Finding unique date ideas in towns that are as fast-paced as NYC (and that also cater to tourists) can be a tall task. Most lists are filled with the same old options, a few swanky restaurants you’ve already heard of, and that’s it.
Where’s the real fun, right?! That’s what we’re going to help with today. Below, you’ll find our list of the best NYC date ideas that will make sure your night together is perfect.
Pro Tip: Use a Free Date Night Planner
The reality is that what’s going on in NYC and what makes a great date night is always changing. That means as much as we work hard to keep this article up to date, it won’t be perfect.
But, there is something that is beyond perfect for helping you plan amazing date nights. It’s called LoveTrack and it’s a completely free date night planner app.
You tell it if you want to go out or stay in, if you want to do something active or relaxing, and what part of the city you’re in. Then, it shows you hundreds of unique date night ideas, date night happenings in the city, and more.
It’s literally the single best way to plan a date night in NYC, and it’s legit free. The link is below to check it out and download.
Other Options for Unique NYC Date Ideas
In case you don’t have a smartphone and can’t download LoveTrack, we wanted to make sure to share some options here that are perfect for date nights in NYC.
And just in case we missed something, if you want to share any ideas for us to add, send us an email at [email protected]!
Alright, let’s start this party off right. Here are some of the more unique date ideas in NYC.
Do a Candlelight Concert
If you’re looking for romance, these pop-up concerts are amazing. They take place all over the city (a lot at Church of the Heavenly Rest, Sony Hall, and the Sheen Center). Here’s the link to get tickets.
These book up SUPER fast, so plan in advance.
Ride a Vintage Subway Car
The New York Transit Museum offers a program called Nostalgia rides. It’s an opportunity to ride through the city on a classic subway train as part of their vintage fleet. What’s neat is that a lot of the rides take you somewhere fun like the late March train that runs you to the Yankee’s home opener.
The Met Cloisters [User Submitted from Reddit]
Tons of information on this great idea at the Met’s website. This one stood out because it really does give you the feeling that you’re not in NYC anymore, which can be a nice little break for a date.
“The Met Cloisters was a lovely chill weekend morning date 🙂 It does feel like you’ve left NYC and are in a serene space”
Source: u/reallifesoundeffects
Do a Sci-Fi Escape Room
If you like escape rooms and sci-fi, surprise surprise, you’re going to love this one. It’s exactly what you think – an escape room themed around sci-fi concepts. You can do this just the two of you, but this may work better as a double date for NYC couples.
Two great options to consider are Komnata Quest and Mission Escape Games.
Copper Lamp Making Class via Train [User Submitted from Reddit]
For those looking for something super unique, this copper lamp making class is super unique. They also paired it with a nice train ride that adds to the date.
“Taking the train to Gowanus for a joint copper lamp-making class at Craftsman Ave! They teach you to solder the pipe for a new low-stakes skill. We laughed over the different heights they ended up being and ended up using them as bedside table lamps when we moved in together.”
“The workshop also has other classes such as stained glass, leather working, woodworking and knife-making.”
Source: u/delicasea
Go Axe Throwing
While it’s not necessarily unique to NYC, that doesn’t discount that axe throwing is a really fun date night idea. There are several options throughout the city like Kick Axe or NY Axe Throwing Range, both in Brooklyn.
Grand & Havemeyer in Williamsburg [User Submitted from Reddit]
This is a great fully planned NYC date night thanks to a user on Reddit. Here’s what they had to say.
If it’s cold, one of my favorite blocks in Williamsburg has everything you need for a great date night, ideally for a second or third date if things are going well.
Head to the intersection of Grand & Havemeyer in Williamsburg.
🍕Get dinner at either at Leo’s or Emmy’s Squared, depending on your choice of pizza.
🍸Walk across the street to St Maizie’s for jazz music, romantic vibes, and amazing cocktails. I recommend making a reservation if you can.
🎯Walk back across that same street to go Full Circle Bar, they’ve got an entire line up of skeeball machines. If you’d rather play pinball, Jackbar is just around the corner. I tend to prefer these since they’re less busy than Barcade.
Source: u/swordofBarsoom
Check Out the Museum of Ice Cream
Okay, this one is a little touristy, but it’s still fun. The Museum of Ice Cream. It’s a unique, walkthrough, impossible to describe “museum” experience that is perfect for quirky date nights in NYC where you want to have plenty to talk about.
Be aware it’s only open until 8:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, so go earlier or make it a day date.
Go Sail on the Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise
This one is classy, sophisticated, unique, and fun. If that’s not a recipe for a great NYC date night, we don’t know what is! With this date, you’ll take a tour around NYC (by boat) and see a fully narrated tour showcasing the “new and enduring architecture, engineering marvels, and the revitalized waterfront from the teak decks of Classic Harbor Line’s elegant motor yachts,” according to the company.
Tickets are a little pricey (over $100), but what isn’t in this lovely city, right? There are discounts for students in case that applies. Your ticket comes with the nearly 3 hour tour as well as a complimentary drink, with more available for purchase. The tour takes off from the Chelsea Pier and you do need to book your ticket ahead of time, though, it doesn’t look like it sells out too often.
Some Helpful Tips for Maximizing Date Ideas in NYC
Finding the perfect NYC date idea is the big piece of the puzzle, but it’s not the only piece. Here are a few additional considerations to consider to not only help you find that perfect idea, but to maximize the utility of each idea.
- Think about busy times. – Whether you like going places in NYC when they’re busy or when they’re not, you should look into the traffic trends. Sometimes apps like Yelp will give you some insight into this, and sometimes you just have to use your noggin and figure out when the best time to go is.
- Think about travel for your date (and yourself). – If you don’t live together or one of you is coming from work, think about how long it takes to get somewhere. You don’t want to plan something like a dinner reservation in Williamsburg at 6 pm if your date is coming from Midtown during rush hour.
- Get the LoveTrack app. – We mentioned it at the start of the article. This is the single best tool you can have for date ideas in NYC (and how to plan them).
- Follow local event calendars. – The LoveTrack app will help show you all of the amazing date-worthy events going on in your area, thanks to a unique partnership with Ticketmaster. But, sometimes super-small or hyper-local events may slip through the cracks. In these cases, occasionally glance at these local event calendars to look for options.
- You can actually see quite a few of these events on the NYC official (.gov) page.