Learn about the movement to make NYC's cultural institutions on parkland free for all New Yorkers!
Munch on snacks from a local vendor while learning about the history of street food!
Dance the night away at a former Brooklyn speakeasy!
Find the perfect gift or date night idea to share with your Valentine in our New York City gift guide!
Still need a gift or date night idea for Valentine's Day? We got you covered! Check out our list of gifts from local businesses and date night options for a unique New York Valentine’s Day experience, from cocktails inside one of NYC's most stunning landmarks to delicious desserts!
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This Valentine's Day gift is cheesy in the best way. At Ivana’s Pizzeria (2373 Arthur Ave), you and your Valentine can share a heart-shaped pie with any toppings your heart desires! This family-owned and operated business was established in 1977 by two lovebirds, Antonio and Ivana Ferri. The pair married in Italy in 1966, came to America in 1975, then opened their Bronx pizzeria. They've been together for over fifty years!
Mezza Luna Pizza (600 East 187th Street), another Bronx pizzeria celebrating 50 years in business, will also serve heart-shaped pies during this season of love. Unlike the Ferris' love, these heart-shaped pies won't last forever; they are available at both shops throughout the month of February.
You'll probably want some dessert after your pizza! At Eileen's Special Cheesecake (17 Cleveland Pl.), you can pick up a heart-shaped cake "for two, or for the whole crew," as well as bite-sized cakes in a variety of different flavors. Bonnie and Holly, Eileen's daughters, carry on their mom's tradition of baking each delicious dessert with love. Heart-shaped cakes are available in store throughout the month of February. You can also order them for special occasions throughout the year by calling in advance.
Looking for something a bit more exciting than dinner and drinks? Spend Friday or Saturday night on an after-dark adventure inside Grand Central Terminal and toast to love with a craft cocktail (or beer, wine, or soft drink) inside the stunning Vanderbilt Hall. On Untapped New York's Grand Central Nightcap tour, you'll visit the kissing gallery (where there were rules for how lovers could greet each other and bid farewell), share secrets in the whispering gallery, gaze up at the shimmering celestial ceiling of the main concourse, and uncover little-known stories and obscure facts that most commuters don't even know!
✨ Want to make the experience even more intimate? Book a private tour for just you and your group on the date and time you choose!
💌 Not sure which adventure to choose? Get your Valentine an Untapped New York Gift Card, which can be applied to any of our tours!
Need something quick? Order a bouquet of roses from Ode a La Rose, a same-day NYC flower delivery service! In New York City, your gift is safely hand-delivered in Ode a la Rose’s signature gift box. The beautiful flower arrangements can also be shipped nationwide. This Valentine’s Day, Ode a La Rose has a wide selection of bouquets to choose from, from a dozen classic red roses to an array of alstroemeria and lisianthus, pink veronica, and baby blue eucalyptus. Bouquets come in many different sizes with a variety of vase styles to choose from and fun add-ons like chocolate, macarons, or a scented candle.
Want flowers that last a little longer? Gift your Valentine a bouquet of floral-scented candles from Aerangis. The Botanical Journey Gift Set comes with two candles and a limited-edition matchbook. The scents included are No. 1 The Beginning, inspired by the clean crisp scent of the Aerangis orchid, and No. 7 Seven Miles, which captures the fragrance of the velvety jasmine flower on a summer evening. Another scent New Yorkers will love is No.1882 Manhattans in Manhattan, inspired by the scent of a Manhattan cocktail. It is even topped with a bright red cherry!
New York-based founder Alicia Tsai named the company after a white, star-shaped orchid that grew in her grandfather’s garden in Taiwan and provided her first scent memory. The scents of each design-forward, cruelty-free, plant-based, non-toxic candle come from a memory. Scents range from powdery musk to green vines and creamy jasmine to ancient incense. You can even design a unique scent that is truly your own.
This gift is sure to make for a Valentine's Day your significant other will never forget! This February, the Bronx Zoo continues its tradition of letting you name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after the one you love. The bugs are "indestructible," just like you want your relationship to be. Customers who dedicate a roach with a $15 donation can send their giftee a digital certificate.
You can cuddle up with that special someone and (virtually) meet a Madagascar hissing cockroach during a Valentine's Virtual Encounter on February 13, 14, or 15th. A zoo expert will share insights into cockroach care and bring a surprise animal guest. The Zoo also offers Mystery Gift Boxes full of "roach-tastic gifts" from roach socks, roach beanie, roach cross-body bag, roach plush, or roach tumbler!
Cruise along the waterways of New York City aboard a historically inspired ship while you cozy up to your Valentine and watch the sparkling lights of the skyline pass by. Classic Harbor Cruises offers a variety of river-bound experiences where you can get a unique perspective of the city. This Valentine’s Day, you can hop aboard the Yacht Manhattan for a romantic sunset sail, or join an afternoon Statue & Skyline Sightseeing Cruise.
Impress your Valentine with an adventure to New York's most fascinating hidden spots or a secret bar! Secret Brooklyn will be your guide to the borough’s quirkiest locations, like a robotic church, a hidden rooftop garden, and the smallest cemetery in New York City. Secret New York will reveal places like NYC's version of the Sagrada Familia, a secret metro tunnel, a room filled with earth, a gigantic Venetian palace, the last tooth of Washington, and more. With 150 off-the-beaten-path places to explore in each book, co-written by Untapped New York’s founder Michelle Young, you will find all the inspiration you need for one-of-a-kind dates with your Valentine. After a long day of adventuring, enjoy dinner or a drink at one of the city's clandestine dining establishments found in New York Hidden Bars & Restaurants, which just came out as a new edition!
Give your Valentine the key to unlock hidden spaces in New York City with an Untapped New York membership! As a member at the Insider tier, they will gain access to FREE tickets on Untapped New York's most popular walking tours, exclusive member-only events both in-person and online, as well as special discounts and access to our video archive of 300+ recorded webinars and livestreams. See all upcoming events here!
Hear stories about couples and courtships as you explore one of the oldest homes in Brooklyn, currently closed to the public. Examine historic love letters, wedding invitations, and keepsakes from the collection and use paranormal investigation tools to find out if love really lasts forever on a limited-run experience, After-Dark at the Lott House, A Paranormal Investigation Tour. Your ticket includes complimentary wine, soft drinks, and snack,s and a portion of the proceeds support preservation efforts!
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