New York City has endless date-night possibilities, but if you’re planning an evening with a woman with high standards and impeccable taste, you want to take her somewhere worthy. A place where the food is unforgettable, the drinks are taken seriously, and the decor is as sexy and sophisticated as the person sitting across from you.

Here are five places in Manhattan that left a lasting impression on a hot girl like me:

Portale— For the tastiest branzino in Chelsea

126 W 18th St

I went to Portale on a first date a few months ago, and when I learned the modern Italian restaurant was led by acclaimed chef Alfred Portale, I knew I was in for a treat.

Then I walked into the spacious dining room, with its white-painted brick walls, marble tabletops, and large brass mirrors throughout, and the room confirmed it. Portale has that grown Chelsea feel—polished, romantic, and sexy enough to make you happy you wore your cutest heels.

Although nothing came of the date, I’ve been back several times since.

And the branzino is the main reason. Sweet cherry tomatoes and briny olives sit beneath a piece of fish with the crispiest skin. It’s one of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted. I like to pair it with the Prima Bella Spritz, a mix of Aperol, bell pepper shrub, and Prosecco. And for dessert, the olive oil cake.

I crave this menu a few times a month, so basically, I’m in a long-term relationship with Portale now.

Best for: Princess treatment—the service is next-level—and a warm, elegant dining experience.

Order this: The branzino, the Prima Bella Spritz, and the olive oil cake.

The Ivory Peacock— For the best dirty martini in NoMad

38 W 26th St

As a dirty martini connoisseur, people always ask me my favorite place to get one, and The Ivory Peacock—a glamorous bar in NoMad that bills itself as home to the second-largest gin collection in the world—is the first place that comes to mind.

The room feels like a Victorian gin palace: antique chandeliers, 19th-century Louis XV giltwood mirrors, plush velvet seating. The sophistication carries into the mixology.

The Dirty Gibson martini arrives with a chilled carafe on the side so it stays cold and crisp the entire time. The notes of grapefruit from the Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin, combined with the onion brine, bring together a layered, sophisticated, unforgettable sip.

It may be my favorite martini in Manhattan. It’s also the perfect place for a nightcap—or to keep the night going downstairs at PLOUME, an exclusive speakeasy that is just as impressive as the bar above it.

Best for: Gin and martini lovers, dancing queens, and seeing where the night takes you.

Order this: The Dirty Gibson with the Peking duck croquettes.

COQODAQ— For the fanciest fried chicken in the city

12 E 22nd St, Flatiron

There’s nothing more impressive than when someone secures a reservation at a sought-after restaurant in New York. COQODAQ is that reservation.

The room is stunning—golden-lit arches glowing against a nearly black room that makes you feel like you should be dressed in Prada. The highlight of the menu, being fried chicken, seems absurd in contrast to the sophisticated decor, but that’s the point.

We started with their chicken nuggets—yes, chicken nuggets—that came with a side of caviar, roe, and truffle. And honestly? Those were my favorite bites of the night. The fried chicken is delectable, don’t get me wrong, but there was something special about those crispy golden nuggets. This is the restaurant you book when you want to make an impression.

Best for: Girls that aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, even in their finest attire—and serious foodies.

Order this: The nuggets, mac & cheese, glazed fried chicken wings, and the frozen yogurt.

Wild Cherry— To eat and be entertained

38 Commerce St, West Village

Another sought-after reservation: Wild Cherry.

This is the popular girl of the West Village. The restaurant feels like a movie set—not just because of the retro design, intimate square footage, and complimentary popcorn, but because on any given night you might spot someone famous, and no one makes it weird. When we first arrived, I spotted a well-known film director casually ordering a drink at the bar, and nobody flinched because Wild Cherry is for cool people.

The menu leans into American classics like cheeseburgers, thighs and fries, which I went straight for. It was a great pick. The chicken was juicy, and I loved the crispy fries soaking up all the gravy beneath them. We ordered both the dirty martini and the espresso martini; both were well-made and exactly what I needed before the show. We finished with a sweet, moist, and extremely tall slice of coconut cake. It was the cherry on top.

Afterward, we caught You Got Older next door at Cherry Lane Theatre, which made the whole night feel even more cinematic. The show has since closed, but the formula still stands: dinner at Wild Cherry, then whatever film or performance Cherry Lane has going on next door. It’s a standout date night, especially for the art girlies.

Just make sure you’re refreshing that Resy page—these reservations are hard to get, and they should be.

Best for: Cinephiles, thespians, and “it” girls.

Order this: The Caesar salad, thighs and fries, coconut cake—then check what’s playing next door.

Swan Room— To satisfy the eye and the palate

54 Canal St, Lower East Side

Swan Room is the perfect place to start or end the night beautifully. It lives inside the former Jarmulowsky Bank, a 1912 Beaux-Arts building on the corner of Canal and Orchard.

The architects restored it using the original blueprints: vaulted ceilings, arched windows, and pink Tennessee marble floors that recall Grand Central. It is so elegant and beautiful, you’ll want to spend most of the evening looking up.

For my martini girlies—this is the place for you. Swan Room has made the martini its specialty, with a whole page of its menu dedicated to it. There are signatures like the San Sebastian, or you can get it just the way you like it. Mine is dirty, garnished with three blue cheese-stuffed olives. If it’s an extra special night or a double date, order their martini service. It arrives in a golden swan bowl, a photo-worthy moment.

Best for: Martini girlies, double dates, and fly girls.

Order this: The wood-fired oysters, steak tartare, and the martini service.

So there you have it. The next time you want to impress a hot date in Manhattan, you already know where to go. You can access my map of NYC and other places here. And if you’re a man reading this and taking notes—good. For the full syllabus, read What a Hot Girl Wants on Dare Is The Truth.

There are times when being overly organized feels like a burden, but it becomes my superpower whenever it’s time to plan a trip, put together an outfit, or connect friends with other friends.

Most people probably don’t spend hours researching every speakeasy in Mexico or sketching out outfits to fit the theme of a trip (which is actually very helpful for anyone who never wants to overpack again).

I’ve become that friend people text the moment they land somewhere new.

“Dare, I’m in Tokyo! Where’s the best vintage and thrift shopping?”

“Dare, I’m in Miami! Where can I go to meet men with yachts?”

I’m not saying I’m some all-encompassing woman of knowledge, but I have been to places, and I have seen things. I’m usually one or two degrees removed from a complete stranger. My friends always laugh and ask, “How do you know so-and-so?” The answer is usually a random, roundabout way.

The point is: I take life by the horns. I’m a seeker, a taster, a wild girl. So, I’m launching a new segment of my Substack: Dare Knows Where—a mix of cultural journal and travel guide.

My first installment is for art lovers like myself—those who plan trips around galleries and museums. Recently, I spent two and a half weeks exploring Berlin, a dream city of mine for over a decade. During my visit, I found Berlin to be one of the richest cities I’ve ever experienced in terms of art, culture, and history. In fact, Berlin feels like a museum itself; every street holds a story and reminders of its complicated past in everything you see.

Now, let me share a few places where I got lost in art in Berlin:

📍 Hamburger Bahnhof

Admission: €16 (about $20)

Artists I loved: Klára Hosnedlová, Toyin Ojih Odutola

Hamburger Bahnhof is a museum that feels like a city within a city. The installations here stretch the idea of space and memory, displaying hyper-conceptual art that still holds emotional punch.

Klára Hosnedlová’s exhibition Embrace felt like stepping into a parallel universe straight out of Stranger Things. Celestial, unsettling, and immersive—performance art without the performer.

Toyin Ojih Odutola’s exhibition was one of my favorites of the entire trip. Upon entering, you’re transported into a fictional train station, with each stop representing a chapter in her artistic journey. Her work reminds me of the beginning of a sketch she never erases. She wants you to see the anatomy of the piece—like an X-ray of a painting—revealing how her mind works and how her figures come together.

📍 Galerie Deschler

Admission: Free

Artist: Lennart Grau

I passed Galerie Deschler one night on my way to dinner in Mitte—an essential neighborhood for art lovers—and, through the window, spotted a painting of a voluptuous nude woman lounging beneath a leafy tree, her gaze fixed on her rippled reflection in a moonlit pond. Something about its brooding atmosphere called me back the following week.

Lennart Grau has since become one of my favorite painters. His thick, bold acrylic strokes form figures that seem to have been born from a cloud of smoke. There’s movement in his work, the same kind of movement as smoke escaping a joint. Maybe that’s why it spoke to me so deeply.

📍 Galerie König (St. Agnes)

Admission: Free

Artists: Stephan Balkenhol, Johanna Dumet

Galerie König is a brutalist church-turned-gallery with energy you can feel the moment you step inside. The work here plays with scale—cinematic, towering, mood-shifting.

I was stunned to learn that Stephan Balkenhol’s enormous wooden sculptures—including a massive carved head staring at its full-bodied counterpart—were carved directly from tree trunks. His lifelong devotion to the human figure feels grounded, intimate, and monumental all at once.

Johanna Dumet’s FOOL FOR A LIFETIME builds a playful, intuitive world through outdoor sculptures and a series of 22 oil paintings depicting a deck of cards and a towering 15-foot house of cards. Together, the works feel game-like, unpredictable, rooted in pleasure, and tied to family legacy.

📍 Galerie Eigen + Art Berlin

Admission: Free

Artist: Ulrike Theusner

Ulrike Theusner’s work is immediately enticing. Her exhibition Passengers of the Night—inspired by Mikhaël Hers’ film of the same name—pulled me in instantly.

One piece in particular caught my attention: a man standing alone, wrapped in what looks like a towel, placed against an open countryside. Theusner’s use of multi-colored pastels and relentless strokes creates a psychedelic effect if you stare too long. She makes the kind of art that feels like it’s vibrating beneath the surface.

If you’re someone who prioritizes art and culture when visiting new cities, Berlin will give you more than you expect. Let yourself wander. Walk into spaces just because what’s through the window stops you. Getting lost in art here isn’t accidental—it’s the point. And if you do it right, you won’t just leave inspired. You’ll leave changed.

Click here for a free map of my full Berlin guide—food, bars, neighborhoods, and places I actually lingered at.

Until next time,

Dare