I have been planning weddings in Central Park since 2012. Over the years, I have been asked for restaurant recommendations by visiting couples lots of times! Check out my FAQs page on my website for answers to some of the other questions that I get asked a lot.
Our couples are all so different; some prefer a restaurant inside of Central Park (there are two to choose from), some want to walk from Central Park (or their hotel) to the restaurant to avoid having to organize transport, some want to drive somewhere else, and maybe sightsee with the guests along the way, and some will even go to another borough (Brooklyn waterfront is popular for those who want a great vies). Clients have varying group sizes, too; we have eloping couples to small groups through to quite big groups who want a private room.
The question about restaurant recommendations is such a difficult one to answer. New York has thousands of places to choose from catering to a vast range of budgets and tastes, with pretty much every cuisine you can think of. That’s why I write this blog post round-up each year.
I wrote a post summarising where all the couples who featured on the blog in 2023 ate after their wedding, couples from 2022, couples from 2021, couples from 2020, couples from 2019, couples from 2018, couples from 2017, couples from 2016, then from 2015, then those from 2014, and also those from 2013.
When I write it all down like this it makes me realize that I’ve been doing this for quite a while! So, there are lots of recommendations to look through. Some restaurants keep coming up on the list, some restaurants might have closed over the years, and some are new to me. Below I summarise the couples’ recommendations who featured on my blog in 2024 along with a little information about their wedding and their group.
Sal and Paul – Hard Rock Cafe
Sal and Paul brought their two sons over from their home in England in early November to get married in the Ladies’ Pavilion. After their photo session in Central Park, they went over to Starbucks for a hot chocolate to warm up! “We were all in our wedding attire yet no-one batted an eyelid,” Sal told me, “and this is why New York was the perfect place for us!” she said. They had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and then went to the Top of the Rock.
Kristina and Christopher – Delice and Sarrasin
Kristina and Christopher got married under a tree that is special to them at the south end of Central Park at the end of December. They’re both from Germany and had been together for just over three years when they got married. On the evening of their wedding, they went to Delice and Sarrasin, a French vegan restaurant in Greenwich Village that they loved, and is popular among meat-eaters as well as vegans. They took a very long walk and went to an Irish Pub where they happened to meet a couple from Croatia who has also just got married and were in New York on their honeymoon.
Sarah and John – Virgils
English couple Sarah and John got married with us in Cop Cot in October. They brought over rather a large group by our usual standards of 29 people, which is quite a lot of people all to fly over from England! Their celebratory meal was at Virgils, “proper American food,” Sarah said. After that, the group walked over to The Summit, and took photos as a group of all of the guests in their wedding attire. Then they went on to Grand Central, which is nearby, for more photos before heading back to the hotel.
Lauren and Osman – Nitti’s Italian restaurant
Lauren and Osman traveled to New York from their home in Louisiana to get married in Central Park in January. They chose to hold the ceremony by the Pond, close to Gapstow Bridge, because they like the backdrop at that end of the park. After their time in Central Park, they went to the Empire State Building in their wedding attire. They took some photos on the observatory deck. For dinner that night then went to Nitti’s Italian restaurant and shared a bottle of wine and a candlelight dinner. The restaurant was very close to their hotel. “It had perfect ambiance, excellent service, generous portions and reasonable prices!” Lauren told me.
Jacqueline and Danilo – Loeb Boathouse
Jacqueline and Danilo got married in the Ladies’ Pavilion in July. They are from Jersey which counts as pretty much locals for us. They had arranged for their guests to go off to the Loeb Boathouse after the ceremony, they had a bar tab for them there. Then the two of them had a short portrait photo session together at Bethesda Terrace. They enjoyed that peaceful time alone with the photographer. “Honestly, running off with her for a moment after the ceremony, away from the guests, gave us time to enjoy our new unity and play around for a moment before getting overwhelmed by everyone again,” she said.
Analise and Jordan – Bottega (also The Boil and Red Gate Bakery)
Analise and Jordan brought a small group of close family members to New York City from their homes in Virginia and Texas for their wedding in the Ladies’ Pavilion. Jordan’s parents, his brother and his fiance came to the wedding, and also Analise’s mom and aunt came. Analise and Jordan took their families to tea at Lady Mendl’s tea salon the day before, and went to the Museum of Modern Art with them, and then dined at the Cajun restaurant The Boil. They ate dinner close to their apartment, at Bottega on 2nd Avenue. They had a wedding cake from Red Gate Bakery.
Jenny and Fraser – Ai Fiori
Jenny and Fraser eloped from their home in Scotland to get married in Central Park in May. Afterwards they took a cab from Central Park to the Rockefeller Center. Jenny and Fraser had purchased timed tickets in advance as per the plan of timings that we had made. Their photographer accompanied them to the Top of the Rock to take some stunning photos at the rooftop. After that, he left them and they had a drink at the Rockefeller Center. Jenny’s dress was quite big, so they popped back to the hotel to get changed, and then went to dinner at the French and Italian restaurant Ai Fiori at the Langham on 5th Avenue. “It was spectacular and they went above and beyond for us, knowing that we were a bride and groom. I would certainly recommend this place,” Jenny said.
Emma and Rob – MSocial hotel
Emma and Rob eloped from their home in Dublin, Ireland in April to get married in the Ladies’ Pavilion. They stayed in the MSocial hotel on Times Square. “The hotel was amazing and the staff were so accommodating,” Emma told me. The hotel has a really cool rooftop so on the morning of the wedding their photographer met them up there for some photos before going out in to the city. They had wanted to have a chilled evening with some good food and drinks after such a busy wedding day, so they went back to their hotel that evening and did just that. They had chosen their hotel with that in mind. “The restaurant greeted us with champagne on arrival and the food was divine. All topped off with the picturesque views of Times Square,” Emma said.
Rebecca and Kieran – PEAK restaurant
Rebecca and Kieran eloped to get married in New York from their home in Scotland in early May. They got married in Wagner Cove. After photos in the park they popped back to their hotel and got changed into slightly more casual wedding outfits and went for a meal. “We had an amazing meal at PEAK restaurant in Hudson Yards followed by quite a few cocktails!” Rebecca told me. “We ate in so many different places but by far PEAK was our favourite, the food was amazing and the views spectacular with being on the 102nd floor with a window seat,” she said.
Rebecca and Chase – Tuscany Steakhouse
Rebecca and Chase got married in Cop Cot in May. They brought around twenty-five guests with them for the wedding from their home in Virginia. Afterwards, they went to the Tuscany Steakhouse for dinner. “The service was stellar. We spent around $4.5k for everything including an open bar,” he said. “Highly recommended for parties with a max of twenty-five people in their private room. The food at the steakhouse was amazing, and the owner Steve was super accommodating,” said Chase. While in New York they also went to Quality Italian for a late lunch on the day they arrived in the city. “It was good,” Chase said. “The draft negroni was cool,” he added. He also said Broad Nosh Bagels near Columbus Square was awesome. They got hot dogs at Bryant Park, which he said were great. “Angelo’s Coal Oven Pizzeria near Central Park is inexpensive and delicious! Dim Sum Palace near Central Park was great too. Great mixed drinks,” he said. So, there are lots of really good food tips for anyone looking for them!
Rachael and Sean – Keens Steakhouse
Rachael and Sean came over from their home in England to get married in Central Park in April. After the ceremony their photographer took them to a bar for some photos and a much needed celebratory drink. They had a couple more drinks then got changed, since Rachael felt her dress was a nuisance to wear out and about for any longer. They ate a slice at Two Boots Pizza and had a drink at the Scarlet Lounge, both on the Upper West Side. That evening they ate at Keens Steakhouse. “It was beyond fantastic. Best steak of our lives,” said Rachael.
Steph and Rob – Central Park Boathouse
Steph and Rob eloped from their home in Yorkshire in England to get married in Central Park in June. We held the ceremony on a boat landing which overlooks Bow Bridge, called Bow Bridge Landing. After the wedding ceremony and the photos around Central Park, they ate dinner at the Central Park Boathouse. “The food was delicious and the location was idyllic, it felt like the perfect extension of our wedding day,” Steph said. After that, they went back to their hotel for a drink in the hotel bar. “Everybody clapped and cheered as we walked in, and our server brought us complimentary tequila shots, which reminded us of our early dating days,” she told me. After that they got changed and found a bar nearby with a happy hour that served frozen margaritas.
Josh and Olly – Copinette
Josh and Olly brought over a small group of their friends and family from their homes in Wales and the south of England this June for their wedding in Central Park. We decided that the best men would walk the group over to the Tavern on the Green for a drink while the grooms were having their portrait photo session. The group sat in the courtyard outside, which overlooks Sheep Meadow in Central Park. Josh and Olly walked over after their photos for a brief rest and a celebratory drink. To keep their strengths up for the rest of the celebrations their best men got hotdogs and pretzels from street vendors. They had planned this beforehand – wanting to have this typical New York experience on the day. The group went to the restaurant Copinette for dinner, on the corner of East 50th and 1st Ave. “We found choosing a restaurant one of the more difficult things to do – we just wanted a private room or area for a family meal, and some of the quotes we were getting were very expensive,” Josh said. They chose Copinette based on its location, reasonable price and varied menu, and it does have a few private dining options. They had to select a set three course menu with choices of two starters, three mains and two desserts for the guests to choose from on the night. Josh and Olly arrived at the restaurant 45 minutes before their guests and they said the restaurant had dressed the table beautifully. “The team were lovely, the food was amazing! All our guests were so impressed with the quality, the service and mostly the portion size! It was very generous – not something you normally get at weddings!” said Josh.
Denise and Mike – Ted’s Montana Grill
Denise and Mike got married very early on a Sunday morning in June. Our photographer met them at 8am and took them around the areas of Cherry Hill, Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace for some portrait photos while those areas were at their quietest. They even managed to get a shot of the Imagine plaque in Strawberry Fields with nobody else around which is impossible throughout most of the day! The ceremony took place around 9am on Bethesda Terrace. “Our experience at Ted’s Montana Grill was amazing! The food was really good and the service was top notch!” Denise said.
Ashleigh and Joe – Gabriel’s Bar and Restaurant
Ashleigh and Joe came over to New York from their home in England to get married in Central Park in August. Whilst Ashleigh and Joe were having their portrait photo session, the rest of their party went over to the Tavern on the Green for a drink. Then, our newlywed couple went over to join them after their photos, and they all went over to Gabriel’s Bar and Restaurant south of Central Park. “We had an absolutely gorgeous Italian meal and even managed to listen from some speeches from both our Dads, Ashleigh’s Mum, our maid of honor and best man while we were there,” Ashleigh said. They had been considering going back to Central Park for their speeches, but the restaurant was able to let them all stay for as long as the speeches took. “The staff at Gabriel’s were so lovely, and even let us choose what music we wanted and let us take home one of the empty wine bottles we had drank from as a keepsake,” Ashleigh told me.
Amanda and Luke – Plaza Hotel
Amanda and Luke renewed their marriage vows with us in Wagner Cove in August with their eight-year-old daughter in attendance. They were visiting from their home in England. After they had taken some photos at Wagner Cove, Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace, they went over the Plaza Hotel. They had afternoon tea there together to celebrate.
Claire and Ricardo – The Smith
Claire and Ricardo got married in Cop Cot with close friends and family in attendance at the end of August. Their reception was held at The Smith, an American brasserie in Midtown. “They had a wonderful lunch/dinner menu,” said Claire. I always ask for any other restaurant recommendations, because I am often asked for them by clients. “We had brunch the next day in Williamsburg at a place called Hole in the Wall,” Claire said, “we highly recommend the mocha and the breakfast sandwiches,” she added.
Kerrie and Zach – Carmines in Time Square
Kerrie and Zach brought a small group of their close family with them to New York from their home in England in October. They got married in Cop Cot. After celebrations at the bar, the party went on to have a meal at Carmines in Time Square, “it had an amazing atmosphere and was the perfect place to finish our evening celebrations,” Kerrie told me. “We would definitely recommend Carmines for an evening reception if you are looking for somewhere with a warm, friendly atmosphere,” she said. “It is a very large restaurant but we chose it because we wanted something laid back. The portions are huge so definitely recommend sharing a meal!” she added.
Paige and Paolo – The Smith and The Empire Hotel
Paige and Paolo got married early in the morning in October. They held the ceremony at Wagner Cove, and they wanted to do it early so that Paolo’s family back in the Philippines could watch it on a live stream a time that was reasonable for them. One benefit of getting married early in the morning is that you have whole day to celebrate afterwards. The newlyweds went for brunch at The Smith across from their hotel, and then they went over to visit the Statue of Liberty for the first time. That evening, they ate at their hotel’s (The Empire Hotel) rooftop restaurant and bar for dinner and they said it was absolutely wonderful.
Katie and Lee – Bluebird
Katie and Lee brought a group of close family over to New York from their home in the UK to get married in Cop Cot in early June. They held their reception dinner at the Bluebird restaurant, which was very close to the ceremony location (but it has since closed). I wanted to mention it though to highlight that because of this choice, their guests just had to walk over to Columbus Circle. When couples bring a group, it can make the logistics much simpler to find a reception location within walking distance – then you don’t have to factor in any group transport.
As always with these blog post collections of restaurant recommendations, I would love for anyone to comment on the post 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 come up on these lists! I enjoy collating the lists of each year because it really highlights how some tastes change, but some just stay the same and stand the test of time! For more information to help you with planning your own Central Park wedding, visit our website, or follow 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.
