Valentine’s Day, a day when you should spoil your special lady or man with bouquets of roses, slightly overpriced chocolates and treat them to fancy dinner out. Sure, it may break the bank a little, but your beloved deserves to feel special. To save you the last minute rush of desperately trying to find a restaurant, we have come up with Cape Town’s most intimate restaurants, bound to reignite the romance.

Bardelli’s Restaurant

While the restaurant is situated on the busy Kloof Street, patrons are taken from the hustle and bustle of Cape Town city living to an authentic ristorante that could be found in the heart of Italy. The dimmed lighting of the place and the candles adorning each table makes it easy to have an intimate dinner with a loved one. Top the romantic setting with soothing Italian music in the background, a glass of smooth shiraz and ‘straight-out-of-Italy’ pizza.

If you’re looking to escape the heat, sit on the outside terrace where you’ll see the sights of the city scape and the thrum of festivity as various party-goers make their way out to Long Street for the night.

Yindees

Yindees, meaning ‘welcome’ in Thai, is exactly how you feel open entering the doors of this quaint restaurant.

Having been established by head chef, Nirun Kong thong delights our senses with his home-grown,  southern Thai recipes. As it is traditional to share Thai meals with others, Yindees is ideal for that perfect date night.

What’s more, if you’re looking to get even more comfortable, take your shoes off and take a seat around a low-to-the-ground table where you can plonk down on a bundle of cushy throw cushions. This is bound to sate those first-date jitters and allow for one to feel completely at ease.

Cattle Baron: The Grill House

Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than being treated to a juicy, succulent sirloin or rump. If you enjoy a good piece of meat just as much as the company of your significant other, a date night at Cattle Baron might be just the ticket.

Here you’ll be treated to one of their legendary steaks smothered in one of their signature sauces, while sipping some fine, local wines. Cattle Baron provides you with a relaxed grill room experience, making it impossible to not enjoy an intimate night out.

Casa Labia Café

If you’re looking to pull out the stops this Valentine’s day and aren’t worried about digging too deeply into your pockets, a lunch or high tea at the grand Casa Labia Café is bound to wow your date.

Built in the late 1920’s, the place exudes the spirit of 18th century Venice. Its opulent, golden-lined walls and ornate chandeliers hanging down from the walls makes one feel as if they’re visiting a house of royalty.

Treat your loved one as the king or queen she is, eat lavishly and embrace each other’s company at this regal eating house.

Moyo Kirstenbosch

Picture this scene, you’re sitting at a restaurant with backdrops of the majestic Table Mountain while being surrounded by lush vegetation, vibrantly-coloured flowers and towering trees. At Moyo Kirstenbosch this is exactly the sort of setting that you should  come to expect. A visit to Moyo is the ideal Valentine’s surprise as the word itself is translated from Swahili to mean ‘heart’.

Not only are you surrounded by the beauty of nature, but a dining experience at Moyo is authentically African. You’ll be presented with an array of authentic dishes, where classic meals are infused with a local South African flair – think chakalaka, bunny chows, biltong and vetkoek.

If you’re really looking to immerse yourself into the African feel of things, have your face painted with beautiful, white patterns – to be the ultimate cheesy couple allow your designs to match.

The Dining Room

If you and your significant other prefer a cosy setting, no frills or fuss, and home cooked made with lots of love, then The Dining Room provides you with a low-key dining experience.

Upon walking into the restaurant you’ll be great to an old-fashioned dining room, where the walls are dark and the interior is sophisticated in a simple manner.

For those who struggle to make a choice when it comes to deciding upon food, the restaurant one main per night policy makes that decision easier for you!

Belthazar Restaurant and Wine Bar

Situated at the trendy V&A Waterfront, Belthazar Restaurant and Wine Bar is renowned for two things, its world-class cuisine and providing the largest glasses of wine’ in the Western Cape region. So if you like sharing a glass of wine with your person, know that your glass will never be empty.

Diners can also expect a diverse range of dishes – from Mediterranean to seafood and good quality beef.

If you’re looking for an additional Valentine’s gift, Belthazar’s ‘shoppertainment’ provides you with everything from gift packs to glassware and other forms of earthenware.

Bombay Brassierie @Taj

If you’re looking to ‘spice up’ your love life, you can literally do so at the Bombay Brassierie @ Taj.

Situated in the historical Temple Chamber of the Taj, the Bombay Brassierie has been restored to a place of opulence and grandeur.

Get ready for a night of Indian food from the corners of Mumbai. While the food is authentically Indian, the design about the restaurant is contemporary and upscale. If you’re looking to impress a date, here’s the place to go.

Café Paradiso

Set in the heart of Cape Town central, Café Paradiso is the perfect place to visit on a summery, Valentine’s afternoon.

Set in on an outside veranda with breath-taking views of the mountainside, couples looking to relax and enjoy each others company can do so here.

The food menu is simple with a classic Italian flair, so if you’re looking for a cheesy pizza or if you’re looking to go a little healthier, a caprese salad will hit the spot.

Soak up the late afternoon haze in the comforts of an enchanting garden. Enjoy each other’s company while you watch children happily squealing at the koi fish in the pond, or enjoy the hubbub of the vibey Kloof Street.