A Valentine's Day guide to the city - celebrating love in all its forms

Romance in New York is not confined to roses and reservations. Winter brings out the city’s softer side, when moments feel more intimate, and time slows down just enough for you to notice them. Love reveals itself not in sweeping gestures but in walks through the park after a fresh snow, the flicker of a candle at dinner, the brush of a hand in a crowded gallery.

This Valentine’s Day, love shows up in many forms, let New York be your backdrop as you experience them all.

Love of Romance: Romantic Holiday Stay 

The Surrey offers a setting that feels less like a hotel and more like an elevated Upper East Side residence, making it one of the most romantic hotels in NYC. Designed by the acclaimed Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the interiors combine Art Deco with contemporary designs in soft browns and warm grays to offer timeless elegance. 

Tucked just one block away from Central Park, boutique shopping, and cultural landmarks, this luxury hotel on the Upper East Side places couples in the heart of New York, while remaining itself a serene retreat. The Surrey’s luxury suites invite you to indulge in slow mornings, candle-lit evenings, and the kind of unhurried togetherness that defines a romantic escape.

In winter, the hotel becomes an inviting retreat from the city, offering couples a refined and intimate setting to celebrate Valentine's Day in true New York fashion. The Surrey is the perfect place to call home. Book your escape here. 

Love of Nature: A Stroll Through Central Park

Few romantic activities in NYC compare to a winter walk through Central Park. It’s one of the most charming things to do in NYC in February, when snow glistens along winding paths, and soft sunlight filters through the trees. Allow the bustling city to fade into the background as you discover the natural beauty of Central Park.

Wander past the statue of Balto, the heroic sled dog and enduring symbol of loyalty. Pause for a photograph beside the whimsical Alice in Wonderland statue, where imagination and playfulness come to life. Let the grandeur of the Sherman Monument remind you of the city’s enduring history. Each landmark offers a small, intimate moment to reflect and share something meaningful together.

Love of Music: Broadway Show

For music lovers, the most cherished Valentine’s Day activities in NYC come from the heart, or from center orchestra tickets to Broadway. Among the most memorable NYC Broadway shows for Valentines, Buena Vista Social Club brings the rhythms of Havana to New York with warmth, energy, and soul.

Inspired by the legendary album, the Tony-winning show celebrates Cuban music icons through a live orchestra and an ensemble cast whose performances pulse with emotion. The Afro-Cuban rhythms and Spanish melodies are a passionate love letter to Havana, weaving together nostalgia and romance for a culturally rich experience.

It’s the kind of evening that draws couples closer. Where music rings in the air long after the final note is played, fostering a sense of connection that feels intimate and transportive.

New New York Love: Modern Restaurant

For couples who prefer their restaurants with a modern twist, Casa Tua is one of the most romantic restaurants in NYC for a contemporary (but still candle-lit) Valentine’s day dinner. Tucked inside The Surrey, this intimate Italian hideaway brings a ray of the Tuscan sun to the Upper East Side.

With an emphasis on bespoke dining, shared plates, and thoughtfully selected wine pairings, Casa Tua turns dinner into a culinary experience that is meant to be savored together. Indulge in some of their signature Italian dishes like cacio e pepe and chicken alla diavola, just be sure to save room for dessert, we recommend Miky’s Pistachio Gelato.

The softly lit, European-inspired setting creates a warm ambience, where time slows and romance naturally takes a seat at the table. Dinner is more ritual than reservation at Casa Tua, where you are always invited to stay a little longer: long after the plates have been cleared.

Old New York Love: Classic Restaurant

If your idea of romance includes plush red banquettes, hushed conversations, and a little Old New York glamour, look no further than Le Veau d’Or. One of the most beloved romantic restaurants in NYC, this legendary French bistro has recently reopened its doors, making it a top destination for a truly superb NYC Valentine’s dinner.

Originally opened in 1937, Le Veau d’Or is now helmed by acclaimed restaurateurs Rias Nasr and Lee Hanson, who are determined to honor its heritage with classic French Bistro fare. Think  duck magret glazed with cherry sauce and decadent île flottante suspended in crème anglaise.

The intimate tables, no more than four to a setting, make it the perfect place for couples looking to linger over quiet conversation. With its checkered tablecloths, low ceilings, and mirrored back wall, it's not hard to imagine why the space was frequented by the likes of Orson Welles and Audrey Hepburn. The timeless, cinematic atmosphere makes Le Veau d’Or one of the most idyllic places in the city to raise a toast to love.

Love of Art: Museum Visit

An NYC museum date at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most timeless romantic activities in NYC. On Friday and Saturday evenings, when the galleries remain open late and live music fills the halls, the Met becomes one of the most enchanting settings in the city.

As you wander through world-class art together, seek out works that celebrate love across centuries and cultures. Paolo Veronese’s Mars and Venus United by Love captures a tender reunion between the god of war and the goddess of love, watched by a pair of playful cupids. Nearby, masterpieces like Jean Honoré Fragonard’s The Love Letter and William Bougureau’s The Proposal remind us that romance often lives in the quiet gestures, a passed note, a question
asked, a shared moment when time stands still.

Just a few blocks north of The Surrey, The Met offers couples a refined and thoughtful way to experience love as it unfolds across many mediums.

Love of Literature: Albertine Bookshop

For couples who cherish quiet moments spent together, Albertine Bookshop on the Upper East Side is one of the most romantic bookstores in NYC. Set inside the French Embassy’s Payne Whitney Mansion just off Fifth Avenue, the space transports you from the streets of New York to a Parisian Salon. 

More than 14,000 French and English titles line the shelves, from classics to contemporary works. While French may be the language of love, the true romance reveals itself in the ritual of browsing together, sharing favorite passages, and thoughtful recommendations. Leather sofas invite couples to sit close under the painted astrological ceiling, creating a quiet, dreamlike
setting where time slips by, unnoticed. Albertine Bookshop is the kind of place to wander without agenda, where you can leave with a book that becomes a chapter in your own love story. 

New York offers endless ways to experience love, from Broadway performances to bespoke dining options and literary escapes. The city provides a setting where your experience can be rooted in discovery, yet deeply personal. When the day draws to a close, The Surrey offers a place to return to, a serene Upper East Side retreat where the city falls away and you can return to the only love story that truly matters, your own.