12 Romantic Spots to Take Your Sweetheart to This Valentine’s Day

By Christina Heiser Posted: February 8, 2022

Love is in the air—and on the menu! Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to treat your significant other to a sweet night out to show them how much you care. Whether you want to feed your partner love-boosting oysters or toast to your relationship with a specialty cocktail, there are plenty of restaurants and bars around the neighborhood to help you get in the mood for romance on February 14. We rounded up a dozen establishments that are perfect for a Valentine’s Day date night.

American Brass On The Water

This waterfront restaurant is upscale yet relaxed, making it one of our top picks for V-Day. Try sitting in their outdoor heated greenhouses with stunning Manhattan views for a romantic night out. The menu is outstanding, with sharable dishes like East Coast oysters, steak tartare and grilled octopus. There is also a variety of pastas and large plates on the menu to satisfy any craving. Don’t leave before dessert: Red wine velvet cake is a Valentine’s Day must.

Corner of Center Blvd and 49^th Ave / 718.806.1106 @american_brass

Koyo

If you really want to impress your lover, then take them to Koyo. This upscale modern Japanese restaurant specializes in seasonal omakase, using ingredients when they’re at their peak to create a Kaiseki-inspired dining experience that can’t be beat. You’d be hard-pressed to find better sushi in Astoria or elsewhere in Queens: Koyo is truly the best of the best.

37-12 31st Ave / 929.328.2890 / @koyonewyork

DiWine

One of the romantic places you can go on Valentine’s Day, would, of course, be a wine bar. Enter DiWine, a delightful New American restaurant and wine bar in the heart of Astoria. Nosh on mouth-watering dishes, like seafood pasta and brick oven pizza, while sharing a bottle of red, white or sparkling wine with your sweetheart.

41-15 31st Ave / 718.777.1355 @diwinebar

Jora Restaurant & Bar

Head to Long Island City for an outstanding Valentine’s Day dinner at Jora Restaurant & Bar. This Peruvian restaurant has an interior and menu that are ideal for date night. Share small plates like ceviche clasico, crispy shrimp causa and empanadas while sipping on craft Pisco cocktails. And save room for dessert: You’ll want to end the night with passion fruit cheesecake or Pisco tres leches.

47-46 11th St / 718.392.2033 @jorarestaurant

SoleLuna

You can’t go wrong with pasta on Valentine’s Day, and SoleLuna in Sunnyside is one of the cutest Italian restaurants in the area. In addition to serving a variety of fresh pastas that change daily, they also have many shareable antipasti (hello, burrata!) and a stellar Italian wine list.

40-1 Queens Blvd / 929.296.3942/ @solelunanyc

Ovelia

Ovelia is a chic, modern Greek restaurant with staff that always makes you feel welcome. So, it’s no surprise it’s one of the best places to go this Valentine’s Day. Share delicious dips, like tzatziki and kafteri, and mezze, like char-grilled octopus and saganaki sticks, while drinking craft cocktails or wine. Don’t forget to order the loukoumades, aka Greek donuts, for dessert. They’re drizzled with honey, which is an aphrodisiac.

34-01 30th Ave / 718.721.7217 @oveliapsistaria

Bottle Bar

This small, cozy Italian restaurant specializes in Roman cuisine and traditional Italian cocktails. You and your sweetie will love the homemade pastas (the cacio e pepe is a must-have) and the Italian spritzes. You’ll feel like you’re in romantic Rome without ever leaving Astoria.

25-07 Broadway / 718.433.9079 @ BottleBar

Luna Asian Bistro

Head to this trendy Asian fusion restaurant on Valentine’s Day to enjoy specialty sushi rolls, pad Thai, ramen and more. What makes this spot an excellent choice for V-Day is the fact that it’s a rooftop restaurant. The views of NYC are breathtaking and will surely give you that loving feeling.

32-72 Steinway St /917.832.7911 @lunaasianbistro

Mosaic

Get the love flowing at this quaint cocktail joint. The signature cocktail list includes love potions, like the “Fig-Et About” It, featuring fig vodka and amaretto (yes, figs are an aphrodisiac), and the “Lavender French 75,” which is pretty in purple. Order a few snacks, like spinach artichoke dip and Bavarian pretzel sticks, to share over drinks.

25-19 24th Ave / 718.728.0708 / @mosaicastoria

Off the Hook

The one food that inspires love more than any other: oysters. Known as one of the biggest aphrodisiacs, oysters are a popular menu item at Off the Hook. In addition to their raw bar, Off the Hook offers a slew of warm seafood entrees, including grilled salmon, fish and chips and shrimp mofongo, as well as yummy cocktails and craft beers.

28-08 34th St / 718.721.2112 / @offthehookrawbar

Vite Vinosteria

If we could choose just one word to describe Vite Vinosteria, it would have to be charming. This authentic Italian restaurant serves up comfort food that you and your S.O. will fall in love with. Notable menu items include the imported creamy burrata and panzanella and the housemade pastas, like potato gnocchi and pappardelle. Make sure to try one of the desserts, like the cappuccino panna cotta or nutella tiramisu, too.

31-05 34th St / 718.278.8483 / @vitevinosteria

The Lingerie Shoppe

The Lingerie Shoppe is a sexy speakeasy located on Steinway Street. It’s a uniquely stylish oasis with a boudoir vibe, making it the perfect Valentine’s Day spot. The Lingerie Shoppe is celebrating their third annual #WeOwnValentinesDay, gifting all female guests with flowers at the door, chocolate covered strawberries and more every weekend in February. They’re also offering romantic sharing platters featuring a bottle of wine, gourmet cheeses, tasty bites and drunken desserts for two all through February.