Sold as chef-restaurateur Scott Pickett’s love affair with French cuisine, Smith St Bistrot brings a worthy maison to Collingwood. It’s got character, charm and the classics executed well. The kitchen is helmed by chef Daniel Southern, who dishes out a series of snacks from pleasingly fatty duck prosciutto, cut with peppery radish and pickly friends, to the decidedly more ostentatious Giaveri beluga caviar service, replete with blini and other expected accoutrements. In classic bistro style, mains come with a handful of classic garnitures; pommes frites, pommes Anna, petit pois a Francais, and endive for those who prefer salad. Naturally, there’s a steak au poivre, in this case a butter-soft, dry-aged eye fillet, perfectly rested and lacquered in glossy, pleasingly piquant jus. 300 Smith St, Collingwood; smithstbistrot.com.au.

A firm local favourite, this Fitzroy stalwart extends its outdoor dining onto the street to allow for more space while feasting. Accidentally (on purpose) touch hands with your date as you scoop up tasty morsels from Marion’s share plates. The asparagus, salsa verde and Manchegois perfect for starters on a warm evening – especially when paired with a chilled bottle of a Victorian white. Order the mafalde with heirloom squash, pistachio and Provolone – you will not be disappointed. Corner Deadman’s Lane and Gertrude Street, Fitzroy; marionwine.com.au.

This labour of love for Alejandro Saravia – of Pastuso fame – is housed in the 80 Collins development, a three-storey ode to the abundant produce of Gippsland. Whether you choose to sip cocktails on the rooftop – designed around a greenhouse – or enjoy a few plates of Gippsland’s finest produce at the restaurant, chances are you’ll want to stop by the deli for some take-home treats before calling it a night. 95 Exhibition Street, Melbourne; farmers daughters.com.au.

Melbourne’s most coveted restaurant releases its bookings at 9am every day for the next three months, so if you have a special date in mind it pays to plan ahead. And given the scope of the set menu (at $360 per person) make sure to allocate plenty of time to enjoy your visit. Attica offers an experiential dining experience showcasing locally sourced produce – this is eat with your fingers, from house-made crockery, fine dining. 74 Glen Eira Rd, Ripponlea; attica.com.au.

“For friends, strangers, partners, lovers…” is the tagline of this sparkling restaurant by Melbourne hospitality stalwart, Scott Pickett. The 2023 four-course Valentine’s Day dinner ($180pp) featuring a main of Angus eye fillet with pommes Anna and truffle sauce – with seductive sides to share – could kick off your love affair with this glamorous fine dining establishment. Its moody Collins Street digs emulate a European-inspired bistro – with a focus on opulence, luxury and an indulgence in the finer things in life. 430 Little Collins St, Melbourne; chancery lane.com.au.

The folks at Cutler & Co know a thing or two about the ingredients that make a romantic date night – they’ve been in the fine dining restaurant game going on for well over a decade now. Curious diners can put their faith in the chef with the Chef’s Selection Menu – add the Sommelier’s Selection for true commitment to the ride. A dedicated vegetarian tasting menu will take you and your zucchini flower – we mean date – from one mouth-watering dish to another, with an apple mint sorbet, blueberries and lemon verbena to cleanse the palate. 55/57 Gertrude St, Fitzroy; cutlerandco.com.au.

If your perfect date resembles a scene from Lady And The Tramp, then this Italian trattoria is the perfect backdrop to your pasta-slurping fantasy. This St Kilda restaurant brings together owner Di Stasio’s dedication to the Melbourne hospitality scene, a love of avant guarde art and his familial home of Italy. For maximum commitment to the movie theme, share the Linguine Capri with prawns, parsley, lemons and (that all important ingredient) sunshine. 5 Spring Street, Melbourne; distastio.com.au.

The small and intimate dining area in this Brunswick East restaurant is ideal for cosying up with a date. The seasonal menu caters well to vegetarian diners – chilled Skull Island prawns, tropical fruit and fresh lemongrass sambal off the summer menu will hit the spot. And the Otway pork chop with toasted sesame bearnaise and sorrel is sure to satisfy a more carnivorous inclined partner. 60 Lygon Street, Brunswick East; ettadining.com.au.

If you’re keen to venture outside the bounds of Melbourne city, a daytrip to the Yarra Valley will certainly win you some brownie points. Stop off for lunch or dinner at the picturesque TarraWarra Estate in Yarra Glen – just over an hour’s drive from the Melbourne CBD. The wine list itself is enough of a drawcard to this intimate dining experience; however, the tasting menu – available also in a plant-based version – and view from the floor-to-ceiling windows will have you whiling away the hours in satisfied bliss. 311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Rd, Yarra Glen; tarrawarra.com.au.

Society is where you can try things that may otherwise be out of reach – sip Pol Roger or Montrachet by the glass, try caviar martinis made with nori butter washed vodka or take your pick from an impressive cellar boasting back vintages of Romanee-Conti and 1945 Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes that’ll have you remortgaging the house. That wow factor extends to the five course seasonal chef’s menu ($225pp) and delightfully dramatic desserts. 80 Collins St, Melbourne; society restaurant.com.au.

So Frenchy and oh so chic, Chris Lucas’ latest offering to Melbourne plays a strong romantic suit, whichever part of the lavish four-level venue you choose. Pro tip: why not make a polyamorous night of it? Get in the mood sampling oysters and Champagne at the indoor-outdoor rooftop terrace, swing down to the dining room for classic Gallic dishes amid the smoky-mirrored elegance (hello, perfect rotisserie chicken), and finish in the basement club where live jazz and cocktails syncopate perfectly with the late-night supper menu of caviar and rock lobster rolls. 23 Bourke St, Melbourne; https://www.maisonbatard.com.au/

Get your Gatsby on at Andrew McConnell’s lavish vision of Golden Age excess, where marble, terrazzo and tiered seating (all the better for checking out the competition) make the perfect excuse for dressing to impress. Hit the romantic high notes by booking a table for two, clinking glasses of the namesake cocktail and sharing Euro-centric dishes such as tuna and sea bream crudo with creme fraiche, herb and butter-drizzled woodgrilled lobster and dry-aged Muscovy duck. For extra kudos, initiate your loved one into the late-night delights of the supper menu (available post-10pm on Friday and Saturday) with the likes of caviar, oysters and a cheeseburger that will leave you swooning. 33 Russell St, Melbourne; https://gimlet.melbourne/

It’s impossible not to vibe on romance at this glamorous eyrie, 55 floors above Melbourne. The dazzling city panorama and moody-hued dining room, sparkling after a recent renovation, set the stage for an unforgettable degustation in the sky. Expect lavish proteins and native plants and spices across 18-odd courses: smoky marron tail, melting wagyu, kelp-brined sweetbreads. The wine list is a globe-trotting wonder, while personal touches make a splash-out occasion even more memorable (don’t be alarmed if you’re whisked to the kitchen to sample briny-fresh oysters or a hot jam doughnut). As for the roving cheese trolley? Ooh la la. 55 Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne; https://vuedemonde.com.au/

Whether you’re seated at the bar overlooking the open kitchen or going tete-a-tete at a linen-clad table, the date night KPIs at this bijou French bistro are in excellent order. The mise-en-scene of the old Sydney Road shopfront certainly helps – raw brick walls lined with wine bottles, candlelight, vinyl spinning on the bar-top turntable. But we’re equally in thrall to chef Mia Coady-Plumb’s way with oysters (just add a roast mignonette), tarts (maybe fig, tomato and chevre jazzed up with fig leaf vinaigrette) and an extravagantly fragrant bouillabaisse for two. Add a wine list studded with gems, along with a Coravin system to sample them by the glass, and set the dial to ‘woo’. 295 Sydney Rd, Brunswick; https://www.barmagnolia.com.au/

Kick off with a cocktail. Jewel-coloured concoctions lean creatively into the Turkish theme – the gin, elderflower and apple tea Elma is an elegant sipper, while raki with watermelon, melon liqueur and feta will whisk you (in spirit, at least) to a bar beside the Bosphorus. You’ll take a similar trip with Coskun Uysal’s creative menu that gives heritage a modern spin. Hit the sweet spot between rugged and refined with quail kebabs on almond hummus and dainty beef dumplings with garlic and burnt butter sauce. The warm glow of twinkling tea candles against red brick and turquoise tiles nails the intimate vibe for a low-key but richly rewarding date night. 217 Carlisle St, Balaclava; https://www.tulumrestaurant.com.au/