Outlet: Forbes
Date: January 20, 2024
Reporter: Irene S. Levine
On Valentine’s Day, even the most elegant New York City hotel dining rooms raise the bar in terms of their culinary offerings.
Special menus showcase the chefs’ most inventive dishes, often with “sides” of romantic flourishes and special cocktails that make the meal even more memorable.
Here are a few standout hotel Valentine’s Day dinners that can help jumpstart a new romance or rekindle an existing one.
Want the evening to last longer? Pair the meal with an overnight stay. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged for both dinners and hotel stays.
Brasserie Fouquet’s New York
The dining room at Brasserie Fouquet’s New YorkMATTHIEU SALVAING/FOUQUET’S
The cozy setting of the hotel’s gourmet restaurant, Brasserie Fouquet’s New York, is reminiscent of its namesake on the Champs-Élysées. The ambiance of the room is romantic in itself, with red decor, an intimate feel and dim lighting.
The Valentine’s Day three-course prix fixe menu (priced at $175 per person), curated by the new Executive Chef Mathew Woolf, reinterprets some Parisian classics using the finest ingredients. For example, first course options include Wellfleet oysters, scallop crudo, escargot, and steak tartare. Reservations are available through Resy.
About The Hotel
The French Groupe Lucien Barriere, which dates back to 1912, operates 19 luxury hotels including Fouquet’s New York.
Newly opened in September 2022, the hotel brings the opulence of Paris to TriBeCa with Art Deco-inspired rooms decorated in a pastel palette. The 97 guest rooms and suites offer high ceilings and large windows, many with views of the Hudson River.
The Champagne Bar At The Plaza
Exterior of the PlazaTHE PLAZA, A FAIRMONT MANAGED HOTEL
The iconic Plaza Hotel has partnered with the team of Remy Martin Louis XIII to curate what promises to be an unforgettable Valentine’s Day experience. Guests will sip and savor Telmont rosé champagne and Osetra caviar from Petrossian, and indulge in a bountiful raw bar at an elegant space that overlooks Fifth Avenue and The Pulitzer Fountain.
Guests can extend their evening by adding an optional Wagyu beef and dessert course with optional beverage and wine pairings. Two seatings are available, at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., priced at $275 per person. Reservations are available through Open Table.
About The Hotel
The Plaza New York is located at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South across from Central Park. This storied hotel, immortalized in countless books and films, has been the choice of royalty and celebrities from around the world for more than a century.
The building is a National Historic Landmark. Its exterior resembles a French Renaissance-style chateau and many of the public spaces inside (including the magnificent lobby, ballroom and restaurants) have received landmark designation from New York City. The hotel’s 282 gracious guest rooms and suites are currently managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
Grand Salon At The Baccarat Hotel New York City
In celebration of love and Valentine’s Day, the Baccarat Hotel New York City has crafted a creative four-course Couples Dinner. The courses: Rendezvous (smoked salmon and caviar), Love at First Bite (Coquille Saint-Jacques), Made for Each Other (filet of Angus beef and butter poached Maine lobster), and L’Amour du Chocolate.
The dinner is offered in the Grand Salon, a romantic Parisian-style venue aglow with crystal chandeliers. It will be available Wednesday, February 13 through Saturday, February 17 between 6PM and 10PM. Takeaway gifts include a Baccarat chocolate truffle box and a Baccarat crystal gift. The dinner is priced at $750 per couple, exclusive of tax, gratuity and alcohol (from $1000 with a wine/cocktail pairing.) Reservations can be made online at the Baccarat website.
About The Hotel
Located in the heart of midtown, the Baccarat Hotel New York City is across the street from the Museum of Modern Art and just steps from Fifth Avenue.
Each of the 114 guest rooms and suites is tastefully appointed with romantic decor, bespoke guest service, and other lavish flourishes, including a memorable “champagne button” on the phone.
The Regency Bar & Grill At Loews Regency New York
The intimate dining room at The Regency Bar & Grill at Loews Regency New YorkTHE REGENCY BAR & GRILL
A romantic evening at the Regency Bar & Grill at the Loews Regency New York Hotel awaits couples on Valentine’s Day. The multi-course menu is full of seasonal offerings inspired by love prepared by the restaurant’s new Executive Chef Manjit Manohar.
The first course “First Kiss” selections include foie gras terrine, celeriac carpaccio or a classic white asparagus soup. The entrée “Made for Each Other” course selections include a filet of beef, seabass and parsnip tagliatelle. Guests can end the evening on a sweet note with dessert selections, or the “Love is Love” course, a classic Napoleon or chocolate lava cake. For guests looking for simpler eats, the bar menu will also be available on February 14.
About The Hotel
Conveniently located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Loews Regency New York Hotel is the only luxury hotel on Park Avenue north of 42nd Street.
Guests can live the life of locals because some of the city’s most popular (and romantic) sites—including Central Park, Museum Mile, Broadway and more—are either close by or in this exclusive neighborhood.
Jams At 1 Hotel Central Park
The contemporary dining room at Jams at Hotel 1 Central Park ERIC LAIGNEL
Named “Best Chef in New York City” by the James Beard Foundation, Chef Jonathan Waxman oversees Jams, the 100-seat restaurant and bar with an open kitchen at 1 Hotel Central Park. The chef is known for his commitment to working with local farmers and vendors.
Jams promises a romantic ambiance for the special evening, with dimmed lighting and seasonal cocktails. The a la carte Valentine’s Day menu includes a choice of appetizers, main courses (such as honey glazed Hudson duck magret and acorn squash agnolotti), and a buckwheat crepe soufflé dessert with chocolate sauce. Reservations can be made on the SevenRooms platform.
About The Hotel
1 Hotel Central Park is a five-star property located steps away from Central Park, at the corner of 58th Street and Sixth Avenue.
The LEED-certified hotel offers luxurious rooms and suites including the newly unveiled Park Penthouse with 1,201 square feet of outdoor terrace space. Emphasizing sustainability, the property has a three-story live green façade, in-room wellness offerings, an Audi electric house car, and farm-to-table dishes.
Saishin In Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC
Located at the rooftop of the Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC, Saishin is the perfect setting for romance, an intimate space with moody lighting and elevated bites.
On Valentine’s Day, Saishin will offer a special 16-course omakase experience that includes a glass of Moet rosé champagne upon arrival and premium ingredients such as lobster, wagyu, caviar and truffles, many of which are considered aphrodisiacs. The dinner is priced at $250 per person (with taxes and gratuities extra). Booking is available on Resy.
About The Hotel
Situated on Ninth Avenue (at 13th Street) in the heart of the vibrant New York City Meatpacking District, the five-star Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC hotel opened in 2004 and was renovated top-to-bottom in 2021.
The 186-room boutique property is steps away from the Hudson River, the High Line, Chelsea Market, Little Island, art galleries, restaurants, shops, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
The Bazaar New York By Jose Andres In The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
Only open since August 2023, The Bazaar New York at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad offers the acclaimed chef’s interpretation of the cultural interaction between Japan and his native Spain. The unique space on the second floor of the hotel is warm and playful, almost theatrical.
For Valentine’s Day, the special multi-course, small-plate tasting experience begins with Jose’s Taco (made with jamon iberico and Ossetra caviar) and ends with Sakura Pavlova (champagne gelee, cherry blossom and crème fraiche) with many delectable dishes in between.
The special dinner is priced at $225 per person with an optional wine pairing. Reservations are available through Open Table.
About The Hotel
Located at Broadway and 28th street in the heart of the Manhattan Floral District and steps from Madison Square Park, The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad is an oasis of modern luxury. The 250-key hotel blends the refined elegance of the brand with contemporary design and sensibilities that welcome a new generation.
With its bold design, sensuous 6,800-square-foot spa, and legendary restaurants and bars, the property made the list of 2023 Conde Nast Travel Readers’ Choice Awards. Guests booking Club Level rooms have access to the private Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge with all food and beverage by Michelin-starred chef José Andrés.
Majorelle Restaurant at The Lowell Hotel
Majorelle offers the perfect ambiance for a romantic and relaxing dinner in a setting with lush floral bouquets. The seasonal, French-inspired Valentine’s Day menu will be available on February 13th and 14th.
Guests will enjoy decadent dishes such as Duck Breast with Chestnuts and Celery, Sautéed Salmon with Endives and Orange, Escargots in Puff Pastry with Parsley and Garlic, Filet Mignon with dreamy peppercorn sauce, and sweet treats such as Majorelle’s Dark Chocolate Mousse and signature souffles: Grand Marnier, Chocolate, and Passion Fruit. Reservations can be made by calling 1- 212-935-2888
About the hotel
Located on E. 63 Street (between Madison and Park Avenues) on the Upper East Side, The Lowell is a five-star luxury landmark hotel. It sits in a residential neighborhood that’s a short walk to the fashion houses of Madison Avenue, the boutiques and shops on Fifth Avenue, and iconic Central Park.
The 74 rooms and suites have the feel of private apartments, many with spectacular views of Manhattan from beautiful terraces, gourmet kitchens and original, wood-burning fireplaces. Privately owned, this boutique property was first established as a luxury hotel in 1927 and underwent a $25 million, three-year renovation before reopening in 2017. The Lowell is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.