How to Have a Valentine’s Day À La Française

Valentine’s Day isn’t just an American holiday—it should come as no surprise that the French go all out for the most romantic 24 hours of the year! Their celebrations are similar—handwritten notes on beautiful cards, gifts of flowers and chocolates, candlelit dinners at special restaurants—but they put a particularly indulgent flair on the festivities. 

If you’d like to say je t’adore on this side of the pond near L’Alliance New York in Manhattan, here are some of our favorite NYC French and francophone shops and restaurants to help you successfully mark the holiday.

 

Pick up some pretty stationery…

Set the tone with your sentiments poured out in ink on a hand-picked card or quality notepaper. Stop by French bookstore and papeterie La Joie de Vivre or Albertine Bookstore (don’t miss the gorgeous hand-painted constellation ceiling mural on the second floor!)

 

Choose a box of quality chocolate or pastries…

These confections are perhaps the most integral to the French on this day—if there’s one detail you don’t cut corners on, make it the sweet stuff. There are plenty of top-tier options—from Teuscher to La Maison du Chocolat to Barachou to Michelen-starred and James Beard Award-winning chef Gabriel Kreuther’s Kreuther Handcrafted Chocolate to Meilleur Ouvrier de France-winning Thierry-ATLAN and Jacques Torres. 

 

Buy a bouquet of beautiful blooms…

The gift of early spring via the scent of bountiful flowers will be sure to leave an impression. Pick from petals arranged by French owners at Ode à la Rose, Agnes de Villarson, or fleursBELLA. 

 

Select a delectable bottle of vin or bubbly…

Whether you start or end the night with a toast, make sure the wine or champagne you pour is as special as the occasion. Swing by a shop that specializes in French vintages, like Le French Wine Shop, Le Dû Wines, Verve Wine, and Astor Wines & Spirits (their French section is massive and their employees are very knowledgeable).

 

Treat your amour to dinner at a lauded restaurant…

We’ve already taken a deep dive on this subject with our 20 favorite French restaurants in NYC and our favorite NYC restaurants that serve food from francophone regions, but we’ll put a finer point on some of our Manhattan picks for you. For an intimate, bistro experience, you can’t go wrong with Buvette, Café Select, or Petite Boucherie. Spending Valentine’s Day with a larger group or on a double date? Try our favorite, more lively bistro staples: Balthazar, Raoul’s, or Pastis.

 

Amoureux with all things French? Say oui to our French classes, visit us for a special event, or stop by to browse one of the country’s largest private collections of French literature at our library. À bientôt! 

 

Image credit © La Maison du Chocolat