Valentine’s Day is here, and no one can deny that love is in the air in New York City — or at the very least, displayed in nearly every storefront. Whether you use the holiday to celebrate romantic, platonic or self love, these restaurants and dessert spots are the perfect way to join in on the festivities.
Almond
12 E. 22nd St.
212-228-7557
In the heart of the Flatiron District is Almond, a farm-to-table style restaurant known for its brunches and cocktails. If you’re okay with splurging on this day of love, take your special someone to dine on their “super sexy locally sourced” Valentine’s menu, which is based entirely around one thing: blood oranges. Start with the ricotta and winter squash ravioli a l’orange, move to the duck breast with blood orange gastrique and end your evening on a sweet note with their blood orange and chocolate. What could be more romantic than that?
Tipsy Scoop
217 E. 26th St.
917-388-2862
It is hard to think of something we could love more than boozy ice cream — except our significant others, of course — and there’s no better way to celebrate the festivities than with Tipsy Scoop’s Valentine’s Day specials. Nestled in the Kips Bay area, this dessert spot is the perfect place to go with your friends, lover or even just to treat yourself. Come and enjoy their strawberry chocolate kiss martini or raspberry limoncello sorbet, or send a Booze X LOVE Valentine’s box to your loved ones. An added bonus: everything is extremely Instagram-worthy.
Karakatta
230 Thompson St.
917-261-6297
For couples who prefer a more intimate date night, check out Karakatta, a Japanese restaurant tucked away on Thompson street, just off of Washington Square Park. The restaurant is best known for its ramen, featuring a mouthwatering butter miso with pork belly and cilantro, and its delectable vegan options, like the spicy vegan curry with fried tofu, zucchini and shredded red pepper. Karakatta’s cozy environment is the ideal Valentine’s date night for those who want to skip the frills of the holiday and just enjoy good food and conversation. Be sure to get there early, though — the restaurant is small and gets crowded quickly, and it doesn’t take reservations.
The Stackery
42 W. 42nd St.
240-686-5737
If you have a sweet tooth, head on over to Bryant Park and celebrate love with a chimney cake from the Stackery’s special Valentine’s menu. Enjoy their Rosé Me Away cake infused with rose petals and topped with rosé cake filling and rose mascarpone. Or if you’re a chocolate lover, their irresistible My Chocolatine cake filled with brownies and topped with hot fudge and whipped cream. The Stackery is the perfect Valentine’s activity for friends and couples alike.
Email Olivia Gonzalez at [email protected].