I love the Upper East Side because it encapsulates the perfect blend of timeless elegance and luxury.
We can begin with a private tour of the Frick’s forbidden wing or explore iconic fashion at the Anna Wintour Costume Center at The Met. We’ll retreat to The Mark or The Carlyle for a brief respite before heading to Caviar Russe for champagne and caviar. Their 7-course Chef’s Dégustation is on my personal bucket list! (I confess, I do adore Osetra.)
Should we desire a nightcap before heading upstairs, Bemelmans Bar is the perfect spot to imbibe a post-dinner cocktail.
For the suitors who crave refined art with a touch of glamour and iconic views, I find the West Side and Lincoln Square will check all the boxes.
My dream date includes Afternoon Tea at the Baccarat Hotel before getting dressed up to experience a special performance at Carnegie Hall or a night spent at Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic.
We can stay at the Mandarin Oriental or at The Plaza Hotel (Edwardian Suite, s’il vous plaît), but trying to choose from the plethora of restaurant options nearby is always the challenge!
I will always say yes to the tasting menu experience at Per Se or the coastal Italian found at Marea.
However, should we prefer a more casual atmosphere, Bar Masa has both rare spirits and à la carte versions of the main restaurant’s Omakase.
Midtown can only be described as high gloss. It’s vibrant and decadent and I find the area unparalleled for date ideas.
Let’s start with massages in the couple’s treatment suite at the La Prairie Spa inside the Ritz Carlton, or we could wander through rare manuscripts at the Morgan Library before catching a Broadway show. For a truly unique date, you could book the Summit on Vanderbilt Premium Experience for VIP only skyline views.
For intimate time, we can continue our rendezvous at the Four Seasons or we can create our own private sanctuary within the walls of one of my very favorite hotels, Aman New York.
Midtown is replete with many delightful dining options. Are you an adventurous eater? Then we can try the Nordic-inspired menu at Aquavit. Looking for more classic French? Le Bernardin is pure food artistry. Alternatively, we could indulge in caviar and champagne at The Pool or share a Porterhouse at La Tete D’Or. Or perhaps simply basking in the high-design ambiance of Le Pavillon is what our evening calls for.
To end the night in sophisticated style, we can drop by King Cole Bar in the St. Regis. And members of Core: New York who bring me as their guest always capture my heart.
I absolutely love downtown. The creativity energy found here always makes for a vibrant date night.
A visit to the Rubin Museum is akin to a spiritual experience, especially when followed by a trip to Aire Ancient Baths. The candlelit baths and massage rituals there can be almost transcendent. If contemporary art is more your scene, then let’s check out the New Museum when it reopens in the Fall.
We’ll dine at Frevo, a hidden tasting-menu restaurant behind an art gallery, or we can opt for the signature pasta dishes at The Golden Swan. Joomak in The Maison Hudson also offers modern Korean fine dining and never disappoints!
We can keep the night going at the moody cocktail lounge, Chapel Bar or if you’re a member, take me to Maxwell Social or Zero Bond.
When bedtime calls, I am partial to De Niro’s Greenwich Hotel, the design-forward Fouquet’s New York, or the skyline-facing Dominick Hotel. (I suggest booking the Spa Suite with a private sauna in the room!)
For a New York date that feels like an escape from the city without ever leaving it, the Seaport is the place we must go.
We can start with a Narwhal Yacht Charter, with a vintage sailboat that takes us on an unforgettable sail around Lower Manhattan.
We’ll check in at Casa Cipriani, a waterfront haven housed in a restored Beaux-Arts ferry terminal. Dining options include the soaring city views and seasonal tasting menu at Manhatta, or the refined modern American cuisine at Crown Shy, both within walking distance.
As guests of the hotel, we’ll have access to the Promenade Bar where we can end the night with a glass of Bordeaux before heading upstairs for more private time.
This is Lower Manhattan at its most romantic and exclusive.
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