Choosing a good first date spot can make or break that all-important initial meeting. Here’s a list of our 8 favorite first date spots in NYC.
Choosing a good first date spot can make or break that all-important initial meeting. It needs to check a number of boxes: fun, relaxed, and interesting enough to get the conversation flowing
Luckily, we’ve done the research and found some surefire first date spots, with aesthetics to suit any taste. Without further ado, here are our top picks of the best first date spots in NYC.
Photographer: www.lukedyson.photography
Swingers takes mini golf to a whole new level, bringing it indoors and adding elaborate theming and delicious drinks for a totally immersive “crazy golf” experience! This lively activity from across the pond is not only a great way to get moving, but also the perfect choice if you’re looking for a unique date night out.
A hidden gem beneath the streets of NYC, Swingers conjures visions of a theatrical “country house” design and the 1920s British seaside. This lavish venue has three crazy golf courses, as well as four gourmet street food vendors and four cocktail bars. It’s both distinctive and versatile, the perfect place for first-date drinks or a bit of flirtatious rivalry – and whatever you end up doing, Swingers’ magical setting is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Perfect for: A luxurious yet lively evening of fancy cocktails and friendly competition.
Credit: Amelie
In search of a romantic European setting? Amelie is an ideal first date spot in NYC for those who appreciate a touch of je ne sais quoi. This West Village French wine bar boasts indoor and heated outdoor seating to enjoy sublime Michelin-starred cuisine – you’ll be reveling in the atmosphere in no time.
With European classics like hand-cut beef tartare and grilled octopus (and brunch on the weekends), Amelie will delight you and your date with their upscale yet unstuffy dining experience. Opt for the ‘‘grand platters” if you’d like to sit and share, and pair with a bottle from their vast, international wines collection. It’s the perfect spot if your date is a bit of a wine connoisseur, and who knows – if all goes well, you might just be seeing France together someday!
Perfect for: Sipping leisurely glasses of wine and discussing your dream vacation spots.
Credit: CNTraveler
Situated atop the 26-floor Beekman Tower, Ophelia Lounge is your go-to spot for stunning views of the city. This cathedral-esque venue serves five-star food and fancy cocktails all year, with a menu that includes leveled-up appetizers (burrata caprese salad, cauliflower steak with pistachios) and some truly impressive mains (Chilean sea bass skewers, foie gras).
They also offer a two-person “taste of the tower” prix fixe that starts with smoked salmon and whipped ricotta crostini and peaks with lobster and caviar sliders – and if your mouth isn’t watering by now, we don’t know what to tell you. In addition to the glorious food, if your date is relatively new to the city or hasn’t ever seen it from such a vantage point, Ophelia is the ideal spot to try in West Village.
Perfect for: Wide-eyed New Yorkers ready for their minds to be blown.
Credit: CNTraveler
Celebrating the spirits and drinking traditions of Latin America, Leyenda is a unique – and legendary, as the name implies – venue. Here you’ll sample exotic drinks and exciting twists on traditional Latin food from across Central and South America and the Caribbean. In other words, if you’re looking for an inspired comida that goes beyond your typical street tacos, Leyenda is the place to be.
Opened by the same folks as the Clover (just across the road!), this pan-Latin flavorfest hosts brunch as well as dinner. For the former, you might start with a “leyenda bloody” (featuring their one-of-a-kind sangrita of carrot, papaya, lime and chili), followed by tasty breakfast tacos, pupusas or enchiladas with rich mole sauce. For the latter, make sure to try their tequila-flamed shrimp arepas or their poblano relleno of zucchini, tomato and salsa ranchera. All in all: for food that’s a real talking point, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better spot.
Perfect for: Wooing a first date with Latin passion (and some exquisite empanadas).
Credit: Buvette
A beloved joint in Greenwich Village for over a decade now, Buvette’s part-bar, part-cafe is our final recommendation for great first date spots in NYC. It’s especially convenient for a casual lunch date or evening drink, and a lovely place to meet if you want to wander along the river or through Washington Square Park afterward.
Indeed, with its upmarket European brunch menu, delicate patisserie and splendid desserts, Buvette is a classic spot for New Yorkers to pass a morning or afternoon. The buttermilk waffles and croquets with cornichons are particularly unbeatable, though the coq au vin and steak tartare of the dinner menu are standouts as well. But if you and your date are short on time, you can always just head to the bar for custom cocktails into the early hours. With a fruity spritz or their signature Buvette Manhattan in hand, you can be sure that this will be a night to remember. Visit Buvette if you want to look cultured and sophisticated on your first date in NYC.
Perfect for: Classy yet casual brunch dates and evenings of understated elegance.
Credit: Oscar Wilde
If you’re a lover of sparkling wit and sparkling surroundings, we can think of no better NYC first date spot than Oscar Wilde in NoMad. This over-the-top watering hole contains New York’s longest bar (nearly 120 feet long) and a plethora of gilded Victorian decorations. It also hosts an extensive whiskey selection and 26 antique clocks (though hopefully, neither of you will be looking up at them!).
Oscar Wilde offers separate dinner and evening menus, featuring much of what you’d expect from a swanky gastro-bar. Favorites include the decadent truffle gnocchi and the steak frites; of course, there’s an extensive drinks menu to match. Brimming with ornate curiosities and rich food and drink, Oscar Wilde is certainly a place to indulge – and what’s better than doing so in the intoxicating company of a first date?
Perfect for: Those who love their rare whiskeys almost as much as they love their melodrama.
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