Manhattan is a place of magic and love. The city’s heart beats its own beautiful rhythm through its towering buildings, the everyday hustle-bustle, and taxicabs and trains. 

While Manhattan is the American hub for corporate conglomerates and high-street fashion (Fifth Avenue, anyone?), it is also home to some of the most popular love stories in recent times. 

Anyone who loves love stories knows that rom-coms set in the borough of Manhattan are aesthetically pleasing, incredibly funny, and bound to be a hit. From Harry Met Sally to Carrie Bradshaw’s Sex and The City, locations in Manhattan make up for some amazing cinema. 

And it’s no wonder, the place screams romance! Let’s look at some of the best dates you can go on if you live in the great neighborhood of Manhattan. 

Best Ideas for a Date in Manhattan, New York

1. Central Park

This one is an obvious choice. This free-to-enter lush, green park at the center of New York can take in the bustling population of 8.6 million people with great ease. 

If you and your date work corporate jobs that have exhausted you physically and mentally, a trip to Central Park is probably the ideal date for you. 

You can cycle around in the park or even take shade underneath one of the many, leafy green trees as you sip on lemonade and laugh your hearts out. Make a small picnic basket and take your partner on a day out to Central Park to experience the simple pleasures of life. 

2. Watch the Sun Go Down on the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is known to be one of the most beautiful spots in all of New York City, and with good reason. 

The bridge is constantly brimming with traffic, but there is a walkway on the sides for pedestrians and cyclists. Beware that the bridge is very long, so only try this if you are in good shape and can walk for that long without winding yourself. 

Time this date so that you see the sun go down as you walk. The sheer romance of standing on this majestic bridge and experiencing the waning heat of the sun will be one of the most beautiful experiences you have as a couple. 

3. Go Kayaking on the Hudson River

A kayak excursion around the Hudson Valley’s waterways will help you reconnect with nature and discover the wilderness. Kayaking is an excellent option for all those couples who love some excitement in their lives and want to be closer to nature. 

Ever since the sanitation laws of New York permitted kayaking on the Hudson River, this area has become a major tourist attraction and a great place to go during summer vacation. 

Get ready for rowing, bird viewing, exploring, or simply resting on the water. You can rent out a boat or even talk to one of the local entrepreneurs for more details about this type of excursion. 

4. Catch a Helicopter Tour of the Infamous NYC Skyline

Seeing the sunset over NYC is one thing, but taking a tour of the metropolis and skyscrapers below is quite another. A great way to show your date that they make you feel like you’re on top of the world is by literally taking them to the sky!

Catch a helicopter tour of the iconic Manhattan skyline, which includes structures like the Capitol Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty! You can even fly at night to see the city lights of New York glittering below.

5. Skate Your Heart Out at the Rockefeller Center

We all know that Rockefeller Center is one of New York City’s most famous landmarks. It is one of those iconic New York attractions that is on every traveler’s bucket list. In the winter, though, it becomes a wonderful place for dates and a Christmas custom that everyone can enjoy. 

To be a part of the Christmas tree unveiling at the center, or even participate in the New Year countdown at the Rockefeller Center, is a dream for most. Visiting this center is arguably one of the most charming things you can do with your partner.

6. Delight Your Senses by Catching a Broadway Show

It’s not an iconic New York City date till you catch a Broadway show. Theatre buff or not, Broadway has a classical charm and allure that makes everyone swoon. 

If you’re interested in a classic, then you should opt for the Phantom of the Opera. But if you’re one of the contemporaries, then the Book Of Mormon might be just the thing for you. 

Woo your beau by showing them just how refined your taste in the arts is, and take them out to a Broadway show! But beware, the tickets aren’t cheap, so you can always catch the less coveted, equally entertaining off-Broadway shows. 

7. Experience a Parisian Bistro

Want to take your partner on a romantic date to Paris but can’t find the money to do so? 

For a taste of something French, try one of the famous Parisian Bistros in Manhattan. These tiny hole-in-the-walls are the heart of France in NYC, and any trip to one of these intimate and romantic bistros is bound to impress your partner. 

8. Explore the Met

It’s no secret that New York City is brimming with a unique mix of history and culture. Visiting one of several, wonderful museums is, of course, one of the top couple adventures in NYC!

If you’re searching for something charming to do in Manhattan, the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue – The Met – is a great place to start.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue, the Met Breuer, and the Met Cloisters are excellent places to visit in New York. Contrary to popular belief, these museums are far from boring. Each museum hosts exhibitions, discussions, and fascinating tours that regularly penetrate deep into New York’s culture. 

9. Go for a Stroll in Bryant Park

Bryant Park is a year-round New York City destination known for its beautiful greenery and various free events, all while being flanked by some of the city’s most stunning buildings.

True New Yorkers adore this park, and its relaxed, neighborhood vibe makes it ideal for dates. Whether you attend an early tai chi class, go on a birdwatching tour, or blend fitness and creativity with some ribbon dance, you and your date are sure to have an amazing time.

10. Opt for Something Off-Broadway

Keep things private and low-key by taking your date to an off-Broadway musical. A nice thing about off-Broadway is that the majority of the Broadway shows, such as Winnie the Pooh, Perfect Crime, and Romeo and Bernadette, can be seen here before or after they reach Broadway. 

You won’t have to pay too much when these musicals relocate, and you’ll have more options for comedies, dramas, and plays, to impress your date with. 

11. Gorge on a New York-Style Pizza

New York is home to some of the best pizza in the world, and while it might not look or taste exactly like the original Italian version of pizza, it is still a treat for most. 

New York-style pizza will make you fall in love all over again. The traditional crispy crust, which is firm, thin, and soft enough to fold in half and eat, is an absolute delight. Be sure to get your hands on a good pepperoni pizza from Baker’s Pizza in the East Village or visit Scarr’s on the Lower East Side if you want to have the best pizza of your life. 

12. Rekindle Romance in the Russian Tea Room

The Russian Tea Room, which Russian immigrants established, was a high society hotspot throughout much of the twentieth century. 

On a romantic date night in NYC, having a meal at the hotspot feels like stepping back in time as the dazzling glittering décor hasn’t been changed since the Roaring Twenties. It still retains its futuristic Russian-style décor and serves continental gourmet dining, exquisite high tea, and the greatest vodka choices to New York’s aristocracy.

While this might be a little over the top, if you are looking to treat your beau to a night full of high-society fun, there isn’t a better spot in Manhattan than the Russian Tea Room. 

13. Check Out the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The enclosed conservatories at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden are one of the only locations where you can get some flora during the bleak, barren winter. 

With its cascades, streams, and bright flora, the Tropical Pavilion is especially relaxing and leaves you feeling as if you’re in a tropical paradise. This is a terrific date spot in NYC, regardless of the season.

14. Go on a Global Food Journey in the Bronx

Not sure what your date likes to eat, but still want to treat them to a lunch or dinner that will blow their socks off? Then the food stalls at the Bronx are your best bet. 

Go to the Bronx Night Market, where you’ll find many merchants selling food and beverages from over twenty countries.

Whether you’re in the mood for something Indian or want to try something Hungarian, you can opt for a variety of different cuisines and not be restricted to any one restaurant in particular. 

Bonus tip: Take a stroll around Fordham Plaza after your feast and listen to some of the most melodious live music you will ever experience. 

15. Catch a Burlesque Show at the Slipper Room

Have you ever longed to see a live performance of the Moulin Rouge? Well, now you can! When you catch a burlesque show at the Slipper Room, you and your companion will be left smiling, wondering, and perhaps a little aroused by some of the sassiest performers you’ve ever seen. 

Be ready to let go of your inhibitions as aerial dancers, singers, magicians, dancers, and sexily clothed lads and lasses perform acrobatic and sideshow stunts from your table near the stage (the room is tiny enough that there isn’t really a terrible seat in the house).

You won’t find anything like this anywhere else in Manhattan – or anywhere else for that matter. 

16. Party at the Minetta Tavern in the West Village

McNally’s Minetta Tavern, a West Village relic resurrected once again, may be the first postmillennial crisis New York landmark restaurant. 

Minetta Tavern, which started as a cabaret in the 1920s and eventually attracted a wide range of celebrities, has become a historical artifact in current history, famous solely for its time-capsule décor.

This is one of the most coveted places you can eat, drink, and party – but, there is a catch. The most difficult aspect of McNally’s is getting in. You won’t get past the bouncer unless you have a reservation (your best bet: arrive right when it opens). 

For the time being, the place is crowded with fashion journalists and big-screen stars who you’ve wanted to meet for so long but never were able to! 

17. Immerse Yourself in a VR Experience

Let your inner child out and show your date how fun you can be taking them to a Virtual Reality arcade. 

VR World NYC is the largest virtual-reality amusement park in the United States, with over 50 mixed-reality art, sports, and entertainment activities. The complex, which is near Manhattan’s iconic Empire State Building, provides adults with various innovative virtual reality activities, including competitive gaming. 

The three-story experience includes a full bar where participants can sip beverages in between rounds. 

18. Gaze Up at the Stars at the Hayden Planetarium

Have you ever wanted to kiss beneath the stars? Well, now you can kiss your date under a sky full of stars! 

The Hayden Planetarium, housed within the American Museum of Natural History, is a delightful and romantic date night option with a ceiling full of stars that will leave you in awe. 

Conclusion

While there are countless great date ideas in Manhattan, keep in mind the weather if you are choosing an outdoor excursion.

Temperatures can be intense in New York City, especially during the winter months, so don’t decide on a long walkathon on a day you can’t even feel your toes! Plus, most of these date ideas ask for a lot of walking, so be sure your date is wearing something comfortable.