My Bartender
Are you single but dating in New York City, and are you looking for good places to get to know the people you are seeing? Or maybe you need a romantic spot to take your partner. There are thousands of bars in the Big Apple, but many of them are not where you want to go on a date.
Lucky for you, I have compiled the best bars to go on dates in the city so you can spend more time falling in love and less time finding places to do it!
Check out my list of the best date bars in NYC below!
Dear Irving Gramercy
55 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 533-4466
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One of the best places for where to get a drink with a date is Dear Irving, between 17th and 18th Ave. and between Park Ave. and Irving Place.
I love the decor at the bar, and you feel like you are at a classy place with a lot of classic cocktails.
Amelie Wine Bar & Bistro
22 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011
Phone: (212) 533-2962
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If you want a place with good drinks and the option for small plates or a full meal, head to Amelie Wine Bar & Bistro just a block north of Washington Square Park.
The French-inspired drinks include wine and cocktails. And you can enjoy outdoor seating, which is heated in the winter.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
Multiple Locations
Phone: (212) 957-4530
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Another place I love to go on dates is Lillie’s, which has two locations in NYC. There is one right by Union Square Park on 17th, and the other is on 8th Ave and 49th Street.
The decor at both locations is beautiful, dating back to the 19th Century. You can find a full bar and traditional pub food at Lillie’s.
The Penrose
1590 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028
Phone: (212) 203-2751
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One of my favorite lowkey but fun places to get drinks is at the Penrose on the Upper East Side.
They are open late at night until 3 AM, so you will have plenty of time to get to know your date at the bar. You will find a lot of classic drinks here as well as simple decor.
The Four Horsemen
295 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: (718) 599-4900
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One of the best ways to get to know someone new or get deeper with someone you are dating is by sharing a bottle of wine with them.
The Four Horsemen in Williamsburg is a cute place with a lot of great food to pair with the wine too. Just make a reservation if you go at peak time since it’s a popular spot.
Plado Tasting Bar
192 E 2nd St, New York, NY 10009
Phone: (646) 850-5151
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I love a good tapas bar, especially on a date, since you get to try all the different foods, see your date’s opinion on them, and the tapas are great for making good conversation.
The Plado Tasting Bar in the East Village is the perfect spot to go, and they also have great specialty cocktails.
Charlie Bird
5 King St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 235-7133
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One of my favorite places to go out for wine and Italian food, if you want to have dinner with your date, is Charlie Bird on 6th Ave. and King St. in Lower Manhattan.
They have such a huge list of wines for you to choose from, and you can share a bottle or try a glass.
Bistro Les Amis
180 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 226-8645
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Another place I love to go for drinks on a date is Bistro Les Amis in Soho, which has wine, cocktails, and happy hour on weekdays.
My favorite thing about Bistro Les Amis is the sidewalk seating, so if you go on a date in the summer, you can get some fresh air.
Aurora Soho
510 Broome St, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 334-9020
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Another place I recommend in Soho is the beautiful Italian restaurant: Aurora Soho. I promise you will actually feel like you and your date are in Italy with the beautiful decor here.
There are lots of drink options here, including wine, draft beer, classic and specialty cocktails, and non-alcoholic options.
Uva
1486 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10075
Phone: (212) 472-4552
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For even more great Italian vibes, head to Uva on the Upper East Side. I especially love Uva in the summer when you can sit on the patio or near the garden.
You have a lot of traditional Italian food options here, and you can get brunch and special brunch cocktails on the weekend too.
Fine & Rare
9 E 37th St, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 725-3866
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If you want to take your date to a nice place or suggest a nice place for them to take you, go to Fine & Rare on 37th between 5th Ave and Madison.
Not only will you love the elegant vibe, but they have a huge menu of spirits and a full bar to choose from. The food is also delicious, and you will also find live music here.
Terroir
24 Harrison St, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 625-9463
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Another great place for a date bar in NYC, especially if you want a more social environment, head to Terroir in Tribeca.
It is an Italian wine bar, where you will find some great tapas, that also has a lot of seating and big tables, so you might also be able to meet some new people with your date too.
Excuse My French
96 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Phone: (212) 780-9600
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One of my go-to date spots for a nighttime or late-night date is at Excuse My French, just a few blocks east of Little Italy.
It is such a romantic spot, and you will get major Paris vibes from the bar. You will find a lot of specialty cocktails, many French-inspired cocktails, and some small French plates.
Balthazar
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 965-1414
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Another lovely French place where you can go on a date is Balthazar, between Soho and Little Italy.
They have a huge drink menu with lots of spirits, cocktails, and plenty of wine, so everyone can find something to enjoy here.
Bea
403 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 602-1910
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Another nice bar where you can get drinks and dinner with your date is Bea in Hell’s Kitchen.
They are open for dinner until 2 AM on weekdays and open for both lunch and dinner on the weekend. The vibe here is intimate, and you can grab drinks at the bar if you don’t want to eat.
Osteria Morini
218 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 965-8777
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Another one of my favorite Italian bars to go to on a date is Osteria Morini, between Soho and Little Italy.
They have a great wine list, and even if you are not a big wine drinker, you can find something you like here. And they have some amazing Italian food too!
Tiny’s & The Bar Upstairs
135 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 374-1135
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I love how old school it is at Tiny’s & The Bar Upstairs, and you will love the vibe too.
They have a cool fireplace that adds to the romance and lots of cocktails that I love. You can find good food at Tiny’s, too, if you want American food.
Maison Premiere
298 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Phone: (347) 889-5710
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Want another upscale option for your dates? Head to Maison Premiere, an Oyster Bar in Williamsburg.
I would highly recommend that you try one of their Absinthe Cocktails, and there are a lot of them to choose from. They also have a happy hour for oysters.
L’Artusi
228 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 255-5757
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If you live in the West Village, I recommend you check out L’Artusi, one of my favorite date spots and a great Italian restaurant.
My favorite part about this place is the huge wine list that has every type of wine you could possibly want.
Blue Ribbon Brasserie
97 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 274-0404
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Another one of my favorite fun places to go out on a date is Blue Ribbon Brasserie in Soho.
I love that they are open till 2 AM every night, so you can go here after dinner or grab another round of drinks if the date is going well.
Peasant
194 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 965-9511
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A romantic go-to of mine is Peasant, just a few blocks north of Little Italy, where you can choose from a good list of wines.
And they have delicious food that pairs well with the wines, including wood-fired pizza.
One if by Land, Two if by Sea
17 Barrow St, New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 255-8649
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If you are looking for an expensive but really good date spot, look no further than One if, by Land, Two if by Sea in Greenwich Village.
The vibe here alone is worth paying for since it is so romantic and is perfect for falling in love. But don’t worry, the drinks and food are great, and the set menus are always a treat.
Bell Book & Candle
141 W 10th St # A, New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 414-2355
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Whether you are going on a date or not, you should check out Bell Book & Candle, which has some of my favorite food in the city.
They grow most of their own produce on the roof of the building, then serve amazing dishes in the building’s romantic basement.
Dante NYC
79-81 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 982-5275
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Dante NYC is another one of my favorite Italian spots to grab cocktails and food on a date, and it is over 100 years old, so you know it’s good.
They have cocktails you can share, which is great if you and your date want to bond over something, and I highly recommend the Upside Down Dirty Gibson.
The Ragtrader & Bo Peep Cocktail and Highball Store
70 W 36th St. #1B, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (917) 261-5495
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One of the unique places you can go on a date is to The Ragtrader & Bo Peep Cocktail and Highball Store, which has some of the best craft cocktails.
There is a lot to choose from, so if you have trouble choosing, I recommend the Foxy Sangria or a Three Piece Suit.
Le Coucou
138 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 271-4252
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Another great French place is Le Coucou which is another upscale French restaurant and bar perfect for a date.
The food here is absolutely amazing, and you can’t go wrong with lunch or dinner. And they have plenty of wines to pair with whatever you choose to eat.
CICCIO Bar & Alimentari
190 6th Ave, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (646) 476-9498
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Italian is obviously such a romantic cuisine, and CICCIO Bar & Alimentari in SOHO is another one of the places I love.
They have a lot of wine, and I love their mimosas and bloody marys if you want something a little different.
Blue Ribbon Sushi
Multiple Locations
Phone: (212) 343-0404
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Are you and your date sushi lovers? Don’t pass up Blue Ribbon Sushi in Soho, which has all the best classic sushi.
And, of course, the saki here is to die for, which is what makes it such a great date spot in NYC.
St Tropez Soho
194 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (917) 261-4441
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St Tropez Soho, which is obviously in SOHO, is a cute bistro where you will find a good wine list and food. They also serve brunch on weekends.
And, if you are there in the summer, you can sit out on the cute patio and enjoy your date.
While We Were Young Kitchen & Cocktails
183 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014
Phone: (917) 675-6272
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If you are looking for something less romantic, maybe for a first date or even a lunch date on the weekends, head over to While We Were Young Kitchen & Cocktails in Greenwich Village.
They have wine and cocktails, one of the favorites being The Morning After cocktail.
Galli
45 Mercer St, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 966-9288
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Galli is another good Italian place in Soho that has all the good Italian food as well as a cute and romantic vibe.
You can also get some small appetizers and snacks here while you get to know your date over drinks.
Final Thoughts
From romantic Italian and French restaurants to cocktail and wine bars, these are some of the best date bars in NYC, which I highly recommend checking out.
Make sure you leave a comment if you check out any of the bars I recommended or want to suggest one of your own.
Best Date Bars in NYC
- Dear Irving Gramercy
- Amelie Wine Bar & Bistro
- Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
- The Penrose
- The Four Horsemen
- Plado Tasting Bar
- Charlie Bird
- Bistro Les Amis
- Aurora Soho
- Uva
- Fine & Rare
- Terroir
- Excuse My French
- Balthazar
- Bea
- Osteria Morini
- Tiny’s & The Bar Upstairs
- Maison Premiere
- L’Artusi
- Blue Ribbon Brasserie
- Peasant
- One if by Land, Two if by Sea
- Bell Book & Candle
- Dante NYC
- The Ragtrader & Bo Peep Cocktail and Highball Store
- Le Coucou
- CICCIO Bar & Alimentari
- Blue Ribbon Sushi
- St Tropez Soho
- While We Were Young Kitchen & Cocktails
- Galli
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