8 Romantic Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day in NYC
This Valentine’s Day, plan a romantic escape in New York. Nibble chocolates after a couple’s massage, cruise the moonlit Hudson River or star-gaze from the terrace of a penthouse suite. When it comes to love, the sky’s the limit. Here are some ideas for date-night in the Big Apple.
Choose this boutique hotel’s Park and Make Out package for some hands-on culinary fun; after you’re learned to make pasta at the Covina Bar & Restaurant, you can hold each other’s hands. Covina, developed by James Beard Award-Winning chefs Tim and Nancy Cushman, serves Mediterranean-Californian cuisine and is one of the city’s “coziest hangouts, 2017,” according to Zagat.
Mike Wantz/Park South Hotel
Your class gives you a $100 credit to use for dinner at Covina or o ya, a modern Japanese restaurant. Later, drop by the hotel's library to relax with cocktails by the fire. Prices start at $377. Call 212-448-0888 to book.
Park South Hotel
No need to venture out to celebrate. AKA Central Park offers a cozy evening by a wood-burning fire as part of its Robes & Throws package. Slip into warm robes and cashmere slippers, and snuggle under cashmere throws, while you hear curated love songs in the AKA's private, 17th-floor Sky Suite. After an in-suite dinner, venture out onto the 1,000-square foot, wraparound terrace with a vodka cocktail, glass of wine or mug of gourmet hot chocolate. A state-of-the-art telescope is guaranteed to put stars in your eyes. Prices start at $2,245. Call 646-744-3100 to book.
Todd Mason/AKA Central Park
Pamper yourself and your partner at the New York Hilton Midtown. On Feb. 14, fom 1-5 p.m., enjoy a complimentary massage, hair styling and more, as the hotel celebrates its new partnership with PRIV, an on-demand wellness and beauty app. If you’re staying over, use the app to book in-room services, such as a couple’s massage, manicure or make-up session. (Prices vary.) The hotel is within walking distance of Central Park, Broadway, Radio City Music Hall and other attractions, so after you've relaxed, you can head out for a night on the town.
New York Hilton Midtown
Study the art of love—or at least, the art of making chocolates—at L’Ecole Valrhona Brooklyn in Dumbo (a.k.a. “down under the Manhattan bridge overpass"). An expert chef will teach couples how to prepare treats like macarons and bonbons as they sip chocolatey cocktails, share hors d’oeuvres and make a Valentine’s dessert. The $119 class fee includes champagne, a class recipe book, a Valrhona apron and a 20 percent discount on Valrhona website purchases.
Alex Ayer Photography/L'Ecole Valrhona
Alex Ayer Photography/L'Ecole Valrhona
Actually, you don't need a significant other to celebrate this holiday. Singles or couples can book an 80-minute, Valentine's Day appointment at The Sisley Spa, located in the Carlyle, a Rosewood hotel. You’ll get a complimentary glass of champagne and chocolates, along with a complimentary spa enhancement, such as a collagen eye mask or exfoliating body treatment. For a limited time, purchase a gift card and get a bonus card. See the website for details.
The Sisley Spa
Valentine’s Day Cruises
Sail away with your beloved on the Bateaux New York, or catch the ocean breezes from the deck of the Spirit of New York. Dining and sightseeing cruises on both ships leave year-round from Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers and pass such landmarks as the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and One World Trade Center. Your booking will include a buffet-style or plated three-course meal; later, you can sway on the dance floor while a DJ spins love songs. Dinner cruises include a champagne toast and a rose; brunch offers bottomless mimosas. Use the promo code VDAY20 and save 20 percent when you book before Feb. 3. Dates, times and prices vary, so see the website for details.
Entertainment Cruises New York Metro Fleet
Entertainment Cruises New York Metro Fleet
Dinner for Two
Close the kitchen on Feb. 14 and take your partner to NYC’s famous Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House New York. You’ll find a variety of dinners for two, including starters like Oysters & Pearls (chilled oysters on the half shell, served with caviar mignonette and glasses of Veuve Clicquot champagne or Grey Goose VX vodka). Slow-roasted Chateaubriand tenderloin, paired with butter-poached lobster, is a featured entrée. Pair your feast with a Blushing Valentini cocktail or choose from over 2,000 award-winning wines. Cap off your dinner with Godiva chocolate mousse cake. Call 212-575-5129 for reservations and prices.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House
Del Frisco’s Grille New York, at Rockefeller Center, also offers a decadent menu for Valentine’s weekend. Selections include dry-aged, bone-in ribeye with fried oysters, jumbo lump crab, stuffed Maine lobster tail with garlic grits and raspberry chocolate ganache tart. The Grille’s expert chef and sommeliers can suggest pairings, like a "Flirting with Ginger" cocktail or a "Two-Hands Sexy Beast" Australian cabernet. Call 212-767-0371 for reservations and prices.
Date Night, Japanese-Style
You don’t need a passport to indulge in the romance of the Far East; instead, enjoy an 8-course kaiseki dinner at Hakubai Japanese Restaurant, located at The Kitano, a boutique hotel. At Hakubai, fish is imported daily to prepare the kaiseki cuisine, and the executive chef uses fresh, seasonal ingredients. Servers bring the courses to the table on beautiful porcelain, pottery and lacquer dishes. For an authentic Japanese experience, ask to dine in one of the restaurant's rice paper-enclosed tatami rooms. $150 per person. Call 212-885-7111 for reservations.
The Kitano Hotel New York