So many couples ask me for restaurant recommendations, and it’s such a difficult question to answer! New York is a huge city with so many awesome places to choose from with every cuisine you can think of to fit a vast range of budgets. My couples are all so different, too – some are happy to travel to another borough, some want to walk to their reception, and they have varying group sizes, so some want a private room, some just a table. Check out my FAQs page on my website for some of the other questions that I get asked a lot.
In an attempt to answer this question, I have looked to my previous clients for their suggestions. To avoid writing an extremely long blog post that nobody would want to read, I’ve split this subject up year by year. I wrote a post summarising where all the couples who featured on the blog in 2020 ate after their wedding, couples from 2019, couples from 2018, couples from 2017, couples from 2016, then those from 2015, then those from 2014, and also those from 2013. So there are lots of recommendations to look through. Some places keep coming up again and again, and some are more unique suggestions.
Some time ago I wrote my own list of New York restaurant recommendations, and followed that up with a second list of New York restaurant recommendations, but those lists seem to be getting a little out of date now, especially after big changes to the hospitality industry post-pandemic. Below I summarise the couples’ recommendations who featured on my blog in 2021. I intend to cover couples who featured on the blog in 2022 within the next few months, and then I’ll be pretty much caught up!
Hayley and Mark – Tito Murphy’s
Hayley and Mark got married in the Ladies’ Pavilion in May in the late morning. They took photos around Central Park after the ceremony then had a quick drink in the Tavern on the Green. Then they and their party got picked up by a vintage trolley bus from the space in front of the Tavern – this is an advantage that the Tavern has over the Boathouse – vehicles can come up to the door for easy pick up and drop off. They took photos in Brooklyn and at Grand Central. Then the group went on to Bourbon Street Bar and Grille (now known as Tito Murphy’s) for the evening, which was conveniently across the road from their hotel on the same street.
Broni and Tom – Manhatta
Broni and Tom brought a small group with them from their home in Wales last February to get married in New York. They got married in Wagner Cove on a rainy day. After a little while taking photos in Central Park the couple went to Times Square and also a spot in Midtown where they could capture the Empire State Building in the background for photos. Then photos on Brooklyn Bridge. After that, Broni and Tom met up with the rest of the wedding party at their hotel for drinks and then later on went for a meal at Manhatta in the Financial District. “It had the most incredible views and amazing food, it’s the best place we have ever eaten it absolutely made our wedding day,” Broni told me.
Nicole and Will – The Library Hotel
Nicole and Will got married underneath the Wisteria Pergola in the Conservatory Gardens in May. They brought around fifty guests from their home in Dallas, Texas. While they were in town, they stayed the Library Hotel, where they also held their reception.
Nicole and James – Tony’s Di Napoli
Nicole and James got married in November at Cop Cot. They are both New Yorkers. After the ceremony, they all had a family dinner at Tony’s Di Napoli, “the food, staff and service were excellent,” said Nicole.
Samantha and Austin – Tony’s Di Napoli
Samantha and Austin got married in Cop Cot in August. The couple brought a small group of guests with them from their home in Indianapolis. Samantha and Austin and their parties were staying at the Wellington Hotel, which is on West 55th Street, just four blocks’ walk away from Central Park South. This meant that most people could walk to the ceremony location, and also their reception on 3rd Avenue, at Tony’s Di Napoli.
Amanda and Adam – Il Corso
Amanda and Adam got married at Wagner Cove in April. While they were in town, Amanda and Adam stayed at the Intercontinental Midtown for nearly three weeks. After the ceremony, they took photos around Central Park and then ate dinner at Il Corso, an Italian restaurant in Midtown.
Jazmin and Alex – Freakin Rican
Local New Yorkers Jazmin and Alex got married in Cop Cot in May. They’re both from Queens, New York. After the wedding ceremony in the morning and pictures in the park, they all went back to Queens where they hosted a small reception with their guests with catered food from Freakin Rican restaurant. “It was a hit amongst our guests,” Jazmin told me.
Sophie and Ivan – Tavern on the Green
Sophie and Ivan got married in Wagner Cove in August. Sophie is from South Africa, and Ivan is from Italy. They live together in New York City. After the ceremony, their guests went on to reception drinks at the Tavern on the Green. Sophie and Ivan had some time alone with their photographer, and after that, they joined their guests a short walk away at the Tavern.
Michelle and Jessie – Greedi Kitchen
Michelle and Jessie got married in the Ladies’ Pavilion in June. They are both born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. The ceremony took place in the Ladies’ Pavilion. They had twelve of their nearest and dearest friends and family as guests. Straight after the ceremony, they all enjoyed a champagne toast in the Pavilion and took some photos in the area. On the way home they picked up some delicious vegan food to share with the party, from a place called Greedi Kitchen, located on 180 Ralph Street in Brooklyn.
April and Hugo – Angelo’s Coal Oven Pizzeria
April and Hugo got married underneath Bethesda Terrace in June. After taking photos around Bethesda Terrace and Fountain their photographer took them up to Cherry Hill and put them in to a horse and carriage ride. Then they took their guests for dinner at Angelo’s Coal Oven Pizzeria on West 57th Street, which is very close to Central Park.
As always with the restaurant recommendation posts that I put up on here quite regularly, I would love for anyone to comment below with their own suggestions of great New York City restaurants – there are so many to choose from, and although there are some firm favorites that last over time, we’re always seeing new ones! For more information to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding, visit our website, or “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest where you will find lots of beautiful photos and many more inspiring stories of real weddings
Advertisement
