The Best Places for a Date Night in NYC

 

It’s a known fact that New York is one of the most romantic cities on Earth. The elegant skyline, intimate restaurants, and fireflies in central park. It’s so easy to fall in love with the city, and even easier to fall in love with that special someone. For a night to remember with a particular person, these are the best places for a date night in New York City. 

One of the best Italian restaurants in NYC, Il Buco is a quirky but cozy spot for pasta and seafood, retaining the charm of its former life as an antique store. The food is delicious, but the expansive wine list truly stands out, and you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect bottle for you and your date.

This verdant rooftop bar could be described as hopelessly romantic, with all the looseness and frivolity of a summer wedding. Sit under lofty vines and fresh floral arrangements, sipping themed cocktails like (pea flower-infused vodka, elderflower, and rosé cider) for a date night you won’t soon forget.

Queen’s favorite Austrian restaurant is the perfect place for casual eats and comfy conversation. You’ll feel right at home between plush furniture and stenciled wallpaper, as you and your date nibble on fresh apple-pear strudel. 

The decor at Nura is certainly a draw, with high ceilings and plants elevating the already relaxed atmosphere, but the menu is sure to keep diners and daters coming back. The delicious cocktails, fresh breads, and selection of dips are seemingly tailor-made to keep conversations going.

Specializing in Nikkei fare, the trendy Japanese-Peruvian flavors that have been taking over the dining world, Llama San offers delightful modern dining under soft lights and blonde-wood furniture. Minimalist, classy, and effortlessly cool, Llama San is undoubtedly one of the best places for a date night NYC. 

This charming wine bar feels more like someone’s living room than a restaurant, and is a lovely spot for natural wines and natural conversation. The menu is mostly vegetarian, with occasional seafood and meat dishes, all available as small plates, in case you need to cut the evening short.

For fans of Omakase, Matsunori is a standout choice. With only five nightly seatings and a BYOB policy, guests can expect an intimate, personalized sushi dinner with nothing but what they want to drink, and who they want to spend time with. 

This inviting little rathskeller is not only one of the best speakeasies in the city, but one of the best bars for a date night NYC. The atmosphere is intimate but never claustrophobic, and the skilled bartenders only need a base liquor and a hint of your mood to whip up something special for you and a date. 

One of the New York Times’ top restaurants 2021, this Peruvian-leaning joint’s tart ceviche, hefty burger cradling raclette, crispy pork katsu and robust wine list are sure to impress any date. The service is especially attentive, giving you and your dining partner plenty of space when necessary. 

Candles, white tablecloths and grand chandeliers. Le Coucou is a French restaurant, as fancy and romantic as they come. Be sure to share your plate with your date, the entrees like the quenelle made with pike and lobster au poivre with a cognac cream and peppercorn sauce are decadently rich. 

This gorgeous New Orleans-inspired salon boasts a warm fireside feel, and all the gorgeous allure of the Big Easy. Guests can expect fresh oysters, live jazz and a guaranteed romantic night in the 1000 square foot garden. 

Half bar, half dining room, and all romance. Four Horseman is a cozy natural wine bar that offers all the cheese and charcuterie one could want, but the kitchen truly elevates the experience. The menu is constantly changing, and your spontaneous date is sure to be improved by spontaneous dishes like cured fish with yuzu kosho, saucy fried chicken with onions and mushrooms, mussel skewers with aioli, and an exceptional plate of fried potatoes. 

Glitzy and Glamorous, Ophelia is a sumptuous bar perched 26 stories above ground, with some of the best views of New York’s incredible skyline. The sultry old-world appeal almost guarantees an elegant date. 

At the sister Bar to Harlem’s beloved ROKC, guests can expect the same attention to detail that pervades the drinks, Japanese cuisine, and low-lit romance the restaurant/bar is known for. Whether you’re enjoying a steaming bowl of ramen or a tasty twist on a classic cocktail, it’s hard to imagine your date going anything but smoothly.

Next to McGolrick Park is the perfect stop on your nighttime stroll, a moody Art Nouveau bar where the tables are always staged for two. The cocktails are delicious and refined, but for something a little unconventional the fresh bloody mary/mini beer combo and the frozen coffeelada are just the thing to spice up a date.