There’s no time like the present. I shot this dress with Allie last spring and I still love the photos of it. I’ve worn it for a few date nights and it always makes me feel gorgeous. I didn’t share the pictures right away but realized I had no reason to be holding onto them, so I’m excited to share them now, with a few ideas.
Just because date nights look a little bit different right now doesn’t mean we can’t plan for them! I’m hoping that nights out at our favorite restaurants become a reality again soon, but in the meantime, I’m sharing my favorite date nights in New York City. Bookmark this post for later!
If you love old-school live music…
Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel is the place to go. I briefly mentioned it in a Monday Musings post after my first visit and it’s been somewhere I’ve loved going back to. My friends and I love it for a good girls’ night, but it’s also a great spot for a get-dressed-up kind of date night filled with Frank Sinatra and overpriced cocktails.
If you love to get a taste of everything…
one of Max and I’s all-time favorite restaurants is Toro. It’s a great date night spot with good music, good food and good drinks. You can read more about it in my Guide to the Meatpacking District!
If you’re looking for a homey vibe…
Il Buco feels like you’re eating in someone’s kitchen in Italy. Their homemade egg pasta is unreal but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Be sure to make a reservation well in advance for this one. If you’re late to the game, you can add your name to the Resy waitlist in the hopes of getting a table if someone cancels their reservation.
If you’re looking for privacy…
Casa Enrique is the best Mexican food I’ve had in the boroughs. You can find it in Long Island City, less than two blocks from the subway. My go-to order is a guava or pomegranate margaritas, guacamole, crab tostadas, and enchiladas verdes. The chicken mole is also delicious.
If you have all night…
Via Carota is the reason Max and I eat olives. By the time we got a table there, we were so hungry that we were both willing to eat them for the first time. In all seriousness though, if you want to stand a chance at getting into Via Carota, be there as close to open as possible to get the first seating or the second -anything after that and you’ll be eating at 10 PM. While you wait I’ve heard Slowly Shirley is great for a drink or if it’s nice out stroll the West Village.
If you’re not looking to spend a small fortune…
Tonchin isn’t the best-located restaurant, situated near Penn Station but their dumplings and ramen make up for it. We’re also big fans of Ippudo (multiple locations), Momofuku (East Village) and Teppen Ramen (Midtown East).
Photos by Allie Provost.
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