Best Date Night Italian Restaurants in Murray Hill & Kips Bay (10016)
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Nonna Dora's
Handmade pasta bar where Dora’s Lasagna is a headline dish.
Notable Picks
#1
Nonna Dora's
8.8
Nonna Dora’s in Kips Bay is a handmade pasta bar where nonna-style shapes, long-simmered ragùs, and tasting menus turn dinner into a proper date-night ritual. The room feels intimate but lively, with an open view of the pasta craft and a wine list that rewards lingering over one more course.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dora’s Lasagna, Maccheroncini Grano Arso, Pappardelle del Ristoro
What makes it special: Handmade pasta bar where Dora’s Lasagna is a headline dish.
8.7
Rossini’s is a long-running Northern Italian institution in Murray Hill where white tablecloths, live piano on select nights, and veal and pasta classics set a grown-up date-night tone. It’s the move when you want old-school New York Italian with warm, attentive service and room to linger.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baked meat lasagna, Veal scaloppine, Linguine alle vongole
What makes it special: Long-running white-tablecloth Italian where lasagna fits into a classic lineup.
#3
Norma
8.7
Norma’s Murray Hill outpost leans into Sicilian comfort cooking, from arancini and panelle to richly sauced pasta alla Norma and pan-style pizzas. The cozy room and attentive staff make it a go-to for lingering dinners that feel more like a trattoria in Catania than a Third Avenue address.
Must-Try Dishes:
Arancini Siciliani, Pasta alla Norma, Rianata Sicilian Pan Pizza
What makes it special: Sicilian-focused trattoria known for arancini, pasta alla Norma and warm hospitality.
8.4
Fumo Kips Bay is a busy neighborhood Italian where thin-crust pies, big bowls of pasta and a lively bar anchor everything from brunch to late dinners. With $12 weekday pastas and a strong happy hour, it’s as much a casual hang for locals as a reliable date or group spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita Pizza, Spaghetti Vongole, $12 Lunch Pasta Special
What makes it special: High-volume neighborhood Italian with strong value, pizza and pastas.
8.4
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Trendy Table Hotspots
Vezzo is a long-running Murray Hill staple for ultra-thin, crisp pies and bottles of wine in a cozy, brick-walled room. It’s casual and a bit loud but works perfectly for laid-back date nights built around sharing a couple of specialty pizzas and a salad.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shroomtown thin-crust pie with mushrooms and truffle oil, Margherita thin-crust pizza, Murray Hill pie with sausage and peppers
What makes it special: Long-running Murray Hill standby for ultra-thin, crispy pies with big toppings.
8.2
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Business Lunch Power Players
Happy Hour Hotspots
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Tarallucci e Vino NoMad is a stylish Italian café-wine bar hybrid where handmade pastas, charcuterie boards, and a deep wine list make for a low-lit, flexible date-night setting. The bright interior by day turns into a buzzy, glass-of-Barolo energy once the sun goes down.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rigatoni with Six-Hour Short Rib Ragù, Cacio e Pepe Tonnarelli, Lasagna Verde
What makes it special: Wine-driven Italian café with serious housemade pastas and a busy patio.