Best date spots: Upper West Side

Kick off a romantic stroll through the park with a stop outside the 128-year-old Dakota (1 W 72nd St at Central Park West), a massive, elegantly appointed apartment building. Head across the street to pay your respects to John Lennon—who was gunned down in front of the edifice in 1980—at his flower-adorned memorial, Strawberry Fields (enter at Central Park West and 72nd St; centralparknyc.org), before heading deeper into the park. Pause to take in the view (and share a kiss) on the Bow Bridge (midpark at 74th St), a popular lovey-dovey photo location for newlyweds.

Francophiles (and day-date lovers) with a sweet tooth can kill some time wandering through this 1,200-square-foot market and café, where you can buy specialty goods that chef Daniel Boulud uses at his restaurants. Split a couple of freshly made éclairs, croissants, pains au chocolat and other traditional French treats. Situated just a block away from Central Park, it’s a prime location for working off your sugar rush with a brisk walk.

Cash-strapped daters, take note: Every entrée on the menu at chef Michael Psilakis’s no-frills Greek restaurant costs less than a Jackson, and glasses of wine aren’t too pricey, either. We like the perfectly charred grilled branzino fillets. The wait for your food to arrive can sometimes be long, but that just gives you more time to chat up your man or lady, right?

Show your squeeze your classy side without spending a dime at one of these weekly sets, where you can catch a variety of top-tier jazz and world musicians. Past lineups have included postclassical and experimental music from the likes of Finnish electro whiz Vladislav Delay, the Harlem Gospel Choir and virtuoso Argentine bandoneónist Hector Del Curto. 212-546-2656, lincolncenter.org/atrium. Thu nights, times vary; free.