The defrosting snowdrifts across Cambridge and Somerville release a potent chemical into the air: love. Navigating them to curate the perfect Valentine’s Day can be daunting, though, so we’ve pulled together a list of restaurants and experiences that couples, throuples, singles who seek or the self-satisfied can enjoy all weekend long.
Faro Cafe
Start Valentine’s morning at one of Harvard Square’s best independent cafes. A small range of drinks and pastries adds to the minimalist atmosphere of a strictly laptop-free environment. Secure a spot at the community table or beside the complimentary chess board to revel in the music of conversation. Don’t let the tucked-away location fool you: Large windows and sliding doors provide maximum brightness even in the dead of winter, and indoor plants scrape the ceiling of this youthful community spot. Faro is a luxury furniture store disguised as a cafe. Lose track of time over coffee and mutual feelings – it’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. (5 Arrow St., Harvard Square, Cambridge)
Rosebud Bar & Kitchen
This Indian-fusion diner prides itself on “honest food and drink” in a cozy converted dining car with red vinyl seats and stained glass windows. Whether you’re there for breakfast or cocktail hour, Rosebud hosts a clever twist on the staples; you can pair eggs Benedict with a dirty chai martini, proving you’re down for any kind of adventure. Reservations are recommended. (381 Summer St., Davis Square, Somerville)
Brick & Mortar
With delicious $17 cocktails that have been featured in Boston magazine, a beer and wine menu, rare spirits, full kitchen and music spinning throughout the night on turntables, Brick & Mortar is the utility knife of experiences in Central Square. Swoon over your beloved at a copper-plated wraparound bar under high ceilings in a brick interior that invites romance. Brick & Mortar makes you feel cool just for being there – so keep a sharp eye out, as the unmarked, shaded door is easy to miss. (Look to the right of Graffiti Alley.) (567 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge)
Vera’s
Tucked in the basement of an old police precinct, this cocktail bar boasts a dark, polished dining area with mahogany tables and an impressive bar selection. The penny tiles and brass sconces set a speakeasy tone for Italian-American food in Union Square, but once dinner is over and the check has been dropped, don’t leave too hastily. Past the formal lounge lives a dance floor. A DJ steps in on weekends, playing the best party songs from the 1970s onward while a bubble machine and disco ball light up the already glowing space. House cocktails are a fixed $13 and bottle beer classics such as Miller High Life are a respectable $5. (70 Union Square, Somerville)
Rebel Rebel
“It’s all for you,” says a massive sign angled toward the entrance of Rebel Rebel – and that refers to four towering shelves stocked full of natural wine. Whether your wine comes typically in a box or from a cup on Sundays, it runneth over at this women-owned establishment that delivers a no-frills wine experience: There are no flights or challenging food pairings, and a small, upscale snack menu enhances rather than intimidates. The bar’s gauzy pink lighting and well-staged lounge could be sold in a bottle too. Reservations aren’t necessary, and an evening can range from $20 to $40 per person. (1 Bow Market Way, Bow Market, Somerville)
Sarma
On a freezing night in Gilman Square, Sarma glows from within. It’s always packed with guests, who indulge in Turkish-style small plates under mosaic lampshades and blue accent walls mingling with brick. The meze menu offers everything from parsnip fritters to octopus manestra, making for eccentric pairings for creative eaters. Your first gift is introducing your partner to the place. The second is picking up the check. (249 Pearl St., Gilman Square, Somerville)
Activities in Cambridge and Somerville
Lovestruck Books
Harvard Square’s romance-centered bookstore, already a staple at this one-year anniversary, invites readers to an all-day Valentine’s Day celebration. Spend the day decorating candles and having your tarot read between shelves chock full of the hottest stories and an in-house cafe and wine bar. Love Notes & Little Treats activities are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and free; Wine, Bubbles & Bonbons goes until 10 p.m. (44 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge)
‘Sticker and Chill’ at the Somerville Public Library
Take a couple of hours to put relaxation ahead of romance and prove playing with stickers isn’t just for kids. The library provides kits to those 18-plus to create intricate adhesive scenes from sushi shops to bookstores, as well as tasty beverages, recommending only that older participants bring their reading glasses. Free in the auditorium, but registration is required. (79 Highland Ave., Central Hill)
Tearjerkers at The Brattle Theatre
Stuck somewhere between the Catskills and Morocco, The Brattle shows two classic love stories: Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze samba through 1960s summer resort life in “Dirty Dancing” (1987) at 1 and 10 p.m. Saturday in 35 mm; the yearly Brattle tradition of watching “Casablanca” (1942) with a war-torn Bogart and Bergman returns at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Tears are guaranteed to be shed. Tickets are $15, or $13 for students. (40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge)
Dance, dance, dance at ManRay
Love is a battlefield. Love will tear us apart again. So on and so forth – this classic goth club’s famous new wave night, Heroes, has DJ Chris Ewen spinning from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday with touches of postpunk, electro and industrial. ManRay is for those 19-plus and encourages a creative dress code (when in doubt, wear all black). Entry before 10 p.m. is $12; after is $15. If this isn’t your night, Friday brings Playland, which emphasizes the queer, and Sunday is a disco night called 54, with ’70s attire encouraged. For the Friday and Sunday nights, 19- and 20-year-olds pay $14 before 10 p.m. and $17 after. (40 Prospect St., Central Square, Cambridge)
Commit to matching ink at Pearl Street Tattoo
What better way to say “I’m ready” than by getting a tattoo? This is a progressive, welcoming parlor that for Valentine’s Day weekend offers a variety of appropriately themed ready-to-go “flash” tattoos at a fixed, lower price than its custom work. Flashes are first-come, first-served and typically range from $100 to 150. Call for appointments at (617) 764-9104. (76b Cross St., Somerville)
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