The 18 most romantic restaurants in NYC

Originally opened in 1879, the city's long-lasting love affair with this chophouse might just rub off on you and your date. The bartenders wear jackets, the chandeliers catch the dimmed light, and you can't go wrong with a pair of martinis and oysters from the raw bar. The baked Alaska, filled with chocolate and cherries and finished with a golden meringue, is portioned for two so you won't end the night in a squabble over who gets to lick the spoon.

This cozy, honey-hued French-American bistro has been serving sumptuous fare to couples exchanging seductive glances and hushed innuendos since 1975. Slide into a roomy crimson booth in the back for oysters and cold white wine, or fortify yourself for the night ahead with roast rack of lamb, steak au poivre and a full-bodied French red.  

This fancy-schmancy French restaurant with views of the Chrysler Building is giving us serious rom-com vibes. The newest spot from Daniel Boulud offers the usual high price point—the three-course tasting goes for $125—along with the service and impeccable food we’ve come to expect from the chef. With a dining room draped in greenery, the whole place feels like an enchanted garden that grants wishes for gimlets.

Your date deserves a world-class restaurant with over-the-top service, luxurious food and a star chef who's on the awning and in the kitchen—in short, a place like Daniel, one of the top fine dining destinations in NYC. 

With all the charms of a classic French bistro, Buvette’s location on a quaint stretch of Grove Street adds to the allure of its outdoor dining space. On some evenings, you'll even catch a cellist on the corner and it feels like you're being serenaded with your own concert. Buvette is open until midnight Friday and Saturday, so you can snuggle up to your sweetie for a late-night rendezvous.

Picture it: You're cuddled up to your date, swinging in a gondola, gazing down at the water below, on your way to a romantic dinner on...Roosevelt Island. From the 18th floor of the stunning Panorama Room, you can gaze across the East River at a picture-perfect Manhattan skyline. Order from the seafood-forward menu and sip a lychee martini while the two of you take in some of the city's best views.

Back when it opened in 2015, June helped put natural wine on Brooklynites’ radar. Today, interesting bottles continue to add to its allure. With its curved oxblood banquettes, globe light fixtures and stemmed glasses hanging over a marble bar top, June is endlessly romantic—even if you're outdoors in the garden.

With shabby-chic ceramics holding your fluffy crêpes and velvety curtains draped over the front entrance, La Mercerie has a cozy, very French feel. Chef Marie-Aude Rose’s gem of a menu is a soul-soothing experience whether you’re digging into boeuf bourguignon or sorbet, and the outdoor space full of stylish diners will make your magical evening unforgettable.

The food, drinks and ambiance at Crown Shy all rival more formal venues, sans any stuffiness. Its beautiful Art Deco building at 70 Pine Street also hosts sister spots Saga and Overstory. 

The raw bar at Marea offers up plenty of oysters, those famous aphrodisiacs. With a name that means “tide” in Italian, the seafood-focused menu features house-made pasta with octopus, bucatini with jumbo lump crab, and grilled lobster. The restaurant is located right on Columbus Circle, so after dinner, you can take a romantic walk around the Central Park reservoir or, if you absolutely must, propose on Bow Bridge.

At Nick Anderer’s first solo project, you can bask in the glory of wood-paneled walls, candelabras dripping wax and antique-looking chairs as you offer your sweetheart a bite of hand-cut angel hair from your plate. The gigantic wine list features plenty of bottles that pair as well with the old-world vibes as they do with your brand-new romance.

Located in a basement storefront on Forsyth Street, you might just miss Wayla at a glance. The semi-secluded space is dark and handsomely appointed, with plenty of tricks up its sleeve to set it apart from the pack. One sleight of hand is the secret yard, one of the best places to dine outdoors in town. 

Chef Cédric Vongerichten and his wife Ochi’s Indonesian/French restaurant is elegantly designed outside and in with ornate details. The steamed black sea bass with chili-calamansi vinaigrette and chicken satay are menu favorites.

The new location of executive chef Shenarri Freeman’s Cadence is as pretty as the last (nearby) with much more space. You can still cozy up to whisper sweet nothings into your dining companion’s ear between bites of top-notch southern-fried lasagna, palm cakes and smoked grits.

Dishes change daily at this Williamsburg spot owned by LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy—the perfect conversation starter for a date. Pair your plates with studiously curated wine pours to really get the romance flowing.

Billy Durney’s low-key spot draws inspiration from stalwarts like Peter Luger and McSorley’s, and the vibe is equally nostalgic and sexy—even while you’re devouring the popular, if hefty, dry-aged burger at the handsome bar. The staff will make you feel at home whether you order a dark ale or a glass of funky natural wine. Expect a night that eschews prim-and-proper etiquette for a more laid-back dining experience just off Van Brunt Street.

Curl up with your date as you twirl any of the stellar pastas from Lilia. It’s easily one of the best bowls of carbs you'll have this year—that is, if you can snag a reservation. "Yurt village," a bank of heated private tents you can reserve, is the perfect backdrop for a little Lady and the Tramp-style spaghetti smooch.