With heart-shaped chocolates, luxury goods, and a romantic rendezvous in an upscale hotel
Why celebrate Valentine’s Day on Valentine’s Day when every single day is a day of love for lovers? Sure, it is, but February 14 comes with special perks and packages available just once a year, or for a limited period at best.
So, go ahead—score serious love points with your Significant Other by surprising him or her with these V-Day-only menus, generous overnight staycation packages, and thoughtful tokens of affection. You’re welcome.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Pop Heart Bar
Sweets for your sweet? Choose Cadbury Dairy Milk. This year, your favorite chocolate bar comes in a Pop Heart Sleeve, a unique and colorful packaging that allows you to write a special note to your Special Someone. If any of the five designs don’t make your honey swoon, wait till he or she opens the wrapper and discovers the cute Pop Heart Bar embedded in the smooth and rich chocolatey treat.
The Limited-Edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Pop Heart Sleeves and Bars are available in leading supermarkets nationwide and in online stores.
If your lovey-dovey has an eye for exquisite accoutrements, turn to Montblanc. The iconic German brand of writing instruments has since expanded its line to include luxurious leather goods, timepieces, technology, and other fine accessories.
For the lady who has everything, consider Montblanc’s Meisterstück Doué Geometry signature gold-coated Classique Ballpoint Pen or Montblanc Muses Marilyn Monroe Special Edition writing instrument. Both beautiful keepsakes are made even more special when complemented with the red-lined Notebook #163 Medium. Put them all in a Meisterstück Selection Messenger bag in croc-embossed leather, and if you really want to show how much you truly love her, slip in a Montblanc Bohème Day & Night watch!
Is your man looking to elevate his style? Gift him with items that ooze taste and polish. We suggest the Montblanc MB01 Over-Ear Headphones. Made with soft leather and comfortable cushioning, they provide an immersive haptic experience thanks to their Active Noise Cancellation feature. Of course, there’s no going wrong with the Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date, theMaison’s first sports diving watch (ISO 6425 certified), boasting a blue glacier pattern dial achieved using a special technique called grate boisé, a unidirectional bi-color ceramic bezel, engraved caseback, and a tapered interchangeable stainless-steel bracelet.
Montblanc is available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Cebu, Greenbelt 5, City of Dreams, and Resorts World.
Are you half of a loving couple? Check-in Diamond Hotel Philippines on February 14 or 15 using the Love Infinitely Room Package (P11,500 net) to enjoy an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room, a buffet dinner and breakfast for two at Corniche, access to the Health Club & Spa, use of the swimming pool, and free Wi-Fi access.
If you and your honey share a love for food, head over to the Lobby Lounge and ask about the Dinner Set Menu (P5,800 net for two persons). A Dinner Set Menu for two for the same price is also available at Bar27, a happening spot with a stunning view of the city from the 27th floor. And Yukakuen’s Omakase Valentine Course at P9,988 net for two persons will have you falling in love with the delectable dishes prepared by Japanese MasterChef Hiroshi Masuda. The special menu includes Smoked Salmon with Vegetable Salad and Tuna with Cream Cheese, Clam Fish Cake with Clear Soup, Salmon and Grouper Sashimi, Shrimp and Foie Gras Roll and Wagyu Cube Steak, Oyster Flavored Steamed Rice with Soup, and Green Tea Crepe.
If you both have a big appetite, the 5-course meal at the Poolside should satisfy nicely. For P6,200 net for two persons, you’ll get Smoked Prawns with Grilled Asparagus, Poached Quail Egg, Pickled Cherry Tomato and Balsamic Dressing (Appetizer); Cacciucco Seafood Soup with Prawn, Clams, Mussels and Calamari (Soup); Baked Herb Crusted Scallop (Starters); Atlantic Salmon Fillet with New Zealand Mussels, Baby Spinach and Saffron Seafood Sauce or Chimichurri Pan-grilled Angus Chuck Roast with Truffle Mashed Potato, Roasted Tomato, Edamame and Mushroom (Choice of Main Dish); Chocolate Velvet Praline made from Chocolate Mousse, Hazelnut Crouqatine Gelled Red Berry and Sablée Biscuit (Dessert).
All ladies dining at the restaurant and lounges on February 14 will receive a Valentine token, courtesy of the hotel.
Diamond Hotel Philippines, Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila. (02) 8528- 3000.
Patrons of The Peninsula Manila will delight in the exciting expressions of love the historic hotel has in store this Valentine’s.
For P14,800 a Romantic Staycation entitles you and your sweetie to an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room, 20% savings on spa treatments, a charcuterie cheese board and wine amenity, a couple’s portrait in watercolor, and a delicious breakfast buffet for two the following morning at Escolta. Check-in as early as 4 am and check-out as late as 10 pm for the ultimate “we” time.
At The Lobby this Valentine’s, inquire about the 4-course dinner menu at P4,590 net per adult. Old Manila’s offering is a 5-course dinner especially prepared by Chef de Cuisine Domenico Nicolino. Savor it with wine pairing (P9,000) or by itself (P6,000). Fans of Asian cuisine can dine at Spices, where a Spices Under the Stars’ Sugar, Spices and Everything Nice menu with two hours of free-flowing beverage can be had at P 4,700. For buffet lovers, Escolta tempts with a Perfect Catch Seafood Dinner Buffet with two hours of free-flowing Champagne for P 6,300, or P 3,800 for adults, and P 1,900 for children.
The Peninsula Manila, 1226 Makati Ave, Makati, Metro Manila, (02) 8887-2888.
Can’t decide on which cuisine to feast on for Valentine’s lunch or dinner? City of Dreams Manila has a world of flavors to choose from.
From February 13 to 15, Crystal Dragon serves a curated 5-course Valentine’s set menu of premium Cantonese cuisine and regional Chinese specialties. Imagine sitting down to this spread for P4,000 net per person: Appetizers of Oven-baked Swan Pastry filled with Chicken and Truffle Paste and Deep-fried Stuffed Cheesy Prawn Ball with Fragrant Coconut Roasted Eel in Crispy Bean Curd Skin; Braised Hot and Sour Crab Meat Broth with Japanese Scallop and Shrimp Wonton, Wok-fried Beef Tenderloin with Sichuan Pepper and King Mushroom with Sauteed Mixed Vegetables, and Crispy Egg Noodles with Seared King Prawn for lunch; and Mangaro Dark Chocolate Dome with Ginger Crème Brulée for dessert.
At P11,000 net, a 5-course tasting menu for two this February 14 at Nobu Manila promises not to disappoint. The romantic gastronomic fete commences with a chef’s selection of zensai (appetizer), followed by the first course of Nobu Canape selection of Oyster with Nobu Salsa, Oyster with Yuzu Granita, Yellowtail with Jalapeño, and Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice Malibu-Style. It continues with Nobu Seasonal Assorted Sushi of Toro (tuna), Uni (sea urchin), and Ama Ebi (shrimp); Seared Scallop with Sobagaki (cooked soba dough) and Truffle Oil; Trio of Wagyu Beef – Nobu-style Taco, Wagyu Skewer with Kabotcha (squash), and Crispy Gyoza. For a sweet conclusion, Blueberry Monkfruit Panna Cotta will be served.
Haliya’s 5-course Filipino menu includes Sugpo (poached annatto tiger prawn, coconut tuille, avocado crema, pickled radish, compressed celery, lemongrass and ginger emulsion, and edible flowers); Cured Salmon Ensalada (pako or fern salad, crispy kataifi, semi-dried cherry tomato, Mandarin baby red radish, beet fluid gel, and kalamansi-dill cream); Bell Pepper and Tomato Krema (roasted bell pepper-tomato soup with parmesan heart tuille, crispy smoked pork bacon bits, micro basil, and thyme oil); Beef Estofado (sous vide carbon neutral Royal Ranch Beef Tenderloin, oven-baked stuffed baby eggplant, pork longganisa salsa, sweet potato puree, and estofado jus); and Tsokolate Liyag (Haliya’s Valentine chocolate cake, salted caramel, and kesong puti or white cheese). With complimentary cocktails thrown in, it’s a steal at P9,000 net for two. Available on Valentine’s Day only.
City of Dreams Manila, Entertainment City, corner Macapagal Avenue and Aseana Avenue, Parañaque. (02) 8800-8080.
Food is undeniably the love language of Novotel Manila Araneta Center, what with the sweet and savory selections it has for Valentine’s.
At Food Exchange Manila, the V-Day promo “A Taste of Romance” has a decadent buffet spread that includes a glass of sparkling wine or sparkling juice, a single-stemmed rose for the ladies, free-flowing coffee, tea, iced tea, soda, and chilled juices for P2,888 net per person.
The 6th Manila charms couples with its 6-course candlelit dinner set menu for two, appropriately called “Under the Stars.” Relish your meal outdoors at the hotel’s Versailles Garden on the seventh floor for just P5,988 net per person.
Couples who prefer to celebrate romance in the afternoon should go to Gourmet Bar, where afternoon tea is available daily from 2 pm to 5:30 pm. Toast to love with cups of hot tea and a light but filling menu of scones served with jam and cream, a medley of sweet entremets, delectable cookies, and savory finger sandwiches.
General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta City, Quezon City. (02) 8990-7888.
Red may be the color of Valentine’s but at Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA, the Drink of the Month is a Blue Moscato, a special concoction of Moscato, blue curacao, triple sec, and your usual citrus.
Have a glass or two as you check-in for an overnight Valentine’s stay. P5,400 net will get you a buffet breakfast for two, 15% discount from the Ala Carte menu of CASA Urban Table, 10% discount at the Mandara Spa, welcome drinks for two, and a special welcome amenity upon arrival.
CASA Urban Table also has a special 4-course set menu on February 14 (lunch and dinner) and February 15 (dinner), from 11 am to 3 pm (lunch) and 6 pm to 10 pm (dinner). The treat starts with Creamy Tomato Soup, then progresses to Feta and Candied Walnut Salad, a choice of Roast Beef Short Plate or Prawns Thermidor for your main, and the equally indulgent Triple Chocolate Mousse for dessert—all for P1,400 net per person.
Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA, North Avenue Complex SM City North, EDSA, Quezon City. (02) 7944-1888.
