Itinerary for a Long Weekend of Romance in New York City

There's a reason why so many Rom Coms are set in New York City. Few places in the United States make a more memorable backdrop for a proposal...of marriage, or just a sexy holiday a deux.

Here's our suggestions for a long weekend getaway for love birds.

Friday: A Stroll, Brunch, Shopping & a Cabaret

Sleep in—you’re on vacation! Then catch a subway to the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge. Saunter over it to Lower Manhattan, taking in the views.

You can then either plunge into a self-guided walking tour of NYC’s most historic neighborhood (see our Historic Lower Manhattan tour), or if you’re hungry, make a key decision: do you want a classic dim sum brunch in Chinatown, or a glam meal at the oh-so-French Balthazar?

Head to one or the other and then spend the afternoon shopping (or window-shopping) in SoHo, Nolita, or the Lower East Side (see our article on the city’s best shopping streets).

After dark, head uptown for an only-in-New-York cabaret performance with dinner at the swank Feinstein’s/54 Below  or Café Carlyle—your choice will depend on who is performing.

Saturday: Picnic in the Park, a Matinee & a Museum

Head to Zabar’s to purchase the ingredients for brunch in Central Park (go to this article to pick a spot). Then sightsee in the park for a few hours before heading to a Broadway matinee.

After the show, hop the S subway to Grand Central and the 4, 5, or 6 uptown to the Metropolitan Museum. It’s open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights, and there are few better places to watch the sun set over Central Park than the terrace here in the warm weather months (wine is served!).

Then head across the park to Tatiana  for a glam late dinner at Lincoln Center, in one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the city.

Sunday: Gospel, Brunch & a Step Back in Time

Attend a gospel service in Harlem, then head to Top Chef Masters champion Marcus Samuelson’s Red Rooster or classic soul food joint Melba’s for lunch.

For your last few hours in the city, head uptown even farther to the exquisite Cloisters, which features art and artifacts from the Middle Ages in a setting that seems airlifted from Europe.