15 Best Date Spots In New York City

New York City has no shortage of romance and decadence for a date night. Many of us grew up watching films dramatizing the city's skyline or the fall season (any season, really), where love and a flurry of golden-hued leaves are in the air. The only difficulty in embarking on a night out with a potential match or an old flame is selecting which destination to visit — and avoiding the overpriced, ho-hum menus that draw in unsuspecting tourists and locals if they're not paying close enough attention. 

We also won't pretend like Manhattan is the only borough worth visiting for outstanding drinks and menu options. It has its fair share, of course. However, our list of the best date spots in New York City isn't limited to Euro-centric feasts or even alcohol-filled meet-ups (although we certainly won't rule them out). Instead, we hope to appeal to your sense of adventure with spots that will impress anyone in your life worth spending your precious time and paycheck on. And who knows? Maybe you'll find love at first sight or see — really see — your partner for the first time in a while, thanks to a simple change of scenery.  

At Dirt Candy, award-winning chef Amanda Cohen has been perfecting a luxurious and seasonal plant-based tasting menu in the Bowery since 2009. It's sure to impress vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. When we went, Dirt Candy's signature dish, the portobello mousse, came with the mousse shaped into tiny woodland elements sitting alone in the bowl before disappearing under broth poured at the table — now that's pageantry.

Dirt Candy is one of the best wine restaurants for its program featuring only women-run wineries. New York Magazine named it the vegetarian restaurant the "absolute best," with one caveat: "You don't need to designate this the best vegetarian restaurant in the Lower East Side, it's the neighborhood's best place, full stop, to eat a meal right now." According to the restaurant's website, the tasting menu is $95 per person, and it has a no-tipping policy: only fair living wages, paid time off, and healthcare for the staff.     

Not all dates need to take place over a candle-lit dinner. Head to Brooklyn for arcade games and an extensive roster of exclusive craft beers for an unexpected date night. The Williamsburg Barcade opened in 2004 as the original location of large-scale gaming, but there are now nine Barcades around the country. You'll find dozens of video games and pinball machines from the 1980s to choose from, such as "Asteroids," "Donkey Kong," and "Mortal Kombat."

First date? The activities may help avoid some of the awkward pauses on a night between strangers. The flowing taps of craft beer could also keep the conversation flowing. Or skip the booze, because whether it's date one or 100, Barcade is ideal for hours of friendly competition. You can even stay until 4 a.m. on weekends if the date is going that well.

The Night of Joy Bar feels like stepping back in time due to the velvet banquette seating, decorative sconces, and ornate framed paintings on the walls. The good news is this bar is very much on point for the modern craft cocktail movement with a menu as detailed as the aesthetic, featuring botanical and herbal concoctions designed for slow appreciation. Don't be like us and get so carried away with the eclectic vibes that you forget to go upstairs to the rooftop — that is, if you can find any seating on the patio.

Although cozy for a date night, this is also an excellent group setting for a more casual meet-up. DJ nights are on heavy rotation at the bar for those times when you want to loosen up to a themed set list on the dance floor. Or, cozy up next to the faux fireplace and shake off any first-night jitters. And keep in mind that your old flame might appreciate the relaxed atmosphere of the intimate rooftop more than watching you attempt the robot (again).

Dawa's bakes love into every bite of its seasonal American meets Tibetan and Nepalese food in Woodside, Queens. What better place to spark a fire with someone you are enamored with or hope to like a lot? Chef and co-owner Dawa started the restaurant with her father to make "authentic Himalayan tribal cuisine" using locally farmed ingredients in a warm and environmentally conscious setting.

The New York Times recommends the Gyuma black sausage served with the Tibetan hot sauce, sepen, which the reviewer called "as pure an expression of raw chile power as I've known." You might also notice details like the ceramic plates and natural approach to farm-to-table dining. The Fung Bros. also named Dawa's the best Nepalese food in America. No pressure, but you just might impress your date with food this good. 

Harlem has long been known for great food and live entertainment, whether comedy or jazz. While there's always celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson's American eatery, Red Rooster, you can also head over to Rokc in West Harlem for oysters, ramen, and cocktails. The restaurant claims to be a contemporary take on Japanese restaurants found in port towns when the country first opened to globalization. That makes sense seeing that ramen is Chinese in origin and cocktails are a western import. 

The approach at Rokc is all its own, with a seasonal ramen menu and a raw oyster bar sourced from farmers on the East Coast. The Tokyo-inspired cocktail menu is a show in itself: smoke-filled snifters, matcha-infused Japanese whisky, and a range of clarified cocktails served in vintage milk bottles. After the impressive display, head to a comedy show at the historic Apollo theater to see one of the biggest acts in the business or join the crowd of notorious hecklers on amateur night.          

Yes, The Polo Bar is owned by the same brand that makes the shirts with the little men riding a little horse. Of course, it gives off old-school hunting lodge vibes with rich mahogany detailing, deep green walls, and art that's hung gallery style. Sure, you might spend a significant amount of money on pigs in a blanket and hamburgers. And you might also feel like the love interest in a John Hughes movie — before learning that love conquers even an Amex without a spending limit. Still, the charm here is as deep as your pockets. 

New York Magazine describes the dining room as a "subterranean space [that] makes it feel like you're dining in some strange Disneyfied mash-up of what a London dining club is supposed to be." The bar is also a place to see-and-be-seen. Try the Dover sole or Ralph's corned-beef sandwich. Spend the afternoon with your date walking through Central Park, then grab dinner or, better yet, head straight to the bar for a martini or two first.

A Carroll Gardens institution, Court Street Tavern features outdoor seating in a stylized patio and original detailing like a sizable oak bar with a marble railing that was first installed in 1890. The French-inspired menu is heavy on the classics, such as oysters, steamed mussels, and tuna tartare (all ideal for sharing). You can also enjoy laid-back sandwiches, including an Impossible kebab pita for the meat-free lovers in your life.

Perhaps due to the claim of being the oldest bar in Brooklyn (despite accounts from historians), Court Street has its date-night vibes dialed in. You're greeted by a colorful arrangement of flowers crowning the entrance, and the interior is all dark wood and old tin ceilings. The intimate lounge offers a fireplace, and a Champagne wall in the garden means you can also enjoy an intimate gathering with dozens of your closest friends.