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The Hottest New Bars in New York City, December 2023

The Hottest New Restaurants in Queens, December 2023

The Hottest New Restaurants in Brooklyn, December 2023

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Bison au poivre sits on a plate, slathered in orange cream peppercorn sauce; a plate of fries sit on the side.
Bison au poivre at Le Rock.
Le Rock

The Most Romantic Restaurants in NYC

High ceilings, low lighting, and some of the best food New York City has to offer

by Eater Staff Updated
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Bison au poivre at Le Rock.
| Le Rock
by Eater Staff Updated

When looking for a romantic restaurant or bar, words like “cozy,” “intimate,” and “low-lit” probably come to mind. But we’d argue that the food and bottles of colorful pet-nat are just as crucial to a memorable swoony evening as the decor. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite spots that are more than just a pretty indoor dining room — although we took that into account, too — for those special occasion dates.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Le Rock

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Even if you’re not a banker or SNL cast member, getting all dolled up for a date at this Art Deco Rockefeller Center restaurant is fun. Given how hard reservations are at the hotspot from the team behind Frenchette, you’ll impress your date by taking them there at all, let alone slurping on seafood and a luxe dessert tower, while the wine flows.

45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
(332) 258-8734
(332) 258-8734
Caneles, pate de fruits, a frozen souffle, and a tart sits on three plates stacked vertically
A dessert tour for two.
Le Rock

Also featured in:

Claud

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Being named ‘best wine bar’ in New York’s Eater Awards doesn’t quite do Claud justice: Yes, it has wine, but it’s really more of a full-blown restaurant. The spot — from Momofuku Ko vets, Chase Sinzer, who handles the wine program, and chef Joshua Pinsky — lives up to its pedigree: go for the escargot croquettes, chicken liver agnolotti, and a rich chocolate cake for two.

90 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003
(917) 261-6791
(917) 261-6791
A marble countertop is loaded with chicken, beans, shrimp in a cast iron skillet, and other dishes in smaller portions.
A spread at Claud.
Claud

Also featured in:

Minetta Tavern

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The prized black-label burger is a whopping $38, but your date (and this burger with caramelized onions) are worth it. This old-school haunt, from restaurateur Keith McNally, is one of the more consistently romantic spots.

113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
(212) 475-3850
(212) 475-3850

Also featured in:

Nura

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If an ideal date night includes high ceilings, plants, and the smell of fresh-baked naan, Nura is sure to impress. This Greenpoint restaurant comes from the husband-and-wife team behind Otis. The decor is a major draw here, as well as chef Jackie Carnesi’s cooking. Do not skip the bread and dips platter.

46 Norman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 304-5290
(718) 304-5290
A high-ceilinged indoor dining room, at Nura in Greenpoint, is outfitted with furniture and plants.
The spacious indoor dining room at Nura.
Catherine Dzilenski/Nura

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Le Crocodile

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Le Crocodile hits that romantic restaurant middle ground: a low-lit vibe cool enough for an early (but important) date, and food that more than holds up on a birthday or anniversary. The bar here, staffed by a handful of white jacket-wearing waiters, feels busy but never crowded, thanks to the high ceilings and lengthy dining room. If date plans include dinner, know that Le Crocodile comes from the same team behind Chez Ma Tante, a favorite brunch spot in NYC, with French fare like escargot, buttery leeks, and a shareable plate of chicken that’s not to be missed.

80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
(718) 460-8004
(718) 460-8004
The interior of a restaurant with a giant palm tree, a row of wooden tables and chairs, and large arched windows
The dining room at Le Crocodile.
Read McKendree/Le Crocodile

Also featured in:

Le Coucou

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Likely the fanciest option on this list Le Coucou, with its dramatic chandeliers and expertly-prepared French dishes by chef Daniel Rose, always feels like the spot to take someone you’re really trying to impress.

138 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013
(212) 271-4252
(212) 271-4252

Also featured in:

Bamonte's

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Since opening in North Brooklyn in 1900, Bamonte’s packs in decades of old-school charm for swooning a partner. The shareable, behemoth-sized plates of red-sauce classics like chicken parmesan are served in a baroque dining room that feels like it’s straight from a vintage postcard. Eater critic Robert Sietsema recommends the tartufo, sliced coated chocolate and vanilla ice cream that is stuffed with a maraschino cherry, or an off-menu cannoli, for dessert.

32 Withers St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 384-8831
(718) 384-8831
Old and young sit at tables in a red and orange dining room, with paintings on the walls and chandeliers hanging from above.
Chandeliers hang throughout the dining room at Bamonte’s.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Also featured in:

The Four Horsemen

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There are no bad seats at this Williamsburg natural wine bar: Not at the counter, where it’s easier to order another glass of colorful pet-nat. Not in its intimate back dining room, with narrow views of the kitchen. Not even out front, at a well-lit outdoor setup that’s stood the test of pandemic winters. Though the Four Horsemen is more often known for its LCD Soundsystem affiliation, restaurant enthusiasts know that some of the neighborhood’s best food is found here, on a short menu that rotates often. Stop by next door at its secret-ish attached club Nightmoves to take the night to next level.

295 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 599-4900
(718) 599-4900

Also featured in:

Ammazzacaffè

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Sometimes picking an ultra-trendy spot for a date feels like someone is trying too hard. Ammazzacaffè is a cozy, underrated restaurant in East Williamsburg that strikes just the right tone of low-key-yet-romantic night out. The food here also stands on its own (go for the pastas), plus there’s an extensive amaro list to choose from as well as the usual cocktails and wine. If available, request to sit in the back area, which is a little bit more darkly lit and intimate.

702 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(929) 250-2875
(929) 250-2875
Bottles of liquor and wine are arranged on an illuminated shelf at an East Williamsburg bar called Ammazzacaffè.
The bar at Ammazzacaffè.
Ammazzacaffè

Also featured in:

The Ten Bells Brooklyn

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Splitting a bottle of natural wine at the Ten Bells in the Lower East Side is one of the most tried-and-true date scenarios in all of New York City. So when the popular wine bar expanded to Bushwick it made sure to bring all of its hallmark romanticism with it, managing to do so in a space that is noticeably brighter. Still, the lighting here is as good as it gets while still being able to see someone’s face and a menu of snacks. Many shareable bites, including cheese boards, are available for the peckish.

65 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
(845) 584-3523
(845) 584-3523
An L-shaped bar counter with multiple dark wooden stools pulled up and custom light fixtures hanging overhead
The bar at the Ten Bells.
The Ten Bells

Also featured in:

Winona's

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Winona’s is located on a street that doesn’t get a ton of foot traffic, making the converted, industrial-looking restaurant feel clandestine and cool. For those in the know, Winona’s is a great see-and-be-seen kind of date spot. The music here is fun and the lighting isn’t too dim, which makes it ideal for a special occasion that is celebratory, and romantic, but doesn't take itself too seriously. The restaurant excels at often having dishes that accommodate most diets, and its daily-changing pop-ups allow for each visit to feel like an entirely new date night out.

676 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206
(718) 388-4900
(718) 388-4900
Light wooded furniture and red bar stools are spread throughout a stone-colored dining room at Winona’s in Bed-Stuy.
Inside of Winona’s.
Winona’s

Also featured in:

Place des Fêtes

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While on the onset this restaurant from Prospect Heights’ Oxalis looks like just another wine bar, the menu (and Spanish bottles) keep drawing fans. Small plates like maitakes with caramelized fish sauce, top-tier mortadella, and black bass with caraflex cabbage are just some of the rotating dishes you’ll find. Warm lighting helps this place feel extra intimate.

212 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 857-0101
(718) 857-0101
The naturally lit front dining room of Place des Fêtes, a wine bar opening in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
The interior of Place des Fêtes.
Place des Fêtes

Also featured in:

June

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At June, sharing plates like whipped ricotta with persimmon or roasted duck breast with cranberries make for easy pairings for the real star of the show here: the extensive wine list. But diners don’t have to be wine experts to impress a significant other at this stunning Cobble Hill bar and restaurant. In fact, romantic interior design does all the talking. The vintage-y light bulbs, handsome bar, and stained glass feel like something out of a 20th-century Parisian cafe. 

231 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(917) 909-0434
(917) 909-0434
An ornate wine bar decorated with vintage light bulbs, a handsome marble countertop, and stained glass.
Vintage light bulbs hang throughout June Wine Bar.
June

Also featured in:

Hart's

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Quarters are tight at Hart’s but that’s precisely what helps make this restaurant one of the sexiest date spots around. Light and breezy, coastal-focused dishes like the popular clam toast are what’s highlighted on the menu here. Daily-changing specials offer something new to find with each visit — making it a date spot to keep on regular rotation that never gets old while smushed up against some of Brooklyn’s hippest couples. Just be sure to stop by a little early, as it can be hard to snag a seat during prime time operating hours. (If it’s full, try your luck at the team’s other restaurant just a few blocks away: the Fly.) 

506 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 636-6228
(718) 636-6228

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Le Rock

45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111

Even if you’re not a banker or SNL cast member, getting all dolled up for a date at this Art Deco Rockefeller Center restaurant is fun. Given how hard reservations are at the hotspot from the team behind Frenchette, you’ll impress your date by taking them there at all, let alone slurping on seafood and a luxe dessert tower, while the wine flows.

45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
(332) 258-8734
(332) 258-8734
Caneles, pate de fruits, a frozen souffle, and a tart sits on three plates stacked vertically
A dessert tour for two.
Le Rock

Claud

90 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003

Being named ‘best wine bar’ in New York’s Eater Awards doesn’t quite do Claud justice: Yes, it has wine, but it’s really more of a full-blown restaurant. The spot — from Momofuku Ko vets, Chase Sinzer, who handles the wine program, and chef Joshua Pinsky — lives up to its pedigree: go for the escargot croquettes, chicken liver agnolotti, and a rich chocolate cake for two.

90 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003
(917) 261-6791
(917) 261-6791
A marble countertop is loaded with chicken, beans, shrimp in a cast iron skillet, and other dishes in smaller portions.
A spread at Claud.
Claud

Minetta Tavern

113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

The prized black-label burger is a whopping $38, but your date (and this burger with caramelized onions) are worth it. This old-school haunt, from restaurateur Keith McNally, is one of the more consistently romantic spots.

113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
(212) 475-3850
(212) 475-3850

Nura

46 Norman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

If an ideal date night includes high ceilings, plants, and the smell of fresh-baked naan, Nura is sure to impress. This Greenpoint restaurant comes from the husband-and-wife team behind Otis. The decor is a major draw here, as well as chef Jackie Carnesi’s cooking. Do not skip the bread and dips platter.

46 Norman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 304-5290
(718) 304-5290
A high-ceilinged indoor dining room, at Nura in Greenpoint, is outfitted with furniture and plants.
The spacious indoor dining room at Nura.
Catherine Dzilenski/Nura

Le Crocodile

80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Le Crocodile hits that romantic restaurant middle ground: a low-lit vibe cool enough for an early (but important) date, and food that more than holds up on a birthday or anniversary. The bar here, staffed by a handful of white jacket-wearing waiters, feels busy but never crowded, thanks to the high ceilings and lengthy dining room. If date plans include dinner, know that Le Crocodile comes from the same team behind Chez Ma Tante, a favorite brunch spot in NYC, with French fare like escargot, buttery leeks, and a shareable plate of chicken that’s not to be missed.

80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
(718) 460-8004
(718) 460-8004
The interior of a restaurant with a giant palm tree, a row of wooden tables and chairs, and large arched windows
The dining room at Le Crocodile.
Read McKendree/Le Crocodile

Le Coucou

138 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013

Likely the fanciest option on this list Le Coucou, with its dramatic chandeliers and expertly-prepared French dishes by chef Daniel Rose, always feels like the spot to take someone you’re really trying to impress.

138 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013
(212) 271-4252
(212) 271-4252

Bamonte's

32 Withers St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Since opening in North Brooklyn in 1900, Bamonte’s packs in decades of old-school charm for swooning a partner. The shareable, behemoth-sized plates of red-sauce classics like chicken parmesan are served in a baroque dining room that feels like it’s straight from a vintage postcard. Eater critic Robert Sietsema recommends the tartufo, sliced coated chocolate and vanilla ice cream that is stuffed with a maraschino cherry, or an off-menu cannoli, for dessert.

32 Withers St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 384-8831
(718) 384-8831
Old and young sit at tables in a red and orange dining room, with paintings on the walls and chandeliers hanging from above.
Chandeliers hang throughout the dining room at Bamonte’s.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

The Four Horsemen

295 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

There are no bad seats at this Williamsburg natural wine bar: Not at the counter, where it’s easier to order another glass of colorful pet-nat. Not in its intimate back dining room, with narrow views of the kitchen. Not even out front, at a well-lit outdoor setup that’s stood the test of pandemic winters. Though the Four Horsemen is more often known for its LCD Soundsystem affiliation, restaurant enthusiasts know that some of the neighborhood’s best food is found here, on a short menu that rotates often. Stop by next door at its secret-ish attached club Nightmoves to take the night to next level.

295 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 599-4900
(718) 599-4900

Ammazzacaffè

702 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Sometimes picking an ultra-trendy spot for a date feels like someone is trying too hard. Ammazzacaffè is a cozy, underrated restaurant in East Williamsburg that strikes just the right tone of low-key-yet-romantic night out. The food here also stands on its own (go for the pastas), plus there’s an extensive amaro list to choose from as well as the usual cocktails and wine. If available, request to sit in the back area, which is a little bit more darkly lit and intimate.

702 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(929) 250-2875
(929) 250-2875
Bottles of liquor and wine are arranged on an illuminated shelf at an East Williamsburg bar called Ammazzacaffè.
The bar at Ammazzacaffè.
Ammazzacaffè

The Ten Bells Brooklyn

65 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Splitting a bottle of natural wine at the Ten Bells in the Lower East Side is one of the most tried-and-true date scenarios in all of New York City. So when the popular wine bar expanded to Bushwick it made sure to bring all of its hallmark romanticism with it, managing to do so in a space that is noticeably brighter. Still, the lighting here is as good as it gets while still being able to see someone’s face and a menu of snacks. Many shareable bites, including cheese boards, are available for the peckish.

65 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
(845) 584-3523
(845) 584-3523
An L-shaped bar counter with multiple dark wooden stools pulled up and custom light fixtures hanging overhead
The bar at the Ten Bells.
The Ten Bells

Winona's

676 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Winona’s is located on a street that doesn’t get a ton of foot traffic, making the converted, industrial-looking restaurant feel clandestine and cool. For those in the know, Winona’s is a great see-and-be-seen kind of date spot. The music here is fun and the lighting isn’t too dim, which makes it ideal for a special occasion that is celebratory, and romantic, but doesn't take itself too seriously. The restaurant excels at often having dishes that accommodate most diets, and its daily-changing pop-ups allow for each visit to feel like an entirely new date night out.

676 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206
(718) 388-4900
(718) 388-4900
Light wooded furniture and red bar stools are spread throughout a stone-colored dining room at Winona’s in Bed-Stuy.
Inside of Winona’s.
Winona’s

Place des Fêtes

212 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

While on the onset this restaurant from Prospect Heights’ Oxalis looks like just another wine bar, the menu (and Spanish bottles) keep drawing fans. Small plates like maitakes with caramelized fish sauce, top-tier mortadella, and black bass with caraflex cabbage are just some of the rotating dishes you’ll find. Warm lighting helps this place feel extra intimate.

212 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 857-0101
(718) 857-0101
The naturally lit front dining room of Place des Fêtes, a wine bar opening in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
The interior of Place des Fêtes.
Place des Fêtes

June

231 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

At June, sharing plates like whipped ricotta with persimmon or roasted duck breast with cranberries make for easy pairings for the real star of the show here: the extensive wine list. But diners don’t have to be wine experts to impress a significant other at this stunning Cobble Hill bar and restaurant. In fact, romantic interior design does all the talking. The vintage-y light bulbs, handsome bar, and stained glass feel like something out of a 20th-century Parisian cafe. 

231 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(917) 909-0434
(917) 909-0434
An ornate wine bar decorated with vintage light bulbs, a handsome marble countertop, and stained glass.
Vintage light bulbs hang throughout June Wine Bar.
June

Hart's

506 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Quarters are tight at Hart’s but that’s precisely what helps make this restaurant one of the sexiest date spots around. Light and breezy, coastal-focused dishes like the popular clam toast are what’s highlighted on the menu here. Daily-changing specials offer something new to find with each visit — making it a date spot to keep on regular rotation that never gets old while smushed up against some of Brooklyn’s hippest couples. Just be sure to stop by a little early, as it can be hard to snag a seat during prime time operating hours. (If it’s full, try your luck at the team’s other restaurant just a few blocks away: the Fly.) 

506 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 636-6228
(718) 636-6228

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