Romantic staycations

If you have an afternoon
You may think of summer heat as icky and gross; we prefer to see it as sensuous and libido-boosting. Regardless, embrace the sweat at a Samba Fusion class at the Long Island City School of Ballet (44-02 23rd St between 44th Ave and 44th Rd, studio 216, Long Island City, Queens; 718-781-1169, licsb.com; Sat 1–2:30pm; $15). Once you’re both good and glowing, snag a seat on the patio overlooking Manhattan at The Creek and the Cave (10-93 Jackson Ave at 11th St, 718-706-8783). Order a pair of the resto’s classic margaritas ($7 each) and share a serving of spicy jalapeño poppers ($4.95) to keep things hot.

Stonehome Wine Bar

If you have a day
Leave your stress behind on a trip to tranquil Fort Greene: Tree-lined streets and charming brownstones are reminiscent of a cheesy rom-com set. Splurge at Cynergy Spa (87 Fort Greene Pl at Fulton St; 718-403-9242, cynergyspa.com) with a special couples package ($320): Lovebirds recline in the spa’s Jacuzzi, then get rubbed down during 55-minute side-by-side massages. Finish your pampering with chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne, then sip a glass of prosecco ($10) on the cozy vine-covered back patio at Stonehome Wine Bar (87 Lafayette Ave between S Elliott Pl and S Portland Ave; 718-624-9443, stonehomewinebar.com). Once you’re good and buzzed, stroll hand in hand to the dim, sexy bistro Chez Lola (387 Myrtle Ave between Clermont and Vanderbilt Aves, 718-858-1484) for gooey empanadas ($7.50).

If you have a weekend
The quaint Euro-vibe of the West Village pretty much screams romance. Book a room at the Washington Square Hotel (103 Waverly Pl at MacDougal St; 212-777-9515, washingtonsquarehotel.com; from $225), a neighborhood fixture with sleek Art Deco details and suggestive nude paintings on its walls. Then meander into cozy Left Bank Books (304 W 4th St between Bank and W 12th Sts, 212-924-5638), which carries a broad selection of signed first-edition tomes—Spanish fly for book nerds. After, cuddle in a booth at Hudson Bar and Books (636 Hudson St at Horatio St; 212-229-2642, barandbooks.net) and sip a classic martini ($15) based on James Bond scribe Ian Fleming’s personal recipe (shaken, not stirred). Thus fortified, scooch close together in the cozy confines of Mary’s Fish Camp (64 Charles St at 4th St; 646-486-2185, marysfishcamp.com). The unfussy menu features a justly famous lobster roll (market price)—potentially even more of an aphrodisiac than the oysters ($12 for six). Before adjourning to your hotel room, make a pit stop at the Pleasure Chest (156 Seventh Ave South between Charles St and Waverly Pl, 212-242-2158) for whatever your pervy heart desires, be it body frosting ($2.95) or a riding crop ($18.95–$49.95). After what’s sure to be a restful evening (har), grab brunch at Home (20 Cornelia St between Sixth Ave and Bleecker St, 212-243-9579), which uses local, sustainable ingredients in comfort-food staples like cheddar-bacon grits with poached eggs ($10). Finish your weekend by renting wheels at the West Village Waterfront Bike Shop (391 West St at Christopher St, 212-414-BIKE), where sporty cruisers can be had for $32 per day. Sorry, no tandem bikes here.

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New York City staycations
You need a summer break but don't have the days off? Save time by staying home!