Cozy winter date ideas in NYC

Treat yourself and your date to the luxurious Italian wellness spa QC NY (by QC Terme Spas and Resorts) on Governors Island.

The spa offers relaxation rooms (each with its own meticulously curated personality, scent, and music), themed saunas, Vichy showers, infrared beds, foot baths, hydro jets, steam baths and other amazingly lush experiences.

The outdoor fun continues in the winter, too. Two heated outdoor pools promise breathtaking Manhattan skyline views. The pool temperature cranked up to a balmy 98 degrees. On cooler days or in gentle rain, steamy air ripples off the water. There are even heated tunnels to the pools and warming racks to keep robes toasty.

Plus, sprawl out on heated loungers into two outoor glass-enclosed reflection rooms while enjoying the heat from indoor fire pits.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's “Date Nights” give visitors an opportunity to become acquainted with artwork with informal drop-in gallery chats, the chance to listen in on gorgeous live music and sip on yummy cocktails every Friday and Saturday night.

NYC is already an incredibly romantic city. With all those legendary sights, how could it not be? But don’t underestimate the power of a hotel to make the city even more amorous. From a room with a fireplace or hot tub to a hotel with her perfect cozy restaurant, these will set your hearts ablaze.

Great Jones Distilling Co. is a 28,000-square-foot venue with a fully functioning distillery as well as educational tours and tasting bar experiences, plus numerous drinking and dining venues within the space. This is the perfect venue to try your hand at making delicious drinks with your date.

Located in the 117-year-old Paymaster Building in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, this local distillery produces everything from bourbon to moonshine to chocolate whiskey. Take your date on an guided tour to soak up the historic atmosphere and sample house-made spirits. 

Bring your sultry swimsuits to TWA Hotel’s rooftop infinity pool and lounge in water that's now cranked up to a toasty 95 degrees Fahrenheit. As of right now, there’s zero charge for visitors to swing by, so this date won’t take out a chunk from your paycheck. Even better than a free pool day, they've also turned the poolside bar into a "Runway Chalet," a 1960s après ski-themed winter hideaway that’s both heated and tented.

Treat your date like royalty at one of NYC’s best spots for afternoon tea, complete with fancy sandwiches, decadent scones, lavish surroundings and a caffeine jolt. From the elegant Grand Salon at the Baccarat Hotel to the park views at Mandarin Oriental, these special tea services will make you cozy on the rainiest or coldest day.

Bond with the person that has put up with you thus far at a animated piano bar and beloved West Village institution. One minute you could be belting out a Broadway or Disney song with the rest of the bar, and the next, getting even more comfortable with your person showing them your, um, terrible singing voice.

Two New York City hotels are offering outdoor spa experiences this winter—The William Vale in Brooklyn and The Rockaway Hotel + Spa in Queens, so grab your swimwear and make a reservation. 

At The William Vale, enjoy the views while indulging in some much-needed stress relief. Bask in the heat of a barrel sauna with panoramic skyline views or soak in a cedar hot tub under the stars—or both! The experience makes for a special solo trip or a romantic date night. 

At The Rockaway Hotel, enjoy a resort-style escape not too far from Manhattan. For the winter, the hotel has transformed its patio area into a winter pool house with cedar saunas and cozy decor. Plus, the outdoor pool is open for a refreshing plunge. After your dip, you can slip into a buttery robe and relax with tabletop games.

Brooklyn Bowl is an effortlessly cool venue that blends live music with bowling, with the venue taking its design cues from Coney Island (picture old freak-show posters and carnival-game relics) for the ultimate nostalgic experience. 

Show off your bowling skills, then relax on plush tufted couches while enjoying cheesy nachos, buffalo cauliflower, fried chicken and beers. They have a full-service restaurant on-site to sate all your cravings. 

Of course, it's not just the games here that make this perfect for date night; there's a whole roster of live music to get excited about. Whether you're in the mood for rock, hip hop, or heady jams, Brooklyn Bowl has the gig for you. Watch out for up-and-coming artists, seasoned stars, and dance parties that'll keep you two out until late. 

Grab a booth and cozy up at this diner sipping down the OG milkshakes that nearly broke the Internet. You may be tempted to snap a pic with your shake and test their photo-taking abilities. Some Instagram trends are forever.

Plus, if your date is vegan, no sweat. Black Tap's got vegan options, too. Shakes include the chocolatey Brooklyn Blackout and the Cookies 'n Cream Supreme. Yum.