The Greenwich Village NYC Restaurant Everyone Eats At To Propose

These days, marriage proposals have gotten pretty creative. Social media has allowed people to share the inventive ways they've asked their beloveds to stick by them forever, and the world has taken notice. Many are forgoing the "straight ask" in favor of scavenger hunts, photo shoots, and public messages — be they on billboards or in the snow (via How They Asked). 

But not everyone is ready for such conspicuous occasions, preferring a more traditional path for both privacy and intimacy. And for those who favor a quiet setting and the opportunity to talk before and after the proposal itself, a romantic restaurant seems like just the ticket. A good place can set the mood for an enthusiastic yes by providing a beautiful and breathtaking setting (mirroring the person of your future fiancé); a delicious dinner (evoking the satisfaction of your future together); and a gentle, accommodating staff (just like your future spouse). 

It's even better if the restaurant's history conjures up images of a lifetime of happiness. One restaurant in New York City's beloved Greenwich Village ticks all these boxes. Architectural Digest rated it #5 in Most Romantic Restaurants (via One if by Land, Two if by Sea). Unsurprisingly, it's very expensive — and very well known for hosting marriage proposals. Their website puts it simply, "More people are said to have announced their engagement here than any other restaurant in Manhattan" — a claim supported by a recent article in The New York Times, which provided photographs of the restaurant's first double proposal in January of 2023.

The restaurant is called "One if by Land and Two if by Sea," a line from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous poem "Paul Revere Rides" (per Poets). Located on 17 Barrow Street in New York, the restaurant was first established in 1973 in a carriage house dating back to 1767, and it feels like a piece of history, tucked away on a quiet street. 

The menu is classy and taps into the historic element by featuring traditional dishes like Beef Wellington (their signature dish, via The New York Times), but keeps it fresh with seafood ingredients and updates to the classics (per One if by Land, Two if by Sea).  There are several different dining areas in the restaurant; exposed brick, lit fires, crystal chandeliers, and low-lit dining areas are all part of the equation. 

But the restaurant has earned its special reputation partially by the way it facilitates the proposal: The ring can be given to the chef, who will send it out on a domed platter encircled by rose petals (per The New York Times). While diners who want to personalize the proposals can do things differently, it's hard to beat that presentation for dramatic elegance.

Their formula has proved very successful over the years. While there is no hard data on the number of proposals (or acceptances, that would be indiscreet), let's just say the restaurant is expecting a considerable uptick in special reservations around Valentine's Day, especially judging by previous years' experience.