February is the month of love. We’ve compiled romantic ways to celebrate with your Valentine in New York City.
To Stay
Gift your loved one a Valentine’s experience at The Lowell. The Luxury of Love package will be available throughout February in collaboration with Graff, an iconic British jeweler. At this Leading Hotels of the World property, guests will receive overnight accommodations in a room or suite of their choice, embellished with a gift, an elegant heart-shaped diamond pendant crafted by Graff. The pendant and a suite of gifts from Graff will be showcased, ready for you and your loved one’s arrival. The Lowell will complete this perfect gift with a stunning bouquet of roses, a bottle of champagne, a custom note from you to your special someone, and breakfast for two the next day. There is also the option to add a three-course dinner for two at Majorelle.
At the Fifth Avenue Hotel, enjoy “Valentine’s Day at The Fifth.” Through February 18, guests will receive an in-room Valentine’s martini ritual, a personalized Valentine’s poem, a 2 PM check out, The Fifth Avenue breakfast, and Clefs D’or concierge assistance for dinner reservations. Also a Leading Hotels of the World member, this McKim, Mead & White mansion celebrates Gilded Age culture and ushers in its next era as a leader in design and hospitality following its recent renovation.
Coffee, Wine & Books
Love stories may include wine, roses, coffee, or a romantic page-turner. We suggest Rosecrans, a cafe in the West Village offering flora and foliage bouquets, to emulate this feeling. Or at Bibliotheque in SoHo, you can enjoy your coffee and wine surrounded by a vast selection of new and rare books.
Indulge In Fine Chocolate
MarieBelle artisan chocolates are known for exquisite-tasting ganache, hot chocolate, and truffles, presented in artistic packaging. An afternoon tea at the Cocao Bar is perfectly romantic and will satisfy any sweet tooth.
The charming offerings of the chocolatier in SoHo are delectable, cherished delights. Maribel Lieberman uses cacao from her native Honduras and hand-makes her gourmet ganache with the finest ingredients at her Brooklyn factory.
For Champagne
Uptown, visit Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle for a romantic glass of bubbly. This legendary neighborhood bar is a unique hideaway where artist and author Ludwig Bemelmans’ whimsical illustrations come to life on its walls.
To Dine
The Wesley in the West Village is a culinary haven perfect for a date night. The creations of Chef Santiago Astudillo and Head Bartender Dana Lachenmayer are creative and authentic, and sustainability is at the forefront of this restaurant’s mission. Celebrating vegetables, the a la carte menu encourages sharing. Expertly crafted cocktails include the Flight of the Concord (Hudson Bourbon, Black Sesame, Concord Grape, Tonka Bean) or the A Thousand Cranes. Start with the mushroom ceviche or the acorn squash dish. Anchor the meal with the gnocchi made with roasted cauliflower, dukkah, broccolini, and puttanesca, or a Wagyu burger with Vermont cheddar and habanero emulsion. Try for a table in the Red Room for ultimate Valentine’s Day vibes. A prix-fixe will be offered for $85 per person.
One of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, Le Coucou, offers a decedent menu created by Chef Daniel Rose. Rose’s dishes offer classic French cuisine aimed at “bringing great food and conviviality to the table.” Start with the À La Folies-Bergère cocktail with cognac, Armagnac, yellow chartreuse, lemon, gentian, and egg white. Try the halibut beurre blanc with fermented daikon with the option to add Kristal caviar. A dish perfect for two is the canette a l’orange — roasted duckling with endives braised with orange.
In the heart of the West Village, Buvette is the epitome of an old-world café “dedicated to the enjoyment of eating and drinking.” It was established in 2011 by Chef Jody Williams and now has locations in Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, and Mexico City. Split a bottle of red while indulging in classic French dishes like coq au vin or steak tartare. Be sure to check the fromages and charcuterie menus as well.
At Monterey Brasserie, chef James Tracey crafts a brilliant American menu. Offered for Valentine’s Day is a special prix fix for $145. The eatery brings glamour to Midtown, and menu items for Valentine’s Day include saffron risotto, crispy sweetbreads, and Waygu carpaccio to start, followed by truffle lasagne, monkfish, or bluefin tuna as entrees.
Little Italy is the perfect neighborhood for a cozy and romantic Italian restaurant. Il Pellicano has recently opened its doors and offers just this. Known for its infusion of old classics with a modern twist, the 50-seat dining room is brought to us by owners Massimo Tabacco and Kyky Conille, showcasing dishes from Chef Saul Medina. Start with a few small bites inspired by Roman street fare.
Be sure to try the suppli di riso funghi, a Roman rice ball stuffed with mozzarella, Parmesan, and truffle dust and served with pistachio cream. The fresh pasta options will not disappoint and will add to this vibrant dining experience. You can’t go wrong with an espresso martini or the barreled Negroni for beverages. Fancy a nightcap? The restaurant is above Kyky Conille and Dimitri Hyacinthe’s new club, Bijoux Lounge.
Located within the Arlo Midtown, Altair is a modern-American restaurant that fuses themes of celestial elements. You get a refined experience inspired by earth, air, water, and fire. A Valentine’s Day chef’s tasting menu, “inspired by the universal element of Love,” is offered for $95 per person. On the cocktail menu, Red Beets, representing “earth,” includes Belvedere vodka, green chartreuse, pink peppercorn, and lime. Representing “water,” try the ginger and cardamom tea made with Bombay Sapphire gin, benedictine, pear, dairy-free milk, and Prosecco.
Cucina 8 1/2 in Midtown offers a Valentine’s Day Dinner on February 14 and 15. Start with a cosmopolitan at the bar, just like Carrie Bradshaw and Stanford Blatch do in season 4 of “Sex and the City” as they spot the “dirty-haired Gucci model with clean hair.” Or try the Kettle & Caviar, chilled vodka served with blue cheese stuffed olives, and two kettle chips complete with a generous dollop of caviar.
Standout menu items at this refined and rustic Italian eatery include the raviolo al’uovo with a farm egg, ricotta, and black truffle or the Atlantic cod with salmoriglio, artichoke, caper, green olive, and chili. On the Valentine’s Day menu, Sterling Caviar can be pre-ordered for caviar service. Finish the meal with a chocolate Nutella cake complete with candied hazelnuts and rosemary brittle.
Entertainment
Broadway is calling for a romantic date. “Days of Wine & Roses” is Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas’ new musical starring Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James. Celebrate beauty, love, freedom, and truth in the theatrical rendition of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” The musical adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’s “The Notebook” features music by Ingrid Michaelson.
Visit the Jazz Lounge at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem. Established in 1938 by saxophonist Henry Minton, Minton’s is known as the birthplace of Bebop.
Every Friday and Saturday is Date Night at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Enjoy live music, drinks, and art. Bites are available in the American Wing Cafe, The Great Hall Balcony Cafe, and Petrie Court Cafe. Members of specific levels can enjoy small bites in the Balcony Lounge.