The best Valentine's Day dinners for all budgets in Beijing

Impress your sweetheart with Beijing's most romantic dinners

Treat your main squeeze with one of the many Valentine's Day dining specials on offer in Beijing. Check out our list below for where to wine and dine to your heart's content, based on different price points (because who says thriftiness isn't attractive?).

Bottega

Italian eatery Bottega keeps things casual this Valentine's Day with a low-key à la carte menu featuring grilled baby octopus (98RMB), sous-vide wagyu beef with mashed potato (288RMB), heart-shaped pizza with walnut purée (138RMB), red velvet cake (98RMB) and fresh strawberries with amaro liqueur and aperol (68RMB). Available all day at both Sanlitun and Jinshang.

Price By dish, around 68-228RMB.

 Bottega (Sanlitun) Second floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (6416 1752); Bottega (Jinshang) First floor, 20 Xinyuanli Xi, Chaoyang district (6410 9800).

 11.30am-10pm.

Café Zarah

If Valentine's Day for you usually involves a threesome between yourself, Ben & Jerry, then Café Zarah's anti-Valentine's Day party might well be the perfect place to engage in a bit of rebellion. They're still serving up a three-course meal (for those of you who can't rebel on an empty stomach), which includes the likes of Thai-style vegan coconut mushroom soup and filet mignon with rocket, along with all-night happy hour on house wines and prosecco plus music from a live DJ. Reservations required, RSVP by Tuesday 12 February.

Price 188RMB per person; 376RMB per couple.

 Café Zarah 46 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng district (8403 9807).

 7pm-10pm (dinner), 10pm-1am (after-party). 

Hagaki

Those searching for lighter fare will find it at Hagaki's eight-course Japanese dinner for two. Menu highlights include classics such as teppanyaki, sashimi, baked snapper and more. For more information or to make a reservation, click here.

Price 520RMB per couple, includes two glasses of champagne.

 Hagaki East Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (8414 9815).

 5.30-10pm. 

Jing A

Ritzy eight-course meals aren't for everyone, and for those of you already suffering from lobster-fatigue (we've got a fair way to go yet), then Jing A's got you covered. Head to the Xingfucun brewpub to down a beer flight (including four tasters), barbecue platter (any two barbecue meats), choice of side (such as mac & cheese, sweet potato fries or brussels sprouts) and pie in a jar (apple, Oreo or pumpkin). Share it with your latest squeeze. Or don't – we could probably demolish the barbecue platter singlehandedly.

Price 188RMB per set. 

 Jing A Brewpub Xingfucun First floor, Lee World Building, 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang district (6416 5195).

 4-11pm.

The Merchants

One of Beijing's newest wine bars gets straight into the Valentine's Day spirit with a five-course set menu. Unsurprisingly, wine's the name of the game here, so we'd recommend splashing out an extra 300RMB for the wine pairing.

Price 488RMB per person, add an additional 300RMB for wine pairing.

 The Merchants 77 Meishuguan Houjie, Dongcheng district (40 0799 0299).

 7pm-1am.

Migas Mercado

For stunning CBD views and tasty Spanish eats, then Migas Mercado's hard to beat. Serving up a lavish dinner for two this Valentine's Day, the menu includes five starters to share (foie gras, chicken and apple mille-feuille, sardines with cheese and truffle spread, scallops with cauliflower purée, Basque-style shredded crab meat with vegetables, fideuà with cuttlefish and prawns), your choice of main (either roast codfish with squid noodles or lamb rack with eggplant purée) and a mint mousse for dessert.

Price 988RMB per couple. 

 Migas Mercado Seventh floor, China World Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district (6500 7579).

 11.30am-10pm.

Mosto

For a taste of South America, head to Sanlitun stalwart Mosto this Thursday. Begin with starters to share, such as the French oysters with pink pepper and caipirinha sorbet, and the shredded pork with red bean foam, before choosing from one of two mains – Icelandic cod with white beans, chorizo, glazed carrots and leak foam, or Josper-roasted beef tenderloin with purple potato and morel mushrooms. Finally, close out the meal with a duo of desserts, including crème brulée.

Price 498RMB per person. 

 Mosto Third floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district (5208 6030).

 5.30-10.30pm.

O'Steak

This Thursday, O'Steak's serving up not one, but two, dinner menus to get you into the Valentine's Day spirit. Dubbed 'French Kiss' (six courses for two people) and 'Parisian Kiss' (four courses for one person), diners can enjoy escargot, beef tenderloin, lobster soup and more.

Price 888RMB per couple (French Kiss); 428RMB per person (Parisian Kiss).

 O'Steak 55-7 Xinfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang district (8448 8250).

 6-10.30pm.

Q Mex

Take the guesswork out of ordering with Q Mex's Valentine's Day surf and turf sharing platter. Featuring avocado salad, sliced fillet steak, grilled shrimp and dark and white chocolate mousse cake, there's no need to even look at the menu. Available at all Q Mex locations (Sanlitun, Liangmaqiao and Shuangjing).

Price 228RMB per set. 

 Q Mex (Sanlitun) Courtyard 4, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (6585 3828); Q Mex (Shuangjing) Space 3, Beijing Yuecheng Center, Dongsanbei Zhong Lu Chaoyang district (8770 0668); Q Mex Taqueria First floor, 20 Xinyuanli Xi, Chaoyang district (8435 3601). 

 11.30am-10pm. 

Signature's Restaurant

Signature's Restaurant does what it does best this Valentine's Day, and that's offer up a gluttonous buffet with an almost stressful amount of variety. Enjoy beef Wellington, cold cuts, Peking duck, lobster, oysters, sashimi, pastries, tarts and more. Then go back for seconds.

Price 368RMB per person including free-flow wine.

 Signature's Restaurant Kempinski Hotel Beijing, Lufthansa Center, 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (6410 4222).

 6-10pm.

Agua

Spanish restaurant Agua celebrates the most romantic day of the year with a five-course menu packed with prime ingredients, such as salmon, angus short rib, Australian wagyu beef and, of course, lobster (is it even a Valentine's Day meal if there's no lobster?).

Price 1,188RMB per couple. 

 Agua Fourth floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (5208 6188).

 5.30-10pm.

Bistrot B

The Rosewood's elegant French eatery Bistrot B serves up an equally elegant four-course dinner this Valentine's Day. The menu features beef consommé with beef cheek ravioli, New Zealand langoustine with pumpkin purée, roasted duck breast with foie gras and orange duck jus, and a raspberry bavarois with pistachio feuillantine.

Price 780RMB per person. 

 Bistrot B First floor, Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, 1 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district (6536 0066).

 5.30-10.30pm.

The Cut

Not to be confused with The Cut at Fairmont Beijing, this Taikoo Li steakhouse is serving up an expectedly meat-heavy sharing menu for two this Valentine's Day. Entrée dishes include Fine de Claire oysters, red tuna tartare with a beetroot juice reduction and foie gras terrine served with red date jelly, followed by a surf and turf duo for the main course, including Australian black angus tenderloin and grilled jumbo shrimp topped with spiced sweet chilli gravy. End the evening on a sweet note with panna cotta and chocolate fondant pudding.

Price 1,188RMB per couple including two cocktails and two glasses of wine.

 The Cut Third floor, Taikoo Li North, Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district (6468 1619). 

 5-10pm.

Feast (Food by East)

Tuck into an indulgent platter for two featuring chateaubriand steak, grilled seafood, fresh lobster and more at Feast this Valentine's Day. Dinner also includes free-flow Perrier Jouët Grand Brut champagne, house wine, Tsingtao beer, soft drinks and coffee. For more information or to make a booking, click here.

Price 628RMB per person.

 Feast (Food by East) East Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (8414 9820).

 5.30-9.30pm.

Jing

The Peninsula Beijing's French fusion restaurant Jing ticks all the gourmet, OTT boxes this Valentine's Day with a five-course menu that includes oysters, caviar, foie gras and more. Jing's sommelier will also be on hand to give expert wine recommendations alongside a mixology team crafting bespoke cocktails. 

Price 1,980RMB per couple including two glasses of champagne.

 Jing B1, The Peninsula Beijing, 8 Jinyu Hutong, Dongcheng district (6510 6714).

 6-10pm.

Red Bowl

Who says hot pot can't be fancy? With ingredients such as Australian wagyu beef, Ning Xia boneless lamb, pork shoulder and more, this Valentine's Day hot pot is a monumental step-up from Haidilao. 

Price 1,314RMB per couple including free-flow sparkling wine. 

 Red Bowl First floor, Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, 1 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district (6536 0066).

 5.30-10.30pm.

Opera Bombana

In what's becoming a bit of a Valentine's Day tradition, Opera Bombana is once again serving His and Hers degustation menus, presumably for the couple that can't agree on anything. Menu highlights include Normandy blue lobster with braised lettuce hearts, venison loin cooked in a salt crust and braised oxtail and cabbage cannelloni. For the full menu, click here.

Price 1,888RMB per person, plus optional wine pairing for an additional 888RMB.

 Opera Bombana LG2-21, Parkview Green Fangcaodi, 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (5690 7177).

 6-10.30pm.

TRB Forbidden City + TRB Hutong

If money's no object (or you're really trying hard to impress that special someone), then TRB's unabashedly luxurious six-course dinner may just be the one for you. Featuring ingredients like wagyu beef, langoustine, oysters and foie gras, couples can opt to either dine against the stunning backdrop of the Forbidden City (TRB Forbidden City) or within a 600-year-old temple complex (TRB Hutong).

Price 1,888RMB per person plus 15 percent service charge (ouch).

  TRB Hutong 23 Shatan Bei Jie, Dongcheng district (8400 2232); TRB Forbidden City 95 Donghuamen Dajie, Dongcheng district (6401 6676).

 11.30am-10pm.

For more ways to celebrate Valentine's Day in Beijing, hit 'Read more' below. 

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