20 Unique Ways to Spend Valentine’s Day in NYC This Year

Valentine’s Day may get a bad rap but don’t we deserve a day completely dedicated to treating ourselves? Of course, we do! But with thousands of restaurants, flower shops, and date spots to choose from in New York, it can be hard to make the holiday memorable (and original) for your loved one. Whether you’re celebrating with your significant other or your bestie (or hey, just pampering yourself), we’ve got a few ideas to make the day totally fabulous. Presenting 20 excellent ways to spend Valentine’s Day in NYC this year.

Why not switch things up for a night or two? Book a staycation and spend the weekend exploring a different neighborhood...or just cozy up and kick back in a comfortable hotel room. The Crosby Street hotel has a special staycation option with Champagne, breakfast, candles and a late checkout; or for an extra special stay, the Baccarat Hotel’s Romance and Style package includes champagne, keepsake Baccarat Mille Nuits flutes (for you to keep), a couples’ photoshop (with help from a celebrity stylist), a treatment in the hotel’s deluxe Spa de La Mer, a romantic dinner, chocolates, and more. Need more inspo? Check out some of our favorite staycation options here.

Sure, you could spend a night out at a romantic NYC restaurant or bar, or you could play bartender for the night, either in one of your favorite bars, or even in your very own living room. Take a mixology class (alongside a decadent tasting menu) at Tribeca’s Artesano this Valentine’s Day, where guests will learn how to make three craft cocktails from industry experts. Additionally, Sourced Craft Cocktails delivers at-home cocktail kits to all five boroughs with a rotation of seasonal cocktails, and the option to have their mixologists mix them right in front of you or create your own by choosing your favorite alcohol base with the cocktail kit of your choice. Cheers!

Whether you’re planning a Valentine’s Day evening with your partner or a Galentine’s Day with a few of your besties, a KazuNori hand roll kit is not only an amazing meal, but it’s also tons of fun. The kit goes for $128 and comes with everything needed to make 20 hand rolls, including all the ingredients—four different fresh fillings (toro, crab, yellowtail and salmon), their signature warm rice, seaweed, plus an assortment of condiments—to make decadent hand rolls from scratch, no sushi-making skills required. The kit serves four to five people, so why not make it a double-date?

Lots of restaurants and bars around the city have mastered their cozy, winter-embellished dining set-ups, but The Lavaux is in a league of its own. This West Village wine bar will transport you to the Swiss Alps by way of Hudson Street, thanks to adorable outdoor seating and decked out private dining gondola carts. So book a table and snuggle up with a wine flight and fondue because nothing says I love you like decadent, melty cheese.

Housed in a 19th century textile factory in the heart of Tribeca, Aire Ancient Baths offers a peaceful haven from the chaos of the city. Spend the morning indulging in a full-body massage or even a wine bath before relaxing in the Greek and Roman style thermal baths. Book a couples’ spa day or just treat yourself to a day of luxury, because after all, Valentine’s Day is just an excuse to be pampered.

Have you ever thought about enrolling in wine school? Us too. Brooklyn-based sommelier and founder of The Children’s Atlas of Wine, James Sligh, has partnered with Clinton Hill’s Leon & Son Wine and Spirits for wine classes, both in-person and virtual. Impress your friends and colleagues with newly acquired sommelier lingo and knowledge—or just enjoy five to seven yummy wines in the intimate BedStuy space. If you choose to learn from home, you’ll pick a session that speaks to you and once you’ve registered, you’ll receive three bottles of wine to your doorstep, food pairing and service suggestions, a playlist, and a link to an 80-minute remote wine tasting with Sligh. Afterwards, you can put your new knowledge to use and pick out the perfect bottle for your Valentine’s Day celebration.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, so why not treat yourself with a celebratory brunch on your lunch break? We promise we won’t tell your boss! Book your table for an Italian-inspired meal at Charlie Bird, small plates paired with natural wine at the Four Horsemen, a Michelin-starred Mexican meal at Claro, or a Mediterranean spread at Miss Ada. For more ideas, here are our favorite brunch spots in NYC.

Feel like skipping the Valentine’s Day reservation madness? We get that. Shake up your at-home cuisine with the help of one of our go-to dumpling spots, Nom Wah Tea Parlor. If you’re feeling adventurous, order a meal kit and learn how to fold your own dumplings and rice rolls at home. Or if you’d rather leave the cooking to someone else (no judgment), just order in a pack of their pre-made frozen dim sum. Goldbelly also has tons of special meals from all around the country that can be shipped right to your door. Order Kunamoto oysters fresh from Pike Place Market in Seattle, lobster rolls straight from The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport, Maine or a BBQ feast from Austin’s famous Franklin BBQ. Bon appétit!

Sushi lovers, rejoice: If you haven’t tried the traditional Japanese tradition of omakase, we have the perfect opportunity for you to experience the luxurious meal. With options for indoor and cozy outdoor seating, Shinn East in the East Village has set up a fully winterized sushi bar complete with heat lamps and a covered awning. Grab a seat at the chef’s counter and enjoy piece after piece of creative, perfectly crafted nigiri like Hokkaido scallop and fatty tuna with caviar. For $69 per person, it’s one of the best deals we’ve come across for high-quality sushi.

Try something new and get your hands dirty this February with a couples’ ceramics class. Mud Matters in Hell’s Kitchen’s Valentine’s Clay class is great for potters of all experience levels, offering two hours of guided instruction and building, resulting in a piece that’s sure to be a heartwarming keepsake for years to come. Couples Classes NYC offers classes where you and your significant other can spend two hours learning all the basics and making two clay projects that staff will glaze and fire for you, which you can pick up and decorate at a later date. Time to get spinning!

We know most New Yorkers steer clear of 42nd Street at all costs, but this Valentine’s Day, passersby can admire “Love’s h|Edge,” the winning installation of the 15th Annual Love in Times Square Design Competition. The heart-shaped hedgerows form a floral maze in the middle of Times Square, where visitors can take a moment to admire the secret garden’s art, and even add a fresh rose as a gesture of love. (Plus, if you want to propose, renew your vows, or even get married in front of the installation, you can sign up here.)

Broadway is back in full-force, New York—even if you’re on a budget! Nothing’s more romantic than a swanky evening with your boo, whether it’s at Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, or one of the other dozens of shows on or off-Broadway. Looking for something a little sexier? There are plenty of steamy burlesque shows to see in the Big Apple: The Shuck It Show at the newly opened East Village bar Down & Out (free, 2/9 at 8 p.m.); Raw Burlesque: Valentine’s Day Edition at House of Yes in Bushwick ($41, 2/14 at 7 p.m. or 10 p.m.); Filthy Gorgeous Burlesque Valentine’s Day Spectacular at Greenwich Village’s Le Poisson Rouge (starting at $20, 7:30 p.m. on 2/14).

Located in the boiler room under Chelsea Market lives ARTECHOUSE, an immersive art space which has partnered with Pantone to celebrate its 2023 color of the year, Viva Magenta, with none other than the Magentaverse. Step into a mesmerizing cinematic journey through room-sized projected installations and soundscapes inspired by nature of the bright pink-purple pigment that’s oh-so-romantic. Take the experience to the next level with their Date Night Package that includes one cocktail per person for $35.