5 things every romantic Valentine’s Day dinner should have

[Sponsored] Ah, Valentine’s Day—a day that speaks to the hopeless romantic in all of us. Feb 14 is just around the corner, and that means you only have a few days left to plan the perfect dinner date with that special someone. Here’s what you need to make it an evening you won’t soon forget.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday in 2017 so you and your partner will most likely be meeting after work. Choosing a restaurant in a central area means that you can leave thoughts of work and the peak hour rush behind quickly and begin spending quality time together as soon as possible. Conveniently located in the CBD at OUE Bayfront, Me@OUE will do nicely.

We can’t think of many better backdrops for a romantic night out than the glittering Marina Bay area. Through its floor-to-ceiling windows and from its rooftop lounge Me@OUE offers one of the best vantage points in town to soak in the sunset and watch the skyline light up.

For accompaniment while you enjoy the views, and to set the stage for dinner, look no further than Me@OUE’s selection of signature cocktails. Go with the aptly-named Kiss Me ($20) – made with tequila, vanilla liqueur, fresh lime, muddled strawberries and egg white – or savor one of their champagne cocktails ($32).

Me@OUE is famed for serving three cuisines under one roof – Japanese, French and Chinese. The three cuisines come together in fine style for the restaurant’s four- and six-course Valentine’s Day menus. The four-course menu ($150 per person, available from 6-8pm) features double boiled bamboo fungus with shavings of black truffle; Seafood Paradise – a combination of unagi, Hokkaido scallop, lobster, tiger prawn, octopus and baby sardine; Castaing duck breast with pan-seared foie gras; and lychee rose raspberry bavarois. The six-course menu ($220 per person, available from 8-10pm) includes the four dishes with the addition of gin and tonic salmon, and Atlantic black cod with nameko mushrooms, green ginger and Hong Kong choy sum.

To really pull out all the stops, take the opportunity to enjoy your meal with wine and cocktail pairings ($190 per person for four-course, $280 per person for six-course). Among the irresistible matches are a Margaret River sauvignon blanc semillon with the Seafood Paradise, a Chapelle de Potensac cabernet sauvignon and merlot blend with the Castaing duck breast, and the lively Bee’s Knees cocktail – a mix of gin, manuka honey syrup and lemon juice – with the gin and tonic salmon.