SoHo After Dark: Romantic & Cozy Spots for a Perfect Date
Everything you need for a romantic night out, from jazz bars to candlelit dining rooms.
When the sun dips behind the cast-iron facades and cobblestone streets glint under streetlights, SoHo sheds its frantic retail energy for something far more sultry and cinematic. The neighborhood shifts from a high-traffic shopping mecca into an after-hours playground, where in-the-know Manhattanite—and those who want to be around them—swap shopping bags for martinis. As Valentine’s Day approaches, these captivating blocks offer a variety of haunts, from subterranean jazz dens and jewel-box-sized speakeasies to grand French dining rooms that feel like a love letter to the City of Light. Read on to find out where to spend a romantic evening in ever-enchanting SoHo.
For grand French romance and a candlelit special-occasion dinner…
Le Coucou is one of New York’s most striking dining rooms, pairing classical French grandeur with a distinctly Manhattan sense of polish. Chef Daniel Rose’s Michelin-starred restaurant features soaring ceilings, glowing chandeliers, and an open kitchen that keeps the room active throughout the night. For Valentine’s Day, Le Coucou offers La Saint-Valentin, a $265 per-person tasting menu that opens with elegant canapés before moving through refined French classics, including sole meunière, the signature canette à l’orange, and a côte de bœuf for two, all wrapped up with a composed dessert course. What’s not to j’adore?
138 Lafayette St; T. (212) 271-4252
For martinis by the fireplace, live piano, and dancing after dinner…
The Club Room at SoHo Grand Hotel has long been one of downtown’s most dependable after-dark date rooms—a velvet-curtained escape where Art Deco glamour and New York attitude coexist without trying too hard. The two-room space feels cinematic from the moment you step inside, with peacock murals, plush banquettes, mirrored ceilings, and a crowd that treats dressing up as part of the ritual.
Even on an ordinary night, live pianists and jazz musicians give way to late-night energy, martinis circulate freely, and the mood builds naturally as dinner turns into dancing. On Valentine’s Day, vocalist Ollice Spaulding headlines the evening with two live sets at 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., alongside a $150 prix-fixe dinner in the Parlor, while the Bar Room welcomes walk-ins ordering the Valentine’s menu à la carte. Whether you’re planning a full night or stopping in for a drink by the fireplace, the romance here never feels forced.
310 W Broadway; T. (212) 965-3588
For late-night cocktails, caviar, and velvet-lit flirting…
Tucked beneath the stylish Mercer Hotel, (SUB)MERCER is a brick-lined, late-night lounge that has long been a magnet for SoHo’s downtown creative set. The room is intimate and moodily lit, with a DJ-driven soundtrack and a shoulder-to-shoulder energy that makes people-watching part of the appeal. Cocktails skew premium and classic-forward, backed by easy, shareable bar bites like sliders and snacks designed to keep the night moving. Keep things low-key yet luxe on Valentine’s Day with the Lovers Special, which includes a chilled bottle of champagne and a light bite.
147 1/2, Mercer St; T. (212) 658-1155
For jewel-box cocktails and indulgent bites in a moody hideaway…
Perched above the high-end shopping stretch of West Broadway, Pearl Box is a jewel-box-sized lounge drenched in 1970s-inspired decadence. Though Heroes below is temporarily closed, Pearl Box continues to operate upstairs as its own late-night destination, offering a moody escape defined by red velvet carpeting, wood-paneled walls, sloped ceilings, and low lighting. Cocktails focus on elevated takes on classics, while caviar service adds an indulgent touch that feels especially right for Valentine’s Day.
357 W Broadway, 3rd Floor; T. (212) 889-8884
For candlelit jazz, cocktails, and Parisian drama underground…
Just beyond SoHo in nearby Tribeca, head downstairs at The Roxy Hotel to The Django, and you’ll find yourself in a cave-like, devilishly good-looking, Paris-inspired jazz room. With two cocktail bars, exposed brick walls, and vaulted ceilings, The Django delivers the classic charm of Parisian boîtes sans the cigarette smoke.
This Valentine’s Day, the hidden gem hosts a special $155 prix-fixe dinner that pairs fine food—think fried oysters, seared lamb carpaccio, and red wine–braised short rib—with live performances. Acclaimed vocalist Vivian Sessoms kicks off the night at 7:30 p.m. with her soulful, genre-fluid storytelling, followed by a 10:30 p.m. set from modern saxophone master Eric Alexander, who explores his lyrical, tender side through a series of gentle ballads. Bookend your meal with a strawberry pavlova before heading back up to street level. No matter the night, everything’s always romantic at The Django.
2 Sixth Ave; T. (212) 519-6649
For an easy date with great food, strong drinks, and neighborhood buzz…
On a cobblestone stretch of Mercer Street, Odd Sister draws a steady mix of locals from early evening through late night. Exposed brick walls, a busy bar, and a skylit back room give the space a natural rhythm that works for dinner, drinks, or an unplanned second round. The menu skews comforting without feeling obvious, with the short rib fried rice earning its reputation as a go-to order. Cocktails are familiar and well executed, the crowd feels rooted in the neighborhood, and the atmosphere lands somewhere between lively and unfussy—making it a solid pick for a date that values ease over spectacle.
45 Mercer St; T. (212) 966-9288
WORDS Alex Catarinella
PHOTOGRAPHY Createasea on Unsplash