Best romantic restaurants for a date in New York
Low light, a good table, and nowhere to be afterwards.
63 spots · Jump to the list
The restaurant is still the date most people start with, and the right one does most of the work: a room that's quiet enough to talk, light low enough to relax, a table you're not hurried off. Every restaurant here was chosen for that feeling rather than for the food alone — though the food is good. Book ahead for a weekend, ask for a corner or window table when you do, and leave the rest of the evening open.
This guide ranks 63 romantic restaurants in New York, from Astoria / Long Island City to West Village / Greenwich Village and Williamsburg. Editors' picks come first, then the rest by rating, and the plans below build a whole evening around the best of them.
The list
Editors' picks first, then by rating.
Crevette
4.5(25)SoHo / NoHo / Nolita · $$$$
Dejavu
4.5(23)West Village / Greenwich Village · $$$
Massara
4.5(22)Flatiron / Gramercy · $$$$
Tora
4.5(19)Bushwick / Ridgewood · $$
Selfup
4.5(18)Midtown Manhattan · $$$$
One If By Land Two If By Sea
4.5(17)West Village / Greenwich Village · $$$$
V{IV} Thai
4.5(11)Chelsea / Hell's Kitchen · $$
Siam Thai Express
4.5(10)Astoria / Long Island City
Petite Boucherie
4.5(8)West Village / Greenwich Village · $$$
Hei Tiki & Sushi Bar
4.4(25)Astoria / Long Island City · $$
Bisou
4.4(24)SoHo / NoHo / Nolita · $$
Dhakaya Restaurant
4.4(22)Astoria / Long Island City · $
MyMoon
4.4(18)Williamsburg · $$$
Favela Grill
4.4(17)Astoria / Long Island City · $$$
Pearl Street
4.4(9)DUMBO / Brooklyn Heights · $$$$
CHINALOA
4.4(5)Williamsburg · $$$
Bar Louise
4.4(5)Park Slope / Gowanus · $$
Ras Plant Based
4.4(5)Park Slope / Gowanus · $$$$
Osteria Carlina West Village
4.4(5)West Village / Greenwich Village
The Garden Bar & Grill
4.3(229)Williamsburg · $$
The Nephew Supper Club
4.3(24)Harlem · $$
Zizi Wine Bar
4.3(15)Lower Manhattan / FiDi · $$
Lighthouse Fish Market
4.3(8)Harlem · $$
Astoria Gramercy Café
4.3(4)Astoria / Long Island City · $
Showing 25–48 of 63 spots
Good to know
- What's the best romantic restaurant in New York for a date?
- Our top pick is Crevette in SoHo / NoHo / Nolita, rated 4.5 out of 5. Dejavu and Massara round out the top 3.
- Which New York neighborhoods have the best romantic restaurants?
- Astoria / Long Island City (5), West Village / Greenwich Village (4) and Williamsburg (3) have the most spots in the top 24.
- Are there affordable romantic restaurants in New York?
- Yes — Tora, V{IV} Thai and Hei Tiki & Sushi Bar are all $$ or under.
- Do I need a reservation?
- It depends on the spot. Book ahead for One If By Land Two If By Sea and Pearl Street.
- What should we do before or after?
- Make it a romantic night: drinks first, then dinner, then something sweet. The plans on this page pair each top spot with the best-rated places within about a 20-minute walk.