HALF OF SINGLE AUSSIES ARE READY TO WINE AND DINE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

• New OpenTable research shows 40% of Australians plan to dine out this Valentine's Day with 72% of coupled-up Aussies planning to enjoy a dinner date^[1]
• 50% of single Australians said they'd go on a first date at a restaurant on Valentine's Day^[1]
• According to OpenTable, Valentine's Day dining was up 18% in 2024 YoY^[2]
• OpenTable has announced the Top 50 Most Romantic Restaurants in Australia to help diners choose their Valentine's venue

SYDNEY, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Forget flowers and romantic cliches, dining out will define Valentine's Day this year as singles and groups join coupled Aussies to redefine this traditionally romantic holiday. New research from OpenTable, a leader in restaurant tech, has found that nearly half (40%) of Australians plan to mark the occasion with a restaurant reservation this year.^[1]

A romantic evening out at a restaurant tops the list for 72% of Aussies in a relationship on Valentine's Day, and amongst those dining out on Valentine's Day, a sharing style menu is likely to be the preferred (64%) dining option. But it's not just couples looking to make a reservation on 14 February, 50% of single Australians said they'd go on a first date at a restaurant on Valentine's Day, with millennials (58%) the most likely to take a chance on love.^[1]

The trend is set to continue this year with a quarter of Aussies planning to dine out with friends to celebrate Valentine's Day and 17% celebrating over dinner on Galentine's Day.

"Recent OpenTable research has shown that Aussies have big dining plans this Valentine's Day, and having been one of the biggest dining days in 2024, it's no surprise that a quarter of Australians surveyed prefer to receive an experience over a gift for Valentine's Day^[1]," said OpenTable's Drew Bowering."OpenTable's annual Top 50 Romantic Restaurants list is the perfect place for diners to discover an incredible restaurant to book and enjoy a special meal with a partner or friends this Valentine's Day."

Whether it's date night with a partner, friends or someone new, Australians are set to embrace love this Valentine's Day and are spoilt for choice with an abundance of incredible restaurants across the country. On Valentine's Day in 2024, 79% of OpenTable diners opted to try somewhere new^[4] – a trend that's anticipated to increase this year, as 81% of respondents who are planning to dine out said they plan to book at a new restaurant^[1].

To help romance-seekers discover their next favourite spot, OpenTable has compiled a list of the Top 50 Most Romantic Restaurants in Australia in 2025 (in alphabetical order by state/territory)^[5]:

New South Wales

• 99 On Park, Coffs Harbour
• Blaq, Blackheath
• Cozy Dining, Sutherland
• Glass Brasserie, Sydney
• Glasshouse, Timbumburi
• Hemingway's Manly, Manly
• Mimosa Wines, Murrah
• No Bones Byron Bay, Byron Bay
• Osteria di Russo & Russo, Enmore
• Pellegrino 2000, Surry Hills
• The Mez Club, Byron Bay
• The Oaks Ranch, Mossy Point
• The Union Bank Orange, Orange
• Valentina, Merimbula
• Whalebone Wharf, Port Macquarie

Queensland

• A Touch of Salt, Townsville
• Amici Restaurant, Caloundra
• Banksia Seafood and Grill, Hervey Bay
• Basil & Vine, Burpengary
• Black Hide Steak & Seafood Caxton Street, Petrie Terrace
• Bridgewater Restaurant + Botaniq Bar, South Townsville
• Deer Duck Bistro Brisbane, Auchenflower
• Essa Restaurant, Fortitude Valley
• Locale Restaurant and Bar, Noosa Heads
• Mr. Vain, Fortitude Valley
• Olive and Angelo, Brisbane
• Sasso Italiano, Woolloongabba
• Tayta Nikkei, Mermaid Beach
• The Arsonist, Manly
• The Terrace at Emporium Hotel Brisbane, South Bank
• Tuscan Terrace, Mount Cotton

South Australia

• Fiore at Down The Rabbit Hole Wines, McLaren Vale
• Godi La Vita, Adelaide
• Hardy's Verandah Restaurant, Crafers

Tasmania

• Landscape Restaurant, Hobart
• The Point Revolving Restaurant - Wrest Point, Sandy Bay

Victoria

• Cecconi's Toorak, Toorak
• Donovans, St Kilda
• Kiss & Tell, Melbourne
• Lona Misa, South Yarra
• North&COMMON, Coburg
• Old Man Drew, Ascot Vale
• Olivine, Coburg
• Sir Loins, Bright
• The Atlantic Restaurant, Southbank
• The Woodhouse Restaurant, Bendigo
• Trattoria Emilia, Melbourne
• Vue de monde, Melbourne
• Yugen Dining, South Yarra

Western Australia

• Bali Hai Cafe, Cable Beach

About OpenTable
OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), helps more than 60,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.7 billion seats a year. OpenTable's world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.

SOURCE OpenTable