Best for... dining on someone else's dime
Some people date out of boredom, some to find love… and some, well, to get a free meal. No shame in that. If you’ve been living on a steady diet of instant noodles, we can’t blame you for swiping right on that Morgan Stanley investment banker with the lofty bank account. You may be more interested in what’s on your plate than your dinner date, but is there any relationship more satisfying than a fervent love for cheese and wine? Undisputedly one of the best tables in town, Amber’s degustation menu ($2,068 for nine courses, plus $1,518 for wine pairing) is on its 11th iteration, featuring sublime dishes such as shimaebi prawn marinated with citrus and beetroot with a fried shrimp head, and miyazaki wagyu beef with red cabbage slaw oxalis and pepper berry emulsion. By the time the chocolate ganache dessert and platter of French cheeses rolls around, you’ll definitely be feeling a bit warm and fuzzy inside... 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Rd., Central, 2132-0066. 

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Best for... an instant hook-up
Flying just under the radar but delivering consistently great fuss-free food, wine bar and restaurant 121BC makes for an ideal date night spot with its dark and intimate rustic interiors and affordable wine list. With sensual and sultry vibes accented with warm woods and candlelight, this osteria is the perfect place to fire up the spine-tingling passion (and get liquored up with several bottles of wine). It’s a low-profile type of spot, which means you can be confident you won’t be caught red-handed in the middle of your clandestine tryst, while plenty of bars are dotted around the area in case you need more fuel before heading back to your place for something more than just a kiss goodnight... 44 Peel St., Central, 2395-0200, 121bc.com.hk

Best for... pinny-pinchers
New York-style pizza joint Motorino not only gets points for churning out some of the best Neapolitan pizzas in town, it also sets the mood with lovey-dovey gimmicks such as the date night special complete with pizza, wine and tiramisu ($388) and the heart-shaped pizzas that adorn every two-topper around Valentine’s Day. Besides being a classic option for a low-key night, a pizza date is sure to keep your wallet intact, so you can say cheers to that third or fourth glass of wine. Cozy up next to the wood-fired oven as you dig into slices of spicy soppressata picante ($158) sprinkled with chilis, oregano and garlic; the quattro formaggi with gorgonzola, provolone, fior di latte and pecorino ($148); and the signature Brussels sprout pizza ($168) which will have you looking at the underrated green—and maybe your date—in a new light.14 Shelley St., Central, 2801-6881; 15 Ship St., Wan Chai, 2520-0690.

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Best for... a down-and-dirty date
So you’ve got a hot visitor from out of town you want to impress with your language skills and knowledge of the local landscape? Seek out ABC Kitchen, a hidden gem in a cooked food center that churns out excellent modern European cuisine in the least likely of settings. Standing for “A Better Cooking Kitchen,” ABC is a no-frills spot that channels the cheaper prices and fuss-free attitude of a dai pai dong with the attention to detail and creative cooking of a fine-dining spot. Get to know your companion over pan-fried foie gras, duck confit with orange and fennel, angus ribeye steak served with French beans and kipfler potatoes, and roasted suckling pig. End the night by feeding each other forkfuls of crème brûlée, passionfruit soufflé and chocolate délice (all $48). In this setting, we guarantee no one will be looking. Shop 7, 1/F, Queen Street Cooked Food Market, 1 Queen St., Sheung Wan, 9278-8227. 

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