Kolkata loves slow dates, cosy moments & some romance

From cosy coffee corners to candlelit dinner dates, Kolkata is brimming with romance and red hues this Valentine’s Day. Cafes and restaurants are decked out in hearts and pinks, florists are busy filling bouquets, and gift shops are seeing a rush of teddies and keepsakes. Whether it’s a quiet moment with someone special or the thrill of classic Valentine’s gestures, the city is ready to celebrate love in every form.Only when you treasure each other every day can Valentine’s Day hold true meaning. Love is not about one day, it’s about the days you quietly protect it– Rupanjana MitraSlowing down makes the day special: Ankita & ShadmanAfter 10 years together, models Ankita Singh & Shadman Khan have traded spectacle for substance. “Celebrating Valentine’s Day with just the two of us truly matters,” Shadman said, emphasising that it’s about appreciating the person who stayed through everything. Ankita echoed the sentiment with a smile: “For us, Valentine’s Day is about being together. Our sofa is our favourite date spot.” Shoot schedules may be chaotic, but home is where they relax & even make coffee for each other. The two love long drives and binging on their favourite foods. For them, love has sharpened into clarity. “It’s knowing someone understands your silence,” Shadman said, calling it commitment, respect and trust. Ankita added, “Love now means comfort, respect, and showing up even on ordinary days.”We like to celebrate at home. We cook dinner together, order our favourite cake and just be ourselves in our own way with phones put away– Shadman KhanFood is definitely our love language. Eating together, sharing meals, finding a cool spot to eat, or just going for a drive. Taking out time from our busy schedules to unwind together is always a pleasure– Ankita SinghIt’s about celebrating the small joys of life: Rupanjana & RatoolFor actress Rupanjana Mitra & actor-director Ratool Mukherjee, more than a decade together has recalibrated romance into something steadier and far less performative. “At this age, V-Day holds a very different meaning for me,” Rupanjana said, adding that it is about “genuinely showering love, respect, and presence.” Ratool agreed, noting, “Love is not about the day you boast about it, it’s about the days you quietly protect it.” Their ideal celebration runs on small joys — coffee, conversations, long drives, favourite songs, films, time with their son & parents. “Love grows deeper as it brings loved ones closer,” Rupanjana said. Ratool said: “It’s about choosing each other every day.”We now celebrate in our own simple and meaningful ways: sitting together with warm cups of coffee, talking about things we love like cinema, music & sports. We love dancing to our favourite 90s songs– Rupanjana MitraAt this point in life, Valentine’s Day isn’t about violins in the background. Love, I have learned, is not about the day you boast about it, it’s about the days you quietly protect it– Ratool MukherjeeBlooms, teddies and crochet keepsakesCrochet flowers, vibrant bouquets and cuddly toys are topping gifting charts this year. “Demand for flowers is increasing compared to the last few years, and overall sales have risen by nearly 23% over the last five years,” said Puja Singhania, proprietor of Ferns N Petals. She added, “The pick-up has shifted from red roses to baby pink carnations and gerberas.” Mixed arrangements of daisies, roses and gypsophila, along with orchids, sunflowers and lilies, are in demand. “Roses still rule, but other colourful blooms are also seeing good demand,” said Akash, a flower seller from a South Kolkata market.What if a slice of sweet indulgence says it all?Bakers across Kolkata turned up the romance with flavours that were nostalgic, indulgent and easy on the pocket. Satyendra Mishra of Cakes said, “We pour our heart into every cake we make,” adding that red velvet cakes and love-message cupcakes were especially popular among college-goers. Home baker Upasana Biswas from Mimi’s Bakery noted that heart-shaped cookies, strawberry cakes, boozy desserts and secret message bento cakes are in demand. Home baker Pallavi Rai from Pallavi Bakes shared, “Each creation is finished with a sprinkle of hearts, as every dessert deserves a little extra love.”V-Day is about celebrating love in all its forms. After 40 years in Kolkata, we’ve seen our cakes become part of countless memories– Lovey Kapur, Kookie JarDecors and delights From hosting candlelight dinners to organising cake-painting activities and unveiling heart-themed specials, city cafes and restaurants pulled out all the stops this valentine’s day. Radhika Jalan of La Macario Café said they curated “a special valentine’s menu designed for sharing,” featuring sushi boards, Italian platters, and heart-shaped desserts, along with live music and interactive experiences. Aditya Agarwal of Cove shared that the restaurant turned into a “romantic, candlelit retreat” with a gourmet, share-friendly spread, while Md Khaleequzzaman of Mirabelle called it an “immersive romantic escape,” complete with a four-course Italian-inspired menu and strawberry-themed desserts. Sudarshana Dutt of Cafe Courtyard added they celebrated with the theme ‘sharing with love,’ offering combo platters, themed mocktails, and surprise gifts, while Amit Sharma of Kaldi Bean focused on couple combos and heart-shaped desserts in shades of red and pink.Valentine décor is all about red and pink. It makes our space more Insta-worthy too. We’ve set up a cosy selfie corners and an all-red special menu– Abhishek Dutt of Soul Atrium Hearts everywhereKolkata malls have decked up to ensure all couples visiting an make the most of the ambience. From teddies to hearts – it’s all about love