Valentine’s Day 2020: The best dining offers around the UAE to suit every budget

It's long been considered the most romantic day of the year, and for many, February 14 is not a time to rest on your laurels. This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Friday, meaning many can make the most of a day off work to treat their loved ones. If you fancy spoiling your significant other with a romantic meal, plenty of restaurants around the UAE are putting on themed packages perfect for couples. From budget bites to extravagant offers, here is a list of dinner packages available in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Thai restaurant is offering a special “Dinner for two” Valentine’s Day menu. The menu is inclusive of (but not limited to) chicken satay, and prawn cakes as starters; sea bass in thick coconut red curry and beef with garlic for mains; and a dessert of French toast, served with cinnamon poached pears. Couples who dine in the restaurant on the day and don’t opt for the set menu will still enjoy a complimentary water chestnut dessert. Friday, February 14; all day; Dh170 per couple; valid in both branches, Dubai; 04 525 0811 Nuevo makes a case for keeping the day simple yet romantic with a three-course set menu, welcome drink and bottle of sparkling grape - all at the bargain price of Dh250 per couple. Starters include a soup, a goat's cheese salad, smoked salmon plate and chicken spring rolls. For mains, guests can choose among bavette steak with caramelised onions, grilled chicken with chunky chips, and roasted cod fillet with vegetables and rosemary jus. Dessert options include a raspberry souffle, sticky toffee pudding or chocolate fondue. Romantic decor and a rose presented to every lady make things more special. Friday, February 14; from 7pm; Dh250 per couple; Premier Inn Dragon Mart; 04 525 0811 The pretty bohemian cafe will celebrate V-Day with a five-course Italian-themed vegan dinner, titled Veni Vidi Vici (which translates to “I came, I saw, I conquered”). Couples can expect dishes such as lentil bruschetta, a soup or salad, puttanesca lasagne or spaghetti, meatballs pomodoro and brownie sundae with berry compote. The package also includes a ticket for two beverages, which can be claimed at Tryp by Wyndham hotel later that night. Friday, February 14; 7pm-10pm; Dh145 per person; Citadines Metro Central, Barsha Heights, Dubai; 04 452 9529 The theme across Palazzo Versace's restaurants Enigma, Giardino, Mosaico and Vanitas is "ruby valentine". Accordingly, the chefs have put together creations made out of ruby chocolate, known for its pink hue and berry flavour. Italian eatery Vanitas, for example, will have a four-course set menu that includes a handcrafted ruby chocolate gift, and dishes such as the Carabinero prawn salad with ruby chocolate vinaigrette and a pan-seared d’omble chevalier with ruby chocolate gel. Friday, February 14; prices start at Dh300 per couple for the high tea at Mosaico; Jaddaf Waterfront; 04 556 8820; www.palazzoversace.ae Hitchki, Grand Millennium Dubai The Bollywood-themed bistro is having an evening of fun for couples with its Laila Majnus (which translates to “love birds”) Night. Those looking to kick off the romantic weekend with some dancing can head to the restaurant which will have band Durra, entertaining crowds with Bollywood songs old and new. Guests can also expect an a la carte menu, with dishes like Tiger Jhinga Hai, Apne Mutton Ko Lagaan Do and The Kapil Shawarma. Thursday, February 13; 9pm onwards; a la carte menu; Grand Millennium Dubai, Barsha, Dubai; (0)4 5877189 Valentine’s Day may be all about couples, but families don't have to miss out this year. Luigia in Rixos Premium JBR is hosting an Italian-style family brunch for the occasion. Children under the age of 7 get a complimentary pizza or pasta, and can pass the time by watching Disney movies or playing in a dedicated kids' corner. Adults can have a treat of their own, and choose among a selection of the restaurant’s signature plates, such as crispy frittura di calamari, wood-fired pizzas, pastas and tiramisu for dessert. Friday, February 14; 1pm-4pm; Dh220 (for soft drinks) and Dh320 (for house beverages) per person, children under the age of 7 eat for free; Rixos Premium JBR, Dubai; (0)4 349 6950; www.luigia.ae Couqley French Bistro Those interested in spending Valentine’s Day in a cosy French setting can head over to Couqley, an intimate bistro which is having a special menu for the night. Couples can look forward to sharing dishes like the baked truffle en croute, onion soup gratinee, duo tartare, crab cakes and calamars frits for starters; steak frites and rigatoni aux augergines et burrata for mains and end the evening on a sweet note with desserts like a raspberry-yoghurt mousse and pain perdu. Friday, February 14; 6pm onwards; Dh259 per person; JLT Cluster A, Dubai; 04 5149339; www.couqley.ae The screen-to-plate restaurant is marking Cupid’s busiest time of year with a five-course menu. Start with a sharing amuse bouche of white, yellow, purple and sweet potato, creme fraiche, caviar and chives, crafted by chef Margarita Vaamonde into a lotus flower, followed by a starter of seared white asparagus, confit lemon and butter emulsion, asparagus and Parmesan puree, lemon gel and confit kumquats. For mains, choose between scallops and black rice or mushroom and cheese mille-feuille. A palate cleanser of spicy lychee and celery granite, and a sharing dessert of white chocolate and blood orange s’mores, also feature on the menu. Thursday and Friday, February 13-14; 7pm-11pm; Dh529 per couple; Millennium Place Marina, Dubai; 04 550 8111; www.masterchefdxb.com The restaurant will celebrate all things love with a “cine-manic brunch” that gives movie lovers good food with a side of romantic music from popular Valentine's Day movies. On the menu will be an amuse bouche of oyster (with green apple, picked radish, lime and caviar), and a dish of toro tuna (with caramel yuzu and caviar). Meanwhile, mains include a duo Wagyu striploin, with sea scallops, veal pancetta and carrot puree, and black cod with smoked pepper and coconut sauce. Those looking for something more intimate can opt for the three-course set menu for dinner, which includes oysters, chocolate-covered strawberries and more. Friday, February 14, 1pm-4pm for the brunch; Dh275 per person (for food and soft beverages) and Dh495 per person for bubbly and house beverages; from 7pm for the set dinner menu; Dh295 per person (soft beverages) and Dh495 per person (welcome drink and grape); Paramount Hotel, Dubai; 042466777; www.paramounthotelsdubai.com The intimate restaurant will host a “From Paris with Love” set menu to take guests on a “journey through French cuisine”, beginning with bread and dips. There are three starters to choose from – Gillardeau oysters with truffle ponzo dressing, lobster and tarragon tortellini or baked foie gras and a Parmesan custard tart. Mains include a choice from pan-roasted beef tenderloin and veal-wrapped foie gras, slow-roasted duck breast and carrot and orange puree, or pan-seared sea bass with confit carrot and fennel. Guests can also expect a palate cleanser, desserts and a live performance from singer Omar Dean. Saturday, February 15; from 8pm; Dh295 per person; The Fairmont Hotel Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Center Area; 04 354 5035; www.bagatelledubai.com Nassau, Jumeirah Golf Estates The Mediterranean restaurant by celebrity chef and MasterChef Bulgaria judge Silvena Rowe is serving a three-course meal with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options to celebrate all things love. Starters include a choice of king prawn cocktail and burrata with truffle vinaigrette, while main courses include a selection of Wagyu beef tenderloin grade 6, seabass and a vegetarian option. Eton Mess, the traditional English dessert featuring strawberries, cream and chocolate shavings, completes the special menu. Friday, February 14; 6.30pm-10pm; Dh590 per couple; Jumeriah Golf Estates, Dubai; 04 360 1816; www.dubaigolf.com/dine/nassau Ammos will curate a three-course dinner menu to transport couples straight to the shores of Greece. Expect a sharing mezze of olives, tzatziki, eggplant salad, and pita bread followed by Greek salad; sea bass carpaccio; deep-fried calamari, taramosalata dip, and more. Mains include a choice between dishes like slow-roasted chicken or a sea bass fillet with roasted vegetables. Couples can also opt to share main courses such as the king prawn spaghetti or a seafood platter. Friday, February 14; 7pm-11.30pm; Dh690 per couple; Rixos Premium Dubai, JBR; 052 777 9473 or email info@ammosgreek.com The restaurant by renowned chef Jose Avillez is offering guests a "Portuguese love affair" this Valentine's Day. Diners can look forward to a three-course menu with the restaurant's most popular dishes, served in an intimate setting. Expect romantic décor, a live performance from a guitarist and glittering skyline views of Dubai too. Couples who want to go all out can also opt for Tasca's special terrace package which lets them take over a private terrace cabana, especially decorated for two, and inclusive of a five-course menu. Friday, February 14; 6.30pm-11pm; Dh450 per person (for food and soft drinks) and Dh5,000 per couple for the terrace package; Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai; 047772231 The hotel is celebrating the most romantic day of the year with a number of packages. Those looking for something a tad offbeat can book an “Abra Afternoon Tea” and enjoy views of the Madinat Jumeirah waterway onboard an abra, with two glasses of premium bubbly and a bouquet of roses. The hotel is also having a Valentine’s Day themed brunch, with the best-dressed couple winning a couple’s Talise Spa massage. Meanwhile, a lady “dressed to kill” at the brunch stands a chance to win a complimentary one-night stay at Jumeirah Al Qasr. Friday, February 14; timings vary; prices start at Dh480 per person for the brunch, the Abra Afternoon Tea is priced at Dh1,500; Jumeirah Al Qasr; 04 4323232 The floating hotel will celebrate the most romantic day of the year with a dinner and a show. Guests can tuck into a three-course meal with renowned opera duo Antonio Perez Iranzi and Fiona Tanner Baldwin serenading them. Dinner includes smoked salmon and prawn roulade, herb-crusted pan-roasted corn-fed chicken and white chocolate mousse with pralines and dark chocolate brownies. There are options for those who want to convert the night into a staycation; as well as a Valentine’s Day brunch on Saturday, February 15. Friday, February 14, 8pm-11pm ; Dh395 per person (for soft beverages) and Dh495 per person (for house beverages); 'QE2', Port Rashid Marina; 04 526 8811; www.qe2.com/offers Nothing says true love like sharing one’s food, and Seafire Steakhouse has embraced this concept to offer a menu that merges romance with indulgence. Couples can tuck into a sharing-style Florentine T-bone steak with a choices of sauces and side dishes as well as shared desserts and themed cocktails. Friday, February 14; 6pm-10.45pm; from Dh450; Atlantis, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 426 0000; www.atlantis.com Scalini, Restaurant Village London-born Italian restaurant Scalini Dubai will be heating things up for Valentine’s Day with a special curated menu by Chef Roberto Reatini. Designed for sharing, couples can tuck into fresh oysters with a strawberry puree and red prawn tartare with crisp green apple, before indulging in a sea bass ravioli with langoustine and truffle and a lobster caralana with purple potatoes and chilli. For dessert, guests can expect a light strawberry mousse with white chocolate fondant. There is also an a la carte menu available (with starters from Dh40 and main courses from Dh60). Friday, February 14; 12pm-11.30pm; Dh1,050 per couple; Restaurant Village, Four Season Resort on Jumeirah Beach Road; 04 349 0068; www.scalini-dubai.com The London Project, Bluewaters Island The London Project is celebrating a love for all things food with a Valentine’s Day four-course menu. For the first course, couples can choose between oysters with pink rhubarb granita or a selection of crafted canapes. A second course is an offering of either pan-seared scallops; a classic steak tartare or spiced cauliflower with cashews and a mustard dipping sauce. For mains, choose between the A5 Wagyu striploin with triple cooked chips, and the butter-poached lobster tagliatelle with crab, chilli, orange and basil. Finally, dessert features a sharing plate with dishes like lava cakes, honeycomb strawberries, chocolate dipping sauce and strawberry sorbet. Friday, February 14; 6pm-10.30pm; Dh 450 per person; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; www.thelondonproject.com The restaurant by multi-Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay promises to impress with a four-course meal featuring dishes such as beetroot carpaccio, roasted cod, lobster and scallop ravioli and chateaubriand for two. Ladies will also be treated to heart-shaped chocolate and a red rose. Friday, February 14; 6.30pm-8.30pm and 9pm-11pm; Dh650 per person; Caesars Palace Bluewaters, Dubai; 04 556 6466; www.caesars.com The restaurant by the three-Michelin-starred chef is bringing the best of Italy to the UAE with a five-course menu. Enjoy an idyllic evening with your loved one over a menu which includes foie gras, tuna, lobster in zucchini cream and dover sole fillet. Adding a touch of luxury to the night, caviar will feature in every dish except for dessert. Friday, February 14; 6.30pm-11pm; Dh960 per person; Waldorf Astoria Dubai, Palm Jumeirah; 04 818 2222; www.waldorfastoria.com Those looking to go all out this Valentine’s Day can book a candlelit cabana and dine under the stars at Atlantis, The Palm’s Royal Beach. The exclusive experience is limited to eight couples, and will include canapes of oysters, foie gras and caviar upon arrival before a seven-course set menu that includes Boston lobster with king crab, Atlantis beef tenderloin or black cod, and a while chocolate fondue for dessert. All this, plus a violinist and gorgeous views of the Palm Jumeirah make for the perfect way to impress that special someone. Friday, February 14; 7.30pm-10.30pm; Dh4,200 per couple; Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 426 0000; www.atlantis.com Head to Cafe 302 for a hearty, heart-warming meal that won't break the bank. Starters include a roasted pumpkin soup and sea scallops with wild mushroom and zucchini, followed by a main course of herb-marinated T-bone steak or pan-seared seabass, and dessert of a coconut creme panna cotta. Friday, February 14, 7pm-11.30pm; Dh199 per couple (vegan options also available); Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi; 02 6106666; www.rotana.com/almahaarjaanbyrotana The Italian restaurant is giving couples a classic Valentine’s Day experience, complete with candlelit dining options on the open-air terrace. There will be flowers, romantic decor, live musicians and, of course, beautiful views of the Yas Marina waterfront backdrop. The menu is a la carte, with no minimum spend, and there will be specially prepared dishes for the occasion, like the pan-seared scallops with asparagus and saffron, and risotto with lobster. Couples can end the evening with a Valentine’s Day special-edition dessert of vanilla meringue with strawberries. Reservations are recommended. Friday, February 14; 6pm-12am; a la carte; Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 657 5400; www.ciprianiyasisland.com The steakhouse is celebrating V-Day with a set menu that will begin with a welcome drink and a “little posh fish pie” (with fillings such as scallops, jumbo crab and king prawn). Starters include a beet, ginger and coconut soup, followed by a pan-fried potato gnocchi. For mains, guests can choose between the olive-oil-poached salmon and ULSA grass-fed Argentinian rib eye. Finish the meal with a chocolate dessert to share. Friday, February 14; 7pm-11pm; Dh499 per couple; Southern Sun Abu Dhabi ; 02 818 4888; www.tsogosun.com/the-foundry Recreate the romance of Santorini at Mazi, the latest Greek eatery in the capital. The restaurant will offer a sharing menu , gorgeous sunset views and entertainment in the form of a pianist. Guests can also enter a raffle draw for the chance to win a 60-minute massage for two at Iridium Spa. An a la carte menu is also available all night. Friday, February 14; noon-midnight; Dh225 per person; St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi; 02 498 8888; www.stregissaadiyatisland.com Couples can tuck into a sharing menu brimming with Asian fusion dishes for Valentine's Day. DJ Margo will entertain diners with progressive house and lounge tracks. Friday, February 14; 7pm-11.30pm; Dh300 per person; St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi; 02 498 8888; www.stregissaadiyatisland.com The Cantonese hot spot will treat couples to a menu that includes signature dishes but with a “Valentine’s Day twist”. On offer is the braised gold-leaf lobster dumpling, a Valentine’s dim sun duo and crispy soft shell crab salad with mango. Charcoal grilled seabass, wok-seared lobster with truffle sauce and jasmine-smoked chicken with sesame also make an appearance. Friday, February 14; 7pm-12am; Dh588 per person (with soft beverages); Emirates Palace, Corniche Road; 02 690 7739 The Abu Dhabi resort is offering couples a four-course paired seafood dinner at Mermaid restaurant, where they can sit al fresco, get serenaded by a live entertainment and take in the seaside vistas. The package includes rose-themed table settings and a surprise giveaway. Meanwhile, those who want to go the extra mile (to pop the question, maybe?) can take advantage of the resort’s Romantic Dinner on the Beach experience which includes canapes and a four-course paired menu served in a romantic set-up. Friday, February 14; 7pm-11pm, from 8pm for the Romantic Dinner on the Beach; Dh699 per couple (for the four-course dinner) and Dh3,000 for the Romanic Dinner on the Beach; Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; 0 2 492 2222; <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=84Em28S1K9SvtzcUtu04Ek8KXocWOPvFSZEQSW-2FpTfaQtAPCP5-2FxDypUm76zoquU_VxjfuZ2y-2FWp-2FGk2PhII4Cul8Sd-2F62iHuoF40OKJp24iM3DmdQh9OJUADs7MRIW5ngW5HBbf0jaKzZDtE0kpFfYXhwXCe5W91MmsgE-2Ba1Lqx5TPL1VfZdRjcqsgOkI10JI-2F0lFP6hbXoNzH6zjV2iu-2FHnVYjuxcsZiGcBUmNQETjc5erXaL9-2BKRx6o8DVLDYQUymVeK7kSnXgss21OgAubo26NgKNzyjuiNgBbH2XlO3SpMtoqLxe9G-2BuURpHkidPdR4uVGOZd5VabBaEP3sgBsHiq7Rn2IpZiEHYkQ8hdV4kD4IjKdf6AryzFoix3XLUWOUyntnKI0R6npNy6KiRUUlQpsBDmnh1WKWPyQAWkzw-3D">www.rixossaadiyatisland.com . Enjoy an indulgent 10-course meal and waterfront views at 99 Sushi. Dishes are designed for sharing, and include the signature capumiso soup, oysters with soy and yuzu foam, lobster tempura with wasabi mayonnaise, and a matsuri roll of spicy tuna. Mains include black cod au gratin with two layers of red miso and skirt steak with galangal sauce, while dessert is a yuzu cheesecake with kunafa ice cream. Friday, February 14; Dh999 per couple; The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; email reservations_ad@99sushibar.com or call 02 672 3333

Valentine’s Day 2020: The best dining offers around the UAE to suit every budget

Looking to treat your loved ones? You'll find everything in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this year