The Best Date Spots in San Francisco

For a date that costs nothing but still feels like a plan, walk the Coastal Trail from Lands End toward the Sutro Baths. The trail follows the cliffs above the Pacific, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge along the way, before dropping down to the ruins of the old baths. Go in the late afternoon and take your time, ideally catching the sunset over the water before heading back.

Grab a bottle of wine or something to-go and head up Bernal Hill about 30 minutes before sunset. From the top, you can see Downtown, the Bay Bridge, Twin Peaks, and the Peninsula, then watch the city light up as it gets dark. The top of the hill is closed to cars and popular with neighborhood dogs, so it feels relaxed enough for an early date without requiring much of a plan.

Take a walk around the Palace of Fine Arts just before sunset, when the light hits the rotunda and reflects across the lagoon. The loop itself only takes about 15 minutes, so pair it with coffee, wine, or dinner nearby if you want to make a night of it. Or just find a spot by the water and stay awhile.

If sitting across a table making conversation feels like too much pressure, go roller skating instead. Church of 8 Wheels is a roller rink inside a former Fillmore Street church, complete with stained glass, a mirror ball, and a DJ. Sessions run about 90 minutes and skate rentals are included, so you don’t need to own a pair or be particularly good at it. In fact, it’s probably more fun if neither of you is.

For a first date that could use a little built-in entertainment, head to Emporium on Divisadero. The huge arcade bar sits inside an old movie theater, with pinball machines, cabinet games, pool tables, and a full bar. Grab drinks, get a handful of tokens, and let a little competition carry the conversation.

For a quieter daytime date, wander through the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. The five-acre garden winds past koi ponds, stone lanterns, clipped pines, and its steep wooden drum bridge. Stop at the teahouse for matcha and something sweet overlooking the pond. Go between 9 and 10 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday for the quietest hour and free admission.

On Thursday nights, the Exploratorium becomes adults-only for After Dark, with drinks, rotating programming, and more than 600 hands-on exhibits. It’s an especially good early-date option because there’s always something to do or talk about, whether you’re playing with an optical illusion or wandering outside for a break along the Bay. Book ahead because After Dark can sell out.

Reserve a lane at Mission Bowling Club, order cocktails and a plate of fries, and let the loser pick up the next round. The six-lane bowling alley on 17th Street also has a full bar and a kitchen worth sticking around for. The Mission Burger, topped with caper aioli, Monterey Jack, and caramelized onions, is the thing to order. If you don’t feel like bowling after all, you can always just grab dinner at the bar.

For something a little more intimate, spend a few hours at the communal baths at Kabuki Springs. Move between the hot pool, cold plunge, steam room, and dry sauna, with a central quiet room in between. Most days are reserved for women or men, but there are select co-ed days when swimsuits are required, so make sure to check the schedule before planning your date. Sessions last two and a half hours and weekends tend to fill up.

Instead of going out for dinner, make it yourselves. The Civic Kitchen on Mission Street runs a recurring Date Night class where you and your date cook your way through a five- or six-course seasonal menu over the course of the evening. Wine and beer are poured throughout, and once the cooking is done, everyone sits down to eat what they made. You leave with the recipes, which also gives you an excuse to attempt the whole thing again at home.