There’s no end to the options for sweet spots to grab dinner and drinks with a new fling or longtime partner in the city. We’ve written about more than a few. However, as the weather warms up, why not heat up your date night a bit as well? We’ve got a few ideas to spark some creative inspo – and hopefully some romance. 

Go roller skating at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2 

Invoke the halcyon days of childhood roller rink birthday parties by taking your date to the rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Skaters of any skill level are welcome and it’s free to skate Mondays and Fridays between 3:30 and 6pm, if you and your date can sneak out of work a little early. They also host several themed skate nights throughout the summer, including a Carribean Night and Back-to-School Skate. The covered outdoor rink (so you can skate rain or shine) is located at Pier 2 and offers sweeping views of the city you can take in as you speed – or stumble – by. Don’t have skates? Rent ‘em for the low-low price of eight bucks a pair. 

Nosh your way through a market in any borough 

No matter what ‘hood you and your date are looking to kick it in, there’s an open-air market offering a great date activity for foodies. Take the 7th annual Bronx Night Market with local food and drink vendors, artisans, arts ‘n crafts stations, and live music. Over in Queens, the Queens Night Market – now in its 9th year – opened for the season on April 13th with more than 100 local vendors serving every cuisine you could crave alongside a variety of indie wares. In Brooklyn, the always-popular Smorgasburg opens in Williamsburg in June with its usual eclectic buffet of food stands (one year, we sampled a spaghetti donut) and other vendors. Smorgasburg also has locations in Prospect Park, the WTC, and Jersey City. 

Catch a flick under the stars 

Nothing says romance like movies and moonlight. There are countless places across the city to see a film al fresco this summer, with many venues offering a full schedule of summer movies. Take Seaport Cinema, a summer movie pop-up at the Greens at Pier 17. This year, all the movies are music-themed and were voted on by the movie-goers, so make sure to grab your seat, grab your popcorn, and get ready to watch great movies like “School of Rock,” and “Barbie.”  

Slurp oysters on the open seas 

Okay, maybe not the open seas, but definitely on a boat! NYC offers not one, but two, locations at which patrons can enjoy a raw bar and cocktails aboard a well-appointed sailboat. Grand Banks is a historic schooner now docked permanently in Tribeca at Pier 25 in Hudson River Park. The stately floating restaurant is largely known as an oyster bar but they also have a short menu of other seafood-forward small plates alongside an excellent cocktail list. The other is Pilot, another stately schooner permanently moored in Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 6, offering up a similar menu of fresh raw bar options and artfully crafted libations. Both let you live out your nautical date night fantasies while keeping close to shore, should your sea legs prove less than sturdy. 

Immerse yourself in unusual art 

If you want art, New York’s got it. And a date at a museum is a great way to take in some masterpieces while showing your date how cultured you are. However, we think it’s more fun when you and your date can get a little more involved with the exhibits. Consider an immersive art experience like the Museum of Ice Cream, an exhibit dedicated to the sweet treat that offers Instagram ops aplenty. Think: taking a dip in a pool full of colorful sprinkles with your sweetie. Those who want something a little trippier might check out Artechouse, a space in Chelsea featuring wall-to-wall screens that play a series of mind-bending visuals on loop. Take a walk through or take a seat and stay awhile – there’s a lot to take in.  

Get some TLC at a new spa experience on Governors Island 

Governors Island is largely known for hosting festivals and parties, but a new spa recently popped up on the island. QC NY Spa is a luxury spa and wellness center that opened quietly this March. The center boasts gorgeous views of New York Harbor and offers a buffet of treatments and services, including 25-, 50-, or 75-minute massages, infrared beds, saunas, steam baths, and several themed rooms. One, the Scottish Room, invites guests to breathe in soothing balsamic aromas to open their pores, while another, the Fireplace Room, provides guests with nothing but comfort surrounded by the crackling fire. Take a special someone for a full day of pampering and cap it off with sunset cocktails in your bathrobe with a view of the New York skyline. Now that’s amore.