platter", with Atlantis's selection of cuts of meat and a refreshing yuzu kaffir lime dessert. The experience, set in a cabana with uninterrupted water views, is limited to eight couples only.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm-10pm; Dh5,000 per couple; Palm Jumeirah; 04 426 2000; www.atlantis.com
Caesars Bluewaters Dubai
The hotel on Bluewaters Island has curated a star-lit dinner on the beach. Diners will be treated to a hearty four-course meal, prepared by their personal chef from Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen Dubai. From an amuse-bouche of Loch Fyne Oysters and sweet beetroot, to a starter of Scottish cured salmon, there's a lot to love on this menu. The choice of mains includes a 150-day dry-aged filet mignon, roasted Atlantic halibut, pan-seared gnocchi or a 150-day dry-aged chateaubriand to share. Finish the meal in style with the Roses are Red dessert, which combines strawberry jam, baked meringue, lemon curd and Valrhona white chocolate ganache.
Thursday to Sunday, February 11 to 14; 7pm-10pm; Dh1,000 per person; Bluewaters Island; 04 556 6666; www.caesars.com
Ce La Vi Dubai
When it comes to glittering views of the city (and the Burj Khalifa), it doesn't get better than Ce La Vi, located on Level 54 of the Address Sky View hotel. For Valentine's Day, guests can indulge in a premium a la carte menu of contemporary Asian cuisine as they take in the views.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm-3am; Dh1,250 indoors and Dh2,000 outdoors; Downtown Dubai; 04 582 6111; www.celavi.com
Kyo Restaurant & Lounge
If it's fine dining Japanese food – with a view of the world's largest dancing fountains – you're looking for, Kyo has an offer to make you swoon. Head chef Arturo Mendez has created a four-course set menu that starts with oyster tiradito and niku asupara maki with grade seven wagyu meat, followed by Kyo's signature sushi platter and king crab. Ending the evening on a sweet note is the coconut cake: a melting mousse cake filled with caramelised apple, served with coconut sorbet.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm-midnight; prices start at Dh1,000 per couple; The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah; 04 557 5182; kyorestaurant.com
The London Project
The restaurant on Bluewaters Island offers some of the best views of Ain Dubai, and is offering a special "Love Is" five-course meal for lovebirds in the city, starting with a rustic cheese platter and warm sourdough bread. Starters include scallop and green apple open ravioli and crispy parmesan fritti. For the mains, couples can indulge in dishes like the baked lobster with wakame butter, and roasted breast and leg poussin. For dessert, there's a chocolate log and raspberry parfait. The package also includes a welcome drink and unlimited beverages.
Meanwhile, those who really want to sweep that special someone off their feet can opt for the "Cloud 9" package. This comes complete with a romantic helicopter ride over the city, and a staycation at Caesars Bluewaters Dubai.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm-10pm; D1,250 per couple for the Love Is dinner package; Dh8,888 for the Cloud 9 package; Bluewaters Island; 05 430 61822; www.thelondonproject.com
Roberto’s Dubai
The Italian venue is whipping up a recipe for romance with its intimate "Five Shades of Love" dinner, set to take place at the restaurant's terrace areas, which offer Burj Khalifa views. The five-course meal comprises all the favourites, from home-made ravioli and fresh oysters to a dessert of chocolate and raspberry.
Sunday, February 14; 7pm onwards; Dh5,000 per couple; Gate Village 1, DIFC; 04 386 0066; www.robertosrestaurants.com
99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant Dubai
A gastronomic affair awaits at the premium Japanese restaurant, which will be serving an 11-course Valentine’s Day menu. Expect all of the restaurant’s signature dishes – the capumiso soup, Atlantic blue lobster maki, the spicy matsuri tuna roll, the toro flambe nigari and the Alaskan king crab gunkan. The perfectly cooked signature 99 black cod infused with vibrant red miso will also make an appearance, while the meal ends with the classic 99 yuzu cheesecake with kunafa ice cream.
Saturday and Sunday, February 13 and 14; noon-3.30pm and 7pm-11.30pm; Dh1,299 per couple; Address Downtown; 04 547 2241; www.99sushibar.com
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