Oh, the day of Love. It is right around the corner and I can feel a sense of panic amongst many of my loved up friends. If you’re in The Mother City, then Valentine’s weekend is easy to plan. We have it sorted. We have plenty to see and do and eat. If you’re up in Joburg, though, I sometimes feel like the best you can do is head to ORT with your passport and hope for the best.

Thank goodness then that we found this for you, hidden in the bustling suburb of Sandton. Actually, you should’ve heard of The Maslow by now. It’s the place to be for dinners and weekend escapes, and if you’re flying in on business then it’s a no-brainer.

The darlings over at the hotel have put together the best weekend for you and your lover. Basically it will turn into the real life version of a happy Taylor Swift song (I’m thinking this one).

Let’s tell you about your fairy-tale weekend…

The story begins in a deliciously-romantic urban setting – not too far, but with the illusion of being somewhere far away. Couples arrive to be welcomed with a refreshing glass of bubbly while soothing love songs, performed by Chilli and Lime, fill the air.

Dinner is served in the trendy Lacuna Bistro, overlooking The Maslow’s tranquil oasis garden. The specially-created four-course meal is a story on its own. Oozing romance, it starts with kataifi pastry-wrapped tiger prawns with tomato and cumin.

It takes a delightful turn with a choice between salmon gravadlax – served with horseradish crème, pea and mint paint, pickled courgette, carrot, wild mushrooms, tomato confit and jalapeño vinaigrette or succulent pork belly – served with lentils, parsnip purée, edamame, spicy tomato and porcini dust.

For mains there is another choice to be made. There is a sumptuous 350g rib eye steak – with broccoli tempura, fondant potato, baby carrots, charred green beans, burnt onion vinaigrette, aioli and red anticucho – or miso baby chicken, served with sweet corn, caramelised pineapple, aji amarillo, tomato, basil, glazed asparagus, and spicy lemon vinaigrette.

The tale ends with a deliciously sweet twist, with a choice between hot chocolate fondant – an indulgent collaboration of iced double cream, toffee crème, and raspberries and poppy seed brittle – and strawberry and coconut terrine – a spectacular ensemble featuring wild berry sorbet, marbled white chocolate, wafer and vanilla crème.

Couples can choose to add another chapter to their Valentine’s story by staying the night in one of the Maslow’s exquisite rooms, with breakfast the following morning. If they are still not ready to conclude their story, there is The Maslow’s Serenitea – a decadent afternoon tea served with champagne – to savour in the afternoon. There’s another treat here – couples attending the Serenitea over the Valentine’s weekend will receive a complimentary voucher worth R650 from Jenna Clifford.

Let’s break that down for you quickly.

Option one: Valentine’s dinner at Lacuna costs R500 per person. This includes welcome drinks, live entertainment and a four course meal.

Option two: a glass of bubbly on arrival, dinner at Lacuna, live entertainment, one night for two at the hotel, and breakfast the next day, costs R2499 per couple.

Option three: a decadent afternoon tea, at R390 per person.

As if planning Valentine’s Day hadn’t already been made so easy for you, here’s the final clincher: Guests ordering their Valentine’s gifts from the Jenna Clifford website can also enjoy the convenience of having their gifts delivered to The Maslow on Valentine’s Day.

For more information visit suninternational.com or call The Maslow on 010 226 4600.