There’s no shortage of amazing locations in NYC to ask the most incredible person in the world to spend forever with you. We hope to help you and your partner find one that isn’t just a pretty place, but a reflection of both your personality and relationship. So if you’re looking to stage an epic and romantic marriage proposal, this vibrant city offers plenty of magical places to pop the question. Here are the absolute best places to propose in NYC.
[The finest New York hotel deals are at The Manhattan Club - see which of our special offers works for you]
Best Restaurants to Propose in NYC
It’s hard to pick just one restaurant in NYC to make your proposal extra special, because taste buds and dining preferences are as diverse as ever! Keep it casual at NYC mainstays like Katz’s Delicatessen or Lombardi’s. Go green at the city’s top plant-based spots like Avant Garden or PLANTA Queen. For a restaurant with a view, try Saga, Manhatta, or Robert atop the Museum of Arts and Design. And for those looking for the romantic, extra pricey (but totally worth it) fine dining restaurant, see places like Daniel, Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernardin, or One if By Land, Two if By Sea. Check out more NYC food and drink recommendations on our Blog.
Bow Bridge in Central Park
The Victorian-era bridge was built in 1862 and is easily one of the most photographed landmarks in Manhattan. Named for its arc shape resembling an archer’s bow (we like to think Cupid’s bow), Bow Bridge spans 60 feet across Central Park Lake. And with intricate elements of Gothic, Neoclassical, and Renaissance design, there may not be a more romantic spot in the city. Other places to consider in Central Park include the Mall, Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, Conservatory Park, or on a boat or gondola ride on the Central Park Lake.
Looking for another perch suspended above the world to propose? Look no further than the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
Best Places to Propose in NYC at Christmas
No wonder the holiday season is a popular time to get engaged - it’s the most wonderful time of the year! And NYC knows how to do the holidays. The towering Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, public ice skating Wollman Rink in Central Park, and Winter Village at Bryant Park are just some of the best places to propose in NYC at Christmas. Read up on more of our favorite holiday NYC destinations here.
SeaGlass Carousel
Inspired by a chambered nautilus, the SeaGlass Carousel in Battery Park was inspired by the New York Aquarium that once resided on the southern tip of Manhattan. Inside the spiraling pavilion of glass, a mystical underwater experience awaits with 30 massive iridescent fiberglass fish, all of which are enhanced by color-changing LED lights and integrated audio systems. Consider a nighttime proposal here, when the children crowd thins and the bioluminescent fish really stand out.
Looking for a more classic merry-go-round proposal spot? Across the East River in Brooklyn, Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park turns 100 years old this year!
Best Private Places to Propose in NYC
New York has the highest population density of any major city in the country, so finding a private place to propose is no easy feat. But it can be done if you know where to look. The Met Cloisters gardens is a great space. The museum in Fort Tryon Park specializes in medieval art and architecture, and the gardens are said to evoke those that provided sustenance and spiritual refreshment within the medieval monastery. Wait for a quiet time and you may just have the entire cloister to yourself. Manhattan parks like Greenwich Village’s Jefferson Market Garden, The Gardens at St. Luke in the Fields, and the gardens at The Frick Collection are also quiet places with stunning backdrops.
Edge
Go to great heights when planning your proposal - literally. While asking the big question atop the Empire State Building is a classic tried-and-true engagement destination, Edge at Hudson Yards is for those couples who enjoy the excitement and high level of adrenaline. The highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere provides 360-degree views plus a glass floor suspended in mid-air. Upgrade your ticket to the top with a glass of Champagne during your visit. See where to get more top views of NYC from above here.
The Manhattan Club Penthouse Terrace
Views of Manhattan from above are the ideal backdrop for a proposal. Exclusively available to all Penthouse Suite guests, The Manhattan Club’s expansive Penthouse Terrace offers panoramic views high above Midtown, and is possibly the best rooftop to propose in NYC. When you stay in our luxury Penthouse Suite, our dedicated staff is at your service and we hope to make your engagement even more memorable by arranging transportation, making restaurant and tour reservations, and recommending new dining and theater experiences - offering you an insider’s perspective during this special time for you in Manhattan. Your partner is sure to say "YES" when you propose on this rooftop. In fact, we know this to be true (just see below).
Rohit and Vrata at The Manhattan Club, June 2022. Photo courtesy of Rohit Quinn Saraiya
Book your stay in the Penthouse Suite high above Manhattan. Choose from our best rates and special offers when you book direct with The Manhattan Club.
