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Blogs & Inspiration

Valentine's Day Cocktails

Experienced mixologist and bar owner Mido Ahmed Yahi shares his tips and love-inspired cocktails to make your bar a go-to spot for Valentine's Day.

Author: Mido Ahmed Yahi, Mixology Creative Director at RDD and Co-founder of Café Moderne

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

CREATE A LOVE STORY

Your venue can become the perfect spot where love flourishes, and customers can enjoy love-themed cocktails, pairing menus, special offers and fun events. The key is getting the word out with effective pre-Valentine's Day promotion, so your guests can book their perfect, romance-themed evening.

To help you plan a successful Valentine's Day for your venue, we caught up with Mido Ahmed Yahi, the leading bartender and Co-Founder of Café Moderne, a restaurant cocktail bar of the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Mido shares his top tips on attracting more bookings, creating the perfect atmosphere and adding love-themed cocktails to your menu:

ATTRACT LOVE-STRUCK GUESTS

The saying ‘Paris, the city of love’ is never more accurate than on the 14th of February. With customers often starting this magical day with café and viennoiseries with their amour, and finishing it in their favourite restaurant and bar with a menu pour deux s'il vous plait, it’s a busy day for venues all over the city.

At Café Moderne, and all around the world, guests usually book their tables for Valentine’s Day in advance. That's why promoting your bar's Valentine's Day offerings at least three weeks before the day is très important. Here are my top promotion tips:

FIVE TIPS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY PROMOTION

  1. Update your website to call attention to your Valentine's Day plans, including menus and cocktail specials.
  2. Spread the word on social media by posting good-quality images with details of your offering and how to book.
  3. Use popular hashtags with your Valentine's Day posts like #happyvalentinesday, #valentinesdayspecial or #valentinesdayideas.
  4. Promote special offers and couples' packages to attract couples looking for a romantic and affordable evening.
  5. Share your Valentine's Day-themed menus to show the different serves and cocktail and food pairings you have available.

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT ATMOSPHERE

On Valentine's night, love is definitely in the air at Café Moderne. Here are a few ideas to encourage that romantic ambiance in your venue:

  • Carefully select les cocktails du jour. For example, at Café Moderne, we offer customers two cocktail servings inspired by an iconic couple.

  • Present a Valentine-themed menu with culinary delights and cocktail pairings to complement your romantic room décor, music and lighting.

  • Include single people so everyone can enjoy Valentine's Day. Create a signature serve for singles to make sure they feel just as special, or even create a speed dating event, for guests to meet in a fun environment.

THREE LOVE THEMED COCKTAILS

Here are three cocktails that will bring a little romance to your Valentine’s Day menu.

LES FLEURS DU MAL

The perfect aperitif balancing the botanical elegance of  Tanqueray London Dry gin, with the depth and flavour of dry sherry and peach aperitif, and a subtle touch of absinthe for an enchanting twist.

La Hacienda

The crisp agave character of Don Julio Blanco tequila is enhanced by the invigorating zest of lime juice, and delicate hints of coriander and lemongrass.

Cherie Sherry

A sophisticated fusion of smooth Ketel One vodka and rich sherry with a sweet, romantic medley of pineapple, strawberry and elderflower.

Key Takeaways

  • Advanced promotion is key for bookings: To make sure Valentine's Day is successful at your venue, it's essential to promote your special offerings well in advance.

  • Engaging social media promotion: Use social media, with quality images, clear information and hashtags to increase the visibility of your offerings to potential guests.

  • Highlight value with special offers: To attract couples seeking a romantic yet affordable experience, consider promoting special offers and couples' packages.

  • Curate a romantic atmosphere: Craft a romantic atmosphere for Valentine's Day by thoughtfully selecting cocktails and food pairings that enhance the overall experience.

  • Adopt an inclusive approach: Find ways to include single people in your Valentine's Day festivities by creating a signature cocktail or offering special events like speed dating so they feel valued and can join in the celebration.

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