The Ultimate Guide to San Francisco Date Spots

Let’s be real– you can do better than a basic coffee shop or happy hour for a date. San Francisco has endless things to see and do, and I’ve rounded up some of my favorites. Whether you just matched with someone cute on Tinder, have an anniversary coming up, or just feel like going out on a simple date with your partner, grab your S.O. and head to these fun date spots!

Outdoor Date Spots in San Francisco

One thing I love about San Francisco is that there is so much to do outdoors. Don’t feel like visiting Dolores Park crammed in with everyone and their mom? I am 100% with you on that. Here’s some great outdoor spots around the city:

• Ocean Beach. Bordering Golden Gate Park and the Richmond and Sunset Districts, Ocean Beach is a perfect spot to bring a basket of food and put down a picnic blanket. Come in the daytime for perfect views of the ocean and all the locals walking their dogs, or come in the evening for the best spot to watch the sunset. (also, twice a year, Corgi Con comes to Ocean Beach and it is a must-see event)

• The Presidio. Located on a former military base, the Presidio is a picture-worthy outdoor spot for a date. Take a walk down Lover’s lane, or head over to Lucasfilm and see the Yoda statue. Also located in the Presidio is Chrissy Field, a great place to picnic with fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

• Golden Gate Park. There’s so much to explore in Golden Gate Park. So much, that it couldn’t all possibly be seen in one trip! Find one cute spot to take your significant other for an outdoorsy and adventurous date, like the Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden, or Stow Lake. If you and your date are feeling up for it, there are even pedal boats at Stow Lake you can rent for under $30.

• Do some mild hiking. In such a big crowded city, most people forget San Francisco actually has some good outdoorsy “hiking” spots. Bernal Heights is a light hike just south of the Mission District. Take your date here if you’re looking for great views of the city, as it leads to a nice view of the skyline with little effort. You can also head to Glen Canyon Park, which is located in the Glen Park and Diamond Heights neighborhoods. This park is great for people and dogs alike, and makes you feel like you aren’t in the city anymore. There’s also a field perfect for picnicking.

Unique Date Ideas

• Museums. If your S.O. is into museums, there’s a few around town that are perfect for a date! For art, the de Young Museum is a great spot. This art museum is located right in Golden Gate Park and you can’t beat the $15 admission price ($6 with student I.D.) Don’t forget to head on up to the Hamon Observation Tower on top of the museum for epic views of the park and the surrounding neighborhoods of San Francisco. (Fun Fact: the observation tower is actually free to enter if you want to skip the art museum!) Across the way from the de Young is the California Academy of the Sciences. This museum has got a little bit of everything. There’s natural history, an aquarium, a rainforest, a planetarium, and an albino alligator!! Plan to spend a whole day here as there is a LOT to explore. Luckily, the museum has a cafeteria inside so you won’t have to leave the building to go find lunch. And make sure to check out the living roof :).
• Food and Drink Festivals. There’s so many great food and drink-related festivals happening in the city. Beer, wine, avocados… you name it! One of my favorite festivals is the Spark Social Fall Cider Festival, which features over 30 different cider vendors and fun fall-themed foods. You can pay for a pass with unlimited cider pours, or just buy each cider by the glass.

• Live events. and there definitely are plenty! In such a big city, you’re bound to find a fun live event that caters to you and your date’s interests. We’ve got sports, concerts, theater shows, and more. I love going to the live concerts at venues like the Fillmore and the Chase Center. If it’s the right time of year, you can grab some tickets to a Giants game for baseball, or the Warriors if you like basketball.

Food, Drinks, and All That Good Stuff

• Brunch Spots. In my opinion, Brunch is a very under-used date idea. There are lots of great brunch spots in San Francisco! Two that I love are The Sycamore and Plain Jane, both located in the Mission District. Kitchen Story and Crepevine are also great brunch spots. A couple brunches I have on my radar to try out are: Sweet Maple and Raw Sugar Factory.

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• Restaurants. Dinner is always a great date idea if you’ve exhausted all the “fun” date ideas or just want something more low-key. If you’re into Laotian, Lao Table SF is a highly recommended restaurant located downtown, just a few blocks from Salesforce Tower. I love the Garlic Pepper Pork Rice Bowl. Another great restaurant to try is Franco’s Latin Table, located in West Portal, for Peruvian. The Lomo Saltado here is delicious. Some other restaurants to check out that I recommend: Bella Trattoria, Farmhouse Kitchen Thai, and La Mar.

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• Emporium SF. This fun spot is an arcade bar in the Lower Haight/Panhandle area and it definitely does not disappoint. Emporium actually happens to be my favorite date spot for a night out! They have tons of old-school games, pool tables, a movie screen, DJ, and did I mention this place is inside a 100 year old historic theater? With three floors, two bars, and an excellent selection of beers and cocktails, Emporium SF is a MUST for your next date.
• El Techo. You can’t go wrong with a rooftop bar for a date, and El Techo is the perfect spot to do it. Located in the Mission District, this bar offers perfect views of downtown. Go in the evening or during golden hour for the best backdrop to your date. Make sure to try the sangria and some of the appetizers.

I hope this blog post inspires your next date out in San Francisco!