The Best Restaurants for Valentine’s Day in Southeast Asia

From the new and loved, to the ones needing some rekindling, we’ve rounded up the best restaurants for Valentine’s Day in the region, based on the different stages of your relationship. These dining spots have been rated based on their service, ambiance, toilets and of course, food.

1. New couples

Cheek Bistro, Singapore

Bringing a twist to the dining scene, Cheek Bistro offers a platform for its young team of chefs to showcase their individual culinary skills, giving this place a fresh and playful vibe, making it one of best restaurants for Valentine’s Day

This is the perfect place for fuss-free dining, which is exactly what you should opt for if you’ve just started dating someone new. The laid-back interior and playful dishes bring a lightheartedness to the whole setup; the atmosphere is nothing too over the top, but offers just the right amount of luxe to show that you really like your dinner date.

If you’re still getting to know your date, hearty dishes liked smoked organic duck breast, lamb ribs, burrata and T-Bone steak will suit all kinds of palates. For dessert, the cheese plate, which comes with fruit chutney, raisin jam and bits of cranberry and green apple will end the night on a perfect note.

Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Toilets: 3/5

2. New, but shy

Nobu Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Mention a renowned name like Nobu and your date is sure to sit up and take notice. Perfect for the couple looking to impress with a spectacular view of Kuala Lumpur all sparkling and romantic at night, it ticks off the right boxes when it comes to a memorable Valentine’s dinner. All the indulgent ingredients you’d expect such as uni (sea urchin), foie gras (duck liver), wagyu beef and caviar will be served during the seven-course meal in its signature Japanese-Peruvian style and even their house cocktail, the Shiro Rose with shochu, lychee and rose, has everything that a couple in love could ask for.

If you’re looking to be impressed by the food rather than the view, we’re pleased to say that there are several menu highlights which won’t let you down. The Wagyu Yamamomo Teriyaki with Pickled Beetroot, Crosnes and Potato Soufflé is what carnivores will adore as it is a melting mouth of tender, beefy, fatty goodness with the potato soufflé being a crispy contrast.

But lovers of seafood will enjoy the Smoked Oyster & Uni with Jalapeno Sauce and Goma Anticucho Caviar, which is a delightfully fresh way to have an oyster with a spicy, flavourful kick while the uni is a rich and creamy contrast with mushrooms and the briny, salty caviar. Even more memorable is the Inaniwa Chuka with King Crab and Moromi Miso Sauce – a bouncy and chewy udon specially made for Nobu, dressed with a chunky miso sauce and chunks of king crab. Order a few glasses of cold sake to accompany your meal and sweeten the occasion. Nobu’s Valentine’s Day menu will be served from 13 to 16 February 2020.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Toilets: 3.5/5

3. Rekindle that flame

Fook, Kuala Lumpur

Although the name might bring something else to mind, Fook is the Chinese word for prosperity. If you’re looking to rekindle the flame between you and your partner, consider taking him or her to this seductive and very suggestive restaurant hidden away on a hilltop in Bukit Bintang; it’s a real treat for the senses.

They have now adopted a more sustainable approach by revamping their menu to offer the freshest ingredients featuring local seasonal items, working closely with local organic farms in a bid to reduce food wastage. Rest assured, that the restaurant still lives up to its well-known tantalising offerings.

Add more spice to your night with farm-to-glass cocktails or Fook’s wide variety of organic wines, Asian spirits and a unique bespoke selection of liquors that will indeed give a truly sweet ending to your Valentine’s Day.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Toilets: 4/5

Paste, Thailand

Arguably, the glue that binds couples together is good food and what better way to strengthen the bond between you and your partner than with an indulgent meal at one of Bangkok’s most revered Michelin-starred restaurants, Paste.

For those who need to spice up their love life, the tasting menu for two comes with dishes such as roasted duck, chive root salad with live lobster, lon gapi with grilled prawns and pomelo salad with char-grilled scarlet prawns.

It’s truly an experience that both of you will savour and remember for a long time. The tantalising flavours will distract partners from arguing or getting bored with each other for at least the duration of the meal, making one it the best restaurants for Valentine’s Day.

Food: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Toilets: 4/5

4. To propose

Corner House, Singapore

Set in a former colonial home, the setting offers luscious views of greenery and makes the perfect spot for wedding proposals. We recommend booking a seat at the Whispering Corner where you can dine beneath a glazed verandah, an intimate spot that is romantically lit in the evenings.

Corner House’s cuisine is mainly European with an emphasis on botanical elements. Helmed by Chef Jason Tan who is inspired by French classic culinary methods, the oignon doux des Cévennes, showcasing the sweet and tender Cévenne onion, can be savoured in four signature dishes.

If proposal anxieties are rushing through your mind, the Corner House Experience Menu will get you sorted. It kicks off with an amuse bouche and comes with dishes like Gillardeau oyster and Maine lobster to ensure you’ll have a memorable meal to go along with your plan.

Food: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Toilets: 4/5

Kayu Puti, St. Regis Bali

Set the scene for the dream proposal by booking a table at the Kayu Puti Restaurant located in the luxurious St. Regis Bali where one can bask in the beautiful Indian Ocean views before finding the right moment to pop the question. One it the best restaurants for Valentine’s Day is inspired by “Nyegara Gunung”, a Balinese saying that means “from the mountains, to the beach”.

This saying can be experienced through its Pan-Asian inspired cuisine in which some of the freshest locally sourced ingredients from the sea and the surrounding area are used to create the dishes. If you want privacy, book a table at the exclusive cabana where you can propose amid the romantic enclosure of your own personal dining area.

Kayu Puti is also famously known for its brunch menu and the Astor Diamond Champagne Brunch menu is its main highlight. It is an “all you can eat” a la carte concept that comes with fresh catch of the day and includes indulgent luxuries such as caviar and even a prime meat selection, especially seafood.

Food: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Toilets: 5/5

5. On the verge of a breakup

Dining in the Dark, Kuala Lumpur

If your relationship has come to the point where you can’t stand the sight of your partner, but still want to give it another go, then book a table at Dining in the Dark. The one-of-a-kind restaurant offers a “completely new sensory experience” as described on its website.

Located in the lively hub of Changkat Bukit Bintang, this restaurant wants you to savour your meal in a heightened experience. The menu changes seasonally but mainly serves European dishes with Oriental influences.

You can expect to find dishes such as tempura battered avocado, shrimp on guacamole drizzled with cheese sauce and smoked lamb with glass noodle salad, and tantalising desserts such as deep fried nien ko with coconut sauce and fresh grated coconut in the menu.

It’s been touted as one of the best restaurants for Valentine’s Day and certainly most romantic restaaurants in Kuala Lumpur, as you never know, dining in absolute darkness might just offer a new perspective on your relationship.

Food: 4/4
Service: 4/4
Ambiance: Can’t really tell
Toilets: 4/4