The Very Best First Date Ideas and Spots in NYC — Toi & Moi Matchmaking-Approved

Written By Sophie Kaemmerle

Looking for the perfect spot for a first date in NYC? Whether you're after a cozy café, a lively bar, or a scenic stroll, we've got you covered. Check out our curated list of the best first date spots in the city, designed to spark conversation and set the stage for something special. Every spot is Toi & Moi Matchmaking-approved!

First Date Tips

Before you pick the spot for your first date, here are a few tips that can help you create the right impression—and avoid headaches.

  • Make a reservation or buy tickets in advance

  • Avoid places with lines or crowds

  • Choose places you're familiar with, or choose a place from this list!

  • Coordinate with your date (ie. don’t meet at a bar if your date doesn’t drink!)

  • Choose a financially low-pressure activity

Activities

Free Activities

  • Go on a neighborhood bookstore crawl and bond over literature.

    • Some of our personal favorites: Adanne Bookshop, dear friend books, The Word Is Change, Greenlight Bookstore

  • Go on a Chelsea gallery tour and bond over art.

  • Go for a walk in Central Park (bonus: visit a café or grab a pastry to go).

  • Walk The Highline and visit Little Island

  • Visit Governor’s Island

  • Visit the Socrates Sculpture Park

Cafés & Bakeries

  • Early Yves (Bedford-Stuyvesant, BK)

  • Passionfruit Coffee (Bedford-Stuyvesant, BK)

  • Bontani Café (Bedford-Stuyvesant, BK)

  • Rita & Maria (Bedford-Stuyvesant, BK)

  • Somedays Bakery (LIC, Queens)

  • L’Appartement 4F (Brooklyn Heights, BK) — Go during off-peak hours to avoid long lines and take your pastries to go!

  • Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe (Prospect Heights, BK)

  • Bibliotheque (SoHo, Manhattan)

  • Molasses Books (Bushwick, BK)

Restaurants

We typically don’t recommend dinner first dates, but if eating is a must…

  • Try a less crowded food hall like Pier 57 (Chelsea, Manhattan)

Bars

  • Soft Bar (Greenpoint, BK) - Alcohol-free

  • Black Mountain Wine House (Boerum Hill, BK)

Sophie Kaemmerle