A date plan
Date · Upper East Side · Fancy
A polished UES evening that kicks off underground at a French wine bar, moves into a lively Roman trattoria, and lands in a wood-paneled cocktail den for a lingering nightcap.
Upper East Side · $$ · Wine bar · Bistro
Start the evening below street level at Madame Bonté — literally, since the wine bar is tucked into a lower-level space that feels like a secret you let your date in on. Low lighting, a back patio when the season cooperates, and a French-leaning wine list that won't overwhelm you with choices. Order the charcuterie board and a glass of something Old World; you're not in a hurry.
~2 min walk (0.1 mi). Walking from Madame Bonté to Sandro's, you're heading a couple blocks down 86th — peek into the old-school storefronts along the way and decide which one looks most like a rom-com backdrop.
Upper East Side · $$$ · Italian restaurant · Bar
Sandro's is the kind of intimate Roman neighborhood spot that makes you forget you're on the Upper East Side — in the best way. The room is lively without being loud, and the menu leans into proper Roman classics like cacio e pepe and saltimbocca, executed with the confidence of a kitchen that's been doing this for years. It's a place that feels like a reservation your well-traveled aunt would have tucked away.
~1 min walk (0.1 mi). Sandro's to Jeremy's is a quick move along 2nd Ave — keep an eye out for the old German butcher signs still ghosted onto some of the buildings; the UES's Yorkville roots are hiding in plain sight if you know to look.
Upper East Side · $$ · Cocktail bar
End the night at Jeremy's, a wood-paneled cocktail bar with just enough low-key cool to feel like a discovery. The drinks skew classic with creative riffs — order something stirred and dark, settle into the cozy room, and let the conversation run long. It's the kind of place that makes a weeknight feel like an occasion.