8 THINGS TO DO ON VALENTINE’S DAY IN CAPE TOWN THAT AREN’T OVERLY CLICHÉD

Watch out Capetonians – there’s about to be a whole lot of love happening in the city.  Cupid has landed, and everywhere you look you’ll find heart-shaped paraphernalia and meals designed to be split between two.

A word of warning to anyone who is coupled-up and whose significant other cares about V-Day: it falls on a Saturday this year, so that means Going All Out.

Stumped for slap-up plans? Luckily for you, the CTE.com team has been researching the best possible nights out come February 14th. Take your pick from the list below.

Cuddle up at The Galileo
This open-air cinema at the V&A Waterfront ticks all the boxes for romance. Stars? A picnic? Snuggly blankets? Tick, tick, tick. As for the movie being screened, it’s The Vow. Channing Tatum plus Rachel McAdams = V-Day gold. The only thing missing, really, is Ryan Gosling holding a box of chocolates and a puppy. Get your tickets here before they sell out.

Bright lights, date city
General wisdom is that the way to keep romance alive is to try new things together. We’re not saying you need to book a tandem sky-dive for the big day – how about being tourists in your own backyard. Board one of City Sightseeing‘s big red busses for their Night Tour, which takes you from the V&A Waterfront around the peninsula (ocean views, the wind in your hair…) and up Signal Hill for a picnic.
City Sightseeing is offering 100 Special Edition tickets on 13, 14 and 15 February. R350 gets you two tickets for the Night Tour plus a picnic for two. Get yours here. 

Summer loving at Shimmy
Shimmy, Cape Town’s upmarket playground, is offering lovebirds two V-Day options. Keep it casual with a bento box on the private beach at lunchtime, or opt for an a la carte lunch or dinner in the dining area. Either way, stick around for the sultry beats of Joris Delacroix (France) to get the night going.

Thornton Whites
Getting a babysitter on 14 February might be more trouble than its worth. Enter Thornton Whites, one of the most chic kid-friendly restaurants we’ve ever experienced (read the full review here). Mom and dad can get their romance on with the decadent Valentine’s Day special: a Pongracz Kir Royal on arrical, feta and roasted sweetcorn jalapeño poppers to start, a Portuguese seafood platter with all the trimmings for mains and Lindt cookies and panna cotta for dessert – for only R500 per couple.
Enter our competition HERE to win V-Day for you (and your kids!) at Thornton Whites.

Dinner and a movie
Pepperclub Hotel and Spa is stepping up this traditional date with a Champagne tasting, three-course dinner and private screening of PS I Love You (Gerard Butler – cue swoon). The package will set you back R600 per couple, or you can go all out and add on a night in a Deluxe Studio suite for another R1 600. To book, contact +27 21 812 8888 or email [email protected].

Valentine under the stars at The Castle
If an orchestra and a sense of history is more your thing, then don’t miss this concert at the iconic Castle of Good Hope. ‘Internationally acclaimed musicians will perform alongside the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra in a classic-meets-pop concert filled with love and romance,’ say organisers. We think it’s a pretty stellar idea too. Tickets are R480 a head, or R900 per couple, and are available through Computicket.

A little pique-nique, ma cherie?
The team at Anthonij Rupert Wyne in Franschhoek is known for never skimping on style, so this is a picnic with some serious class. R450 per couple gets you a basket filled with gourmet goodies and a movie screening under the stars. There’s also a daytime picnic option (R380 per couple) with the addition of a kids’ lunch pack (R60 per child) and outdoor games to keep the littles ones occupied. To book, call +27 21 874 9041 or email [email protected].

Have a truly African V-Day experience
There are no shortage of Valentine’s Day themed menus popping up everywhere from the Winelands to the Waterfront. But might we suggest something with a little local flair? At Karibu the chefs know just how to bring the organic flavours of the veld to your plate. Expect all of the local favourites, including bobotie, denningsvleis, game, snoek, putu and chakalaka, and sweet koeksisters to finish. Karibu also does the traditional braai, where you can take your pick from prime cuts of meat, grilled to perfection over the coals of an open fire.

Photography Courtesy
Featured image Artwork is ‘I Love You Cape Town’ by artist Michael Elion