Getting engaged is a truly special moment in both your lives and you’ll want to make sure your accommodation lives up to the romance of the occasion. Here are a few great hotel choices, whether you are looking for sheer elegance and luxury, bohemian culture, or an uptown boutique hotel.

Hotels with classic luxury and elegance

To really get the feel of old style New York, stay in one of its famous luxury hotels. The Waldorf Astoria is one of America’s most prominent hotels and was originally an amalgamation of two buildings located in the current location of the Empire State Building, before it moved to its current Park Lane address.

For a Fifth Avenue alternative, nothing says style like The Plaza, which is frequented by the rich and famous. It retains its old world splendor and tradition despite recent multi-million dollar renovations. The Pierre is a less well known haven on Fifth Avenue, offering the ultimate in service and exclusivity.

Hotels with a bohemian artistic vibe

Hotel Chelsea is the ideal choice if you are looking to embrace the cultural heritage of New York. Bob Dylan, and Jack Kerouac both called this hotel home, along with a whole host of other artists and intellectuals. It has a laid back bohemian vibe and is located in the Chelsea district, close to the Empire State Building.

For a historic hotel in the Theater District, The Algonquin provides a gathering point for a diverse mix of New York’s cultural and artistic elite. An intimate hotel, well known for its hospitality, the Algonquin was the literary birth place of the New Yorker magazine.

Boutique hotels in uptown New York

If you’d prefer a stylish modern hotel away from the bustle of downtown Manhattan, On the Avenue is a cool, urban boutique hotel on the Upper West Side. Across town on the fashionable Upper East Side, The Lowell and The Carlyle, both on or around Madison Avenue, offer exclusive accommodation in landmark buildings.

Whether you wish to carry on the celebrations after she has said yes to your proposal or set the mood before you pop the question, you will undoubtedly be on the look out for romantic places to dine in New York. Here are seven great choices:

1. Try Aureole on West 42nd Street for a contemporary and ultra stylish restaurant serving progressive American cuisine. Charlie Palmer’s restaurant is located close to Time Square and a trip to Aureole can easily be combined with a Broadway show.
2. For an exclusive and romantic retreat, complete with 1930s glamor, check out Upstairs at 21. This intimate salon style restaurant with just 32 seats is located above the famous Bar Room restaurant of the 21 Club. A short walk from Central Park, this could be the perfect post proposal dinner destination, but it would also make an ideal spot to pop the question, and the attentive staff can help you make arrangements.
3. For a downtown alternative, The Savoy is a classic choice, and the combination of traditional methods, local produce, an evolving menu, and warm hospitality create an atmosphere guaranteed to enchant your new fiance.
4. The West Village is a great option for a relaxed dining experience with superb food at reasonable prices. One if by Land, Two if by Sea may be a bit of a mouthful, but the picturesque setting of a converted colonial carriage house along with its new American cuisine make it worth checking out.
5. The Place, also in the West Village, is ideal for summer when you can sit out on the candle lit terrace to sample pan European and new American cuisine, and as 10% of their profits go to charity you can ease your social conscience at the same time.
6. Union Square Cafe, Danny Meyer’s first restaurant, has had the honor of being voted New York’s most popular restaurant eight years in a row so make sure you reserve early. Described as “American food with an Italian soul” this restaurant offers great food, good value, and plenty of options for vegetarians.
7. Finally The Sea Grill at the Rockefeller Center is ideal for sea food lovers looking for a bright, modern restaurant with sleek decor. Serving fresh Oceanic delicacies, it overlooks the Rockefeller ice rink, making it the perfect follow up to a snowy Christmas proposal.

Your proposal will only take up a small part of your trip to New York, so why not carry on the fun with your new fiancée by seeing what else the city has to offer. Here are some great post proposal activities:

• Take a helicopter ride over Manhattan and see the Chrysler building close up
• Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art not forgetting the stunning roof garden
• Stroll hand in hand along the Brooklyn Heights Esplanade
• Take a picnic in Central Park or book a gondola at the Boat House
• Check out the Lincoln Center fountains and catch some live Jazz
• See a show on legendary Broadway or simply take in the buzz of Time Square