Valentine’s Day in Brooklyn: 5 things to do with a special someone

In case you’ve missed it, Brooklyn has ceased to be Manhattan’s scruffier little sibling and grown into a sought-after destination in its own right. With fine dining, funky art, and cool cafés often clustered on the same block, it also offers plenty of opportunities for romance. This Valentine’s Day, discover hip enclaves brimming with cultural cachet. At the end of the evening, call an uberX or luxurious UberSELECT.

Stroll through the Gardens

A date at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden varies with the season as flowers bloom and fade. Autumn transforms the landscape into a riot of crimson, scarlet, and saffron hues, while spring sees more than 70 types of cherry trees burst into bloom. Even in the dead of winter, when admission is free and crowds are thin, it’s still wonderfully atmospheric. If simply strolling through the gardens isn’t enough, you and your paramour might want to check out one of the many workshops and tours available. Options range from learning to make natural herbal teas and infusions with local botanicals to discovering plants associated with a particular holiday, say, the Chinese Lunar New Year. Courses change all the time, so check online to see what sparks your interest.

Unwind with a couple’s massage

If work has left the two of you with a surplus of stress and too little time for each other, take the opportunity to relax and reconnect with a couples’ massage at Body by Brooklyn. This ultra-luxe city spa has a special suite for two that comes with a steam room, Jacuzzi, and butler service. You’ll even receive a bottle of Champagne and a platter of fruit to nibble on. Lovebirds who book the VIP Suite can also experience one of life’s most potent aphrodisiacs—a chocolate massage.

Drink a local libation

The sommeliers at Brooklyn Oenology, a Williamsburg wine bar with a local focus, are as passionate about the neighborhood as they are about the cleverly curated cellar. All of the wines here are derived from grapes grown in the greater New York area and sport labels designed by Brooklyn artists. In the tasting room, you and your significant other can also discuss the merits of locally crafted ciders, whiskies, and beers, while admiring works by some of the borough’s up-and-coming artists.

Indulge in some haute cuisine

Sure, it’s a splurge, but the artful, Nordic-inspired dégustations at the Michelin two-star Aska have critics swooning. If you’re dating a foodie, the odds are high that they’ll be equally smitten by the end of the meal.

If your date’s tastes lean more traditional, swing by Leuca for handmade pastas and pizzas. Andrew Carmellini’s southern Italian trattoria is suave and sophisticated without ever being pretentious.

Finally, for carnivores it’s hard to beat Peter Luger Steakhouse. This Brooklyn institution has been serving up dirty martinis and slabs dry-aged beef since 1887. There’s an old-school opulence to the place that’s only grown over the years. Dress to impress and be sure to bring plenty of cash, as the restaurant doesn’t accept credit cards.

Spice things up at a burlesque show

When another dull dinner and movie combo just won’t do, consider taking things up a notch with the sexy, hilarious Dumbo Burlesque. Aerialists spin from hoops, and dancers dazzle while the emcee works the crowd during this evening of delicious debauchery housed in a former warehouse in Williamsburg.