Valentine’s Day in Johannesburg is the epitome of romance, offering couples various dining experiences to make the day unforgettable. From intimate candlelit dinners to decadent multi-course meals, the city’s restaurants are going all out to ensure love is truly in the air. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or simply in the mood for an exquisite culinary adventure, Johannesburg’s Valentine’s Day specials are designed to cater to every taste and preference.
Tips for an Unforgettable Valentine’s Evening in Johannesburg
- Exclusive Valentine’s Day Menus: Indulge in specially curated menus that cater to all tastes, from sumptuous seafood to succulent steaks and innovative vegetarian options.
- Romantic Ambiences: Choose from restaurants offering breathtaking views, cosy candlelit tables, or vibrant live music to set the mood for your romantic evening.
- Personalised Experiences: Look out for establishments that go the extra mile with personalised touches such as customised messages, private dining options, or complimentary welcome drinks to make your night even more special.
Make Your Valentine’s Day Reservations Early
Valentine’s Day is a popular occasion in Johannesburg, with many looking to celebrate love in style. To ensure you secure a spot at your preferred restaurant, it’s advisable to make reservations well in advance. This will not only guarantee you a table but also give you the peace of mind to look forward to a hassle-free and romantic evening with your loved one.
Valentine’s Day in Johannesburg offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate love, with each restaurant providing its own unique blend of atmosphere, cuisine, and special touches. Whether you’re celebrating a long-term relationship or a new romance, the city’s Valentine’s Day dinner specials are sure to make your day memorable. So, take the time to explore the options, book your table, and prepare for an evening of romance, fine dining, and cherished moments in Johannesburg.
Where to book Valentine’s Day Dinner in Johannesburg:
Aurum Restaurant
(Sandton, Johannesburg)
Price: R995 per person
Whether you’ve just fallen in love or spoiling your soulmate, Aurum Restaurant offers an intimate 3-course dinner that’s perfect for the occasion. Upon arrival, all guests will receive a complimentary glass of G.H Mumm and, as the night continues, live entertainment will keep you company and set the mood. Bookings are limited.
Avianto – Café Cielo
(Muldersdrift, Johannesburg)
Price: R895 per person
Menu: See the full Valentines Menu here
Celebrate your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day by booking a dinner for two at Avianto. Dress your best and join the team from 18h30 to enjoy a romantic 5-course meal, featuring a truffle kiss amuse bouche, pan-seared Norwegian salmon, grilled beef fillet, and stuffed chicken supreme. Live saxophone melodies will serenade you and set the mood. To end on a sweet note, they’re serving a decadent peanut butter and strawberry cheesecake for dessert.
Bowl’d Restaurant
(Sandton, Johannesburg)
Price: R1,650 per couple
Menu: See the full Valentine’s menu here
Head up to the first floor of Masingita Towers and delight your date with a contemporary dining experience at Bowl’d. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed with a cocktail, followed by a 3-course meal and a bottle of wine to share. Choose between an antipasto platter or a mixed platter to start, before tucking into grilled lamb chops, chicken thigh skewers, a seafood platter or risotto funghi for mains. Then share a dessert platter with your sweetheart.
Brambles Restaurant at Vivari Hotel
(Krugersdorp, Johannesburg)
Price: R1,990 per couple
Menu: See the full Valentine’s menu here
An extra-special Valentine’s Day awaits at Brambles. Starting at 18h00, you and your love will enjoy an evening of delicious dishes that will give you heart eyes. The meal kicks off with a rich burrata and tomato amuse bouche, followed by tiger prawns or a green papaya summer roll as a starter. Cleanse your palate with a refreshing pink mojito sorbet before moving on to mains with a choice of honey-glazed Norwegian salmon, Black Angus fillet, chicken puttanesca or an asparagus and kataifi pastry. A couple’s dessert plate to share will end the night on a sweet note.
Casalinga
(Krugersdorp, Johannesburg)
Price: R550 per person
Casalinga is treating all lovebirds to a special 3-course dinner. On the menu, there’s tasty options from fish cakes, beef tartare and pesto arancini for starters, rump steak, chicken ravioli, stuffed mushrooms and more for mains, a delicious desserts including chocolate mousse, strawberry cheesecake and vanilla and pineapple panna cotta for dessert. Sip on a bottle of house wine as you spend the evening creating lasting memories.
Casalinga also offers a romantic overnight experience with dinner, bed, and breakfast for just R2,999 per couple. Email them directly to book.
Eclipse Restaurant
(Sandown, Sandton)
Price: R895 per person
Lead your date up to the fifth floor of the Hotel Sky in Sandton, and enter into the gorgeous Eclipse Restaurant. Take in the unparalleled views of Sandton while you dine on a 3-course menu with a charcuterie board to share, starters of caprese flatbread, beef tartare and prawn salad, an orange sorbet palate cleanser, and mouth-watering mains which include kingklip, tomato orzo and roasted tenderloin. A delicious lovers’ dessert board will be served for the perfect ending.
Farina Caffè Cucina
(Linden, Randburg)
Price: R800 per couple
Be whisked away to Italy by Farina Caffè Cucina this Valentine’s Day. You and your amore will dine on a delicious 3-course meal inspired by the flavours of Italy while live music fills the air around you. Book your table for a night of pure indulgence and elegance with the one you love.
Hooked Coffee Midstream
(Midrand, Johannesburg)
Prices: R425 per person | R60 per person for wine pairing
Hooked Coffee in Midstream has you covered this Valentine’s Day with an amazing 3-course menu with optional wine pairing for an additional R60 per person. Start with a complimentary welcome drink before heading into the main event. For starters, they’re serving tuna tartare, goats cheese bon bons and a watercress salad. On to mains, enjoy a herb-crusted lamb loin, tenderstem broccoli and mash, followed by a glossy entremet cake for dessert served with a boozy caramel sauce.
Insights at Sanctuary Mandela Boutique Hotel
(Houghton, Johannesburg)
Prices: R2,250 per couple
Time: 18h00
A night of romance and elegance awaits you and your date at Insights restaurant at the Sanctuary Mandela Boutique Hotel. Spend the evening chatting away while sipping on Graham Beck bubbly and indulging in a lavish 5-course dinner. Throughout the evening, you’ll be serenaded with live entertainment, making this Valentine’s Day an unforgettable experience for you and your partner.
Just Darling at Thaba
(Mulbarton, Johannesburg)
Prices: R495 per person
Time: 18h00
Spoil your SO to a candlelit evening filled with the sweet sounds of a live saxophonist and a delightful 3-course dinner at Just Darling at Thaba. Upon arrival, guests will be welcomed in with a drink before sitting at their tables – donned with fresh roses and rose petals. Before you leave, a special treat will be yours to take home.
Kashew
(Sandton, Johannesburg)
Prices: R750 per person
Time: 18h00 – 22h00
A night of romance awaits you and your date at The Catalyst Hotel. Book your dinner date at Kashew Restaurant, where a 4-course dinner will be served. Pair your meal with a choice of wine, MCC, or a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage, all while enjoying the romantic accompaniment of live entertainment.
Kraal Restaurant
(Thaba Hotel, Johannesburg)
Prices: R1,995 per couple
Time: 18h00 – 21h00
Make this Valentine’s Day one to remember when you book your date night at Kraal Restaurant. Starting at 18h00, you’ll be welcomed in with a glass of chilled bubbly and a long–stemmed rose. Then, you’ll go through the dining room and sit at the table to be wined and dined with a delectable 3-course dinner and experiential cocktail.
La Boqueria Parktown North
(Parktown North, Johannesburg)
Price: R580 per person
Menu: See the full menu here
Join La Boqueria in Parktown North from 18h00 for a 3-course dinner with your sweetheart. For starters, choose between Disiac oysters topped with strawberries, Tabasco and lime caviar, goat’s cheese jalapeños, or a scallop, chorizo and beetroot taco. For the main course, the delicious options include confit kingklip, chipotle chicken, slow-braised lamb, or cannelloni. For dessert, dig your spoons into a dark and spicy chocolate fondant. If you and your date want to elevate the evening, opt for the wine and cocktail pairing at an additional cost.
OMEN Rosebank
(Rosebank, Johannesburg)
Price: R300 per person (14th of February)
From 13 – 16 February, Omen Rosebank will spread the love all week with a line-up of evenings. On Tuesday the 13th, serenade your SO with a ballad of love songs at their karaoke night while you feast on fresh sushi and incredible cocktails. For Valentine’s Day on Wednesday, you and your beau can enjoy a romantic 3-course dinner for just R300 per person. Then, grab your besties and enjoy a girls’ night out for Galentine’s Day on the 15th by booking their “Thursday Therapy” session. As for all the singles, Friday the 16th is for you. Join Omen for singles’ night where drinks will be served and “f$#k Valentine’s Day” will be heard.
Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers
(Illovo, Gauteng)
Price: R1,200 per couple
Time: Wednesday – Saturday | 18h30 – 21h30
Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers is celebrating Valentine’s Day all week. From 14 – 17 February, join them for a romantic dinner on their expansive deck and be spoiled for choice with their 5-course wine and food pairing menu. Book your date night and enjoy an evening of fresh ingredients, exciting flavours and fine wine.
The Marabi Club
(Doornfontein, Johannesburg)
Price: R750 per person
Time: 18h00 – 21h00
You and your favourite person at The Marabi Club in Jozi await a romantic evening. Dine your way through the delicious Valentine’s Day set menu while being serenaded by the smooth tunes of the live band and vocalist. Book your table for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day.
The Piazza Hotel Restaurant & Bar
(Montecasino, Johannesburg)
Price: R510 per person
Time: 18h30 – 22h30
This Valentine’s Day treat someone you love to a 5-course dinner for two at The Piazza Hotel Restaurant & Bar. Spend quality time together as you dine in a relaxed atmosphere and sip your way through a bottle of bubbly – on the house.
The Prawnery & Kanpai
(Rosebank, Johannesburg)
Price: SUKI tasting platter: R950 per person | Vegetarian platter: R550 per person | Niku sharing platter: R1,250 per person | 5-course menu: R1,450
The Prawnery & Kanpai has four different (and delicious!) Valentine’s menus on offer this year. So make a reservation and impress the one you love by whisking them away for an Asian-style feast. The options include a 5-course tasting menu or three different Valentine’s platters. The menus include dishes like sushi, tempura prawns, yakitori skewers, crayfish, langoustine, juicy wagyu steak, delicious vegetable dishes, and lots more! Sip on some Champagne as you chat while the sounds of a live band serenade you throughout the evening.
The Indaba Hotel
(Sandton, Johannesburg)
Gin School
Price: R1,200 per couple
Time: 18h00 – 22h00
The Indaba Hotel Gin School is hosting a Valentine’s Gin Experience where you and your beau can try your hands at making gin. The price includes a welcome drink and some light snacks on arrival (16h00), followed by a 2-hour gin distilling masterclass led by their Gin Master. The interactive presentation will cover all aspects of crafting gin, as well as fun facts, a history of gin and more! Each guest will take home a 500ml bottle of hand-crafted botanical gin with a personalised label, gin booklet, recipe card and gift tag. A cash bar will be available on the evening.
Verdicchio
(Fourways, Johannesburg)
Price: R750 per person
Love is in the air the whole week at Verdicchio! From 14 – 18 February, they are hosting a 4-course Valentine’s menu. Upon arrival, guests will receive a glass of Moët & Chandon and a flavour-packed croquette amuse bouche. For starters, enjoy oysters with either a classic Caprese salad, beef carpaccio, or Port livers. Choose between beef fillet, prawns, Norwegian salmon, or burrata pasta for mains. Round off your meal with a Verdicchio milky tart. Listen to live entertainment throughout the evening while you spend time with your significant other.
