Want to make a special effort for Valentine’s Day this year but aren’t sure where to go? No worries, we’ve scouted round for the most interesting menus and have compiled them into one handy list. We have menus from Spain, Italy, Japan, the Caribbean and more.
So, whether you want to spice things up, slow things down or have a laugh doing something a bit crazy, you’ll find what you’re looking for right here. There are gin making experiences, portrait painting parties, special romantic menus and one-off cocktails. After all, the last couple of years have been a bit difficult, you’ve got some making up to do...
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Where: Carluccio’s Piccadilly
What: New seasonal menu and a deal on fizz
Carluccio’s is offering ‘La Festa Degli Innamorati’, or the ‘feast of lovers’ with a new menu this February, PLUS between 12-14th February, you can enjoy a bottle of Bole Italian sparkling wine for just £25.
A selection of new dishes celebrates the flavours, textures and vibrant colours of seasonal produce such as beetroot, artichoke and blood orange. Start with a blood orange and mozzarella bruschetta (£7.25) before moving onto the Sicilian speciality, lemon chicken and artichoke risotto (£13.95.) The vegetarian Trio Verdura Lasagne (£11.95) features vibrant rainbow layers of butternut squash, spinach, beetroot, tomato in between layers of egg pasta and bechamel. Desserts include vanilla panna cotta (£7.25) with blood orange jelly, and a basil oil drizzle.
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Where: Cosy Club
What: A special edition Love at First Sip cocktail.
This limited-edition zingy concoction of Smirnoff Vodka, Cointreau, Elderflower, Raspberry Shrub and Lemon (£8.50) will only be available between Friday 11th and Monday 14th February. Looking to share a meal with a special someone at Cosy Club? Enjoy any three small plates for £20 and receive a glass of prosecco each. Want more? Indulge in four small plates for £25, five small plates for £30, or a bumper six small plates for £35 (yes, we get it.) All, of course, still inclusive of a glass of fizz. To book your table now and to read the T’s & C’s for the deal, please click here.
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Image credit Adam Pester
Where: Ducie Street Warehouse
What: ‘Threes A Crowd’ menu
For Valentine’s, the warehouse-chic venue is offering a special three-course menu on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Monday 14th February (£40 pp). The ‘Threes A Crowd’ menu starts with the option of parsnip hummus, king prawns and gochujang chicken, followed by 16oz roast sirloin or whole-roasted spiced celeriac shawarma. To finish, there’s date majool sticky toffee slice or poached plums to share. The Ducie Street Warehouse main menu is also available all-day and perfect for pals to share, including the 800g tomahawk of Cheshire beef, 1kg baked Camembert cheese and celeriac shawarma.
The venue’s most-loved resident DJs will provide the weekend’s soundtrack and board games and activities are also available. On Valentine’s Day, the 36-seat Mini Cini with 7.1 surround sound and a 4k projector will screen foreign films Betty Blue (1986) and Jamon Jamon (1992).
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Where: Embankment Kitchen
What: A ‘Love is in the air’ candlelit romantic Valentine’s feast
Chef Marika Healey of Embankment Kitchen, on the ground floor of CitySuites on Chapel Street, has created a decadent 'Love is in the Air’ menu which will be exclusively available on Valentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day weekend (from 11th-14th Feb).
The three-course candlelit romantic dinner features a luxurious assortment of starters such as seared scallops and chicken liver and Cognac parfait. Mains include an impressive 425g Chateaubriand for two, roast cod or an indulgent wild mushroom tart. For dessert, couples can indulge in a special chocolate Embankment sharing platter for two, a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake or a vegan coconut panna cotta. Embankment Kitchen’s bar has also created a bespoke collection of cocktails including ‘A Kiss From Cupid’ (Chambord and prosecco with an edible flower), or ‘The First Spark’ with Brockmans gin and raspberry purée.
Advance bookings only. Book your table here or call +44 161 302 02 02
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Image credit Jody Hartley
Where: Escape to Freight Island
What: A very special pre-Valentine's Weekend celebration
Head to The Jane Eyre Cocktail Bar, tucked away above the hustle and bustle of the Ticket Hall, on Saturday 12th February from 2pm-1am (booking recommended) to sip on handcrafted cocktails alongside some canapes if you fancy.
The Cork and Canvas workshop will return to Escape to Freight Island (£33 per person including all art equipment) on Sunday 13th February from 6:30pm - 9pm with a special Valentine’s ‘Paint Your Partner’ hosted by the fabulous Manchester’s Queen Banksie.
The 13th February will also see a Valentine’s Special dinner and dance (£45) in the Plant Room with a first sitting at 6:30pm and a second at 7pm. Entertainment will be provided by Frank Sinatra tribute act Perfectly Frank/David Knopov. Tickets include a welcome cocktail, a carafe of house wine, and a two-course dinner by Basque-inspired restaurant, Baratxuri featuring dishes cooked in wood-fired ovens including a Pyrenees lamb, clay oven roasted with ras el hanout and cumin seed, malted cauliflower, grilled leaves of Swiss Chard and savoy. There’s Black Forest Baked Alaska for dessert.
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Where: The Midland Hotel
What: Champagne, oysters, dinner and an overnight stay
One of Manchester’s most iconic destinations is offering a few options this Valentine’s Day. Throughout the Valentine’s weekend, guests will be served Valentine’s themed cakes as part of their Afternoon Tea.
Relax in the luxurious surroundings of The Midland Champagne Lounge and share six oysters with a bottle of Pommery Champagne for £45. Move to Mount Street Dining Room & Bar from cocktails and dinner which you can round off with a Strawberry and Champagne Mousse dessert special to share (£18) from February 12th-14th
Make a night of it and book the romantic Valentine’s Overnight Package. Available on Sunday 13th Feb, guests will receive a bottle of Prosecco in their room, a Welcome Plate and breakfast the following morning for £155 for two people sharing.
To find out more about Valentine’s Day at The Midland Hotel click HERE
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Where: Shoryu Ramen
What: The ‘Dates and Mates’ set menu
For £25, you can indulge on three courses of Japanese delights. Start with a choice of bite sized Hakata Tetsunabe Gyoza served in a sizzling tetsunabe cast-iron skillet, Chicken Karaage Buns, or Pumpkin Croquette Buns.
Lovers or friends can tuck into a choice of main including the signature Shoryu Ganso Tonkotsu; rich 12-hour pork broth ramen, topped with char siu bbq pork belly, nitamago burford brown egg, kikurage mushrooms, spring onion, red ginger and nori seaweed. There’s also the option of Piri Piri Tonkotsu, which packs a hot kick, with jalapenos and a top secret spicy gochujang sauce, or Shoryu White Natural ramen a vegetarian treat made with tonyu soy milk, miso, konbu & shiitake broth, atsuage fried tofu, kikurage mushrooms, menma bamboo shoots, spring onion & nori seaweed.
Finish with the choice of matcha cheesecake or tiramisu. Of course, it wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a special tipple - choose from a glass of fizz or a Shoryu special Yuzu Mojito, or Fresh Strawberry Calpico.
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Where: Tast Catala
What: Special five course menu
Tast’s Head Chef Julià has created a very special Valentine's Day Selection, for King Street’s highly regarded Catalan restaurant. The five-course menu is available all day on 12th & 13th of February at their main restaurant (£60pp, bookings only). Guests will be welcomed with a specially created 'Be my Valentine' Cocktail: a mix of Select Pilla Aperitif, Belvedere vodka, Manzana verde, homemade berries syrup & rhubarb tonic. For mains, choose between seabass meunière with pickles and Potato Puree or duck breast a l’orange with Porto Sauce.
See the full menu HERE and click HERE to book.
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Where: Three Little Words
What: A limited edition, Valentine’s cocktail
Fresh off the back of winning Bar Team of the Year at The Top 50 Cocktail Bars Awards, Three Little Words will be open this Valentine's Day from 5pm serving all of their usual cocktails and small plates. But they’ve also created a Valentine’s special cocktail, ‘The Zest Is History’ which will be available on Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th, and Monday 14th February.
The Zest Is History is a refreshing wave of tropical flavours, which will have you dreaming of the spring blossom. It is made with Manchester Hacienda Gin, zingy Kiwi Distillate, Yellow Chartreuse, and Forty-Five Rose Vermouth, served with a lemon sherbet rim.
The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, which adjoins Three Little Words, will also be open this Valentine's Day, and offering a gin-making experience for two at 6:30pm. Perfect for any couples that want to branch out from the usual dinner and a drink.
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Where: Turtle Bay
What: Valentine's Bottomless Dinner
Turtle Bay has created this year's Valentine’s celebrations with ONE LOVE in mind - not just romantic love, but the universal love and respect of all people. Whisk your favourite people away to the Caribbean for the night this Valentine’s as everyone’s invited to share the love over a two-course soul food feast and two hours of free-flowing tropical cocktails for just £38pp on 14th February, from 6pm - 9.30pm.
(For those who don’t want to go bottomless, the Valentine’s Dinner, also on 14th February includes any 2 courses for £17.80pp, or 3 for £21.80pp.)
Guests can choose from the Bay’s brilliant small plates collection - perfect for sharing as well as a host of Caribbean-inspired soul food including Turtle Bay’s classic Curry Goat Hash and Bay Jerk Chicken. Cocktail highlights include the new Pineapple Daiquiri and Spiced Julep.
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Where: 20 Stories
What: Special four-course Valentine’s Dinner
Manchester’s highest restaurant and bar has curated a special four-course dinner to celebrate this day of love (£65 per person.) Situated on the 19th floor of No.1 Spinningfields, with floor to ceiling views, 20 Stories provides the perfect backdrop for a special evening.
Guests can start with Jerusalem artichoke or beetroot croustade, followed by a ham hock terrine with date ketchup, or citrus cured salmon as well as a vegetarian option.
The 20 Stories kitchen will then serve seared duck breast, caramelised celeriac purée, glazed chicory in a spiced duck jus. For the final course a cherry trio consisting of cherry soufflé, cherry macaron and cherry sorbet, or a selection of local cheeses.
20 Stories will also be launching their Galentine’s Afternoon Tea which will include two glasses of PJ Blason Rose, a selection of sandwiches, classic sweet treats, homemade scones and a pairing tea option. This will be priced at £50 and be available between Monday 14th February - Friday 18th February. (Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.)
Tables can be booked HERE
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If you want to make a night of it, take a look at our guide to The Best Hotel Packages in Manchester for Valentine’s Day 2022.
