The cold weather is giving us plenty of reasons to snuggle up, ideally with a loved one. On the Day of Hearts, drive east to the mountain resort city of Antipolo, where the air is cold but the passion is on fire.
Where can you take your date?
Dinner for two
For a consummate date in an intimate artsy ambiance, Burrow’s Café at Antipolo Beehouse and Tahanan Bistro are offering a gourmet dinner package for a memorable evening. Burrow’s Café has a six-course tasting menu at P6,000 per couple, while Tahanan has a five-course treat, two glasses of wine, and a bouquet of flowers for P3,695.
Be serenaded while indulging in fine food at Eugenio Lopez Center’s sit-down dinner, and a six-course menu, glass of wine, and souvenir at Oscar’s Fine Dining. There’s also a buffet for two at P2,499 or P1,250 per person at the Dining Hall.
Vieux Chalet, a pioneer fine dining resto, hosts the Hymne a l’amour (Ode to Love), a by-reservation only dinner on Feb. 14-15 featuring a Swiss menu of raclette, bunder gerstensuppe (barley soup), rotkrautsalat (red cabbage salad), chateaubriand (beef tenderloin) or prawns a la Flo, confectionery, and suitable pairings.
For an early date at lunch, the quaint Crescent Moon Café resto offers a feast for the senses with its Southeast Asian cuisine specialties, and remarkable pottery works. The place is also the workshop and showroom of stoneware ceramics artist Lanelle Abueva Fernando.
Overnight stay
Luljetta’s Place Garden Suites, a sprawling recreational complex, has a complete Valentine’s Day Getaway Package at P11,340, which includes an overnight stay with a romantic room setup; breakfast; access to Luljetta’s Garden Suites, Hanging Gardens Spa, and Loreland Farm Resort; Signature Massage; and a four-course meal.
The immaculately white Le Blanc Hotel and Resort, meanwhile, offers a package of room accommodation, full-body massage, dinner, live acoustic music, and breakfast buffet for P7,000.
Couple’s massage
For weary couples, Callospa, a boutique resort surrounded by flowers, offers wellness packages to rejuvenate body and spirit. Its claim to fame is its state-of-the-art equipment, European-trained therapists, and fusion treatments combined with the world’s best massage styles using natural herb and fruit extracts.
Day tour
Go on a day tour at The Ground Resort, one of Antipolo’s emerging "Instagrammable" spots, an exclusive retreat themed after the hobbit house of The Lord of the Rings. This favorite prenuptial pictorials destination is offering a 10 percent discount on venue rentals for the month of February.
Gaze at the galaxy at Seven Suites Hotel Observatory, the first and only of its kind, located at a hilltop vantage point. Peek through the 12-inch diameter Sky-Watcher, the country’s fourth most powerful telescope as its resident astronomer assists in interpreting the constellations.
Spend a day immersed in art at Pinto Art Museum which features contemporary paintings, murals, sculptures, mixed media, and installation artworks spread out in six galleries. Its white-washed, Mediterranean-style buildings, mini amphitheaters, and manicured landscapes transport guests to the iconic Greek island of Santorini. Cap the walk with a hearty dinner at its artsy Café Rizal offering a la carte international favorites.
