“Love cannot be cured by herbs” the Roman poet, Ovid, declared. However, a few enticingly scented ones sprinkled throughout a shared meal can only help Cupid’s work.

With that in mind, some of this country’s finest chefs have turned their attention to creating spectacular
St Valentine’s Day feasts in their bids to encourage romance. What follows is a sample of places to suit the occasion.

No doubt you’ll be kept busy looking deep into each other’s eyes, but should you glance elsewhere, then you may find the Sydney fine diner Aria’s views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay induce swooning too. This is an elegant restaurant for lovers of life’s finer things. The cost - $325 per person - challenges the notion that love is priceless, but rest assured Moran’s seven-course menu with matching wines will be superb. It begins with Veuve Clicquot champagne and swordfish sashimi, followed by a decadent Peking duck consommé with abalone, as well as scampi, kingfish and lamb, plus boutique wines from Australia, New Zealand and France. An elegant setting and service as smooth as a Michael Bublé ballad guarantee a great night. For reservations, contact Christine on (02) 9252 2555 or email christine@ariarestaurant.com

If the cost counts, then Tony Bilson’s new Circular Quay wine and bistro bar, Number One, with its passionate Spanish and French flavours, offers a four-course menu for $150 pp, including a complimentary cocktail. His eponymous three-hat French fine diner, Bilson’s, is serving a more extravagant and elegant six-course dinner for $220, kicking off with a glass of champagne. And you might want to ask about a hotel room package. Phone (02) 8252 9296 (Number One) or (02) 8214 0496 (Bilson’s) to book.


Depending on your sense of whimsy, The Press Club’s Greek fare might be just what Aphrodite ordered. Chef George Calombaris is offering a range of clever options, starting with a 6pm three-course sharing dinner (out by 8pm for other pursuits) for $85. There’s a big $165 four-course set menu with a glass of sparkling, but what could really get the juices flowing is the 8.30pm four-course dessert degustation for $65, including a glass of sparkling wine. Life can be very sweet indeed. Call The Press Club Booking on 03 9677 9677 to make a reservation.

A romantic getaway can do wonders for your love life and it doesn’t get much better than a walk on Noosa’s beach before dinner at sun-kissed Berardo’s Restaurant and Bar. Host Jim Berardo has put together a sublime evening that features a four-course dinner and music by the stunning soprano Marina Pryor with Michael Cormick. The cost is $155pp and the great news is this evening of fine dining and song is also on February 13 and 15.
Phone (07) 5447 5666 for reservations.

Further south in Brisbane, former Michelin-starred chef Bruno Loubet is promising a sultry, value-packed night at the stylish Baguette Bistro & Bar. For $90 per person, you’ll receive a complimentary champagne cocktail (or thoughtfully, for the boys, a Crown lager) and canapés, a multi-choice three-course menu, petit fours and coffee, along with live music to set the scene. Baguette’s excellent bar has inspired numerous trysts over cocktails in the past 30 years, so who knows what might happen. Phone (07) 3268 6168 to book.