Whether you are going out because you want to try something different or you are celebrating an anniversary, Brooklyn is great for romantic dates. We’ve got cozy, intimate restaurants and bars, or activities conducive to hand-holding. Check out our recommendations below for places to visit with your sweetheart.
Monsignor’s Restaurant (South Slope)
Monsignor Restaurant is a cozy, affordable eatery that puts an interesting twist on fusion. Rather than mingle two culinary traditions together, Monsignor’s Restaurant brings two traditional cuisines under one roof, offering Mexican fare for lunch and Italian for dinner. The restaurant creates a romantic mood with tablecloths, candlelight, and scattered rose petals. The fried ice cream is a fan favorite.
Photo by Monsignor’s Restaurant via Facebook.
Tabaré Restaurant | Lori L. via Yelp
Tabaré (Williamsburg)
Tabaré is a faithful homage to Uruguay. Its name translates from an indigenous tongue to “someone who lives far from town”, and is also the title of Uruguay’s epic national poem, which depicts the tragic love affair between an indigenous man named Charrúa Tabaré and a Spanish conquistador’s sister. The restaurant presents the culinary product of Uruguay’s mixed heritage, offering the traditional Uruguayan emphasis on beef and pork, while providing an ample array of chicken and seafood dishes as well.
Organic meats and vegetables are used throughout the menu. And so as to never lose sight of its origins, Tabaré’s walls of rough-cut wooden planks are dotted with reminders of South America–photos, paintings, and plants. Note: Tabaré is cash only.
The River Café via Facebook
The River Café (Dumbo)
The River Cafe is a little bit of decadence on the banks of the East River, situated under the Brooklyn Bridge. From the water it may look like a simple white box, but its humble exterior belies a swank interior made up of white table cloths, French-inspired wicker chairs, colorful flower arrangements, and unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. An extensive wine list is offered alongside an eclectic brand of New American cuisine. Live piano music also plays nightly.
Weather Up | Anita K. via Foursquare
Weather Up (Prospect Heights)
Weather Up puts a playful spin on the name of its British-born co-owner Kathryn Weatherup who teamed up with Matthew Maddy to convert a former gospel church into this elegantly romantic watering hole. The bar is outfitted with a luxurious copper-top bar, leather barstools, and subway-style tile ceilings. Its staff was trained by renowned mixologist Sasha Petraske, whose legacy is carried on there with classic cocktails patrons swear are mixed to perfection. Note: Weather Up is cash only.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden via Facebook
Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Crown Heights, Prospect Heights)
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is fifty-two artful acres of internationally inspired landscape design. Befitting Brooklyn’s eclectic culture, the gardens are home to plants from around the world. Even during the cold winter months, visitors can step into the steamy tropics, the arid desert, or wilderness gathered from the Mediterranean, South Africa, or Australia in the garden’s Tropical, Desert, and Warm Temperate Pavilions.
The Aquatic House holds additional tropical and subtropical delights, including the garden’s large collection of orchids. Another year-round treat is The Bonsai Museum where as many as thirty of the garden’s miniature plants may be seen on display. See here for hours and admission.
Lakeside ice skating rink via Facebook
LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park
The LeFrak Center is a relatively new addition to Prospect Park that hosts seasonal activities along scenic Prospect Park Lake — ice skating in winter and roller skating in summer. True to Brooklyn form, Lakeside’s Bluestone Cafe offers both traditional and artisanal fare—from light bites to hearty meals. The rink is open to the public daily with skates available to rent. See here for hours and admission.