10 cozy date ideas in NYC for lovers and couples

It’s hard to imagine a cozier way to spend an evening than in a ski chalet-style pop-up. Luckily, you don’t need to imagine it, and can simply experience it at the Ski Chalet at The Saloon at the Clover Club in Brooklyn. Every Wednesday-Saturday until February 28, stepping into The Saloon is like stepping into a proper ski chalet, complete with a pot belly stove, ski trail signs, faux animal pelts, and all of the kitschy accompaniments of a true winter wonderland. Cozy up après-ski, Brooklyn-style, with specialty cocktails (including three hot drinks), and bites like curry crab flatbread, mini shepherd’s pie, and steak tartare.

Especially during these colder New York months, it might feel tempting to escape to a log cabin upstate, where you can eat comforting dishes like homemade meatballs and sip deep, fruity reds. No need; that’s what Black Mountain Wine House in Gowanus is here for. Disguised as a log cabin from the outside, the inside is just as cozy and warm. With walls lined with wine bottles, a maximum capacity of only 60 people, and a rotating selection of around 30 wines, it’s hard to use any word other than “cozy” to accurately describe a night to Black Mountain Wine House.

Time Out tip: To really hone in on date night feels, head right toward the back by the fireplace, and go on a Tuesday night when they offer fondue specials.

Booths automatically win extra points on the cozy factor over any other type of seating, but not all booths in New York are created equally. For one of the most intimate cocktail bars in the city, head to The Good Good in Harlem. The moody, dim orange lighting with Moroccan light fixtures and bold patterns throughout (all as a nod to reflect Harlem’s diverse cultures) makes for a stylish intimate night out. As for drinks, tell your server or bartender what you like and they’ll whip you up something delicious, like a well-balanced raspberry lemon drop or a classic negroni. No cozy date night is complete without some proper comfort food, and luckily, The Good Good perfects just that–for a conversation-starter, compare the roasted yams with a peri peri drizzle and the hot honey fried to debate which has a better crunch.

If you want to feel simultaneously cozy and swanky, a night at Delmonico’s ought to do the trick. Impress your date by bringing them to the country’s oldest fine-dining restaurant, all while enjoying dishes from the restaurant they originated at, including the Delmonico steak, Lobster Newburg, Chicken a La Keene, and the Baked Alaska (which, established in 1867, is an absolute must-order, made with banana gelato, walnut cake, and apricot jam). The most comfy seats are along the wall at the soft blue velvet banquettes, surrounded by vintage photographs from the 1950s. This part of the restaurant is even referred to in Ladies of the Chorus as “that little nook at Delmonico’s,” further proving cozy nights out can also be a fun (and delicious) history lesson.

Time Out tip: While reservations are recommended, grabbing two seats at the bar is your best chance to dine here for walk-ins.

Drinking red wine on a date is so predictable, why not bathe in some instead? Yes, really. Located in Tribeca, AIRE Ancient Baths New York offers a AIRE Signature Wine Experience for two. It starts with a 30-minute soak featuring red grapes grown in the Ribera del Duero region in Spain. After your red wine soak, enjoy an hour long massage with grapeseed oil, plus a mask and cranial massage with a honey hair mask. Have some cheese with your wine with the special tasting offered, including a selection of cheeses. Guests will even enjoy a special tasting including a selection of cheeses. Bathing in red wine is definitely an easy conversation starter, and quite the unique way to connect with your partner. The entire treatment is 180 minutes, and rates start at $1,300/couple.

One of New York’s newest French restaurants is the product of brothers Josh and David Foulquier of Sushi Noz: Chez Fifi. Despite being the new kid on the block, getting a reservation here is tough business. Impress your date by snagging one of the coveted tables at Chez Fifi, and the reward is far beyond bragging rights of actually getting two of the 44 seats—enjoy dishes like Wild Dover Sole à la Plancha, Foie Gras Terrine Maison, and their signature Txangurro Deviled Crab, made from Dungeness and Jonah crab blended in a sofrito, served in a Jonah crab shell. The food matches the scenery, with interior design by acclaimed Stockholm-based Joyn Architectural Design Studio. Dine amongst mahogany paneling in plush upholstered banquettes, all framed by glistening mirrors. As elegant as the setting is, the design is meant to feel like a cozy home in honor of “Fifi,” the founders’ late mother.

If this cold weather is bumming you and your partner out, take a beach vaca without leaving the city by riding the A train down to The Rockaway Hotel. The rooms are sand-toned with a blend of teak, linen, rattan, and leather, and feel like a sunny California escape. In the cooler months, their summer pool transforms to a “Winter Pool House” experience, fully equipped with cedar barrel saunas, and of course, a heated outdoor pool. The spa has offerings ranging from hot stone massages to aloe and seaweed wraps. The 6,000-square-foot-rooftop is a great spot to catch the sunset, and Margie’s on the ground floor serves fresh oysters and cocktails, along with a top-notch weekend brunch. If you want to venture out, check out some local businesses that are open year-round, like Rockaway Tiki Bar, Rocco’s of Roc Beach, and Uma’s.

Tucked behind Café Carmellini in the Fifth Avenue Hotel is one of the coziest bars in New York: The Portrait Bar. With chairs that allow you to sink into thanks to their plush lining, The Portrait Bar is in a lavish library setting with design by Martin Brudnizki, inspired by Italian villas. Around the space, you’ll see over 50 portraits along with a fireplace, all amongst warm earth tones. The Portrait Bar uniquely allows you to travel around the globe sans passport through their innovative cocktails. Catch a flight with your date to Cebu Island in the Philippines with their rum, scotch, coconut, calamansi, and peppercorn concoction, or go for the “Mapo District,” inspired by Seoul, made with Tokki Soju, sesame-oil washed Laphroaig, cucumber, and pineapple-vanilla cordial. Parlor snacks by Chef Andrew Carmellini are not to be missed either; elevated bar bites like Hot dog au Poivre and Marcona stuffed olives are home runs, but if you really want to impress your date, go for the Royal Ossetra Caviar.

A surefire way to increase endorphins is through a good laugh, and we all know the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. On date night, cover both fronts by catching a comedy show at The Stand. This intimate comedy club is known for bringing in top comedians, with past appearances by Chris Rock and Marcelo Hernandez, and offers great bites to match the quality of the entertainment. With a brick fire oven menu from The Stand Taverna, this isn’t your typical comedy club-type of food, which is usually an afterthought at best. Enjoy dishes like the Alba White Truffle Pizza with mozzarella and mushrooms, or for something particularly romantic, split the massive Tomahawk Steak alongside some Vodka Fra Diavolo or Pasta alla Gricia. 

Something about this cold weather just seems like it can be cured through a glass of wine. For one of the coziest bars in town with a small but thoughtful selection of quality wines is BABA on Withers. Located in the heart of Williamsburg, sip natural wines like Colorwave orange wine or Tentations Rosé, paired alongside Marseille-inspired bites, like Bouillabaisse toast and panisse. BABA on Withers is especially an ideal spot to wow your date without breaking the bank. They offer two happy hours; one serving “yesterday’s wine” for $9 a glass from Sunday to Thursday from 5 to 7 pm, and their daily “last call” from 10pm to close, with bar bites and cocktails between $8 and $11.