The best things to do for Valentine’s Day in NYC

Enchant that special someone with a Valentine's Day magic show called "Magic: Distilled Presents Love Potion" at Great Jones Distiling Co. in Lower Manhattan. 

While you sip speciality Valentine's Day cocktails, NYC's top magicians, led by illusionist Jeanette Andrews, will perform spell-binding table-side and parlor magic before your eyes. This close-up magic form is rarely seen in modern times, making this show feel like a step back in time. 

The show's available in two seatings on February 14, one at 7pm and the second at 9pm. Tickets, which cost $100/person, include a reservation in the distillery's Art Deco lounge, a complimentary whiskey tasting, the performance and two drinks from from a select menu of cocktails, wine and beer. Be sure to book your reservation in advance because these tickets are hot.

Smoke Jazz Club proves that New York City's golden age of jazz is still swinging. For Valentine's Day, the club is hosting a series of soulful performances featuring renowned vocalist Mary Stallings from February 12-16.  

Stallings will take the stage with a top-tier trio featuring pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth. Book a Valentine's date there in Smoke's candlelit dining room for a classic supper club experience.

If you're looking for a thrilling event, the annual Cupid's Undie Run will surely deliver.

Dashing through the streets in your skivvies is not only a rowdy, raucous sprint, it also raises tons of money for the Children's Tumor Foundation.

The shenanigans begin at The DL (95 Delancey St.) in the Lower East Side, where participants meet before the one-mile race. This year's event is on Saturday, February 8. Registration for Cupid’s Undie Run only sets you back $40! Register here.

Upgrade the typical bouquet of flowers to add tickets to a botanical garden full of spectacular flowers. The Orchid Show at The New York Botanical Garden exhibits thousands of species of beautiful blossoming orchids, and this year it will whisk you to Mexico into a paradise of tropical beauty.

Your ticket will get you daytime access to The Orchid Show, plus all the rest of NYBG's outdoor gardens and collections. If you want to visit after dark, check out Orchid Nights where you can admire the flowers under the twinkling lights of the conservatory with music in the background and a cocktail in hand. Orchid Nights make for a perfect date night!

The show runs from February 15 through April 27, 2025.

Swap your ice skates for dancing shoes during Bryant Park's Winter Dance at The Lodge this winter. Learn from New York City's best dance instructors, then take your skills to the dancefloor. 

Sessions run on Wednesday nights through February 19 (except February 5), from 6-8pm. Each week features a different theme, from salsa to bachata to west coast swing. It makes for a perfect date night if you have a plus-one to bring, but it's also a great spot if you're in the market to dance with someone new!

Find Winter Dance at The Lodge on the northwest corner of The Rink. Check the full schedule for weekly themes here. It's free to attend with no tickets required.

Looking for that special someone this year? Cupid has taken up a residency at The Lodge at Bryant Park for a series of events called We Met at The Lodge.

The speed dating gurus from We Met IRL are hosting a series of speed dating events and singles mixers this February where you can meet meet new people in a fun, welcoming environment. 

Here's the full schedule: 

— Thursday, February 6: Speed Dating for Queer Women (7-9pm)
— Thursday, February 12: Speed Dating (7-9pm)
— Thursday, February 20: Singles Mixer (8-10pm)

Time Out tips: Dress like you would for a first date and come with an open mind and heart. Pre-registration is required and will be available online soon.

It doesn’t matter if you’re cuffed or not, this celebration of love will get you dancing into the night at Time Out Market in Dumbo. From 7 to 11pm on February 14, DJ Stretch will provide tunes for dancing while Dumbo psychic Natasha does tarot readings.

You can also take photos at a special Valentine's Day photo booth and throw your ex's belongings to toss in our "Exes Bin." Enjoy it all with a signature cocktail in hand. You’ll also have a chance to win an amazing raffle prize, which includes a box of chocolate, a bottle of champagne or a one-night stay for two at the 1 Hotel.

As any single straight woman in New York City surely knows, the Big Apple is full of big fuckboys. To make that fact slightly less depressing, two NYC women—Val Bodurtha and Andrea Popova—have decided to stop trying to understand fuckboy behavior themselves and instead have created a panel of fuckboys to get answers from the source.

During this show on February 15 at Caveat in Manhattan, three to five women will share a romantic experience that left them confused. Then, both the fuckboy panel and the audience will weigh in with their own dating insights.

Looking for a low-key date where you can laugh out loud? Try a round of bumper cars on ice at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. 

The program is open from 2pm to 10pm on Sundays through Fridays and 9:20am to 5:20pm on Saturdays. Given the popularity of the destination, we suggest you buy tickets in advance of your visit right here.

Think pink at Watermark, the classic American restaurant on Pier 15 by the Seaport, which is turning into an immersive pink wonderland this month. It's just in time for the peak of New York winter and for Valentine's Day celebrations.

The 10,000 square-foot outdoor bar and restaurant will be lit up in pink hues and be decorated with red flowers, heart installations and mesmerizing twinkling lights. Pink Pier will be open from January 10 until mid-April.

For a truly sweet date night, Museum of Ice Cream is the place. Ice cream is at the center of this 20,000-square-foot museum that'll make the cold treat even more fun (who knew it'd even be possible?). Across 13 multi-sensory installations, visitors can interact with fun elements like a three-story indoor slide and the all-pink Celestial Subway.

Even better: The sweet treats along the way. Yes, we're talking about unlimited ice cream throughout the museum. For adults, check out some fun themed cocktails as well.