17 Romantic Restaurants to Celebrate Valentines Day
Ideas for a great night out in Orlando and beyond, from lively eateries with entertainment and to off-the-beaten-path romantic spots to luxury Disney resorts.
International Drive/Restaurant Row
Fleming's
Lobster and steak are certainly the perfect couple this Valentine's Day. (Courtesy Fleming's)
At both area Fleming’s locations in Winter Park and on Sand Lake Road ("Restaurant Row"), diners can enjoy Valentine's Day Feb. 10-19 with a three-course menu, starting at $79.95. Guests start the evening with an amuse-bouche and choice of salad, followed by an eight-ounce filet mignon accompanied with either New Zealand Ora King Salmon or Australian Lobster Tail. Complete the dinner with wines from JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset and finish on a sweet note with Raspberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding. Fleming’s is also offering Wine, Dine and Shine from Feb. 10-14, an unforgettable, $1,000 dining experience inclusive of a four-course wine dinner for two, perfectly paired with an elegant jewelry piece from a Luxury Fifth Avenue Jeweler.
Dragonfly Robata
Do something different for Valentine's Day and introduce your sweetheart to brand-new exciting flavors. (Courtesy Dragonfly)
In addition to their regular a la carte menu, Dragonfly Robata on Orlando's Restaurant Row will offer a five-course prix fixe dinner for two for $85 available Feb. 10-14. Enjoy the Branzino Crudo, Miso Chowder, Chilean Seabass, Robata Grilled Quail, and the Dulce de Leche Mousse.
Cuba Libre
Located in Pointe Orlando on International Drive, this festive eatery is giving guests four opportunities to celebrate Valentine’s Day with specials available Feb. 11-14. Valentine’s Day dinner specials include appetizers such as the Cuban Poke, Cuban Sandwich Spring Rolls, Chuletón de Puerco, 12-ounce grilled Duroc rib pork chop; and the Pargo Frito, a crispy whole red snapper served with coconut rice and candied cashews, and tamarind-lemongrass sauce. Celebrate with a sangria or a signature mojito with pomegranate, watermelon or raspberry. End on a sweet note with a tableside selection of eight of Cuba Libre’s pastry chef’s favorite desserts, available for $4.25, and a specialty coffee such as the Café Cuba Libre with steamed coconut milk or the Café Mocha fused with Mexican hot chocolate.
Start off with a rum flight to break the ice this Valentine's Day. (Courtesy Cuba Libre)
Taverna Opa
Renowned for fun, Taverna Opa promises not to deliver the same old Valentine's Day dinner. For $85 per couple, enjoy housemade hummus and Marouli salad; Saganaki; a 22-ounce Porterhouse with 7-ounce lobster tail; and Loukoumades for dessert. Belly dancing and a Greek-style celebration begin nightly at 7 pm.
Tapa Toro
Opa's sister restaurant with a Spanish twist, Tapa Toro, is just up International Drive at the Orlando Eye. Take a 20-minute ride on Orlando's ferris wheel and take in the sights of the city before enjoying a five-course dinner, offered Feb. 10-14. For $65 per person, couples can share a creamy carrot bisque, wild mushroom farrotto, grilled 32-ounce Tomahawk steak, Gambas al Ajillo, creamed spinach and macaroons for dessert. Live Flamenco dancing will surely keep the conversation going all night.
Lake Nona/Orlando International Airport
Canvas Restaurant & Market
Before catching your flight home, end the trip on a high note at Canvas Restaurant & Market. This eatery in the charming downtown area of Lake Nona will offer two menu items exclusive to Valentine’s Day, available February 10-14. Choose from wood-oven roasted warm-water lobster tail for $50 or the 12-ounce prime Manhattan steak with shaved black truffles and blue cheese for $70. The bar also turns out some tasty hand-crafted cocktails.
Get to Lake Nona before sunset to check out this charming new town. (Courtesy Canvas)
Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen
Also in Lake Nona and the sister restaurant of Canvas, Chroma will offer a six-course prix fixe dinner for two for $70 with an optional add-on wine pairing for $45. The menu includes buratta cheese and smoked prosciutto; red and yellow beet “carpaccio,” coal roasted Cape Canaveral shrimp; foie gras terrine; preserved cherries; cassoulet of white beans with smoked sausage, double smoked pork belly and duck confit; and a flourless chocolate cake with cinnamon ice cream.
Chroma is trendy, tasty and fun … and right near the airport. (Courtesy Chroma)
Surrounding Area
4 Rivers Smokehouse and Sweet Shop
The Sweet Shop at 4 Rivers Smokehouse is now offering a sweet selection of treats decorated just for Valentine’s Day. Choose from the Brown Butter Cake, Double Chocolate Cupcakes or the Heart-Sugar Cookies, or go ahead and get them all! Locations in Winter Park, Downtown Orlando and The Loop in Kissimmee. 844.474.8377
This double chocolate cupcake will surely win the heart of your honey. (Courtesy 4Rivers Sweet Shop)
1921 by Norman Van Aken
If you're looking for something extra special and a little off the beaten path, make a day trip up to Mount Dora. This charming, New England-style town with its hills and lakes might look a little out of place in Central Florida, but one of the state's most famous chefs, Norman Van Aken, has made sure you'll get a taste of authentic Florida cuisine at his new restaurant, 1921. Cozy up to the bar and start with an old fashioned then head to the dining room for local seafood, immaculately prepared.
Step back to the grandeur of the '20s at this fabulous new restaurant in Mount Dora. (Courtesy 1921 by Norman Van Aken)
The Disney Area
Four Seasons Orlando
The romantic setting of Four Seasons Orlando’s rooftop restaurant is perfect for any date night and especially on Valentine's Day. Breathtaking views on sprawling 17th floor outdoor terraces pair perfectly with freshly shucked oysters, Florida seafood and expertly grilled cuts. At Ravello, a four-course menu is offered for $75 per person, and at Capa, a four-course menu is offered for $95 per person. For couples who like to unwind and relax, the Spa is offering a special couple's massage from Feb. 11-14, complete with your own rose-petal-strewn suite with two glasses of rosé and chocolate truffles, from $385.
The Spanish-style steakhouse features a dramatic and sensuous dining room. (Courtesy Four Seasons Orlando)
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
The dark and sultry dining room of Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, where couples can snuggle into comfy side booths and share the Chateaubriand or Tomahawk for two, is renowned for tableside preparation, the highest levels of personalized service and a creative menu featuring re-imagined steakhouse classics and trend-setting fare. For Valentine's Day, enjoy a prix fixe menu for $140 per person with wine pairings available. Stop in the Peacock Lounge, a nod to New York's anchor hotel bar, for a nightcap. Complimentary valet.
Bull & Bear is known for its attention to detail and attentive service. (Courtesy Waldorf Astoria Orlando)
Monsieur Paul
Travel to the city of love, light and romance at Monsieur Paul, an authentic French bistro tucked away inside Epcot’s World Showcase at Walt Disney World. This intimate second-floor retreat is distinguished by an ornate dining room accented with hand-painted ceilings and velvet, purple banquettes. Stay for dessert, or book two spots at the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party for stellar sweets and sights paired with sparkling wine during the nightly fireworks. Park admission is required.
Time your dessert course for the 9 pm fireworks outside the window. (Courtesy Walt Disney World)
Flying Fish
This newly designed dining room sets the mood for a memorable date night. The seafood menu is immaculate, not to mention 100 percent sustainable, and features wild Gulf shrimp, grouper cheek and Yellowfin tuna—and that's just the appetizers menu. After dinner, take a romantic stroll down Disney's Boardwalk.
Disney's Flying Fish offers a seafood menu that's 100 percent sustainable. (Courtesy Walt Disney World)
California Grill
One of Disney's most sought-after restaurants, California Grill offers fresh seafood, sushi and steaks with sweeping views of the Seven Seas Lagoon from the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Hotel. Every night around 9 or 10 pm, the lights dim just in time for the blasts of color illuminating the sky over Cinderella’s Castle, providing a magical ending to any special occasion. The restaurant is open to non-hotel guests, but reservations are recommended.
This rooftop restaurant at Disney's Contemporary Resort has become a classic. (Courtesy Walt Disney World)
Victoria and Albert's
It doesn't get any better than this. You might fork out $250 a person, but the seven-course dinner with wine pairings is truly remarkable. Helmed by award-winning Scott Hunnel, Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort is Central Florida's only five-diamond restaurant and a serves a spectacular dining adventure you will never forget.
Elevate your culinary experience by booking the Chef's Table. (Courtesy Walt Disney World)
The Boathouse
Cruise through the picturesque waterways of Disney Springs aboard a 40-foot Italian water taxi for a private wine tasting poured by a captain and crew. The Saturday night one-hour cruise departs from Disney’s Boathouse where steaks, fresh seafood, a raw bar and live music are ready to delight a sea-loving crowd. Disney Springs offers free parking inside two "smart" parking garages.
The Boathouse serves the best selection of oysters in town, a proven aphrodisiac. (Courtesy Walt Disney World)
STK
Kick your date night up a notch at STK, a high-energy steakhouse at Disney Springs featuring a DJ in the main dining room. Choose from a menu of medium to large cuts of expertly grilled steak that come with a variety of decadent toppings and sauces. Specials just for the evening are seared foie gras with Florida strawberries; Chilean sea bass with King Crab; and filet mignon with butter poached lobster tail. After dessert, take your date upstairs to the rooftop lounge to continue the evening.
STK isn't your ordinary stuffy steakhouse. (Courtesy STK Orlando)
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