The Big Apple has no shortage of place to fall in love — the trick is finding the right place to start.
Nervous New Yorkers hunting for the perfect spot for a fantastic first impression may want to look toward the West Village, which claims four of the city’s top 15 first-date restaurants, bistros and eateries, according to a new survey from matchmaking service Tawkify.
Among the West Village’s strongest showings is Do Not Disturb, an intimate speakeasy-style restaurant and cocktail bar featuring savory seafood and candlelight. It landed at No. 5 on the list, followed by the charming, family-owned Italian restaurant Palma at No. 8. The romantic One if by Land, Two if by Sea — known for its candlelit tables, brick fireplaces and live piano player — ranked No. 11, while rustic Italian trattoria and pizzeria Olio e Più came in at No. 12.
Tawkify evaluated 97 cocktail bars, restaurants, bistros and cafes across the five boroughs and scored them on conversation-friendliness, ambiance, low-pressure atmosphere, plus ratings and affordability, drawing on thousands of Google reviews.
Across the five boroughs, St. Mazie in Williamsburg took the top spot. The jazz bar and restaurant, which features live music, a supper club and an impressive garden, earned 10.4 relevant mentions per 100 Google reviews.
Cork Wine Bar in SoHo came in second, followed by Jadis on the Lower East Side in third and Chelsea’s Salinaas ranked fourth, with Do Not Disturb nibbling at its heels for fifth place.
Freddy’s Tribeca took No. 6. The Euro-style boutique wine bar, tucked into Tribeca’s historic district, describes itself as offering “a unique and unforgettable experience where the wine and the guest always come first.”
L’Adresse NoMad ranked seventh, Palma rooked the eighth eatery and Brick Wine Bar on the Lower East Side placed ninth. La Lanterna di Vittorio in Greenwich Village rounded out the top 10.
One if By Land, Two if By Sea took 11th place and Olio e Più snagged 12th. Della’s — an intimate wine bar in Tribeca — scooped up the 13th position, Please Don’t Tell in the East Village took 14th, and Sami & Susu on the Lower East Side finished at No. 15. The restaurant draws inspiration from the Mediterranean, New York City and family recipes — with a small staff excited to share their knowledge about their warm and friendly culture.
But choosing a first-date restaurant involves more than aesthetics or convenience.
“Finding the right spot for a date in New York City is less about picking the prettiest room and more about choosing the right conditions for two people to connect,” said Chris Kumar, chief of staff at Tawkify. “We let the reviews do the talking.”
