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First Date Ideas That Aren’t Totally Boring in Philadelphia, PA

Harper's Garden
Double Knot
Kick Axe Philly
The Dandelion
Friday Saturday Saturday
Bud & Marilyn's
JG SkyHigh
Harp & Crown
outside seating at Harper's Garden in Philly
Harper's Garden
Inside Kick Axe Throwing in Philly
Kick Axe Philly
upstairs dining room at The Dandelion in Philly
The Dandelion
Meal from Friday Saturday Saturday in Philly
Friday Saturday Saturday
Sour whiskey from Bud & Marilyn's in Philly
Bud & Marilyn's
dining room from JG Skyhigh in Philly
JG SkyHigh
Pizza from Harp & Crown in Philly
Harp & Crown

A good first date can set the foundation for a great relationship. That usually means getting a table at the right spot. Need some help picking out a good restaurant for a first date in Philadelphia? Check out these eight first-date ideas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

outside seating at Harper's Garden in Philly
Photo Credit: Yelp.com

Harper’s Garden

31 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA
(267) 886-8552

The enchantment factor at Harper’s Garden is off the charts. Offering drinks and dining in an open-air veranda within a vibrant garden landscape within the heart of the city, this restaurant shines when it comes to serving up refined classics. It also offers flexibility for date times by serving during brunch, lunch, and dinner hours. A warm kale salad appetizer that’s followed up by the short rib with spaghetti squash and blue cheese crema is a great pick! The wine list also gets a bravo.

Duck scrapple bao from Double Knot in Philly
Photo Credit: Yelp.com

Double Knot

120 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 631-3868

If you’re dating to tie the knot, suggesting Double Knot as a spot for the first date could be a winning strategy. Double Knot is a two-floor restaurant split between a cocktail lounge and sushi bar/robatayaki. Feasting on amazing Japanese barbecue is a great way to get to know another person! The edamame dumplings and “lazy” chicken bao buns are two of the standout menu items that are great for sharing. The nice part about Double Knot for a first date is that you can choose table or bar seating while dining. Someone planning a date can also appreciate that the menu features vegetarian options, pork, beef, seafood, and poultry to cover all the bases for preferences that may not yet be known!

Inside Kick Axe Throwing in Philly
Photo Credit: Yelp.com

Kick Axe Philly

232 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
(800) 850-6756

Who says a date that includes great food has to take place in a restaurant? Kick Axe Philly combines yummy food with a fun activity for those who feel too antsy to get stuck across the table from someone on a first date! This spot for a fun night out features a long drink menu consisting of beer, wines, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages. The food menu features wings, flatbreads, street tacos, sliders, and multiple desserts. You really can’t go wrong with Kick Axe’s tasty roasted pork sliders featuring broccoli rabe and sharp provolone. The food is good enough here that people often come in just to eat without ever picking up an axe!

upstairs dining room at The Dandelion in Philly
Photo Credit: Yelp.com

The Dandelion

124 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 558-2500

What better spot for a budding romance than this yummy British gastropub? The British-style décor of this multi-floor pub definitely brings to mind thoughts of a Jane Austen novel. Of course, it’s the menu that really speaks everyone’s love language. An appetizer of crab croquettes flavored with lemon, black pepper, paprika, and saffron mayonnaise is a dream! For dinner, the baked trout served with tri-color cauliflower is an unforgettable choice. Afternoon tea is also available!

Meal from Friday Saturday Saturday in Philly
Photo Credit: Yelp.com

Friday Saturday Saturday

261 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 546-4232

Friday Saturday Saturday offers a robust culinary experience that guarantees love at first taste. Generating a posh and refined vibe, this eatery requires guests to pay online in advance for their experiences. While this restaurant is the talk of the town, it’s not necessarily a place for a picky eater simply due to the format. The preset tasting menu consists of crudo, sweetbreads, New York strip, grilled quail, and other refined options.

Sour whiskey from Bud & Marilyn's in Philly
Photo Credit: Yelp.com

Bud & Marilyn’s

1234 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 546-2220

If the goal is a fun date night that emphasizes great food, Bud & Marilyn’s is an obvious choice. The menu here is full of filling comforting favorites that impress the taste buds without putting on airs. The restaurant’s famed stuffed meatloaf made with cheese, mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy never disappoints! It goes great with a slowly sipped old fashioned made with bourbon, sugars, and bitters. The dim lighting and “Mad Men” vibe ensure nobody will feel like they’re under the spotlight during a first date!

dining room from JG Skyhigh in Philly
Photo Credit: Yelp.com

JG SkyHigh

1 North 19th Street (Floor 60), Philadelphia, PA
(215) 419-5000

When choosing JG SkyHigh for a first date, the views that surround the table provide the perfect conversation starter every time! This upscale bar and restaurant is the king of romantic views in Philadelphia. It actually offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus to ensure that guests can choose which sky they want to see. The pan-roasted salmon and rigatoni with meatballs are the two winners from the dinner menu. A date can even be made from simply stopping in to order the warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream from the dessert menu!

Pizza from Harp & Crown in Philly
Photo Credit: Yelp.com

Harp & Crown

1525 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 330-2800

The décor and ambiance inside Harp & Crown scream romance. Once seated beneath a gorgeous crystal chandelier hanging from a 24-foot ceiling in a room covered in vintage wallpaper, guests can explore a menu consisting of roasted salmon, roasted halibut, roasted chicken, dry-aged burgers, duck, and bucatini with clams. The cosmic brownie sundae from the dessert menu that’s served with marshmallow ice cream is the perfect treat for splitting if the night goes swimmingly!

 

For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Philadelphia page, here