At first glance, Contento may not stand out as a destination for a date night with its creatively composed Peruvian dishes and rather simple decor, but unlike many NYC restaurants, its accessibility factor — on several fronts — is a rarity. There’s the impressive wine selection with plenty of bottles under $60 that make it easy to share and taste multiple glasses deep into the evening. But what sets sommelier Yannick Benjamin and his partners’ East Harlem restaurant apart is its thoughtful design that makes the space accessible to all diners, including those with disabilities. The tables are spaced out and the bar includes seating for patrons using a wheelchair — all details that can contribute to a memorable date night or anniversary dinner.

As the sister bar to Harlem’s beloved ROKC, you can expect the same discernible attention to cocktails and Japanese fare when you grab a pair of barstools at this Upper East Side hangout. For food, there’s everything from oysters and devilled eggs to bowls of ramen and chicken curry, while the cocktail menu has more than something for everyone including spins on classics like the Last Word, Boulevardier, and Penicillin. But whether the night calls just for drinks or there’s a few snacks involved, it’s an easy choice for an early date with a bit of anticipation.

The husband-and-wife team of Hugue Dufour and Sarah Obraitis have experimented with a few different iterations of M. Wells, including a steakhouse and diner. But since opening more than a decade ago in Long Island City, what’s stayed the same at this bistro is its hearty, Quebecois menu. The French influences — think cassoulet or steak frites — don’t feel stuffy. Instead, dishes like poutine with beef tongue or a katsu sandwich keeps diners on their toes in a dining room that’s more about keeping things fun and unpredictable. There’s comedy nights, petanque and vintage markets on select weekends, and esoteric gin sourced from Nova Scotia for martinis.

Soft lighting and blonde-wood furniture are standard date night decor, but the meals at Llama San are far from predictable. This Greenwich Village restaurant specializes in Nikkei fare, the Peruvian-Japanese cooking style that’s found a growing number of homes in recent years. From grilled skewers to tart ceviches, this spot is one of New York City’s best. Worth noting is that prices here can easily creep past $100 per person before drinks, making this a great option for a special occasion.

The East Village has no shortage of low-lit, intimate restaurants that are well-built for a romantic night out. Thursday Kitchen is one of those reliable spots, where kimchi paellas and duck confit empanadas share space on an inventive, quirky tapas menu run by chef Kyungmin Hyun. The restaurant is walk-in only; if there’s a line, the team’s critically acclaimed sequel Mokyo is right around the corner. 

Le Crocodile hits that romantic restaurant middle ground: bringing 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.

“Pizza, but make it fancy” is the guiding principle at Pasquale Jones, an upscale pizzeria with a knockout wine list. This Nolita restaurant is livelier and larger than Charlie Bird — its sister spot nearby — and for a romantic night out, that can be a good thing. Grab a seat at the bar, in full view of the the pizzeria’s wood-fired ovens, or cozy up at a banquette with a bottle of wine and a Neapolitan-style pie. Grab a reservation ahead of time to skip the wait.

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.

There’s 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 two pandemic winters. Though the Four Horsemen is probably best known for its Michelin star (bestowed in 2020) or LCD Soundsystem affiliation, restaurant enthusiasts know that some of the neighborhood’s best food is found here, on a short menu that rotates often.

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 (the calamari skewers and one of its several pasta plates are recommended), plus there’s an extensive amaro list to choose from as well as the usual cocktails and wine. If available, request to sit in toward the back area, which is a little bit more darkly-lit and intimate.

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 is always welcomed for dates that go better and longer than expected. Plus, unlike the Manhattan original, this Ten Bells has a full liquor license in case cocktails are needed to kick off or wind down the night.

Understated beauty is what’s on the menu at this Italian restaurant in an area of Cobble Hill, these days referred to as the Columbia Waterfront District. Whether a couple decides to share the chicken milanese or the orecchiette with lamb sugo, Popina gets the power of simplicity done right, making it a solid neighborhood option for a special occasion. In the warmer months, a date activity can include playing backyard bocce while waiting for the chocolate chess pie dessert. 

At June, sharing plates like whipped ricotta or carrots with brown butter make for light-and-easy pairings for the real star of the show here: the extensive wine list. But diners don’t have to be a wine expert to impress a significant other at this stunning Cobble Hill bar and restaurant. In fact, the 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.