Romantic Restaurants in New York (2025)

@postcardnews
 on 2025.08.28
12 Places
@postcardnews
From timeless candlelit classics to intimate chef’s counters, here are New York’s most romantic, locally rooted restaurants right now. Expect independent ownership, strong editorial acclaim, and the kind of ambiance that sparks conversation.

The River Café

New American restaurant · Brooklyn

Old-school romance with Manhattan skyline views, live piano, and a jacket-required dining room. A perennial favorite in the Michelin Guide and frequently cited by major critics for special-occasion magic, it feels quintessentially New York.

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/new-york-state/brooklyn/restaurant/the-river-cafe

Le Coucou

Restaurant · SoHo

Daniel Rose’s candlelit ode to grand French dining pairs Roman and Williams design with exacting technique. A Michelin-starred favorite, widely praised by The New York Times and top magazines, it’s a refined, lingering kind of date night.

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/new-york-state/new-york/restaurant/le-coucou
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Le Coucou (@lecoucou_nyc)

One if by Land, Two if by Sea

New American restaurant · West Village

A West Village carriage house with flickering fireplaces, piano, and a storied engagement track record. Time Out and other local critics have long spotlighted its prix fixe and classic atmosphere for milestone nights.

https://www.oneifbyland.com/
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rachel | NY + Dublin 🇺🇸🇮🇪 (@rachmarie.s)

il Buco

Italian restaurant · NoHo

Donna Lennard’s NoHo institution channels an Italian farmhouse spirit with soulful cooking and a famed cellar. Frequently recommended by The New York Times and Eater, it remains a timeless, candlelit spot for intimate dinners.

https://ilbuco.com/
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by il Buco (@ilbuconyc)

Lilia

Italian restaurant · Williamsburg

Missy Robbins’s Williamsburg hit pairs handmade pastas and wood-fired seafood with pitch-perfect hospitality. Three-star New York Times acclaim and constant Resy buzz signal a date-night winner; plan ahead or try the bar early.

https://www.lilianewyork.com/
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lilia Ristorante (@lilianewyork)

The Musket Room

New American restaurant · Nolita

An intimate Nolita dining room with a Michelin star and a welcoming, neighborly feel. Chef Mary Attea’s globally fluent menu and a serene garden have drawn praise from the Michelin Guide and The New York Times.

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/new-york-state/new-york/restaurant/the-musket-room/
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Musket Room (@musketroom)

Vinegar Hill House

New American restaurant · Vinegar Hill

A brick townhouse near the waterfront with a wood-fired kitchen and leafy garden. Loved by local critics and city guides for its seasonal, heartfelt cooking, it’s a quietly romantic Brooklyn classic.

https://www.vinegarhillhouse.com/location/vinegar-hill-house/
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vinegar Hill House (@vinegarhillhouse)

Palma

Italian restaurant · West Village

Family-run since 2001, this West Village favorite charms with an ivy-lined garden and a carriage house used for intimate events. Regularly praised by local reviewers and OpenTable diners for gracious hospitality and romantic ambiance.

https://www.palmanyc.com/location/palma/
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Palma NYC (@palmanyc)

Frevo

Fine dining restaurant · Greenwich Village

A hidden gallery door opens to an 18-seat chef’s counter where a Michelin-starred team plates poetic, contemporary French courses. Consistently lauded by the Michelin Guide and fine-dining editors for intimate, artful experiences.

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/new-york-state/new-york/restaurant/frevo
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by F R E V O (@frevonyc)

Francie

Brasserie · Williamsburg

In a landmarked Williamsburg building, Francie’s Michelin-starred kitchen turns out polished European-inspired plates and a famed crown roast of duck. Regularly spotlighted by the Michelin Guide and top reviewers for date-night elegance.

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/new-york-state/brooklyn/restaurant/francie
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zey Oz (@yeswilliamsburg)

Clover Hill

Fine dining restaurant · Brooklyn Heights

Tiny, candlelit Brooklyn Heights dining room, Michelin-starred and now led by chef Sam Rogers. Celebrated by Eater, The New Yorker, and the Michelin Guide for elegant, seasonal tasting menus in a serenely intimate setting.

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/new-york-state/brooklyn/restaurant/clover-hill
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Clover Hill (@cloverhillbk)

Raoul's

French restaurant · SoHo

SoHo’s 1975 bistro icon serves French standards under art-lined walls and dim lights. Listed by the Michelin Guide and adored by seasoned diners and Resy insiders, it’s a sultry, late-night kind of romance.

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/new-york-state/new-york/restaurant/raoul-s/
@postcardnews
Globey
Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.