Blame it on those so-picturesque-it-hurts rows of brownstones, but the West Village reeks of romance (and the restaurant scene isn’t too shabby, either). Take a scenic stroll with your sweetie, then grab a table at one of these spots, all of which are made for date night—whether you’re sizing up a Bumble match or getting cozy with your S.O. of a decade.
The 5 Best Date Spots in the West Village
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Published Oct 23, 2017
Best For A Low-pressure First Date: Corner Bistro
The cure for first-date awkward silences just might be this casual watering hole, which is a bit of a local legend. When conversation lags, see if you can guess which of your favorite New York artists and musicians have hung out here (spoiler alert: they all have). Or, you can always just stick your face into the equally legendary bistro burger, which has a tendency to draw lines out the door.
331 W. Fourth St.; 212-242-9502 or cornerbistrony.com
Best For A Special Occasion: Sushi Nakazawa
What’s so special about Sushi Nakazawa? Chef Nakazawa hails from Seattle via Tokyo, where he apprenticed under none other than Jiro Ono (of Jiro Dreams of Sushi fame). Like his mentor, Nakazawa sticks to simple preparations to showcase fresh scallop, saba and uni. But his Italian marble chef’s counter is a far cry from Jiro’s humble train stop.
23 Commerce St.; 212-924-2212 or sushinakazawa.com
Best For A Day Date: La Bonbonierre
This quintessential diner serves up pastrami omelettes and sausage and pepper heroes on the cheap. Grab a blue vinyl booth and swap tips on the city’s best old-school eateries. If all goes well, walk your lunch off with a romantic High Line stroll.
28 Eighth Ave.; 212-741-9266
Best For When You’ve Been Together Forever: Jeffrey’s Grocery
One of our favorite parts of long-term relationshipping is skipping all the see-and-be-seen hot spots. But that doesn’t mean we’re settling for Grubhub every Saturday night. Jeffrey’s Grocery is the perfect in-between: unpretentious, yet special.
172 Waverly Pl.; 646-398-7630 or jeffreysgrocery.com
Best For When Things Are Heating Up: Dell’anima
With its dim, intimate interior, it’s no wonder dell’anima is a date-night go-to. Its sister restaurant is L’Artusi, so you know you won’t be paying for ambiance alone. We suggest starting with the charred octopus, then savoring the bucatini alla arrabbiata to get some of the best of the sustainable seafood and housemade pastas—but really, everything is swoon-worthy.
38 Eighth Ave.; 212-366-6633 or dellanima.com
