Afternoon Delight
If the weather is being kind, pull up a seat at Rick Shores for an Aperol Spritz and a plate of oysters (nature’s aphrodisiac), pack a picnic basket with gourmet goodies and find a spot on Burleigh Hill, although finding an unoccupied patch or grass could prove tricky! Better yet, if you’re really looking to leave a lasting impression (and perhaps have a question to pop), let the good folks from The Picnic Street do all of the hard work so you can just rock up and enjoy. If you’re feeling a little adventurous and don’t mind a little casual exhibitionism, strip off for Cupid’s Undie Run. On the northern end, Artichoke at Paradise Point is offering a four-course Valentine’s Day spread of soft shell crab and blistered skin barramundi for $69 per person.

Sundown Rendezvous
Because no one does romance quite like the French, book a table at Allure on Currumbin, indulge in a four-course Italian feast at Gemelli Italian or share a pizza and a glass of vino at its sister restaurant Gemellini in Nobby Beach. Double Zero in Broadbeach is putting on a special three-course Valentine’s menu for $50 per person and Cicchetti is speaking the language of love with a lavish degustation menu for $75 per person. Cucina Vivo at Jupiters is enticing diners with a special five-course menu featuring oysters, roasted beef tenderloin with sage gnocchi, a Valentine’s chocolate cherry ripe for dessert and a glass of Moet Bellini on arrival while downstairs, Garden Kitchen & Bar is offering three glorious courses starting with a chilled seafood platter before moving on to the Chef’s rotisserie lamb shoulder for main and rose-scented Eton Mess for dessert. Treat your Valentine to a magnificent four-course meal at little truffle dining room & bar in Mermaid Beach for $95 per person or nab a spot at Sparrow Eating House in Nobby beach and enjoy five-courses of deliciousness for $55 per person. If an intimate setting is what you seek, look no further than Finder’s Keepers or The Little Plate in Burleigh Heads. Harvest Moon is feeling the love with three amazing courses for $60 per person and over in Broadbeach, Hank Dining & Bar is treating diners to an indulgent feast for $69 per person. The Glenelg Public House is also getting into the spirit with a set menu for the evening which includes Tasmanian oysters and melt-in-your-mouth rump cap among the delectable dishes. Enjoy the freedom of choice with the regular a la carte menu at Mamasan Kitchen + Bar with a little takeaway fortune cookie treat for the ladies. QT’s Yamagen has prepared a special lovers-only dessert extravangza for guests including its Mexican-inspired Piñata of love, which combines frozen Nutella mousse, Belgian chocolate sauce, Ferrero Rocher ice-cream, chocolate crumble, mini donuts, Turkish delight, pink candy floss and waffle cones in one glorious dish. Designed for two, the Piñata of Love is $28. Southport Sharks is rolling out the red carpet with a three-course dinner for two at Carmody’s Restaurant & Bar and Frenzy Food Court is bringing people together over a shared love of seafood with a platter for two including a glass of bubbles for each adult. The best part is, is you have little ones in tow, you can keep them entertained at the Kids Disco while you enjoy a romantic dinner.

Sumptuous Spreads
If you’re really keen to go all out, take off together on a hot air balloon flight followed by a private table for two on the verandah for a champagne breakfast at O’Reilly’s Historic Homestead at Canungra Valley Vineyard. Indulge in a seafood dinner at The Fish House, the sunset sitting is $75 per person for six-courses and the moonlight sitting is $100 per person for eight-courses. Romance is on the menu at Seascape Restaurant + Bar with a four-course dinner menu including Coffin bay oysters, salt and pepper banana prawns, pan-fried red emperor and a glass of Moët & Chandon on arrival for $110 per person and Ristorante Fellini is seducing lovers with a seven-course degustation menu featuring freshly shucked organic oysters from Smoky Bay Eyre Peninsula, baby zucchini with flowers filled with spanner crab and free range chicken breast filled with mozzarella and fresh sage and wrapped in san daniele prosciutto. The degustation menu is $150 per person. Treat your sweetheart this Valentine’s weekend with an irresistible four-course banquet at Vanitas at Palazzo Versace or for a truly unforgettable evening, book the Cupid’s Twilight Cabana Experience and tuck into a sumptuous three-course dinner in your very own luxury cabana at twilight.

Unattached or It’s Complicated
If you are currently unattached, forget trolling Tinder in your pjs, head along to The Arts Centre Gold Coast to celebrate the darker side of love at its Valentine’s Masquerade Lock & Key Party. On arrival, gents will be given a key and ladies, a lock, with the objective being to find your match. Even if everlasting love isn’t on the cards, you can still be regaled by live performances as you drink, dance and debauch yourself into delirium or delinquency.