Dilli hai dilwalon ka – a city where romance unfolds effortlessly. There is love in the music-filled evenings, in the sun-lit old monuments, candlelit conversations, and old-school romance tucked in the coy corners. When it comes to dates, it’s the experiences that linger, not after it’s over, not last-minute chocolates and scented candles you found in a shopping mall. To help you plan something truly memorable, we have rounded up some of our highly recommended romantic date ideas in Delhi for Valentine’s Day. We assure you this trumps a bouquet of flowers every single time.
Groove to love songs at Delhi’s live music venues
Delhi has no shortage of hip live music spots. From laid-back lounges to buzzing music hotspots, there are plenty of places in the city to swoon a hot date. Nothing gets hearts beating like a bit of jazz, and the city remains saturated with fun jazz spots, including The Piano Man Jazz Club and Cocktails and Dreams Speakeasy. Further, you can also hit the Summer House Cafe, Raasta and Mia Bella, among more, for delicious cocktails and exhilarating live music.
From ₹1,500
Transport into New Orleans in this limited edition Jazz Room
Speaking of Jazz, as we said, nothing speaks “love” more than an intimate night filled with jazz music. The Jazz Room is coming to New Delhi to take you on a journey to the heart of New Orleans. Enjoy a mix of classics and spontaneous improvisations in this live performance of soulful tunes of saxophone, trumpets, and violin. We assure you, your date will be impressed.
Get your tickets here.
From ₹1,599
Go pottery making
The Clay Company is one of our top spots for a cute date if you are willing to get your hands messy. Experienced teachers offer tips and hands-on demonstrations to make the most out of your date (and the clay!). It’s the perfect chance to get up close and personal with your adorable pottery partner to recreate the iconic Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore scene in Ghost. And well, we cannot think of anything more romantic than that.
Book your session here
From ₹1,000
Get weird at the Museum of Illusions
Taking a trip to the Museum of Illusions is one of our quirkier date ideas in New Delhi. There are over 50 mind-blowing exhibits to explore, each one getting wonderfully weirder and weirder! Walk through stunning installations like the cloning table or find yourselves grabbing onto each other’s hands at the vortex tunnels.
Get your tickets here.
From ₹500
Take a stroll around the Garden of Five Senses
The Garden of Five Senses is a 20-acre park that looks like it was designed with lovebirds in mind. Gorgeous sculptures, fountains and lakes are dotted around the park, creating a wonderful setting that’s perfect for a romantic stroll. Here, you can also gorge on some seriously amazing street food, selling anything and everything from samosas to tandoori chicken skewers. Everything here hits the checkmark for a good old-fashioned picnic.
Find more parks in Delhi here.
Sing your hearts out at a Karaoke bar
If you have grown up with Bollywood movies, then your standards in romance are high. Head to a Karaoke bar for a date night, and you won’t regret feeling like a main character. Whether you are a pitch-perfect duo or hilariously off-key, Delhi’s karaoke scene has something special for you. If you are looking for a Korean-style intimate booth, head to Sarang Karaoke or Auro Kitchen & Bar (with complimentary drinks every Tuesday for the ladies), if you are looking for some seriously good food. If you are all the way in Gurugram, Feel ALIVE is a place you can truly sing your favourite tunes, publicly and privately.
Experience a unique candlelight concert
As the everlasting harmonies of renowned classical pieces resound in Delhi’s most charming venues, candlelight concerts evoke a sense of timeless beauty and connection, drawing you a smidge closer to your date. Then there’s the gentle light of thousands of flickering candles that adds a unique and romantic touch to the evening.
They have an upcoming Valentine’s Day special candlelight concert too on Friday, February 13, in Sunder Nursery. Book your tickets here.
Find all the upcoming candlelight concerts in Delhi here.
From ₹1,299
Give rock climbing a go
Another pretty unconventional date idea in New Delhi is rock climbing. Boulder Box is a popular rock climbing spot that also features a cute little coffee shop. A great option to first tire yourselves out, only to be replenished soon enough with invigorating pours of espresso.
From ₹1,000
Go on a breakfast date
The most important meal of the day with your number one! Wake up a tad bit early to plan a romantic date at Delhi’s wonderful breakfast houses. Share a stack of fluffy pancakes from Melt House, tear open luscious tiramisu croissants from Blanca or swab bhatures in spicy choles in Baba Nagpal’s corner. A day goes well that starts well.
Share a cocktail at one of Delhi’s finest bars
Cheeky cocktails, bar bites and the occasional flicker of dim lights by your plush booths. Delhi serves up an assortment of brilliant bars, many recognised by international institutions for their crafty cocktails. From Sidecar to Olive Bar and Kitchen, why not try a couple of glasses in their stunning ambience, best enjoyed a tad bit tipsy! You can find a full list of our highly recommended bars in Delhi here.
Enjoy beautiful cafe dates
We adore the cascading ivy at Diggin, the pastel-painted walls at Woodstock bakery and the stunning bookshelves at AMA Cafe. With a wide set menu serving rich pours of coffee, velvety hot chocolate, decadent desserts and soulful bowls of ramen, among more, these cafes are perfect for whipping up some cosy afternoon date ideas in Delhi. You can find a full list of Delhi’s best cafes here.
From ₹1,000
Go on a cycle tour of Delhi
As we mentioned at the start, Delhi is for the lovers, especially the lanes of old Delhi that tell ancient tales of romance. Hop on a couple of cycles and take a refreshing tour of the beautiful city. Delhi by Cycle offers many thematic tours like Lodhi Cycle Tour, Yamuna Cycle Tour, Shah Jahan Cycle Tour, and many more. Decide your vibe and paddle on!
Book your tickets here
From ₹2,000
Get your partner a pair of colourful jhumkas at Delhi’s best street shopping markets
What’s a Bollywood movie without the falling jhumka and jurta getting hooked to a bangle? Shop for stunning collections of jhumkas, bangles, gorgeous ethnic wear, jewellery and more at Delhi’s best shopping markets. Travel to the beautiful Dilli Haat market, the tantalising Meena Bazaar or everyone’s favourite Sarojini Nagar. We have seen enough Bollywood to know that recreating K3G’s Chandni Chowk mela scene is every girl’s dream!
From ₹50
Make a reservation at one of Delhi’s romantic restaurants
One of the classic date ideas in Delhi is to sit comfortably at dreamy locations around town, serving the most delicious meals. From tender sushis served at Thyme, and artisanal ice cream at Kiyan to Piano Man’s striking speakeasy ambience, choose your pick from our very own list of the best romantic restaurants in town here.
From ₹2,000
Wander hand-in-hand through Delhi’s wonderful art galleries
Whether you are an art connoisseur or not, there is something inherently romantic about holding onto your partner’s hand and admiring art together. Thankfully, the city gives you ample opportunity for the same with galleries such as KNMA, Latitude 28, Akar Prakar, and more hosting thought-provoking exhibitions all year round. You can find a full list of the capital city’s best art galleries here.
Enjoy an open-air cinema experience
Sunset Cinema Club offers striking outdoor locations perfect for cosying up on a bean bag chair with your partner as the movie rolls on screen. You can find a full list of their upcoming movie sessions here.
You can also enjoy a Valentine’s Day special screening of ZNMD on February 15 at Sunset Gourmet Cinemas. The concept is simple: you watch the movie and eat a 5-course meal inspired by the movie. Prices of Gourmet cinemas start at ₹3000/-
From ₹600
Book a relaxing couple’s spa day
Opt for hot stone massages at The Oberoi, a relaxing couple’s massage at The Chi or a luxurious purifying wrap at The Imperial Spa. If nightclubs or bar hopping is not quite what you are looking for, then a relaxing spa session might just be what you need. You can find a full list of Delhi’s best spa houses here.
From ₹2,000
Go ice-skating at Iskate
Hold onto your partners for this one! Glide across the ice and try not to fall at one of Delhi NCR’s best ice-skating rinks at Iskate in Gurugram. You will be falling, laughing, but still holding on to each other. The rink further offers delicious desserts crafted by their in-house patisserie.
You can book a 45-minute session here.
From ₹900
Attend a salsa night together
Tell us that you remember the adorable dance lesson scene in Kal Ho Na Ho. It was certainly iconic. Be the main character and take your partner to a salsa or bachata session for that intimate and yearning date. If that doesn’t work out, you will be sure to laugh and have fun all the way through. Every Friday, Flow, Brew and Dine offers salsa nights in Delhi, all packed with cocktails and great bachata music! Put on your dancing heels, grab a glass of wine or two for good measure and get dancing.
From ₹2,000
Plan a small weekend trip
With beautiful towns like Manali and Shimla or underrated gems like Jibhi not far from the city, why not plan a romantic getaway to the mountains? Enjoy scathing hot coffee among the snow or go for a mini trek for some spectacular views with your partner. You can get the full list of towns to visit in our weekend getaway guide here.
Grab some delicious desserts for a sweet end to the night
Make your dinner dates last a little longer by grabbing some delicious chocolate desserts at restaurants across the city. Grab crumbly monster cookies at the FES cafe, chocolate pancakes at AMA Cafe, chocolate bites at Manam Chocolate or luscious spoonfuls of tiramisu at Camillo’s for some indulgent, delicious desserts. You can find the full list of Delhi’s best chocolate desserts here.
Plan a day at Delhi’s favourite neighbourhood, Connaught Place
From shopping at Palika Bazaar and catching a movie at the Odeon theatre, to having a hearty Indian meal at Kwality and taking a walk past India Gate, CP has much to offer. Live your Dilli romance as dictated by Bollywood among its lanes and alleys- and you can find a full list of the best things to do in CP here.
Watch a fairy tale sunset at one of Delhi’s many viewpoints
If you have watched YJHD, then you must remember the sunset moment. At that moment, we wanted to be there with our dearest partners. Yes, we are clearly obsessed with Bollywood. If you are in Delhi, love is not just in the air; it’s in the monuments, walls, rooftops, and even the sun. Catch Delhi’s most beautiful sunsets at one of its many viewpoints. We also recommend heading to the Safdarjung Tomb to witness a sunset of a lifetime.
Experience your own dawaat-e-ishq with Delhi’s local delights
Did we mention it a bit late? As they say, the true way to your heart is through the stomach. You definitely cannot miss out on Delhi’s plethora of street eats. And, after a day of roaming around and shopping, there is something soulfully intimate about enjoying that pani puri on the streets of Chandni Chowk.
Go book-hopping at Delhi’s old school bookstores
If you have watched any 90s Hollywood rom-com, you’d get the reason why a bookstore/library can make for a wonderful date. And, Delhi has a distinct variety of charming bookstores, some old, some new, but all of them have a swooning vibe. You can head to the hole-in-the-wall, Fakir Chand, for rustic decor or the 1953 cafe bookstore at Bahrisons. Check out the full guide to Delhi’s best bookstores.
Laugh out loud at Delhi’s extraordinary comedy clubs
Laughter is the best medicine. If you are on a first date, then an evening at a comedy club is just what you need to break the ice. If you are a seasoned main character, then a comic laughter is just what you need for a happy evening ahead. Your partner is sure to love it, afterall what’s not to love after laughter? You can find the full list of Delhi’s comedy clubs here and keep a lookout on their pages for new events and lineups.