The release of Sex and the City 2 has brought the enigmatic city of New York under the spotlight once more, although there are many who'd argue it is rarely out of it. Big, brash and endlessly entertaining, New York is one of those cities everyone should see at least once in their lives, and with the theme of romance permeating the new Sex And The City movie, there are some unique spots and moments couples should put on their bucket list to experience.

New York City, despite all its bluster and attitude, is one of the most romantic places in the world with a mind-blowing array of experiences for couples to indulge in. Everything seems to revolve around Manhattan - a long sliver of an island which cuts the Hudson River on one side and East River on the other - and its street-level craziness is as fun as it is overwhelming.  So, by special request, here's our top 10 ways to enjoy the Big Apple with your “significant other”.

1. Get a room with a view

It’s no secret that even average hotel rooms cost the proverbial arm and a leg on Manhattan, so you may as well go for broke. The city has some amazing hotels, many of which have featured in the Sex And The City television series, but for unrivalled views over Central Park and the Midtown skyline, the Mandarin Oriental on floors 35 to 54 of the Time Warner Building is one of the leading innovators on the New York Hotel scene.

2. A carriage or rickshaw ride through Central Park

After a stroll through one of the world’s great parks, time to take a horse drawn carriage, or “hansom cab”, and clip-clop your way around the southern end of the park. The carriages operate from near the Plaza Hotel on 59th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. Don’t worry if  it’s a bit chilly - your driver will give you a blanket to snuggle under. Rickshaw rides are also an option, and local riders are more than happy to give you the lowdown on their city. Carrie and Mr. Big did it in one memorable episode, so it can't be that much of a cliché, right? 

3. Lunch at the Boathouse Cafe

Your driver or rider will happily drop you off at the Boathouse Cafe in Central Park. It’s quite simply the most relaxed and elegant way to do lunch on Manhattan, and surprisingly it’s moderately priced given its reputation and superb setting. It was the location for a scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal from When Harry Met Sally (not Meg’s famous big “O” performance) and it also poped up occasionally as a lunch venue for the girls from Sex And The City - including one memorable episode where Carrie and Mr. Big end up in the water!

4.  A boat ride in Central Park

It’s a romantic cliché which has to be done at least once in a lifetime, with your partner on the bow of rowboat, or behind the oars, on a stretch of water simply called The Lake. Ducks and swans glide up to you, probably looking for scraps of bread, and all around you is the serenity of Central Park. Just beyond is that famous skyline and its street life which appears remarkably calm from this perspective. It is especially beautiful in spring when the blossoms bloom, or autumn when the leaves turn to red and gold.

5. Taking in the view from the Empire State Building

It’s been dubbed the "Cathedral of the Skies", and to really get a feeling of the scale New York City, the journey to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building is a rite of passage for anyone who visits. It has a hypnotic effect, and it’s no wonder the Observation Deck has been used in romantic feature films Sleepless in Seattle and An Affair to Remember. Even King Kong brought his date up here! Be prepared to queue these days, though….partly due to popularity, and also security checks since 9/11.

6. Ice skating at the Rockefeller Center

From October to April, this is a very New York thing to do, and even if you’ve never skated before, it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. And besides, if you have someone with you, it means you have something to hang on to if you’re about to fall. How romantic to fall into your lover's arms?

7. Shopping on 5th Avenue

Shopaholics beware! This famous street will send you on a bender to beat all shopping binges. If you can show self-restraint, save it for 5th Avenue where clothes shops and department stores compete for your credit card. Also, if you are following the popular trend of owning a piece of jewellery by the famous Tiffany & Co, there's a huge store here made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. But if their prices scare you off, make like Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly and grab a coffee and pastry. It’s on 727 Fifth Avenue, (57th St)

8. Be Pampered at Bliss Spa

After running around the streets of Manhattan, you want to look good for your big night out and the oh-so-cool Bliss Spa is very Sex And The City. For guys the “Homme Improvement” is a masculine triple oxygen facial and for the ladies the “Oxygen Blast” freshens and revives.

9. Dinner for two at the Essex House

Paris aside, Manhattan is one of the best places in the world for dining à deux, and Alain Ducasse’s Essex House restaurant is rated THE place to go for culinary decadence. Traditionally French with a sumptuous setting, the Essex House serves up all the romantic classic dishes - foie gras, truffles, lobster, soufflés etc. It’s on 155 W58 Street.

10. A photo op at Times Square

Newlyweds bunch up together with the bawdy neon billboards as a backdrop and have their wedding photos taken, and elsewhere other couples dodge the madding crowd to do the same. Times Square typifies New York’s street level grit and glamour, and captures the essence of the "New York minute".

To read a review of Candace Bushnell's new book, The Carrie Diaries, which heralds the launch of the new Sex And The City movie, click here.