Love is always in the air here in New York City! No matter if you’re trying to impress someone on a first date, or treating your partner to a fun night out, there’s always so many things to do! From intimate candlelit dinners to one-of-a-kind experiences, these date ideas are sure to ignite your romance and cement your love with NYC. Next time you’re in need of some inspiration, try one of these NYC date ideas!
1. Attend Date Night at the Met
Calling all artsy couples! Date Night at the Met is one of our favorite romantic date ideas, and it happens every Friday and Saturday night from 5 pm – 9 pm! You can bring a friend, or someone special and enjoy everything The Metropolitan Museum of Art has to offer, including live music across the museum, drink specials, small bites, and of course the art. All events are free with museum admission, which is pay-as-you-wish for New York State residents and NY, NJ, and CT students. Learn more here!
2. Take in a romantic concert by candlelight
Bask in the glow of candlelight as you watch stunning symphonies perform your favorite hit music! Ranging from The Beatles to Taylor Swift, these themed candlelight concerts take over the most gorgeous venues in New York City to play romantic renditions of iconic records. Turn the lights low and grab tickets to show here.
3. Spend the evening walking amongst the stars
A romantic walk under the moonlight is one thing, but stargazing the cosmos at Astra Lumina really sets the bar for memorable dates. Step into a mystical world of incredible light show projections, beautiful scenography and ethereal music at Queens Botanical Garden. It is a unique immersive experience and light show that takes you on an emotional journey. Grab tickets to the experience here.
4. Chef up together at an NYC cooking class
Teamwork makes the dream work, and cheffing up a lovely meal together is such a fun bonding experience. No matter what you’re craving, there’s probably a class to help you master that next recipe. We’re talking everything from Asian dumplings to handmade pasta! It could just be your next favorite dinner meal to prep together! Check out our favorite cooking classes in NYC here.
5. Let your tastebuds run free at Dining in the Dark
This date idea is for all of our foodies out there! Want to take your tastebuds (and relationship) to the next level? Try out Dining in the Dark, a unique tasting experience where you try out all sorts of food blindfolded! Happening now is a Sushi “Omakase” Edition of the event, in which you’re treated to a secret, chef’s choice 12-piece “omakase” while blindfolded. The mysterious experience is interactive, tasting, and memorable! It lasts around 90 minutes.
🍽️ Buy your tickets to Dining in the Dark here!
6. Sip eloquently at a fancy wine bar
NYC’s wine bars are some of the coziest spots to feel romantic with your significant other, and sipping on fine wine perfectly sets the mood! Whether you’re looking for a wine tasting experience or a snug booth to enjoy a glass of sauv blanc, there’s tons of places to do it. Check out our favorite NYC wine bars here.
7. Set up a romantic picnic
One of our favorite summertime date ideas is lounging out in the sunshine at one of NYC’s beautiful parks. Stop by a local bodega shop or grocery store and grab all of your picnic essentials! A nice bottle of wine, some cheeses, and some waterfront views can be a great way to spend the day! Check out our favorite picnic spots in NYC here!
8. Row boats in Central Park
Feel like you’re in a romantic movie and row your way to the heart of Central Park Lake! From April – November, you can rent row boats for up to 4 people! It’s first-come first-served, and $25 per hour (cash only). It’s the perfect date idea, opportunity for a wedding proposal, or even a picnic on the water! Life jackets are provided and rides go until dusk. Learn more here.
9. Dine at one of NYC’s most romantic restaurants
You can never go wrong with a good old-fashioned dinner date, and here in NYC there’s so many restaurants to pick from! From traditional Italian spots to elaborate sushi restaurants, you can satisfy any kind of vibe and food hankering you may have! We’re talking ambiance, great food, and intimate seating arrangements. Check out our list of the most romantic restaurants in NYC here.
10. Catch a Broadway show
How about a date to Broadway? Laugh, cry, and applaud one of the many incredible Broadway productions that are currently happening! You can start off with a meal in a Theater District restaurant before making your way to watch a classic play like Wicked or The Lion King! It’s a staple NYC date night idea and it’s worth it every time! See what’s currently playing on Broadway here.
11. Set sail on a charming cruise
Enjoy breathtaking views together with one of the hundreds of romantic cruises around NYC waters! From signature dinner cruises to brunch cruises to even whale watching adventures, the options are endless. Check out our favorite dinner cruises here and even more options here.
12. Go axe throwing
Looking for a cute and competitive date idea? Challenge each other to some axe throwing, where you can try and hit the target while you sip on fun drinks! There are a bunch of locations around the city to choose from, so you can pick and choose where you want to end up. Check out our favorite axe throwing spots here.
13. Challenge your date to mini golf
A date idea as old as time…putt-putt. Compete in a romantic game of mini golf and see who earns the title as the best of the best! NYC’s mini golf spots are endless, from an adult play land like Swingers in NoMad, to waterfront holes-in-one in Williamsburg. Check out our favorite courses here and get those score cards ready!
14. Create a custom fragrance at Olfactory NYC
Olfactory NYC gives New Yorkers a fun date opportunity in the form of making a custom fragrance! Cement your love together and make your own signature scent, bottled fresh on-site. You can pick and choose scents and concoct your very own smell that you can purchase right away. It’s the perfect opportunity to make a memory and take it home with you! Learn more about it here.
Where: 281 Mott St
15. Team up to outwit an NYC escape room
Get ready to solve a mystery together as you and your date attempt to outwit one of NYC’s escape rooms! These themed and clever IRL puzzles are such a fun relationship-building opportunity! Not only is it fun to do, but it can build skills like communication, patience, and more. Check out our favorite NYC escape rooms here.
16. Take advantage of free movies in NYC parks
There’s nothing quite like a free date idea in NYC, and during the summer we can’t help but recommend an outdoor movie! Grab a blanket and cozy into one of NYC’s parks to see a larger than life motion picture against the city’s backdrop. Across all 5 boroughs, you’ll be able to take an average movie date to the next level. See all of the free movies playing here.
17. Get creative at a ceramics studio
Go on a date and learn a new skill…all at the same time! Ceramic studios are a great date spot to let out your creative side and create a piece of art you can cherish forever. No matter how much experience you may or may not have, beginner level classes are a great place to jump into the art form. Check out our favorite pottery classes in NYC here.
18. Feel erotic at The Museum of Sex
Get super intimate together at the Museum of Sex, where there are tons of exhibit galleries, immersive experiences, and more to check out! Particularly Superfunland, which is four floors of ecstatic amusements, including a 4-D immersive “Tunnel of Love,” an erotic fortune-telling machine (modeled as RuPaul), a mechanical bull, and more!
🤤 Buy your tickets to Superfunland at Museum of Sex here!
19. Tap in to your artsy side at Paint and Sip
One of NYC’s most increasingly popular date night ideas is paint and sip (or paint and pour depending on how you wish to phrase it). You and your date can sip on cocktails and wine…all while an instructor teaches you how to paint a picture! It’s fun, laid-back, and a great way to have a casual yet hands-on date experience. Some of our favorite spots include Paint & Sip Studio on the UWS and Paint ‘N Pour in the Lower East Side.
20. Laugh the night away at an NYC comedy club
Laugh your socks off together at one of NYC’s famous comedy clubs! Sharing laughter together is one of the best date ideas, especially if you’re doing it in one of the city’s iconic spots like The Comedy Cellar or Gotham Comedy Club. Just don’t sit near the stage or you may be picked on! 😉 Check out our favorite NYC comedy clubs here.
21. Go to a baseball game
Go on a sporty date to one of NYC’s baseball teams and enjoy a fun time out at the ballpark! Eat a bunch of food at Yankee Stadium or play whiffleball at Citi Field’s outfield fun area, there’s so much to do! Whether or not you and your date are sports fans, you’re sure to have a good time here.