The vibes are pristine at this iconic West Village townhouse on the corner of Bank and Waverly. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the pub by the fireplace (a rarity in NYC) then unwind in the garden with a decadent meal of grilled oysters and roasted chicken. The building dates back to the late 1800s and was originally a tavern, giving the entire experience an of another era kind of feel.
If nostalgia is your aphrodisiac, book a table at this legendary New York restaurant, opened in 1913. Better yet: grab a couple of stools at the bar for a round of oysters and a bottle of Chablis. It’s the kind of fuss-free place that after over a century still feels in-the-know, and can always be followed up with a romantic stroll beneath that gorgeous Grand Central Terminal ceiling mural.
Swirling together the best parts of Korean barbecue and traditional American steakhouses, Cote is a Michelin-starred restaurant that feels more like an event than just a meal. There are smokeless grills at every table, and they even have their own in-house dry aging room. And the wine! Cote’s over-1,200-label wine list is masterfully curated by Victoria James and celebrated for its focus on large-format bottles.
Photo: Brett Wood
Imbue your date night with French flair at La Compagnie Flatiron, the latest opening under Experimental Group (also behind Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels in SoHo and the original La Compagnie Saint Germain in Paris). Choose from hundreds of bottles from small producers complemented by a menu of grilled meats, sustainable seafood, and regional veggies. Designer Dorothée Meilichzon is behind the snazzy interiors, which are anchored by New York brickwork and original parquet flooring.
Spacious? No. Soulful and snug? Yes. This restaurant sits on one of the best corners in the West Village and is known for its reliably tasty dishes and neighborhood feel. While the brunch tends to draw a crowd, make your way here for a romantic dinner and order the sautéed chicken with lemon, garlic, shallots, and sage.
It’s a cliché, but no less true: there are some views in Manhattan that can take your breath away. At Manhatta, where this sensation occurs, one must ride an elevator upward for a staggering number of stories (60, to be exact). But you’re well rewarded once you arrive. The restaurant is like “an island in the sky,” as one Vogue writer describes: you can see the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River, and Brooklyn’s famous bridges and waterways. If you happen to be dining on Valentine’s Day weekend, savor the striking vistas with a five-course prix fixe serving dishes like oysters topped with Siberian caviar.
Photo: Courtesy of Le Pavillon