14 Romantic Things to Do for Valentine's Day in NYC 💕 [2025]

With over 8 million people living in NYC, finding your soulmate – the Robin to your Ted, the Chuck to your Blair, your lobster 🦞 – is notoriously difficult. Which means if you’ve found yourself a special someone, you should hold them tight!

And with world-class cultural institutions, Michelin-star restaurants, and a dazzling skyline that makes the perfect romantic backdrop to any date night, NYC is the perfect place to woo your Valentine.

We’ll be taking you the best and most romantic options our staff writers have ever experienced, including:

• Classic dates like dinner at a rooftop restaurant or a sunset cruise on the Hudson
• The best places to wine & dine for Valentine’s Day in NYC… and when to reserve your table
• Adventurous Valentine’s day date ideas that will make your heart flutter with adrenaline (and love)

💌 Cupid Says: Start the date right with a gift of flowers or chocolates, but don’t drop the ball when the date is done! Text them an Uber gift card to make sure they get home safe, or shop from thousands of NYC and national brands in the GiftYa catalog. 

💝 The Classics 💝

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, right? Some of the classic New York dates are classics for a reason. The city gives you a lot to work with, after all. Just because you’re a born and raised Manhattanite doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the simple beauty of the NYC skyline from the water or snuggling up to your honey in a carriage.

Classic romantic NYC dates include:

• Sunset cruise around Manhattan
• Rooftop dinner from an amazing restaurant
• Horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park

1. Set sail on a sunset cruise around Manhattan. 

Sometime’s it’s fun to see your city through the eyes of a tourist. For New Yorkers, that means gazing up at the iconic skyline from the water. There are several sightseeing cruises available in Manhattan, including romantic ones specifically tailored toward creating V-Day memories.

• NYC Valentine’s Day Dinner Cruise by Skyline Cruises (from $110/each) 
• Valentine’s Day Signature Dinner Cruise Pier 15 (from $120/each)
• Event Cruises NYC Romantic Valentine’s Day Cruises (from $169/each)

2. Enjoy dinner with a view at one of NYC’s premier rooftop restaurants.

Don’t want to look up at the skyline? Look out at it instead. These restaurants have top-rated rooftop dining and bar options:

• Valerie (Midtown West)
• Eleven Madison Park (Flatiron)
• RH Rooftop (Meatpacking District)
• The Flatiron Roof Murray Hill (Midtown East)
• Refinery Rooftop (Midtown West)

3. Go for a horse-drawn carriage ride around Central Park.

When you think of romantic things to do in NYC, horse-drawn carriage should be near the top of the list. It’s in practically every Christmas movie set in the city for a reason! Central Park Horse Carriage has been making the magic happen since 1858. So while you may not be able to whisk them away to the simple pleasures of yesteryear, this is the next best thing.

💖 The Creative 💖

New York City is home to some of the best museums, galleries, and theaters anywhere in the world. Where else can you jump into a giant pit of sprinkles then hop on a train and walk into a museum that houses works from masters like Van Gogh and Degas. 

Here’s how you can turn New York’s culture of creativity into a romantic evening for you and your boo:

• Show at The Metropolitan Opera
• Night at the museum
• Broadway show

4. Plan an evening out at the Metropolitan Opera.

You don’t have to whisk her away to Rome for the evening like Richard Gere in Pretty Woman to make a magical evening out of going to the opera. Keep an eye out for romantic showings like Romeo and Juliet and Carmen. 

5. Hit up Museum Mile… after hours.  

Hit the galleries! NYC’s preimminent galleries also have after hours options for the ultimate date night. Consider:

🖼️ Date Night at the Met - They stay open late every Friday & Saturday!

🌃 UNIQULO Monday Nights - Get your fill of modern art at MoMA.

🎨 Color Factory - Looking for fun photo ops? Check out the latest seasonal theme at Color Factory NYC for a fun adventure. 

🍦Museum of Ice Cream - Feed their inner child at the Museum of Ice Cream… and yes, they do give you samples in almost every room. 

🌶️ Museum of Sex - Take things up a notch with a visit to NYC’s spiciest museum. 

6. Sing from the heart, or leave it to the pros with a Broadway date night.

Hear me out: a night on Broadway 🤩

There are plenty of options to choose from, depending on what’s open. 

👓 The Great Gatsby, the tale of the lengths one man will go do to prove his (unrequited) love. 

🎭 The Phantom of the Opera, the classic gothic love story.

🇫🇷 Les Misérables, which tells the story of many types of love. 

🍷 Wining & Dining 🍷

Food is the gateway to the heart, no? That’s why wining and dining is such a classic date night activity. For those looking to indulge in some decadent desserts or rave-worthy cuisine this Valentine’s Day, consider food-centric options like:

• Chocolate making class
• Private wine tasting
• Cooking class pour deux

7. Indulge your “sweetie” at a chocolate making workshop.

What’s better than buying them a box of chocolates? Making one together! Raaka Chocolate in Brooklyn offers truffle-making classes that make a great (and delicious) romantic option. 

8. Tantalize their senses at a private wine tasting.

Upgrade your wine selection with a private tasting! There are options for private wine tastings all over the city, but here are a few highly-rated ones.

• Terroir (Tribeca)
• Corkbuzz (Union Square, Chelsea)
• Leon & Son Wine (Brooklyn)

9. Learn a new skill with a cooking class for two.

Dinner for two, anyone? Learn to make something new together, so that any time you make it in the future you can reminisce on your date night experience!

• Romantic Italian Date Night Cooking Class by Selfup NYC 
• Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating, The Art of the Cocktail, or Classic French Macarons by Cocusocial
• Adult cooking classes by TasteBuds Kitchen 

🗽Unique New York 🗽 

It’s more than just a tongue twister. You don’t have to settle for the Valentine’s Day basics when you live in the Big Apple. You can also try:

• Ice skating & hot chocolate
• Couple’s spa date
• Romance movie filming locations

10. Lace up for some ice skating and hot chocolate.

The Rockefeller Center ice skating rink is usually open until late March (check the website for updates), making it a great option. Plus there are so many things to do in the area – grab a hot chocolate, go to the Top of the Rock, have Spanish tapas… the choice is yours.

11. Unwind with a couples’ trip to the spa.

Every couple needs to unwind now and then, so why not make a day of it with a trip to the spa? The Couples Spa is designed around the idea of creating fun couples experiences, or you can go with a unique option like a couples float in a sensory deprivation tank. 

12. Find the filming location of her favorite rom-com.

You don’t need a big budget to make this Big Apple date night work! NYC has been the backdrop to countless iconic romantic movies, so why not put together your own tour and go find them? 

For your consideration…

The Empire State Building observation deck, à la Sleepless in Seattle.

Katz’s Delicatessen in When Harry Met Sally.

Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, which appears in 27 Dresses (among others)

From Breakfast at Tiffany’s there’s, well… Tiffany’s. But that one might actually get pretty expensive unless you grab a pastry first and frame it as a strictly window shopping visit. Or bonus points, plan a romantic trip to the Blue Box Café. 

There’s the New York Public Library, featured in Maid in Manhattan.

And beautiful Bethesda Fountain, which millennials will recognize as the place where Blair and Chuck tied the knot in Gossip Girl. 

How many of these locations / perfect couples photo ops can you visit in one date?

💗 Adventure Time 💗

Want to get their adrenaline pumping? Try an unforgettable date idea like:

• Helicopter tour of Manhattan
• Kayaking on the Hudson

13. Fly them to the moon (or at least, over the skyline).

We’ve talked about a few more traditional ways to take in the New York Skyline, but this one is really out of this world! Or at least, off the ground. Schedule a private helicopter tour for an unforgettable evening seeing the city like you’ve never seen it before. 

14. Kayak the Hudson, weather permitting.

Get athletic! And maybe get a dry suit, if February weather is… well, what it usually is in Manhattan. Go for a brisk kayaking sesh on the Hudson from Pier 26. 

Tips for Planning the Ultimate Valentine’s Day in NYC

Okay, now that you have the idea down… how can you make sure that there are no mishaps that derail your V-Day plans? Follow these simple tips for the most successful date night possible:

• Make dinner reservations 3-4 weeks in advance – yes, it’s far out! But it’s one of the busiest nights of the year, and you don’t want February 14th to roll around and not have anywhere to eat. Missed out? Try celebrating a week early or late.
• Dress for the weather, no matter what NYC throws at you. Temperatures are usually in the 20-40°F range, so dress in layers for outdoor activities, wear boots for walking and carry your fancy shoes to change into, and have backup plans in case you need to take outdoor plans indoors. 
• Know how you’re getting there and back before you walk out the door. Pre-book car services if you’re going the luxury route. If not, the subway can avoid traffic delays. If you’re going ride-share, have the app and payment already set up on your phone.
• Don’t break the bank – sure you can spend thousands on Valentine’s Day in New York City, but you don’t have to. The best date will involve you not tearing your hair out because you can’t afford the evening.
• Check the dress code if you’ll be at an upscale restaurant or cocktail bar, and communicate that info to your date (without spoiling the surprise of where you’re going). And good manners are always in style – if you aren’t sure, brush up on your etiquette. 
• Make memories! Easy mode: scout photo ops in advance so you can get the perfect shot of your romantic evening. Advanced? Hire a photographer for special occasions.

That’s a wrap on our list of the most romantic things to do for Valentine’s Day in New York City.

We hope you love these ideas (almost) as much as you love your Valentine. And don’t forget, you can 💌 send a little something extra for them to shop online, connect to their go-to credit card, or even cash out with GiftYa. Happy Valentine’s Day, love birds! 💋