Best place for night-time romantic picnic?

The Cloisters.

We did just that at the park behind the NYcity library where there is a well lit restaurant with terrace dining. We popped open champagne plus caviar and celebrated privately in the huge lawn below the terrace before sauntering to the restaurant for our anniversary meal. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

I live near the northern end of Central Park, and it's really beautiful. One of my favorite spots is a little lake between 100th and 103rd streets:

http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=virtualpark_northend_thepool

Not knowing what time of year or what time of day/night exactly you are planning- I agree with Tarheels about the lake between west 100 & 103rd.

Another pretty place might be Hernshead at 77th on west side, but on the weekends during the day, there are many tour groups that get lead through there.

My husband and I picnic in Central Park weekly during the warmer months. During daylight hours, the park is safe in most areas. As the months get colder and there are fewer people in the park at night, it's not dangerous per se, but you need to be aware of your surroundings.

If you want to sip your champagne while watching the sunset over the Hudson River, Riverside Park is another option.

FYI-Open bottles of wine/liquor are not legal in NYC public parks, so just make sure you are discreet and you should have no problems.

Happy Anniversary!

It's getting chilly so you might want to go some place where there's a bench rather than having to sit on the ground. At Hernshead is the Ladies Pavillion which is so lovely, there are often many weddings done there. http://www.centralpark2000.com/database/ladies_pavilion.html

Enter the park on west 77 st. across from the NY Historic Society and walk southeast.

Thanks for the replies! I should have mentioned we will be there the weekend of Nov. 1st and we had first thought we would do our little ceremonial dessert after seeing a broadway play. But that would be really late - and cold! So we'll change that to a picnic at sunset. Thanks again for the suggestions!

Do you realize Nov. 2 is the NYC Marathon? The park will probably be packed that weekend with runners.

Though this might be tricky with champagne, another option is to rowboat in Central Park during the day. You can't get much more scenic than that, and while it won't be completely quiet, it will be just the two of you in your little boat!

I don't know that any place will be both legal and comfortable enough temperature wise at sunset to do this unless you get a hotel room with a terrace. The only place where you might manage is on the Brooklyn Promenade but understand an open bottle of alcohol at a public park is illegal.
http://technorati.com/photos/tag/brooklyn+promenade

The last post has got to be an ad for that website b/c I see NO indication of their offering anything close to what you asked for.

In NYC any open bottle of liquor in public is illegal. Liqour can be drunk only in private residences of licensed establishments.

But that's just a techinical issue.

Last night the low was 42 degrees. I think that a picnic at night will be very chilly and very dark - not really a great idea - from comfort reasons if nothing else.

I would definitely do lunch instead - and Sat - not Sun - when there will be a million people watching the marathon and about 100,000 in the park - between runners and friends/families.

at the park along the East River, Brooklyn side just north of the Brooklyn Bridge in the DUMBO area. it's a great, quiet locaiton with great views and wonderful small community feel. it may be a bit chilly that time of year...but what the heck.