Every year, whether it be in reality or in movies, books or in your dreams, the ideal Valentine's Day date is a candlelit dinner. A fancy bottle of wine, candles, rose petals and dinner. It does seem like it's a Valentine’s Day tradition and if you’ve done it a couple of times, and you're looking for something more enticing, then ditch the dinner date and change your perspective! 

Here are a couple ways you can spice up everyday occurrences this February 14! 

1. Breakfast Dates 

Breakfast is known to be the best part of the day especially since you’re dying to get some good food down your system, so why not start Valentine's Day with your loved ones at a brunch or breakfast café! Soft pancakes drizzled with thick maple syrup to French toast and perhaps sneak in that bottle of chardonnay? Talk about a really hot breakfast with #foodporn with your better half and if you’re not a morning person, breakfast in bed would be pretty solid now wouldn’t it? 

Suggestions: One Up All Day Breakfast, Let’s Brunch, Café Kumbuk 

2. Can You Give Me That Dessert? 

Warm brownies, thick chocolate sauce, cheese and rum cake, waffles and fondue would only make you want to lick off the excess drip of chocolate or simply watching your loved one getting their sweet tooth fix is simply satisfying! So why not share a plate of brownies and feed each other chocolate coated strawberries? 

Suggestions: Bakes by Bella, Schakasz Dessert Bar, Gerard Mendis Chocolatier, Skrumptious 

3. Ice Ice Baby 

Just do it the old fashioned way people! Head over to your favourite ice cream parlour and split a funky monkey or explore brand new flavours and enjoy the cold sensation with your loved ones! If you’d prefer a far more intimate moment with both your bae and ice cream, then it’s time to take it home in tubs! 

Suggestions: Baskin Robbins, Il Gelato, Venice by Ocean, Häagen-Dazs (available at Arpico Supercentre down Hyde Park Corner) 

4. BBQ Afternoons 

Pack up your BBQ machine and take that much required road trip down South, find a chilled out location beside the beach and get that BBQ working with your favourite meats! Beat the heat with chilled mojitos and ice. 

5. Street Food? 

Why not give into typical Sri Lankan street food down Galle Face? Yes, I’m talking about isso vadei, crab vadei and even a spicy calamari devil! The perfect weather, the giant crowds and decent food and a bizarre date. You’d talk about this date for years to come! 

Suggestions: Nana’s 

6. Hoppers & Chill 

Head out to your local kadey in the evening, get steaming hot hoppers, sambol and beer and log into your Netflix account and watch a soppy romantic movie.