Dating in New York City can be tough and ironically, the abundance of choice and variety when it comes to date spots can actually work against you. Luckily for you, we've slogged through the menacing jungle of date spots in the city from the traditional, to the innovative, to the downright cheesy, and filtered it down to a shortlist of only the best dating options New York City has to offer. So, whether you're after the conventional dinner date or something playful and fun, we've got a spot that's sure to impress the one you've got your eye on.
East Village: Angel's Share, Bourgeois Pig
If you are a hardline advocate of the traditional drinks-and-dinner set up, then you can't beat two of the East Village's most elegant and intimate offerings. Start the night off right with drinks at the New York Magazine "Critic's Pick" Angel's Share (also crowned "Best Date Bar" and dubbed by Time Out New York as "the classiest joint in the East Village"). Here, you and your date can enjoy a stellar view of Stuyvesant Square and sip on superb cocktails served by tuxedoed bartenders, while listening to the sexy live piano in the background and soaking in the spot's charming, speakeasy vibe. Don't just take our word for it. Zagat awards the bar with a 26/30 rating and describes it as "a great date spot," "a tucked away gem, simply perfection," sentiments echoed by Shecky's who rave that the bar's "dark, sophisticated vibe is enough to make lovers swoon."
After you're both thoroughly warmed up thanks to Angel Share's meticulous mixology, whisk your lady (or gentleman) a little further downtown to Bourgeois Pig on East 7th Street for some fabulous charcuterie to soak up the alcohol (we recommend you share their $20 charcuterie plate, consisting of hot and sweet sopresatta, chorizo and prosciutto). Yes, you may think that a restaurant with the word "Pig" in its title is anything but romantic, but once you enter its doors, you'll instantly think otherwise. The dimly-lit establishment boasts classic, dreamy Victorian parlor decor, vintage gold-framed mirrors, plush antique velvet armchairs, dim lighting and couples seating. The spot also scores an excellent 23/30 Zagat rating for its "cuddly couches" and its "twice-weekly half-off bottles that facilitate seduction on a budget." What's not to love?
Chelsea: The Chelsea High Line, The Institute of Culinary Education
Boys, if you truly want to make an impression on your date, then listen carefully: if your date's like any other single girl subject to the frustratingly repetitive New York City dating scene, she's been wined and dined senseless (note to men, gentle or not: fancy, overpriced restaurants do not necessarily equate a memorable date ... gasp). That said, if you really want to stand out from the pack, you need to flex those creative muscles and utilize some of New York's beautiful and readily-available neighborhood treasures - and best of all, it will barely even cost you.
One of the best dates I was ever taken on in this city was to Chelsea's High Line Park. My date packed a picnic of goodies he'd hand-picked from Whole Foods Market a few blocks away on Seventh Avenue and West 24th Street (he chose an assortment of dinner bites like mac 'n' cheese, paired with yummy desserts like mud cake and a fruit tart, but you should tailor your picnic basket specifically to your sweetheart's tastes). Supplies in hand, we ambled over to the High Line and enjoyed a gorgeous, casual dinner overlooking the city's glittering skyline. Chilly outside? Pack a thick, warm blanket to wrap around her shoulders, and knock her socks off with your thoughtfulness and sensitivity. After dinner, walk the length of the High Line and soak in the beauty of New York City from one of its best-loved patches of green. A date that's sweet, understated and perfect (and backed by this Editor's guarantee that you'll bag a second shot at dazzling her).
Another great and innovative date idea in the same area is a visit to The Institute of Culinary Education on West 23rd Street - because why buy her a meal when you can cook her one? ICE’s 45,000-square-foot professional facility features small, attentive hands-on classes with trained and distinguished chef Instructors. You can join classes in the morning, afternoon, evening and on weekends, and blow her away with your culinary prowess (albeit newly-acquired). Not confident in the kitchen? Don't strees - ICE also offers some fabulous wine-and-cheese pairing sessions under the tutelage of expert Richard Vayda. You can choose from international wine-and-cheese workshops to trying out local cheeses and wines (from the sparkling whites and big reds of Long Island to the native New York varietals and sweet wines of the Finger Lakes). You can book classes here.
NoHo: Il Buco, The Angelika Film Center
If you're a traditionalist hellbent on a classic dinner date (and there's nothing wrong with that!), then make sure you take her to a darn fabulous restaurant that's not pretentious, but still classy, with beautiful decor, an intimate ambience - and most importantly, mind-blowingly great food. We suggest Il Buco (a passionate recommendation by our editorial staff for its "extremely well executed pork" and sharing plates), which serves simply incredible Med-Italian cuisine. Zagat scores the spot an outstanding 26/30 rating for its "off-the-charts cuisine" and describes their fare as "last-meal worthy" (New York Magazine recommends their octopus carpaccio and cod croquettes). Food aside, the ambience is so great it will transport you and your date from the busy streets of Manhattan to a romantic country house in Italy.
Stuck on what to do post supper? The independent arthouse cinema, The Angelika Film Center, is just a couple of blocks down on West Houston and Mercer Street, so you can wrap up the date right with a fabulous indie movie. You can find out what's playing here.
Upper West Side: The American Museum of Natural History, Pisticci
Trying to woo an intellectual lady or gent and want to dazzle them with some clever and innovative plans? For the perfect day date for your brainy beau or belle, we strongly suggest one of New York City's many wonderful museums. While MoMA and the Met are the obvious options, we personally recommend The American Museum of Natural History on 79th and Central Park West for its educational yet fun exhibits and offerings. There's nothing sweeter or more playful than strolling hand-in-hand amongst 500 beautiful, free-flying butterflies in The Butterfly Conservatory, stealing a kiss amongst the towering dinosaurs, or taking a journey to the stars ("the most beautiful planetarium show I've ever seen," raves Dennis Overbye from The New York Times). In the winter, you can also take lunchtime bird walks in nearby Central Park, where you can catch a glimpse of owls, songbirds, and woodpeckers in the woods, seed-eating birds in the fields, and multiple species of ducks and gulls in the lakes.
You'll certainly feel peckish after hanging with the birds and dinosaurs, so hop on the 1 train and head straight uptown to Pisticci - and that's an order. Quite simply, the best spaghetti and meatballs in the city and the finest white wine mussels this Editor's ever tasted (followed very closely by the moules marinieres at Bistro 61 on the Upper East Side). The spot, hidden away near Riverside Drive on LaSalle and Broadway, is a little lower-key than Il Buco, offers not only fantastic and reasonably-priced Italian, but is truly a little lover's paradise – dim lights, flowers and candles, faux library-dining room, exposed brick walls, plush lounge chairs and smooth, sweet jazz on Sundays. Don't just take our word for it, though. The hidden gem Pisticci scores a 23/30 Zagat rating for its "highly satisfying" fare, making it the "local pasta place of choice," and a whopping 95% approval rating out of 205 user reviews on Urbanspoon. We suggest you grab a sexy corner booth where you can share a carafe of their magnificent house wine and a kiss.
[Note: Pisticci is the first restaurant in New York City to be classified as completely green. The eatery is 100% carbon neutral.]
The Best Date Spots in New York City
Angel's Share is located at 6 Stuyvesant Street, near East 9th Street.
The Bourgeois Pig is located at 111 East 7th Street, near 1st Avenue.
The Chelsea High Line runs from Gansevoort Street and soon to 34th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.
The Institute of Culinary Education is located at 50 West 23rd Street, near Sixth Avenue.
Il Buco is located at 47 Bond Street, near Lafayette Street.
The Angelika Film Center is located at 18 West Houston Street, near Mercer Street.
The American Museum of Natural History is located at Central Park West, at 79th Street.
Pisticci is located at 125 La Salle Street, near Broadway.
