There are many ways to step out on Valentine's. Perhaps you'd like a posh room at a high-class hotel, or just a quiet dinner and a romantic movie. Here are some of our editors' top picks from our extensive guide. (Note: All phone numbers 212 area code.)

Hotels

  • Paramount Hotel, 235 West 46th, 764-5500
    $260 Friday and Saturday Valentine's Special
  • Drake Swissotel, 440 Park Ave (@ 56th), 421-0900
    Packages: $449 Champagne, Dinner-for-two, Continental Breakfast, 1/2 hour massage, discount coupons to Macy's and Bloomingdale's; $209 Champagne, Continental Breakfast
  • Carlyle Hotel, 35 East 76th Madison Ave, 744-1600
    no specials
  • Penninsula New York, 700 5th Ave, 55th, 247-2200
    $550 Valentine's Suite
  • Plaza Hotel, 5th Ave, Between 58th and 59th, 546-5493
    no specials
  • Wales Hotel, 1295 Madison Ave, between 92nd and 93rd, 876-6000
    no specials
  • Hotel Chelsea, 222 West 23rd, between 7th and 8th Ave, 243-3700
    no specials

Restaurants

Here are some of the more cozy restaurants to try for Valentine's Day.

  • Casanis, 54 East 1st, between 1st and 2nd, 777-1589, French
  • Lucky Strike, 59 Grand, bx West Broadway and Wooster, 941-0479, Euro-steak
  • Jules, 65 St. Marks, bx 1st and 2nd Ave, 477-5560, French bistro
  • Temple Bar, 32 Lafayette St, @ Bleeker, 925-4242, Look for lizard skeleton.
  • Shun Lee West, 43 West 65th, bx Columbus and CPW, 595-8895, Gourmet Chinese - 1 wk reservation
  • Penang Malaysian Cuisine, 109 Spring, bx Green and Mercer, 274-8883, Crowded but beautifully delicious food

Here are some of the big name restaurants if you have time to book in advance: Chanterelle, Aquamarine, La Cote Basque, One If By Land, Le Jardin Bistro, Rainbow Room, River Cafe, Cafe Des Artistes.

Movies

"The English Patient" looks like it takes center stage this Valentine's, though the new Woody Allen film "Everyone Says I Love You" may steal its spotlight. Film Forum (209 West Houston St, 6th Ave. and Varick)will be showing the classic "The Big Sleep", starring Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. Sandra Bullock and Chris O'Donnell fans may want to catch "In Love and War", an loose adaptation of Hemmingway's "A Farewell to Arms".

The English Patient
Everyone Says I love You
In Love and War

Nightclubs

There are so many clubs with such a variety of style and clientel that it's hard to point to any particular nightclub. Because Valentine's falls on a friday night we suggest going through the list of Friday events at clubs to pick out the one that's right for you. Here's the list from our good friends at Metrobeat.