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How to Choose a Make Out-Friendly Bar for Valentine's Day

By Heidi Patalano | February 14, 2014 6:35am
 Plenty of places around town can host your next snog session.
Make Out City
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UPPER WEST SIDE — Twenty-five-year-old dating blogger Lindsay Tigar often faces a dilemma that challenges even the savviest New York City singletons: finding a safe place to make out with a new love interest.

“In other parts of the country, you have a car that you can make out in, if you want to. There’s some privacy. In New York it’s on the street, in front of the subway. It’s in front of your door or it’s in the bar," Tigar said. "A bar, depending on if you pick the right one, can give you the privacy that you need even though it’s a public place.”

Public displays of affection are a dating rite of passage, but there’s a certain strategy involved in picking the perfect setting. The founder of the blog Confessions of a Love Addict outlines a few tips.

Location, Location, Location
“I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to make out at a bar that’s within five blocks from your office in case someone does see you,” Tigar said.

On the flipside, picking a spot close to home can present too much temptation. “Having something that’s close to your apartment where a simple kiss or a five-minute make out can translate into 'My apartment’s close by, let’s just go back.' It might rush things,” Tigar said.

The Church Bar and Lounge in the Tribeca Grand Hotel, for example, has ample space and many couches on which to lounge, but is also located a safe distance from the high-office density areas of Midtown, Chelsea and the Financial District.

Look for Cozy Nooks
“You want to go to a place that’s lounge-y, with couches, dimmer lighting and also some kind of nook to it so that it feels like a hole in the wall,” Tigar said.

The Dove Parlour in Greenwich Village has been host to many a first date, due to its intimate atmosphere, owner Jen Armstrong said.

“Something about the combination of red velvet wallpaper, candlelight and a really good cocktail or three seems to court amorous behavior in our cozy bar,” she said.

A favorite of Tigar’s is The Other Room in the West Village.

“There’s a corner in the back that is completely couches and it’s almost so dark that you can’t see your own hands in front of you,” she said.

Pick Someplace That’s Bustling
“You want to go somewhere that feels busy, and so people are more paying attention to what’s going on around them and not to you making out,” Tigar said.

Greenpoint bar The Black Rabbit is host to neighborhood locals, and its perfect combination of a romantic yet casual atmosphere has earned it a nickname.

“About five years ago some girl, one of our regulars, wrote in big letters on the wall in the bathroom “Make Out City.” It just sort of stuck,” said owner Kent Lanier.

“If you’ve been here, there’s just a vibe. It’s a safe environment for love and romance. It’s not a stinky, awful place and it’s not pretentious either,” he added.