Valentine's Day ideas: Dates, gifts, restaurants and more
Is Cupid not returning your calls? We can help with Valentine's Day ideas for couples and singles, including romantic restaurants, gifts and saucy events.
Wed Jan 23 2013
- Valentine's Day desserts
- The Sex Files
- Ask Dr. Alex
- Make your match with music
- Modern Valentine’s Day cards
Valentine's Day desserts
These treats make even the sappiest of holidays more palatable
The Sex Files
Thousands of New Yorkers anonymously responded to our sex poll. Check out the results.
Ask Dr. Alex
How to get laid on Valentine's Day—advice for randy solo operators
Make your match with music
Seduce the guy or gal of your dreams with the right sexy song this Valentine's Day
Modern Valentine’s Day cards
Let loved ones know you care in a saccharine-free way
Valentine's Day: Love it or hate it, you can't avoid it. And really, do you want to avoid it? For all the crass commercialization and the rigmarole of finding a restaurant reservation, why not either do something nice for your significant other and spend time together, or take advantage of the single population working themselves into a frenzy of desperation? (Only joking.) To help you have an enjoyable time on and around February 14, we've come up with Valentine's Day ideas that should help you plan the Goldilocks of dates: one that's not too cheap, not too expensive, not too over the top and not too uncaring—it'll be just right. And if you can't bear to spend it alone, try asking out one of the Time Out singles and find a date for Valentine's Day.
Things to do for Valentine's Day in New York
Filthy Gorgeous Burlesque Valentine's Spectacular
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
- Highline Ballroom 431 W 16th St, between Ninth and Tenth Aves
- Thu Feb 14
Reverend Jen's Anti-Slam Cher Day Valentine Extravaganza
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
- Pyramid Club 101 Ave A, between 6th and 7th Sts
- Thu Feb 14
Missed Connections Valentine’s Day Party
- Critics choice
- Grand Central Terminal, Vanderbilt Hall 42nd St, between Vanderbilt and Lexington Aves
- Thu Feb 14
Love Bites—The Power-Ballads Sing-Along
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
- Union Hall 702 Union St, between Fifth and Sixth Aves
- Thu Feb 14
Valentine’s Day dinner in New York: Romantic restaurants offering à la carte menus
Paulie Gee's
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
- 60 Greenpoint Ave, (between Franklin and West Sts)
Desnuda
- Rated as: 4/5
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
- 122 E 7th St, (between First Ave and Ave A)
Perla
- Rated as: 4/5
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
- 24 Minetta Ln, (between Sixth Ave and MacDougal St), 10012
Osteria Morini
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
- 218 Lafayette St, (between Broome and Spring Sts)
Valentine's Day date ideas in New York
NYC's most romantic spots
Readers suggest New York's romantic epicenters. The answers may surprise you.
Best date spots by neighborhood
Plan the perfect night out with our guide to NYC's coolest date spots.
An old Hollywood Valentine's Day
These classic film locations in New York City bring on the romance.
Fun dates in NYC to rekindle a long-term romance
Put the spark back in your relationship with dates which are sure to heat things up with your sweetie.
Offbeat date ideas in NYC for people who hate dating
Flowers? Chocolates? Romance?!? Yuck. If you hate the traditional trappings of dating, try one of these ideas.
Casual date ideas for when you’re not sure if it’s a date
For when you just don’t know if your crush is crushin’ back.
Romantic dates for when you need to make up with someone
You’ll be back in your partner’s good graces after taking then on one of these romantic dates.
Romantic NYC hotels for Valentine's Day
The London NYC
- Rated as: 4/5
- Price band: 3/4
- 151 W 54th St, (between Sixth and Seventh Aves), 10019
Time Out Offers: Great date deals
Valentine's Day gift ideas
100 best gift shops
Use our lists of the best stores by neighborhood and stop schlepping all over town.
Independent lingerie stores in NYC
Find out where to buy sweet or sexy undergarments to put some va va voom in your Valentine's Day.
Romantic NYC bars with fireplaces for Valentine's Day
Employees Only
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
- 510 Hudson St, (between Christopher and W 10th Sts)
Free places to be romantic on Valentine's Day
Brooklyn Heights and Brooklyn Promenade
Take in postcard-ready views of lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
- Columbia Heights, (between Montague St and Middagh St)
- Sixth Ave, (between 40th and 42nd Sts)
Anne Militello, Light Cycles
- Free
Strands of mirrored lights have been suspended from the roof of a ten-story glass pavilion.
- World Financial Center Winter Garden 200 Vesey St, at West St
- Until Sat Mar 30
- Broadway, (between 62nd and 63rd Sts), 10023
- Madison Square Park E 23rd St to E 26th St, between Fifth and Madison Aves
- Thu Feb 28
Things to do with your Valentine in New York
100 best New York restaurants
Table for two! Eat your way through New York City with our guide to the best restaurants in town.
The 50 best sights and attractions in NYC
These NYC highlights are always better when experienced in the company of that special someone.
101 things to do in New York
We've picked out the 100 best things to do in NYC, and then added one more for good measure.
Valentine's Day cards from independent stationery stores
- 888 Broadway, inside ABC Carpet & Home, (at 19th St)
Greenwich Letterpress
- Price band: 2/4
This mint-walled boutique boasts many unique cards designed and printed in-house.
- 39 Christopher St, (between Seventh Ave South and Waverly Pl)
- 225 Court St, (between Baltic and Warren Sts)
Paper Presentation
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Make your own card with supplies from this stationery emporium.
- 23 W 18th St, (between Fifth and Sixth Aves)
Get in the Valentine's Day mood
The 50 sexiest songs
Let our playlist take you by the hand, whisper sweet nothings in your ear and lead you all the way to the bedroom.
Ten Erotic Books Sexier Than Fifty Shades of Grey
These erotic books are hotter and much better written than the E.L. James S&M trilogy—save Fifty Shades of Grey for your mother.
Great walks: Fifty Shades of Grey
E.L. James’s Fifty Shades trilogy sparked curiosity in kinky sex, but we’ll school you on the real side of BDSM.
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