The 46 best Valentine’s Day gifts for her, from a hotel-quality robe to roses that last a year

A card game to know each other better

We’re Not Really Strangers, available at Amazon, $24.99

This viral game is great for teasing out new, interesting, and important parts of whoever you play with — whether it’s a new friend or your longtime partner. It’s an easy (and thankfully pretty non-cheesy) way to spend quality time together.

If you’ve played too much “We’re Not Really Strangers,” check out “Where Should We Begin” from the legendary relationship expert and psychotherapist Esther Perel. 

A movie watchlist poster

Movie Scratch Off Poster, available at Uncommon Goods, $15

We have more downtime at home than ever these days. Hang this somewhere and slowly work through the movies together when you’re in a stalemate about what you should watch next. 

A book she’ll remember for years to come

“Tiny Beautiful Things,” available at Amazon, $12.42

If she’s a reader, gift her a book she’ll remember for many years to come. This is one book we love to gift. It’s funny, insightful, and tender.

If you’re looking for more book ideas, here are the most anticipated books of 2022. 

Kacey Musgraves’ “slow burn” candle with the popular up-and-comer Boy Smells

“Slow Burn” Candle, available at Nordstrom, from $39

Is she a fan of Kacey Musgraves? If so, she’ll doubly love this Kacey Musgraves candle collaboration with the popular startup Boy Smells. It won the 2020 Consumer Choice Candle of The Year by The Fragrance Foundation and GQ’s 2020 Grooming Awards for Home Scents. It’s woody and dark, with hints of smoked papyrus and amber with ginger and black pepper. Light it the next time you enjoy a night together at home.

A light kit

Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance LED Starter Kit, $139.99, available at Best Buy

Gift this to someone who wants to equip a full apartment or house with smart lights. This kit includes three bulbs that can change from white to a range of colors (which you can control with Alexa, Google Assistant, or HomeKit) and a Philips Hue Bridge that connects them to your router. You can automate the bulbs with timers and schedules, and create mellow lighting effects. With the Philips Hue Sync feature, they can even sync up with the audio of your music, movies, or games. The kit also comes with a smart dimmer switch for the bulbs. 

A dainty bracelet that celebrates your connection

Connection Bracelet, available at AUrate, $300

If you’re looking for something sweet that will remind her of you, the Connection Bracelet with two interlocking loops on a 14-karat gold chain (white, yellow, or rose) is meant to symbolize connection and harmony.  

A personalized “Love Island” water bottle

Personalized Water Bottle, available at Etsy, from $21.11

If your quarantine included dozens of hours of “Love Island,” your girlfriend will love her very own Islander water bottle to sip on while she pulls you for a chat. 

A mobile projector for movie night

Anker Nebula Mini Projector, available at Amazon, from $279.99

Get your favorite buttery microwave popcorn or something gourmet and have yourselves a thoughtful, elevated movie night date just the two of you.

A custom map of a place with special meaning

Grafomap Custom Map, from $49, available at Grafomap

Create a custom map of one of her favorite places or a spot that holds special meaning for her. Pick your location, then get to customizing. Grafomap lets you choose your own colors, write your own labels, and zoom in or out, for a map that is 100% unique. 

A gift card for future concert tickets

StubHub Gift Card, from $25, available at StubHub

Whether her favorite musicians are performing again or your gift recipient wants to wait a little longer before comfortably going to concerts again, a gift card for concert tickets is won’t go to waste — and gives you both an epic date to look forward to.

Roses to last her a year with no upkeep necessary

Le Mini Heart Bundle Set, available at Venus et Fleur, $159

Forget standard roses and give her display-worthy stems that will last a full year. Venus et Fleur flowers are real roses specially preserved to last for a year without any maintenance or watering necessary. This cute set was created just for Valentine’s Day and includes three mini heart arrangements in blush, ivory, and camel tones along with a box printed with candy heart-inspired messages like “Be Mine” and “Kiss Me.” 

Ultra-comfy shoes

Wool Runners, available at Allbirds, $98

We’ve been wearing and loving these comfortable original Allbirds sneakers for more than two years. They’re soft, breathable, lightweight, and machine-washable. As a bonus, they’re made out of sustainable materials.  

A delicious steamer set for the shower

Heart-Shaped Shower Steamer Set, available at Uncommon Goods, $32

Help her unwind and enjoy a little self-care time with this cute shower steamer set. The hot shower releases soothing scents and essential oils from these heart-shaped steamers. Plus, they also transform into an exfoliating and moisturizing body scrub. 

Questlove’s “Music Is History” book

“Music is History,” available at Amazon, $14.99

Beyond an iconic career as the drummer and joint frontman of The Roots, Questlove is known for an insatiable, obsessive love of musical history (particularly Black music). He’s amassed over two hundred thousand records, which he stores at a farm upstate. His musical knowledge is unbelievably expansive, with such hyper-specific playlists as “Funk Songs in E Major I Cringe At” on his phone.

“Music Is History” is a natural project for him and a natural gift for any music lover. It combines Questlove’s deep musical expertise with a fascination for history, examining America over the past 50 years through its music.

A reel viewer for a nostalgic trip

Create Your Own Reel Viewer, $14.95-$29.95, available at Uncommon Goods

The ultimate touch of thoughtful nostalgia, this reel viewer will make her feel like she’s reliving her childhood. Customize the reel with personal pictures for a unique way to reminisce about favorite past moments and memories.

A lightweight Fitbit

Fitbit Inspire 2, available at Walmart, $98.95

Fitbit’s Inspire 2 tracker is lightweight and affordable, but it has no shortage of useful features. This mini-sized watch offers the best of Fitbit’s signature features, including automatic sleep and activity tracking, constant heart rate tracking, and mindfulness encouragement via the Relax app. Better yet, it has the longest battery life of all the Fitbits, lasting up to 10 days without a charge. 

An extra absorbent, hotel-quality bathrobe

Bathrobe, available on Snowe, $100

Snowe’s $100 unisex bathrobe has been called the best and most absorbent terry robe on the market, and I’m just one more fervent believer. The cotton fiber traps air for extra absorbency, is soft and plush, and the unisex sizing means it will feel like a blanket-turned-robe. Perfect functionality, and extra points for coziness. 

A coffee mug that keeps her drinks hot for hours

Hydro Flask Mug, 12 oz, available on Amazon and Hydro Flask, from $24.95

This mug is a common desk companion for the Insider Picks team. The 12-ounce coffee mug has Hydro Flask’s proprietary TempShield insulation that made its water bottles famous. This mug will keep hot drinks hot for up to six hours, and cold drinks cold for up to 24. Read a full review of it here.

A cooling weighted blanket for more restful sleep

New Cooling Blanket, available at Gravity, $220

Weighted blankets help create more restful sleep by “grounding” the body, and Gravity makes the best weighted blanket overall. The startup’s New Cooling Blanket has evenly distributed weight, but it’s also the most breathable and aesthetically pleasing option we’ve found so far.

If you’re looking to spend half the amount — and still get a good weighted blanket — we recommend checking out YnM on Amazon. It also comes in sizes big enough to cover two people at once. Either way, pick whichever option is about 10% of her body weight for the right effect. 

A buzzy coffee scrub

Frank Body Original Coffee Scrub, available at Ulta, $9.95

This Coffee Scrub has made the rounds on social media, so you may have seen it before. It’s made of a blend of natural ingredients like roasted and ground coffee beans, cacao extract, and cold-pressed almond oil to exfoliate and moisturize the skin. 

A lifetime REI membership

REI Membership, available at REI, $20

An REI membership offers a lifetime of benefits for a one-time purchase, including 10% off (paid back in an annual dividend), special offers, access to in-store REI Garage sales, and special pricing on REI classes and events. Find out more here.

A cashmere sweater she can wear on repeat

Everlane Cashmere Crew, available at Everlane, $120

Gift an Everlane E-Gift Card, from $25

Everlane’s clothing prices are much more affordable than most brands, thanks to its commitment to radical transparency. We also love how soft and cozy its cashmere sweaters are, and bet that she’ll probably wear the cold-weather essential every week.

A bouquet of farm-fresh flowers

Send flowers from The Bouqs Co. from $39

Even with all these unique gift ideas, sometimes you just want to stick with a classic bouquet. Bouqs is our go-to for online flowery delivery service — it partners with eco-friendly farmers around the world to bring only the best flowers to her door. We’ve sent many bouquets from The Bouqs Co to friends and family, and they never disappoint. You can find a full review here.

A signet ring with her personal zodiac sign on it

Zodiac Ring, available at Catbird, $124

Catbird is one of the direct-to-consumer startups making affordable and sustainable fine jewelry, and its Zodiac Ring — like Mejuri’s under-$100 Zodiac collection — is pretty, understated, and personalized to her zodiac sign. 

A Kindle Paperwhite for easy reading on the go

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, available at Amazon, $129.99

We’re not denying the enjoyment of a physical book, but an ebook reader is a particularly good option for travelers and commuters. She can access her entire library of ebooks on one slim, lightweight device. We’re partial to Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite with its glare-free display and waterproofing, which allows you to read literally anywhere. You can find our full review of the Kindle Paperwhite here.

An intimate cooking class led by a professional chef

Gift Card, available at Cozymeal, from $50

Experiental gifts are on the rise, and Cozymeal cooking classes are one of our favorites. Together, you’ll learn how to make anything from fresh pasta to Argentinian staple dishes. In addition to cooking classes, Cozymeal offers food tours in various cities. You can find a full review of the service here.

A ClassPass gift card for a grabbag of workout classes

Gift a ClassPass Gift Card, from $50

ClassPass makes boutique fitness classes more affordable and convenient. It’s a monthly subscription that gives users access to a large variety of gyms and classes in their city for about half of the traditional cost. If she likes to stay active, is looking for a newfound favorite class, or likes yoga as much as barre, this is a great gift she’ll actually use. You can read more about the service here. 

A colorful set of wine glasses

Colored Wine Stemware set of 6, available at Estelle Colored Glass, $175

Whether the lady in your life likes to wind down with a nice glass of wine at the end of the day or enjoys entertaining and setting a colorful table, these stunning handblown glass wine glasses are sure to impress. Choose to mix and match colors or get a matching set. 

A beautiful candle from a cool startup

Otherland Single Flame Gift Set, available at Otherland, $36

Otherland Threesome Candle Gift Set, available at Otherland, $89

Candles are a failsafe gift, and we tend to recommend Otherland the most for special occasions. The glass tumbler containers are beautiful in person (and easily reused), and scents range from Canopy (fresh fig, herby ivy greens, mint) to Chandelier (champagne, saffron, musky leather). 

Brooklinen sheets

Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, available at Brooklinen, from $240

Brooklinen has a well-earned reputation as one of the internet’s favorite bedding startups. Its bedding is comfortable and luxurious, and any of the 15 colors and patterns can instantly elevate the look of her bedroom. If she’s not ready to revamp her whole bedding set, gift her a pair of pillowcases to start. 

An easy way to make sparkling beverages

SodaStream Fizzi, available at Amazon, $89.99

Fizzi’s compact, cordless design makes it easy to have sparkling beverages anywhere with just the push of a button. Whether she enjoys bubbly water, likes to create her own soda flavors, or wants to up her at-home cocktail game, the Fizzi makes it a breeze. It even comes with a handy carbonating bottle.

Fluffy face towels that can hide mascara stains

Makeup Towels, available at Weezie, $40

Weezie makes dedicated makeup towels that are soft enough to rub on your face, fun enough to make a nightly routine something to look forward to, and dark enough to hide the annoyance of makeup stains. We were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved them. 

A year-long subscription to Disney Plus

Disney Plus gift subscription, 1-year subscription for $79.99

Give her unlimited access to movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox — pretty much everything you two need for any future nights spent at home. You can find everything there is to know about Disney+ over here.

Coffee from all over the world

3 Month Gift Subscription, available at Atlas Coffee Club, $50

It’s a worldwide coffee tour without the expense of airplane tickets. Atlas Coffee Club delivers single-origin coffee and always includes a postcard from the country, brewing tips, and flavor notes with each month’s shipment. 

The best socks she’s ever worn

Women’s Ankle Sock 4-Pack, available at Bombas, $47.50

They may just seem like a basic, everyday accessory, but socks are among the most underrated gifts you can give. Bombas spent two years perfecting its first pair of socks, and we think it got it right. With thoughtful innovations, like a blister tab and cushioned footbeds, she’ll quickly notice the difference. 

A large print of a favorite memory

Large Format Prints, available on Artifact Uprising, from $22

Artifact Uprising makes luxury prints at accessible prices — and they make especially thoughtful gifts that look like they should cost much more. Get one of their favorite photos printed on archival fine art paper for $20 and up, or thoughtful cards for as little as $1 per custom card. You can also make a color series photo book for $22, a set of prints for $9, and a personalized calendar on a handcrafted wood clipboard for $25.

A silky sleep shirt

Bamboo Lyocell Sleep Shirt, available at Ettitude, $50.60

Ettitude’s pajamas are made from 100% organic bamboo lyocell, which makes them exceptionally soft, silky, and breathable. The fabric also uses 372 fewer gallons of water compared to cotton. 

A 6-foot-long charging cable

Anker Powerline+ 6-Foot Lightning Cable, available on Amazon, $19.99

If one of the frequent annoyances of her life is a too-short charging cable, gifting her an extremely long one not only solves a daily frustration but also shows that you’re listening about the big (and the small) stuff. 

A cult-favorite skincare serum

Glow Maker Serum, available at Maelove, $29.95

There are a lot of serums out there making lofty claims about how much they’ll improve skin, but Maelove’s Glow Maker really lives up to the hype. If the fact that it was developed by MIT scientists is not enough, it also costs less than $30, and it really will get her skin glowing in no time.

Sweet treats from NYC’s Milk Bar

The Sweet Nothings, available at Milk Bar, $77

Instead of the usual box of chocolates, gift some of the best-known and most delicious treats from NYC-favorite Milk Bar. The set includes six cookies in a cookie tin (including the famous Compost Cookie) and 24 truffles. 

An assortment of low-fuss succulents

Succulent Assortment, available at The Sill, $35

If she’d like a few plants that are easy to take care of — maybe even more so than flowers — The Sill’s succulent assortment is affordable, convenient, and really cute. 

A display box to showcase her favorite photos and memories

Brass & Wood Display Box, available at Artifact Uprising, $57

Made from brass and hardwood, this elevated photo box is an elegant way for her to display her favorite captured moments. This will look great at her desk, on a mantle, a bedside table, or just about anywhere else that needs a pop of personal decor. Print out your favorite photo of the two of you to put in the box to make this gift extra special.    

Soft, matching holiday underwear

Matching Underwear, available on MeUndies, $36

Get yourself and your girlfriend festive matching underwear — which also happen to be some of the most comfortable pairs we’ve ever found. MeUndies gives you the option to create your own personalized set — choose from two styles for women, two styles for men, or a mix of both, and then whichever length or cut you and your partner prefer. 

Silk scrunchies that keep hair soft and healthy

Slipsilk Hair Tie Holiday Bauble, available at Sephora, $22

These silk hair elastics create less friction than cotton ones, which means less breakage and frizz for her strands. If she’s not likely to splurge on these for herself, she’ll appreciate receiving them as a gift. 

A leather weekender she’ll own forever

Triple Zipper Weekender, available at Cuyana, $395

If you’re willing to splurge a little bit, Cuyana’s leather weekender is a beautiful, thoughtfully designed bag she can use as a carry-on or for long weekend staycations. It looks more expensive than it is, and I once packed for a 5-day trip with just this. 

A fun, spontaneous trip together

Journy Gift Card, available on Journy, from $50

Airbnb Gift Card, available on Airbnb, from $25

If you want to gift an experience for the two of you to enjoy together, grab a card, a gift card to Journy or Airbnb, and come with a few location ideas in mind. 

If you haven’t heard of Journy, it’s a startup that matches you with an expert travel planner to design the ideal trip for $25 per day — complete with booking hotels, making restaurant reservations, and keeping landmarks and local haunts in mind. If you want to surprise her with a trip already planned, go through Journy yourself and present her with the full, detailed itinerary.

You can also book a hotel in your city on Booking.com or Expedia for a sweet staycation.