If you’ve already read the Durban and Johannesburg recommendations for this year’s Valentine’s Day, those of you located further south are likely itching to know what Cape Town has in store for couples. The good news is, there’s a wide variety of choice as per usual – the bad news is you’ll have to pick and choose to decide what romance style will suit your relationship!

If you’ve got any alternatives to places we’ve picked, we’d love you to share them with us in the comments below.

Tasteful Tea

Those who work in close proximity to their partners should consider swooping in on their lovers lunch hour and whisking them away for a high tea lunch date. Places like the Mount Nelson, Twelve Apostles, Cape Grace, One and Only, et al, are often recommended for the views afforded and the high quality cuisine and service.

However, if you don’t work in or near town, you’ll quickly realise that most of the above choices are rather inconvenient, so start looking at nearby local alternatives. For your lunch hour, you’ll be looking for a tasteful experience coupled with quality food that won’t take forever to prepare. Recommendations include La Feta Vij in Tygervalley; Peaches in Plumstead; Tribakery in Tokai; Franieba’s in Noordhoek; and The Meeting Place in Simons Town.

Cocktail Fun

Forget about that traditional, expensive dinner that most other couples will be dressing up for and instead, pick your sweetheart up after work and head to Banana Jam, Panchos, or Cape to Cuba. Some afternoon sunshine, an array of cocktails and starters, and vibrant music being played overhead, will lead to a valentine’s date not soon forgotten. Once you’ve had your fill of conversation (and libation in moderation), head home to cook supper together – but don’t forget to add in those special touches like candlelight, and a bouquet of flowers.

Evening Entertainment

If you’re not keen to cook, then a dining extravaganza can be experienced at Stardust. Here, you’ll not only receive good food and service, but you’ll be consistently dazzled when the friendly staff take to the stage and start belting out ballads, rock anthems, and  pop songs. Live entertainment coupled with a gorgeous interior, without the high price tag, equals a win-win for most people. Another great venue to be recommended is Richard’s Supper Stage and Bistro, in Sea Point.

Smooth Sailing

As noted before for both Durban and Johannesburg, there’s something indescribably magical about taking your special someone out on the water (unless they get seasick). The fading sunlight reflecting on the gentle swell, the salty air and fine dining, (and for ladies, the opportunity to dress up!), makes an evening suspended over water quite special. There will be numerous cruises available on Valentine’s Day, so keep an eye out for possible specials and discounts. Cruises from the V&A Waterfront are to be recommended, due to the amazing sight of Cape Town lighting up at night.

Overnight Opulence

If you’ve had your fill of Valentine’s Day madness and commercial romance, opt to pamper yourselves instead, and book a guest house to stay at for the night. Optional extras include hiring a masseuse, followed by a soak in a bubble bath or Jacuzzi.

Just picture sipping on champagne, while sinking back into scented, warm, rose petal strewn water, and feeding each other strawberries dipped in cream – it’s simply heavenly, (and is also easy to recreate at home for those on a budget). These treats should relax even the most stressed-out partner, and afterwards, you can  both enjoy the offered facilities, and just savour being in new surroundings.

You’ll sleep on soft linens, likely be woken for a delicious breakfast, and can head to work feeling refreshed and sane again. If moneys not an object and you have a leave day left, you should both take Friday off to make a long weekend of this experience and engage in activities you’ve never tried before. Things like horse riding on the beach or exploring the little nooks and crannies in your suburb, can help make this year’s Valentine surprise unforgettable.

Simple Pleasures

Cape Town has numerous outdoor areas that couples can escape to – hiking to find a picnic spot, coffee in Kirstenbosch Gardens, strolling hand-in-hand on a beach while collecting beautiful shells, watching the sunset paint the sky over Sea Point Promenade, star gazing from Lion’s head, camping outdoors, and touring a wine farm. The list just goes on and on.

We are blessed with beautiful landscapes, and if you couple those with our legendary easy-going culture, you have endless possibilities to enjoy scenic splendour while on a date. Each of the above options allows for an intimate evening that’s practically free of charge.

For other ideas of what you could do, check out last year’s Valentine’s Day post. We’re always keen to hear what tickles your fancy, so share your Valentine’s date ideas with us in the comments. And don’t forget to keep this in mind when planning your date: “Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden gaze” – Elynor Glyn

Main image courtesy of  Kathleen Cavalaro (Flickr)