5 Fun Friend Date Ideas for Singles on Valentine’s Day That Don’t Involve a Romantic Partner 

Valentine’s Day is all about love, so why can’t you take this opportunity to love yourself and love your friends? Spending quality time with your friends is an amazing way to reframe the day and make it meaningful and fun! Whether you’re single or simply looking to make Valentine’s day a day of connection for you and your friends, here are five fun and creative friend date ideas to switch things up this year! 

Host a game night

One of the easiest yet most entertaining ways to spend time with your friends is by hosting a game night. Bring out those nostalgic games or cards that you used to play all the time as kids and and enjoy with friends while cozied up around blankets and candles. Classic games like Monopoly or Scrabble, Clue, or Sorry are great group games to get a little competitive with. Remember card games like War or Slapjack? Or Uno?

A Valentine’s game night is the perfect time to get back into it! Newer, thought-provoking card games like Cards Against Humanity are also a great way to get friends laughing and form closer bonds with one another. 

Create a Board Night 

Board Nights are the newest craze of getting everyone to bring a fun board of food or drinks to make the night memorable and entertaining. It involves each attendee owning one specialized, themed board of snacks or drinks. For example, one friend can be in charge of creating a ‘french fry board’ of all different fries- curly fries, sweet potato fries, crinkle fries, or tater tots could be just some of the options!

The world is your oyster. You can also choose to create the boards together as a group and make that part of the activity. This is a perfect day to try out a new recipe with friends that you have been wanting to try! 

Have a Self-Care Spa Day 

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to only think about yourself and engage in some much-needed self-care, and what better way to do it than with your closest friends? A spa day is easy to set up and guarantees a relaxing, rejuvenating experience for some much needed R&R. It also doesn’t have to be high maintenance or expensive. An article from Jaumo states, “If you’re on a budget, get the spa experience at home instead, complete with a bubble bath, relaxing music, essential oils, and face masks. Finish the day with some light yoga or meditation to carry your sense of calm beyond the bathroom.”

Further, a blog from Manhattan Wellness explains giving yourself a spa day is a great way to take care of yourself and practice self love! They explain, “Massages, facials and bath spas all trigger the release of endorphins and address both the physical and emotional aspects of stress, contributing to your overall well-being. These treatments focus on muscle relaxation, improve blood circulation and cultivate a mind-body connection”.

The best news is that Manhattan is chock full of options! Go for a massage or facial treatment at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, La Prairie Spa, Eden Med Spa or Rescue Spa. Some of the top local bath spas worth a visit also include AIRE Ancient Baths, Bathhouse Williamsburg, Wall Street Bath and Mermaid Spa.

Explore a New Cuisine Together 

Food has a magical way of bringing people closer, so why not use Valentine’s Day to explore a new cuisine with your friends? Make it an adventure by trying dishes you’ve never had before. Talk amongst each other to find the most intriguing new  cuisine or hot new restaurant. You can even use it as an opportunity to dress up, put on a cute outfit, and go all out on the experience! 

Go to a Cooking Class 

Cozymeal also suggests a cooking class is a great way to enjoy new food through a social activity! They note, “Browse cooking classes near you for a fun and interactive experience you can enjoy alone. Brush up on your kitchen skills as you learn to cook some delicious dishes, all with help from the best chefs in town.” Cooking with friends often leads to memorable moments and gives everyone a chance to practice a new skill you can carry with you past the night.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to just be about romance—it’s about love in all its forms, including the love shared among friends! These five ideas are perfect for celebrating your friendships in creative and meaningful ways. Whether you’re bonding over an old board game that you used to play in your younger years, crafting a fun food board, having a spa day, exploring a new cuisine or going to a cooking class, the key is spending time with the people who make your life brighter! 

And, if Valentine’s Day is a difficult holiday for you, therapy for women and therapy for self-esteem is a great way to help you focus on yourself this year! Changing your negative thoughts, especially around finding contentment in being single, is difficult but attainable. 

Our therapists at Manhattan Wellness emphasize:

“At the end of the day, you are with yourself every day of every year. People say that you are your own worst critic, and our therapists know that it’s true. But you can be your own peppiest cheerleader and your own inspiration too.” Connect with a therapist to help you navigate the Valentine’s Day negativity! 

1. Submit a Contact Form or Email Us at hello@manhattanwellness.org
2. Learn More About Our Team of Therapists and Our Areas of Expertise
3. Let’s Talk About How We Can Help Change Your Mindset and Live a Happier Life!