How to Spend the Ultimate Valentine’s Day at Rockefeller Center
Window displays are awash in pink and red, Cupid cut-outs dangle from ceilings, and heart-shaped Reese’s are back in stock… which means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Whether you're spending the day with your beloved, a good friend, or going stag, Rockefeller Center can keep you entertained all day long.
From botanical chocolate and pink donuts to mulled wine specials, here’s how to enjoy the perfect New York City Valentine’s Day — without ever leaving the Midtown campus.
10 am: Get moving with help from Café Grumpy
Find it on The Rink level of 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Don’t let the name fool you, Café Grumpy will put a pep in your step in no time. Start things off on the right foot with a $2 heartbreaker espresso shot to get you energized for the day ahead, or buy a discounted bag of heartbreaker beans for that special, caffeine-loving someone.
Now that you’re wide awake, it’s time to…
10:15 am: Pick up some stems at Raaka
Stay on The Rink level of 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Raaka has the perfect gift on lock with their NYBG + Stems Valentine's Day Gift Set. This Botanical Collection, created in collaboration with the New York Botanical Garden, includes three chocolate bars inspired by floral scents and flavors. For Valentine’s Day, Raaka is also pairing the special chocolate with a dried bouquet from Stems for $60 total. Orders are available for pickup from February 9 through 14.
And for some other last-minute gifts…
10:30 am: Shop around at Ryan Roche and Eva Fehren
Whether perusing for yourself or a loved one, shopping at Rockefeller Center is as varied as the city itself. Try pieces from Eva Fehren's dazzling collection of diamonds or cozy up in Ryan Roche’s romantic knitwear.
On Thursday, February 10, love will be in the air at Eva Fehren; stop by the engagement pop-up to try on rings, wedding bands, and sip some bubbly with the founder herself.
If all that shopping worked up an appetite…
12:15 pm: Fill up with the three-course prix fixe menu at Lodi
You don’t have to go far to find Lodi, which can be found at 1 Rockefeller Plaza
It’s been said that food is a universal love language and, if that’s true, there’s no better time to indulge. This Valentine’s Day, Lodi will be serving a three-course menu that includes oysters, house-made tortellini, and a passion fruit and white chocolate dessert you’ll be dreaming about for weeks to come.
And for those with an extra sweet tooth…
1:30 pm: Grab a Dough x Raaka Valentine’s Day treat
Take a quick 2-minute walk to Dough, at 10 Rockefeller Plaza
It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without plenty of sweets. This year, ditch the chocolate boxes and try a donut instead. Dough and Raaka teamed up to create a homemade strawberry jam-filled doughnut and a heart-shaped Beignet coated with Raaka strawberry swirl crust. But you must visit on February 14; these treats are only available on the big day.
Now time for some fresh air…
2:30 pm: Take a trip to Tiffany’s
Head over to the Channel Gardens
Get your Holly Golightly on and head over to the Channel Gardens for a special Tiffany & Co. experience. From noon until 5 pm, Tiffany’s will be giving away free flowers and hosting a photo moment outside. Have your photo taken with a background designed by a professional light artist and take in the iconic facade of 30 Rock, which will be lit in Tiffany blue.
Before you pack up…
4:00 pm: Enjoy a winter sunset and a new art installation at Top of the Rock
Find it less than a block over on 50th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues
Top of the Rock is one of the best places to take in the expanse of the city. Now through March 13, visitors can not only enjoy sweeping views, but also experience a new interactive art installation. Created by artists Kris Moran and Martin Duffy, BUILDINGS AND BLOCKS includes three 23-foot towers and 37 black and white-striped blocks inspired by the panoramic vista from the observation deck.
And to cap the day off…
5:30 pm: Unwind with City Winery’s passion fruit mulled wine
It’s not a far walk to City Winery, located on the plaza between 50th and 51st Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues
After a jam-packed day of sightseeing, shopping, and snacking, put your feet up at City Winery’s outdoor pop-up wine garden. Sip on a selection from the winery’s carefully curated menu, or opt for the Valentine’s Day-themed passion fruit mulled wine to keep your hands (and heart) warm.
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