Your dating guidebook

Free (or nearly)  |  Old standbys  |   Staff picks  |  Big splurge
Valentine’s Day alternatives

Staff picks

For first dates

“I’ve had many first dates at ’sNice (45 Eighth Ave between Horatio and W 4th Sts, 212-645-0310). It’s got a funky vibe and good music: If you happen to overhear a snippet of someone else’s conversation, you can tell that a lot of couples there—gay and straight—are just meeting for the first time, which relieves some of the pressure. Sure, it’s a vegetarian cafe, but as a meat eater, I never feel unsatisfied or that I ate some nondescript brown lump. The vegan panini ($7.50)—made with smoked tofu and sun-dried tomatoes—is a slice of heaven. And, a rarity in the coffeehouse scene, the staff is always smiling and friendly. There is usually a lot of sweet-faced eye candy plugging away on laptops or reading the Sunday Times. Maybe too much—you don’t want to get caught with a wandering eye!”—Dan Avery, Around Town editor
This date features: dining

Game theory

Fat Cat (75 Christopher St between Bleecker St and Seventh Ave South, 212-675-7369; $3 cover after 7pm) is a sprawling basement that sort of looks like a taxi garage—if you’re drunk enough, you’ll see acres of pool tables. But the staff is friendly and the drinks are cheap, which makes it a perfectly comfortable place for the surprisingly very comfortable activity of playing Scrabble or shuffleboard on a date. A board game also takes some of the edge off of finding new things to say without feeling like you’re ignoring each other. It can get crowded, but you shouldn’t have a problem if you get there earlyish, like around 8pm. If you get tired of games, you can retire to the dark, couch-filled corner and listen to live jazz, talk, make out, etc.”—Noah Tarnow, copy chief
This date features: mixed bag  |  music

Staten Island hopping

“My boyfriend and I did this last year and we’re still talking about it. We took the ferry and then navigated Staten Island by bus. Neither one of us had ever done that before, so it felt like a vacation. Start off the afternoon at the Staten Island Zoo (614 Broadway between Colonial Ct and Harvest Ave, Staten Island; 718-442-3100). It’s not as flashy as the other city zoos, but it has lots of character and an aquarium. Then stop by Snug Harbor to see the Chinese Scholar’s Garden (Staten Island Botanical Gardens, 1000 Richmond Terrace at Delafield Pl, Staten Island; 718-273-8200). Meandering paths and delicate footbridges create an atmosphere of romantic discovery, and while we would’ve preferred it if the overzealous guide allowed us to appreciate the architecture on our own, she did provide interesting tidbits we still reference today. We topped off the excursion with dinner at Adobe Blues, a Tex-Mex spot with a roaring fire (65 Lafayette Ave, Staten Island; 718-720-2583). It’s a pleasant mix of culture, kitsch and city exploration.” —Dan Lopez, finance clerk
This date features: mixed bag  |  dining

Melting point

“There’s half-priced wine from 5pm to closing and all night on Mondays and Tuesdays at Bourgeois Pig (111 E 7th St between First Ave and Ave A, 212-475-2246). They also have massive fondue plates with large bowls of melted dark chocolate surrounded by pineapple, strawberries and apple. For the savory, try dipping chunks of bread and veggies into a bowl of melted cheese. And if hovering near the table to keep the drippy stuff off of your lap isn’t reason enough to bring you within puckering distance of your date, the place is also intimate, dark and filled with plush sofas and chairs that seem to be stacked on top of one another—all the more reason for you to squeeze in close.”—Katherine Rust, assistant editor, Time Out Kids
This date features: drinks

Haute cocoa

When I lived in Park Slope, my boyfriend and I would always go to The Chocolate Room (86 Fifth Ave between St. Marks Pl and Warren St, Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-783-2900). It’s cozy, cheap and it’s the perfect place for a date or just a chocolate craving—their brownie sundae ($8) is heaven on earth! —Shannon Effinger, receptionist
This date features: dining

Tea for two

I was enjoying afternon high tea at Tea & Sympathy (108–110 Greenwich Ave between 12th and 13th Sts, 212-989-9735) recently, and there were quite a few couples. For $50 you and your date can get finger sandwiches, scones, desserts and two huge pots of tea. Or try Circle Line Cruise (circleline42.com). You can BYO food and drink, which offsets the ticket price.” —Maureen Shelly, editor-in-chief, Time Out Kids
This date features: mixed bag  |  dining

Williamsburg is for lovers

“I’m not into super-romantic shit; I like drinking and doing, meaning a place I go should have more of a purpose to it than just getting drunk. I’m no longer vegetarian, but Kate’s Brooklyn Joint (295 Berry St between South 2nd and 3rd Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-218-7167) makes me wish I still was. The Southern Fried Unchicken Cutlets ($12) served with vegan gravy are heavenly, and the faux hot dogs, particularly the Dawgo Ranchero ($8), make me want to roll around in barbecue sauce with my significant other. Best of all, the place is always dead—unlike its Manhattan brethren—and there are more than two inches separating tables. Barcade (388 Union Ave between Ainslie and Powers Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-302-6464) is loaded with arcade games and also has a pool table in back. In my mind, nothing is sexier than beating the pants off your date at a game of pool.” —Ashlea Halpern, associate features editor
This date features: drinks

Reader’s picks

“Take Metro-North to Dia:Beacon (3 Beekman St between Bayview and Wolcott Aves, Beacon, NY; 845-440-0100), check it out, have a picnic lunch by the water or explore a café there.” —Stacy, Williamsburg, Brooklyn