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42 Fun Date Ideas in New York City (+ Map!)

Little Island, one of the best date ideas in New York City
Date ideas in New York City

From enjoying music to seeing beautiful views to playing games, there are a lot of activities that are perfect if you’re looking for date ideas in New York City.

Whether you’re going on a first date or you want to have a fun time with your significant other, New York City is an incredible city to spend some time. There are plenty of amazing things couples can do in the city, such as doing an evening cruise, seeing a movie with a view of the skyline of Manhattan, enjoying live music with a view, and much more.

I made this guide to the best date ideas in NYC to help you plan the perfect date!

Date Ideas in New York City

Do an Evening Cruise and See the Skyline of the City

Skyline of NYC from the water
View of the skyline of New York City from the water

You can do a cruise in the city in the evening during which you can see the city’s sights from the water. There are many companies that organize these cruises, one of the best ones is the “Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise“.

During this cruise, which takes about 2 hours in total, you’ll explore the New York Harbor during sunset and see the skyline of Manhattan.

You’ll also be able to see some of the most famous landmarks of New York City, such as the Statue of Liberty, and you’ll see several bridges, such as the Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge.

To make this date more romantic, you can also enjoy a delicious drink while onboard. There is a full bar where you can get all kinds of beverages, including beer, wine, and cocktails.

During the cruise there is live narration, so you can learn new things about the city as well during this activity.

Roller Skate at the Pier 2 Roller Rink

View of Pier 2
View of Pier 2 from the water – Brave Behind the Lenz / Shutterstock.com

The Pier 2 Roller Rink is a roller skating rink where you can have a fun date in NYC during which you can roller skate while you enjoy a view of Manhattan and the East River.

You can go here during one of the public skating sessions. These take place many times during the year, and there are also seasons during which you can roller skate for free. The sessions also take place in the evening, so you can roller skate here and get a view when it is dark outside.

The roller skating rink is located on Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

When you go here for a date, you can rent skates at the Pier 2 Roller Rink, or you can bring your own skates.

Roller skating here is also one of the best things to do in Brooklyn Heights.

See a Movie With a View of the Skyline of Manhattan at Skyline Drive In NYC

Skyline Drive-In NYC is a drive-in movie theater that you can find in Brooklyn at 1 Oak Street.

At this place, you can see a movie while enjoying a view of the skyline of Manhattan and the East River.

There is a large area where you can park your car, and you can then see a movie from your own car and listen to the sound of the movie through the stereo system of your car.

Don’t want to go here by car? There is also outdoor seating, so you can see a movie at this incredible location however you want to get here.

This is also one of the most fun date ideas in Brooklyn. Keep in mind that this drive-in movie theater is only open during the summer season.

Address: 1 Oak St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Go to Brooklyn Bowl to Bowl and Listen to Live Music

View of a mural at Brooklyn Bowl
Mural at Brooklyn Bowl – Felix Lipov / Shutterstock.com

Brooklyn Bowl is a unique place for a date that you can find in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.

At Brooklyn Bowl, you can attend a concert and bowl at the same time.

Throughout the year, lots of concerts take place at the Brooklyn Bowl, and you can enjoy various genres of music, including rock music.

There is a bowling alley with 16 bowling lanes that offer a view of the stage.

In addition to that, you can get delicious food at Brooklyn Bowl by Blue Ribbon. There are dishes for everyone’s liking, including French bread pizza, salads, bowls, ribs, smoked wings, sandwiches, burgers, and many other options.

Going to Brooklyn Bowl is also one of the best things to do in Williamsburg.

Address: 61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Play Games and Have a Drink at Barcade

Barcade is an arcade and bar with several locations in the city, including one in Williamsburg and one in Chelsea. Playing games and having a drink here is one of the most romantic things to do in NYC for couples.

At each location, you can play all kinds of arcade games. Most of the games are from the early 1980s to the early 1990s, but there are more modern games as well and there are pinball machines.

Some examples of games that you can play here include Donkey Kong, Defender, and Asteroids. The games vary per location.

In addition to playing games at Barcade, you can also get all kinds of drinks at this place. You can choose from a rotating selection of styles of beers. To see which types of beer are available at the location that you are going to, you can look at the website of Barcade.

Address: 148 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011

See a Show at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Exterior of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
View of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – Andrei Orlov / Shutterstock.com

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of various venues where you can attend many types of shows and events.

Lots of amazing professional organizations are housed at the Lincoln Center.

For example, the David Geffen Hall, which is one of the venues that is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, is the home of the New York Philharmonic, which is one of the best symphony orchestras in the world. Attending a concert by the orchestra is great for a romantic date if you like classical music.

You can also go to an opera performance by the Metropolitan Opera at the Lincoln Center. The company is based at the Metropolitan Opera House at the center.

If you want to see a movie during a date, you can go to Film at Lincoln Center, which is a nonprofit movie theater that you can find here.

Get a View of the City at the Edge

Group of people at the Edge
People at the Edge – lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Edge NYC is a fun attraction that you can find in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood at 30 Hudson Yards. This is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere and you enjoy an amazing view of the city during a date from here.

The observation deck also has a glass floor which makes it possible to look down 100 stories beneath you.

You can also experience the “City Climb” at Edge NYC. During this experience, you wear a harness and climb on the outside of the skyscraper. You then lean out while being attached to the building, to look down without having anything between you and the ground.

Getting a view here is also one of the best things to do in Chelsea.

Address: 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

Attend a Comedy Show at the Gotham Comedy Club

The Gotham Comedy Club is a stand-up comedy club that you can find in Chelsea at 208 West 23rd Street. You can go here to attend a comedy show during your date.

The Gotham Comedy Club has hosted performances by very famous comedians, such as Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, and Dave Chapelle, and several movies and TV series were filmed at the club.

You can also get delicious food and drinks at the club while seeing a show here. The menu includes great food options, such as the “Charbroiled Sirloin Burger”, and there are many drink options, including many types of cocktails.

Address: 208 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011

Do a Tour of the Brooklyn Brewery

View of a sign of the Brooklyn Brewery
Sign of the Brooklyn Brewery – Chie Inoue / Shutterstock.com

The Brooklyn Brewery is a brewery that you can find in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood and where you can do a tour during a date.

The brewery was founded in 1988 and produces many styles of beer, including hazy IPAs, lagers, and pilsners. You can try beers that are available all year round and there are beers that are seasonally available too.

Besides visiting the brewery and trying beer, a great date idea in New York City is to do a tour of the brewery. There are two tours to choose from, and during both of these tours, you can taste beer.

The “small-batch tour” is available from Monday through Friday, and during this tour, you can learn about the process of making beer, the history of beer, and much more.

On Sunday, you can do a free tour of the brewery.

Address: 79 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Play Miniature Golf at Shipwrecked

Shipwrecked is a place in Brooklyn where you can find various fun attractions that are great for a date.

There is an indoor miniature golf course with 18 holes that takes you through an area with four fun themes. This is the main attraction of Shipwrecked.

Besides playing miniature golf during your date, you can also do other activities at Shipwrecked.

There is an arcade where you can play many different types of games.

You can also play various “mini escape games”. These escape games are like regular escape games, during which you have to escape from a room within a certain time by solving puzzles, but each escape game only lasts 15 minutes.

There are three escape games that all have a different theme.

Address: 621 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Enjoy Music With a View at Bargemusic

Bargemusic from the outside
Outside of Bargemusic – Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com

Bargemusic is one of the best venues for classical music in New York City. It is a very unique venue for a date during which you can listen to amazing live music.

Bargemusic is a floating venue that is moored in the East River. You can enjoy live music here and enjoy a view of the East River and the skyline of Manhattan at the same time.

During the year, Baremusic hosts more than 200 chamber concerts. The artists that perform at this venue are both up-and-coming artists, as well as established artists.

Go to Date Night at The Met

Exterior of The Met
Building of The Met – Maurizio De Mattei / Shutterstock.com

The Met is the largest art museum in New York City and one of the best museums in the world.

The museum is great to visit if you want to see amazing art from all around the world and from many periods in time. Whether you want to see items from ancient Egypt, art from medieval Europe, or modern American art, you can see it at The Met.

In addition, lots of events take place at the Met, including the “Date Night at The Met” event. This event takes place on Friday and Saturday nights and attending it is a very romantic activity in NYC.

During Date Night at The Met, you can listen to live music, have drinks, experience special activities such as talks and tours, and explore the collection of the museum.

This event is free to attend with admission to the museum.

Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

Play a Virtual Reality Game at Escape Virtuality

Escape Virtuality is a fun place at 130 W 29th Street where you can play a virtual reality escape game.

An escape game is an immersive game that takes place in an “escape room” with a certain theme. During the game, you have to find clues and solve puzzles in order to solve the final puzzle and escape from the room.

At Escape Virtuality, you wear a virtual reality headset, which is very unique and fun to experience during a date.

You can choose from different rooms that all have a 60-minute time limit and that can be played with 2 players.

One of the rooms is the “Mission: Galaxy Rescue” room, which takes place in space and during which you have to secure a vital mineral to save the planet.

Address: 130 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

Have Delicious Food at Time Out Market

Time Out Market from the outside
Outside of Time Out Market – MNAphotography / Shutterstock.com

Time Out Market is a food hall that you can find in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, to the east of the Brooklyn Bridge.

At Time Out Market, there are many eateries where you can get lots of different dishes in one space.

Whether you want to have ramen, sandwiches, tacos, burgers, pasta dishes, or something else, you can have that for lunch or dinner at Time Out Market.

The large variety of eateries is ideal for a date, as you can then both have food that you like. It can also be great to try new dishes during your date.

There’s also a rooftop bar at Time Out Market, where you can enjoy a drink and get a view of the city, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the East River, at the same time.

Address: 55 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Do a Helicopter Tour of New York City

View of New York City from above
New York City from above

There are many ways to explore the city and see the most famous landmarks of New York City. One of the most unique ways, and one which is great for a spectacular date, is a helicopter tour of NYC.

There are several helipads in the city from where you can start this tour.

Each helicopter flight takes about 20 minutes, but the total duration depends on the meeting point you choose.

From the sky, you can get an amazing view of some of the most well-known places in the city, such as Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.

During the flight, you can also listen to in-flight commentary and learn about the city!

Play Board Games at The Uncommons

The Uncommons is a board game cafe that makes for one of the best date ideas in New York City. It is located at 230 Thompson Street in Greenwich Village. This place is a combination of a coffee shop and a game store.

During a date, you can go here to have a cup of coffee while you can play all kinds of board games.

There are many different types of games to choose from, including classic games such as Backgammon and Checkers, but there are also many others, including the newest games.

Keep in mind that this is a very popular place in the city and the cafe has a first come, first serve policy. That’s why I recommend making an advanced reservation when you want to go here.

Address: 230 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

Have Fun at the Museum of Ice Cream

Pink slide at the Museum of Ice Cream
Slide at the Museum of Ice Cream – Bryan Sierra12 / Shutterstock.com

The Museum of Ice Cream is a fun place that you can find in the SoHo neighborhood. You can find the museum at 558 Broadway.

The Museum of Ice Cream is an attraction where you can find different installations. There are 12 in total.

Each installation is very unique and lets you learn about ice cream and the history of ice cream. For example, there is a large sprinkle pool and there is a huge slide of three stories.

In addition to that, you can get unlimited ice cream treats at the museum.

The installations are not only fun but also great if you want to take fun photos during your date.

The Museum of Ice Cream is also great if you’re looking for fun things to do for your birthday in NYC.

Address: 558 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

Play an Escape Game at The Escape Game NYC

The Escape Game NYC is a place where you can have a fun date during which you play an escape game.

There are 7 different themed rooms to choose from that are all unique. In each room, you can play an escape game, which is a fun and immersive game during which you have to escape from the room by solving puzzles. Once you have completed all the puzzles, you can escape from the room and win the game.

The escape rooms vary in difficulty and theme, and each one is great for playing an escape game. Whether you want to play a game about a prison break, a game that takes place in a submarine, or an escape game that involves time travel, you can do so at The Escape Game NYC.

Address: 295 Madison Ave, Manhattan, NY 10017

Have Unique Ice Cream at Taiyaki NYC

Ice cream at Taiyaki NYC
View of ice cream at Taiyaki NYC

Taiyaki NYC is one of the best ice cream stores in New York City. You can find Taiyaki NYC in Chinatown and Williamsburg.

The ice cream that you can get here is very unique as it is served in fish-shaped ice cream cones that are made fresh on-site.

You can get delicious soft-serve ice cream at Taiyaki NYC which is produced in small batches.

There are both classic and creative flavors. Some of the best classic flavors are vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.

Examples of delicious creative flavors are matcha, hojicha, and mango strawberry.

You can get one of the signature Taiyakis, or you can build your own ice cream, by picking the type of cup or cone that you want, the flavor of ice cream, and the toppings or syrups that you like to add.

Address: 119 Baxter St, New York, NY 10013

Have a Picnic at Domino Park

Domino Park from above
View of Domino Park – Pandora Pictures / Shutterstock.com

Domino Park is a beautiful public park that is situated in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. It is one of the best picnic spots in New York City.

A very romantic thing to do in NYC is to go here and enjoy a romantic picnic by laying down a blanket or sitting on one of the benches of the park. From the park, you can enjoy a great view of the East River, the Williamsburg Bridge, and Manhattan’s skyline.

Ice Skate in Central Park

People on an ice skating rink in Central Park
Ice skating rink in Central Park

During the winter season, ice skating is a great activity if you want to have a romantic time in the city. A great place to ice skate is the Wollman Rink in Central Park.

You can find this ice skating rink next to the Central Park Zoo and you can ice skate here during public skating sessions which usually take place from October through March.

You can skate here while being surrounded by Central Park’s nature and while seeing the skyscrapers of Manhattan.

It is possible to rent skates at the rink, but you can also bring your own skates.

Also, if you like to ice skate here and you want to go here for several days, there are season passes available, which allow you to go to the ice skating rink as many times as you like.

See a Live Broadway Show

View of Broadway
Broadway in NYC – Studio13lights / Shutterstock.com

Going to a live Broadway show at a theater in New York’s theater district is a great idea too.

There are more than 40 theaters that are Broadway theaters, although most of them are not located on Broadway itself.

Some of the theaters that you can go to are the Winter Garden Theatre, the Palace Theatre, and the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

There are many different shows to choose from, so there’s a show for everyone’s liking.

When seeing a Broadway show, I recommend going for dinner before that.

Listen to Live Music and Enjoy a View at The Rooftop at Pier 17

View of Pier 17 from the water
Pier 17 from the water – John Penney / Shutterstock.com

The Rooftop at Pier 17 is a venue where you can listen to live music during an outdoor concert while enjoying a view of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and other landmarks at the same time.

You can find this venue in the Financial District at Pier 17.

During the summer months, there’s a concert series during which usually very famous musicians perform. Some artists who performed at this concert venue in the past include Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and Ringo Starr.

During other times of the year, there are lots of other types of events that take place at The Rooftop at Pier 17. These events are also great if you’re looking for date night ideas in NYC. For example, there are movie nights.

Besides the concert venue, Pier 17 is also home to several restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food before attending an event.

Go for a Romantic Walk at The High Line

People walking on a path at the High Line
Path at the High Line – Alexander Prokopenko / Shutterstock.com

The High Line is an elevated linear park that you can find in Manhattan. It runs through several neighborhoods, including Chelsea.

This park was created on a section of the former New York Central Railroad. This section of the railroad was abandoned in 1980 and was transformed into a public park starting from the year 2009. Since that year, the park has expanded several times.

The High Line features beautiful nature and is a unique space, which makes it a great place for a romantic walk. While going for a walk here, you can see the hustle and bustle of the city below and next to it.

Have Fun at Color Factory NYC

Exhibit at the Color Factory in NYC
Exhibit at the Color Factory in New York City

Color Factory NYC is a fun place in the SoHo neighborhood where you can find more than 12 immersive art exhibits. Each of the exhibits focuses on the “joy of color”.

From an exhibit where you can find a large ball pit with light-blue balls to an exhibit with mirrors to a room with colorful confetti, there’s a lot to see at Color Factory NYC.

The exhibits are great too if you want to take photos, and every visit comes with free digital photos.

You can also get free sweet treats with every visit.

Address: 251 Spring St, New York, NY 10013

Visit Little Island

Little Island in New York City
Little Island in NYC – 365 Focus Photography / Shutterstock.com

Little Island is an artificial island park that is situated in the Hudson River at Pier 55 in the Chelsea neighborhood. The artificial island is linked to Hudson River Park by footbridges.

The park was opened in 2021 and features a modern design.

132 tulip structures support Little Island. These structures all vary in height, giving the park a hilly landscape.

The park is great to check out if you want to go for a romantic walk.

In addition to that, you can find an amphitheater at Little Island where you can see all kinds of shows, and attending one of these is also a romantic thing to do in New York City. Most of the shows can be seen for free.

There are also various concession stalls where you can get food and drinks.

Have Afternoon Tea at Ladurée

Outside of Ladurée in New York City
Outside of Ladurée – Resul Muslu / Shutterstock.com

Ladurée is a pastry shop that you can find in the SoHo neighborhood. Ladurée is known for its macarons and has locations around the world, including in the city of Paris, where it is headquartered. The SoHol location of Ladurée can be found at 398 W Broadway.

For a romantic date, you can go here to have afternoon tea in a beautiful courtyard.

You can get all kinds of macarons and other treats during this while having delicious tea at the same time.

Instead of going here to have afternoon tea, you can also get a box of macarons in all the flavors that you want. There are many unique flavors that can be great to try, such as “Strawberry Candy” and “Blackcurrant Violet” flavors.

Address: 398 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012

Explore Chelsea Market

Front of Chelsea Market
Exterior of Chelsea Market – Alena Veasey / Shutterstock.com

Chelsea Market is a food hall that is situated at 75 9th Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

The market is home to many vendors that sell all kinds of ready-to-eat foods as well as produce and other items. There are also shops and attractions.

All of these places in one spot, make the Chelsea Market a great place for a date during which you can do a lot.

Whether you want to have donuts, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, or something else, you can have it at the market.

You can also go to Artechouse when you are here. This is a place where you can see incredible digital exhibitions of contemporary art.

Address: 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

See Unique Illusions at the Museum of Illusions

Building of the Museum of Illusions
Outside of the Museum of Illusions – Popova Valeriya / Shutterstock.com

The Museum of Illusions is one of the most unique museums to visit in New York City. At the museum, there are all kinds of different rooms that house illusions.

An example of such a room is one that you can stand in with your significant other to make it appear that one of you is very small while the other looks like a giant. This illusion is a lot of fun for photos as well.

Another room that you can find at the museum is a room where it appears that gravity is reversed and you can walk on the ceiling.

Address: 77 8th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Have Dinner with a View at One Dine

One Dine is a restaurant that you can find at the One World Observatory. It is located on the 101st floor and going here to have a romantic dinner is a great date night idea in New York City.

You can have high-quality, seasonally-inspired dishes at this restaurant while enjoying an incredible view of the city at the same time.

One of the best dishes on the menu is the “Pasta al Pomodoro”, which is made with mezzi paccheri, crème fraîche, fried garlic, and grana padano.

Another great dish is the “Smash Burger”, which comes with caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese, and it is served on a brioche bun with a house salad.

The restaurant also serves all kinds of delicious desserts, such as the “Lava Cake”, which is made with French vanilla gelato and caramel, and there are many unique cocktails to choose from.

Address: 117 West St, New York, NY 10007

Attend a Concert at Madison Square Garden

Building of Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden from the outside – pisaphotography / Shutterstock.com

You can also attend a concert at Madison Square Garden as a date. This is one of the most well-known and best music venues in NYC, and you can find the venue at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza.

Many famous musicians perform at the Garden, and some artists who performed at the venue in the past include Billy Joel, Travis Scott, and Oliva Rodrigo.

Besides attending a concert at Madison Square Garden, you can also attend other types of events at this place. For example, you can attend sporting events, circuses, and ice shows at the venue.

Madison Square Garden is the home of various professional sports organizations. For example, it is the home of the New York Knicks, which is a team that competes in the NBA.

Address: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001

Try Delicious Ice Cream at Soft Swerve Ice Cream

Soft Swerve is an ice cream shop where you can get delicious soft-serve ice cream. There are different locations throughout the city. For example, Soft Swerve has a location in New York’s Chinatown, which is situated at 85B Bayard Street.

This place focuses on Asian-inspired flavors that are great to try. The flavors that are available vary by location.

At the Chinatown location, some of the flavors that you can try include strawberry lychee, matcha, black sesame, Thai tea, vegan ube, and Hong Kong Mil Tea.

Besides soft serve ice cream, you can get other treats at Soft Swerve Ice Cream too. You can get floats, sundaes, hand-scooped ice cream, soft serve, milkshakes, and more at this place.

You can also get specialty cones with your ice cream. For example, you can get the “Red Cinnamon Waffle Cone”.

Address: 85B Allen St, New York, NY 10002

See Modern Art at The Guggenheim

The Guggenheim from the outside
Outside of The Guggenheim – Steve Broer / Shutterstock.com

Couples that like modern art, will enjoy visiting The Guggenheim as a date. This is one of the best museums in New York City and you can find it at 1071 Fifth Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

At the museum, which is housed in a unique building that was designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and which is part of The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can see impressionist, modern, post-impressionist, and contemporary art. The collection of the museum consists of about 8,000 works.

At the museum, you can see works by some of the world’s most famous artists, including Van Gogh, Joan Miró, and Robert Morris.

In addition to seeing art at the Guggenheim, you can also attend one of the events that take place at The Guggenheim. For example, there are tours, talks, and workshops.

Address: 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128

Enjoy Cheesecake at Keki Modern Cakes

Keki Modern Cakes is a great bakery that you can visit to get delicious treats during a date. You can find this bakery at 79 Mott in New York’s Chinatown.

At the bakery, you can get delicious Japanese bouncy cheesecakes that are made with fresh local ingredients, such as Amish cream cheese and organic grass-fed milk. The cheesecakes have a light and silky texture and the cheesecake melts in your mouth.

You can choose from many different flavors besides “The Original” cheesecake.

The “Ube Bouncy”, which is made with purple yam, is a great one too, and so is the Green Tea Fancy, which is made with matcha.

You can also get other treats at Keki Modern Cakes, including soft serve, sponge cake, cream puffs, and much more.

Address: 79 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Have Food While Seeing a Movie at Nitehawk Cinema

Outside of Nitehawk Cinema
Exterior of Nitehawk Cinema – Richard Scalzo / Shutterstock.com

Nitehawk Cinema is a dine-in movie theater that’s perfect if you’re looking for fun date ideas in NYC. It has two locations in the city. You can find one of the locations in Williamsburg and one in Prospect Park.

At each location, you can see the newest movies with your date while having delicious food at the same time.

The Nitehawk Shorts Festival can be great to attend too. This is an annual event during which you can see all kinds of shorts from around the world.

You can order food before or during the screening, and have dinner or lunch while watching a movie.

The food menu of Nitehawk Cinema includes salads, hotdogs, sandwiches, burgers, desserts, concessions, brunch items, and much more. You can also get craft beer, wine, and other types of drinks at the movie theater.

Address: 188 Prospect Park W, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Throw Axes at Kick Axe Throwing Brooklyn

Kick Axe Throwing Brooklyn is a facility where you can have a fun time throwing axes at wooden targets in an indoor space.

When you go here, you first get a tutorial, and after that, you can compete against your date or others in throwing at the bull’s eye.

You can book a public axe-throwing session, which takes 75 minutes, of which 10-15 minutes consists of the tutorial. When you book a public session, you share the lane with strangers.

You can also book a private lane, but this is more expensive as you have to purchase 8 tickets.

After throwing axes at Kick Axe Throwing, you can have delicious food and drinks at this place. The food menu includes flatbreads, wings, and several other items.

Address: 622 Degraw St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

See Animals at the Central Park Zoo

Animal at Central Park Zoo
Animal at Central Park Zoo in NYC – dmitro2009 / Shutterstock.com

The Central Park Zoo is a zoo that you can find in the southeast part of Central Park. It is one of the best zoos in New York City.

The Central Park Zoo was founded in 1864 and was the first public zoo in the city.

This place is perfect for a romantic activity during which you can go for a relaxing walk while you see and learn about a large variety of animals.

The animals at the zoo can be found in different exhibits. For example, there is a “Temperate Territory”, where you can find animals that enjoy being outdoors all year round. The animals that you can see here are the red panda and snow monkey.

Another exhibit is the “Polar Circle” exhibit, which has both an indoor and outdoor area. You can see different types of penguins here.

Go to Milk Bar and Have Delicious Desserts

Milk Bar is a bakery with several locations in the city and going there is also one of the most romantic activities in NYC. You can find the flagship location of Milk Bar in New York City at 1196 Broadway.

Milk Bar is known for its delicious and award-winning desserts. You can go here to have cake, truffles, cookies, ice cream, and much more.

One of the best treats to get is the Birthday Cake, which is very sweet. During a date, you can go here to enjoy a slice of this cake.

Address: 251 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

Have Food from a Variety of Vendors at Smorgasburg Williamsburg

People eating food at Smorgasburg
People having food at Smorgasburg – Gregorio Koji / Shutterstock.com

Smorgasburg is an open-air food market that is held weekly during the summer months in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. Smorgasburg is held at Marsha P. Johnson State Park.

At this place, there are more than 75 vendors that serve all kinds of foods. You can order food from any of the vendors and enjoy the food at the picnic tables at Smorgasburg.

Because of this concept, during a date, you can both have the food that you like and enjoy it at the same time.

In addition to that, the large variety of vendors that you can find here, likely means that there’s food that you haven’t had before and that you can try here, which is a fun activity for a date.

Address: 90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Have a Cup of Coffee at Partners Coffee

Partners Coffee is a coffee roaster that is based in Brooklyn. The roaster has several locations in New York City where you can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee made with the beans of Partners Coffee.

There are many types of coffee to choose from, including cortado, macchiato, cold brew, and cappuccino. You can also get all kinds of lattes at Partners Coffee, such as the “Iced Vanilla Latte”, which is made with house-made vanilla syrup, and the “Iced Matcha Latte”, which is made with organic matcha.

You can pair the coffee drinks at Partners Coffee with delicious baked goods, such as blueberry muffins, butter croissants, house-made chocolate chip cookies, and much more.

Address: 125 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Enjoy a View of the City at Top of the Rock

View of buildings from Top of the Rock
View from Top of the Rock – Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

The Top of the Rock is an observation deck that you can find at the top of the Rockefeller Center. You can find three levels of indoor and outdoor decks at this place where you can enjoy incredible views of New York City.

You can also do “The Beam Experience” at Top of the Rock. This is an attraction that allows you to recreate the 1932 photo that featured 11 ironworkers. That iconic photo was taken at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, during the construction of the building. At the attraction, you can sit on a steel beam while being attached to it.

At Top of the Rock, you can also find The Weather Room. At this place, you can enjoy delicious dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, including great sandwiches.

Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

Go to the Frames Bowling Lounge and Bowl

The Frames Bowling Lounge is a bowling alley that makes for a fun date idea in NYC. It has 28 lanes and you can find it at 550 9th Avenue. The bowling lanes are modern and have comfortable seating.

In addition to bowling, you can also do several other fun activities at this place. You can play virtual darts, there’s a karaoke lounge, you can play ping pong, and it is possible to play billiards at Frames Bowling Lounge.

There’s also a restaurant where you can have all kinds of dishes, including flatbread pizza, salads, sandwiches, quesadillas, and much more. You can also have many styles of beers, cocktails, wines, and other drinks at Frames Bowling Lounge.

Address: 550 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018

More New York City Articles

Famous buildings in NYC

Sculptures in New York City

Famous streets in NYC

Places for contemporary art in NYC

NYC Date Ideas Tips

Each one of the date ideas in NYC that I mentioned in this article is perfect if you want to have a fun date, but I recommend finding out if there are two or more of these ideas that you like that you can do during one date.

For example, you can have a cup of coffee at Partners Coffee and then see a movie at Skyline Drive-In NYC, or you can go to the Museum of Ice Cream and try a delicious macaron after that at Ladurée.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts from the outside
Outside of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – Anton Havelaar / Shutterstock.com

Date Ideas in NYC Map


As you see, there’s a lot to do for couples in the city. Thanks for reading my guide to the best date ideas in New York City!

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