If you’ve had a special someone in your life for quite some time, you might be interested to know about romantic anniversary ideas in NYC.
I can imagine anniversaries are a tricky time. There’s a lot of pressure to come up with the right kind of date and way to celebrate that captures the same spark as you had at the beginning of the relationship. The only anniversary I’ve ever celebrated is the anniversary of my birth, and it’s never that exciting, so I really can’t relate to most of these options. However, I’m thinking about doing some of these activities with my friends just for fun. Regardless of whether or not you have a special romantic relationship to celebrate, the concept of anniversary activities is universal, and there’s no one out there who is going to enforce that you can only go to a super fancy restaurant on a special anniversary occasion. You can go on a Wednesday evening with your best friend. I won’t judge.
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New York City is a such a romantic place. Whether you live here or you’re visiting, there’s always something new to do or something classic to enjoy. It’s home to the beautiful nature in Central Park, a plethora of high-class restaurants, touristy adventures, and a glittering skyline that I don’t think gets old no matter how long you’ve been here. There are so many ways to enjoy all that New York has to offer, and an anniversary is a perfect occasion to treat yourself and spend a little extra money to have a really beautiful memory. It’d be interesting to see if any of these anniversary ideas are also on our list of romantic things to do in NYC this spring.
In order to create this list of romantic anniversary ideas in NYC, we consulted Travel Trips, Conde Nast Traveler, and Trip Advisor to see some recommendations for romantic date ideas in New York City. There isn’t necessary a specific ranking for any of these ideas because they’re all equally beautiful and it depends on your taste. For our purposes, we ranked them by how they were ranked on each of our sources. We simply took the average of their positions on our source’s lists to create ours. If an idea is mentioned in all the sources, it goes further up on our list. Keep in mind that these are simply recommendations!
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some romantic anniversary ideas in NYC.
15. Kayaking On The Hudson River
If you and your significant other are into outdoorsy activities, kayaking on the Hudson River might be a great option. Kayaking requires a bit of teamwork and focus, so it’s a great way to create new memories. It’s a unique and interesting anniversary idea, so if you’re not the type to enjoy a night out at dinner, you should definitely consider this.
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14. Water’s Edge
For those of you more interested in a classic celebration at a restaurant with great food and fine wine, Water’s Edge that’s up next in our list of romantic anniversary ideas in NYC is going to be a great place for you. It’s known for hosting wedding receptions, bar mitzvahs, and galas, so you know it’s pretty high class. It’s located on the East River in Long Island City, Queens, so you’ll get to enjoy the beautiful city skyline while you dine. If you want to arrive in style, there’s a ferry ride that goes straight into the restaurant’s private dock.
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13. Minton’s
Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie played in this beautiful, romantic restaurant during the Harlem Renaissance. Minton’s reopened back in 2013, which marked a rebirth of the neighborhood. There isn’t a bad seat in this restaurant and the food is delicious. The intimate table settings all have a great view of the stage if you want to enjoy music.
12. Spirit Cruises
Spirit Cruises offer the elegance, luxury, and private boat experience for a much smaller price tag. You’re not compromising beauty for a smaller price tag; these cruises offer dinner and fine wine. It’s a great and romantic option.
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11. August
In 2015, August changed its location to the beautiful Upper East Side. Despite this, it’s still managed to keep the charm of its previous West Village location. The menu offers a variety of amazing options, and the one and only Mark Mata is the head chef, who you might recognize from the Food Network show Chopped. Before dinner, you can enjoy a drink or two at the marble bar where they make neo-classic cocktails. The dark aged rum daiquiri and Mezcal old fashioned are both popular choices.
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10. Picnic In The Central Park
Having a picnic in the park is always romantic because it’s something you can make your own. Central Park is a beautiful place and it’s a nice way to escape the city noise and take in some nature. All you have to do to prepare is pack a nice meal for two, a blanket, and some wine. Just be careful about NYC’s open container laws!
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9. Tour The City By Helicopter
This is a much pricier option, but if you’re looking to splurge on an unforgettable gift, a helicopter tour of NYC is definitely a good choice. You can spend an amazing day looking at the city from above. If your budget allows, you can visit the Statue of Liberty, too!
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8. River Cafe
River Cafe is one of the most romantic restaurants. It’s made for anniversaries, and with the view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, you’ll feel like it’s a very special occasion.
7. Milk and Roses
Milk and Roses in Greenpoint is a candle-lit, bookshelf-lined indoor restaurant that has some serious romantic vibes alongside the twinkly lights in the covered outdoor garden. The garden serves as a wedding venue during the warmer months, which makes it a more romantic spot. The food is delicious and it’s a beautiful place for a date, which is why it’s one of our recommendations for some romantic anniversary ideas in NYC.
6. Tour The City On The Water
If you and your partner are new to the city or just passing through, a tour of NYC on the water that ranks 6th in our list of romantic anniversary ideas in NYC might be something you should look into. Each cruise lasts 90 minutes and is $26 per person. The cruise passes by the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, the UN building, and, of course, the Statue of Liberty. It’s a touristy option, for sure, but a beautiful one to enjoy as an anniversary.
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5. Gondola Ride
Central Park has so much to do and it’s right in the heart of Manhattan. If you want to organize something a little more special than a picnic, you can take a gondola ride. The Boathouse Restaurant will provide you with a romantic and elegant dinner with a 30-minute gondola ride that only costs $30. It’d be a nice addition to any date or a great standalone option.
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4. Black Mountain Wine House
Black Mountain Wine House is just one block from Brooklyn’s Smith Street and it has chairs and firewood from Adirondack on the porch. You can taste one of the 30 wines, warm yourself in the tiny kitchen, or go sit by the fireplace to make the night even more romantic. The menu offers a variety of great meals that go well with the wines they offer. If you and your partner are interested in good wine, you will definitely enjoy what this place has.
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3. Kat & Theo
We are continuing our list of romantic anniversary ideas in NYC with Kat & Theo, that is tucked into the Flatiron District and is led by Chef David Fisher, who was a semifinalist in the 2016 San Pellegrino Young Chefs competition. He creates simple and delicious meals, like the popular lamb tongue pastrami with homemade stout mustard. There’s a brick-lined bar where you can get a cocktail or two before dinner. The dining room has a gorgeous stone fireplace. It’s a beautiful romantic spot that would be great for any anniversary.
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2. Central Park Carriage Rides
It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, you can always enjoy what Central Park has to offer, especially a horse-drawn carriage ride. These are iconic for being romantic and it’ll make your date feel like a fairytale.
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1. Top Of The Rock
Regardless of whether or not you’re a tourist or you’ve lived here your entire life, Top of the Rock is a great place where you and your special someone can enjoy the beautiful views of New York City. The observation deck is at the top of the 70-story Rockefeller Center. There are also 14 restaurants to choose from if you want to enjoy a meal up there as well.
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That concludes our list of some romantic anniversary ideas in NYC. If you’re looking for a great date spot to take your partner, one of these options will definitely be a great choice.
