31 Most Romantic Restaurants In NYC To Try Right Now (2024)

There’s so much to do in NYC with a significant other, from a fine dining experience, to spending an intimate day with famous artwork, or even just sitting on a park bench at Washington Square Park. Our favorite thing, however, is food.

So in the spirit of loveand food, we’ve put together some of the city’s most romantic restaurants (both indoor and outdoor) perfect for date night. Enjoy these ideas and get your reservations going ahead of time:

1. Marea, Central Park South

This Italian eatery—known for making the most of the scaffolding covering their sidewalk—is a chic spot close to Central Park that is a picture perfect NYC date spot. Expect a modern dining experience that goes beyond great dishes.

📍 240 Central Park S

2. The Cauldron, FiDi

Want a date night with a little magic sprinkled in? Then head to The Cauldron in the Financial District! Currently open for immersive co*cktail classes and fine dining, enjoy molecular mixology and a fantasy-inspired menu.

📍 47 Stone St

3. Temple Bar, NoHo

Get close to your significant other in a classy lounge for some elevated co*cktails and light bites. Between the utter near-darkness and complimentary popcorn, Temple Bar is the perfect place to enjoy their top-tier co*cktail program and chat with your partner at the same time.

📍 332 Lafayette St

4. Watermark Bar, Seaport

This stunning 10,000-square-foot venue perched at the end of the beautifully proportioned double-level Pier 15, Watermark offers an exceptional panorama of the Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges and Brooklyn skyline. Make the most out of these stunning views as you and your group enjoy snacks like the Watermark Burger or the Chef’s Tasting Menu, plus their Santa’s Winter Wonderland is currently set up!

📍 78 South St Pier 15

5. Osteria 57, Greenwich Village

How does Branzino & Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe sound for date night—perfection no? Indulge in Italian favorites with a seafood and plant based focus at Osteria 57 in Greenwich Village.

📍 57 W 10th St

6. Loulou, Chelsea

You’ll stay warm & toasty at Loulou, no matter what the weather is! This Chelsea spot has over 70 table and beautiful floral displays and glowing lanterns, completing the romantic atmosphere. Enjoy indulgent bites like the Loulou Burger made with grass-fed beef, clothbound cheddar and caramelized onions, Duck Leg Confit with apple rosemary puree and gala chutney and Steak Frites featuring a 7oz skirt steak and béarnaise.

📍 176 8th Ave

7. Kokomo, Williamsburg

How romantic are these glittering curtains of lights at this Caribbean spot in Williamsburg? Choose from flatbreads, succulent meats, comforting starches and decadent desserts with beautiful presentation, plus refreshing co*cktails and house-made elixirs from acclaimed mixologist and beverage consultant Rael Petit in the beautiful heated space.

📍 65 Kent Ave, Brooklyn

8. The Summit Bar, Alphabet City

Right off of Loisaida Ave, The Summit Bar is a hidden gem that’s a wonderful spot to stop by for drinks. If it’s warm out, ask to sit in the backyard and make sure to try Ground to Glass made with Tequila, Red Bell Pepper Puree, Organic Agave, Lime Juice, Hickory Smoked Salt Rim for a surprisingly delicious flavor combination.

📍 133 Loisaida Ave, New York

9. Kyma, Flatiron

Enjoy delicious Greek food in a beautiful environment setting surrounding by vines and flowers at this Flatiron staple. Word on the street is that they also make a mean martini!

📍 15 W 18th St

10. Gramercy Tavern, Gramercy

Gramercy Tavern is an iconic American restaurant from notorious restaurateur Danny Meyer that offers an elegant night with an ever-changing menu sure to tantalize you and your date’s taste!

📍 42 E 20th St

11. il Buco, Bowery

A gorgeous space that reminds you of an Italian home, with the home cooking to match! Though the wine cellar, the most romantic spot in the restaurant, isn’t open for dining, their outdoor set-up is still glowy and gorgeous!

📍 47 Bond St

12. Buddakan, Chelsea

This Asian-fusion restaurant is taking outdoor dining to a whole new level. Buddakan’s outdoor seating is decked out with vibrant lights creating an enchanting spectacle for nighttime dining. This lantern lit dinner is located right in Chelsea serving as an escape into another world.

📍 75 9th Ave

13. Lafayette, NoHo

Fondue for two, anyone? This French restaurant is cozy beyond belief and their delicious market-driven bistro menu is incredible. Their bakery is top-notch as well, so you can even bring some of the deliciousness home with you too.

📍 380 Lafayette St

14. Hutte/Blume, Upper East Side

This outdoor heated ski lodge is the perfect intimate escape hidden underneath Schaller’s Stube Sausage Bar, the sandwich shop of the German meat company Schaller & Weber right next door, which has been a part of the UES neighborhood since 1937.

📍 1652 2nd Ave

15. Uva, Upper East Side

Tucked away on the UES is this warm and homely Italian restaurant that sports a wine list of over 40 types, all served by the glass. Enjoy the candlelit Tuscan vibes, while you dine on some of the best Italian food you’ve ever had.

📍 1486 2nd Ave

16. Daniel, Lenox Hill

This Michelin-starred restaurant sure knows how to impress! With a grand dining room and decadent dishes, treat your date to this fine dining experience that will be absolutely unforgettable.

📍 60 E 65th St

17. LaRina Pastificio & Vino, Fort Greene

Another heated outdoor patio to add to list. LaRina Pastificio in Brooklyn makes mouthwatering, fresh pasta and offers a wide range of delicious wines to pair! And their gorgeous plant and greenery aesthetic is so pleasing and romantic.

📍 387 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn

18. La Grande Boucherie, Midtown

There are a few locations of Boucherie around the city, but this version in Midtown is perfect for our current outdoor-dining-only situation. It is a stunning, spacious alley in between two avenues, and though it’s open-air it also has heated floors to keep you warm and toasty! Enjoy French cuisine and signature craft co*cktails.

📍 145 W 53rd St

19. Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, Greenwich Village

One of the city’s best Italian restaurants, Babbo has been serving up delicious dishes for over two decades. The rock-n-roll tunes may not seem like the most romantic setting but strangely, it works! The fine dining experience is one of our favorites for date night.

📍 110 Waverly Pl

20. Carbone, Greenwich Village

When thinking of Italian food in the city, Carbone is a classic. This cozy little restaurant in Greenwich Village is an experience of its own and should be on everyone’s bucket list to dine in at least once.

📍 181 Thompson St

21. Cosme, Flatiron

Enrique Olvera’s Cosme was the highest ranked U.S. restaurant on the “World’s 50 Best” list, and chef Daniela Soto-Innes was named “World’s Best Female Chef,” all in 2019. The must-try spot is great for a date night and if you’re looking to try and share one of everything on the menu. And regardless of how full you are, you absolutely cannot leave without trying their husk meringue! Seriously, it’s life changing.

📍 35 E 21st St

22. Estela, SoHo

A simple space with great food, Estela is great for groups but also intimate enough for a date night,so wehadto name it one of the most romantic restaurants in NYC.

📍 47 E Houston St, Floor 1

23. La Grenouille, Midtown East

With all the red seats and flowers, the ambiance alone at La Grenouille lends itself to a romantic evening.

📍 3 E 52nd St

24. L’Artusi, West Village

With bi-level dining in the West Village, L’Artusi is somewhat large but that doesn’t take away from its romantic feel and dining experience. Along with traditional seating, you and your other half can also dine at their cheese bar or at the chef’s counter where you can watch the magic happen in their open kitchen.

📍 228 W 10th St

25. Le Coucou, SoHo

This gorgeous French restaurant in SoHo is a great spot for a special occasion. From presentation to flavor, the dishes (and ambiance) at Le CouCou are nothing short of perfection,making it one of the most romantic restaurants in NYC.

📍 138 Lafayette St

26. One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Greenwich Village

This restaurant is notoriously known for the ultimate date night or romantic brunch spot, but it truly looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale. It should be on every couples’ list for a special occasion where you’re looking to splurge a bit.

📍17 Barrow St

27. Peasant, Nolita

Italian restaurants are a common theme for romantic dining, so Peasant is another spot to add to your list if you’re looking for a more rustic, low-key evening. There is a wood-fire oven that can be seen from nearly any table which also adds to the warm vibes of the space.

📍 194 Elizabeth St

28. ROKC, Upper West Side

Way up at the top of Manhattan, ROKC is a cute oyster and raw bar that literally stands for “Ramen/Oyster/Kitchen/co*cktail.” The presentation of every dish and every co*cktail here is impeccable and inventive.

📍 3452 Broadway

29.The River Café, DUMBO

Can we just start by saying, look at that view! Located on the waterfront in Dumbo, The River Cafe offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. You’ll want to sit by the window if you can swing it!

📍 1 Water Street, Brooklyn

30. Tiny’s, Tribeca

Most recognizable by its pink facade, Tiny’s in Tribeca is the perfect place for a cozy date night (especially during winter!). The outside may be beautiful, but you’ll be even more impressed with their indoor dim-lit space that has a lovely fire place, brick wall, and a rustic-chic ambiance.

📍 135 West Broadway

31. Le Crocodile, Williamsburg

Le Crocodile is located in the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, and their interior design alongside their French fare hands down makes it one of the most romantic restaurants in NYC. Admire the high ceilings, arched windows, and the exposed brick walls of this gorgeous restaurant, all while dining on Parisian wines and gorgeously presented main dishes. Between the attentive servers in bright white coats and the low-lit ambiance, it passes the romantic test for us.

📍 80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn