8 Totally Kick-Ass First Date Ideas in San Diego, CA
First dates don’t have to be awkward, they’re supposed to be fun! While we can’t promise your Hinge date didn’t lie about his height, we can promise the location of your date won’t be the problem. The key to a memorable first date is finding a place that gives you time to chat while also offering something fun to do. Those first-date jitters are sure to be a thing of the past when you check out some of our favorite first date spots around San Diego, CA.
Ax Thro Co
4428 Convoy St Ste 310 San Diego, CA 92111
(833) 769-6758
The perfect spot to go for a high-energy date activity, Ax Thro Co is a casual date night spot that takes walk-ins as well as reservations to guarantee that an ax chute will be ready and waiting for you and your date. Ax Thro Co also offers other big game activities like pool and life-size Jenga so you and your date can continue the fun. And feel free to bring some snacks along with you to nibble while you play or use this as a complementary activity to pair with a dinner out.
Cozymeal
501 W Broadway Ste 800 San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 642-2212
For a creative and tasty first date, learn to cook together with a professional chef from Cozymeal. Book a group class where you and your date will join up with a few others to learn cooking techniques while preparing a delicious meal that you get to eat at the end of class. Learn the fundamentals of making Thai food to create a savory Tom Kha Gai soup, whip up a Crispy Tandoori Eggplant with an Indian menu class or make date night sweeter with a dessert-themed menu including Lavender Crème Brûlée.
Bowlero Chula Vista
845 Lazo Ct Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 421-4801
Bowling is always a fun, easy going first date idea. hit up Bowlero for dinner and a night of bowling. Snag a fruity Boarding Pass beverage to get the conversation flowing and order an Alley Sampler platter full of wings, fries and cheesy treats to share at the cozy tables assigned to each lane. Bowlero is not just bowling, though as you can reserve a lane for two to create a memorable first date or even visit the arcade for a night of old-fashioned fun and games.
Break Point
945 Garnet Ave San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 274-4018
This beautiful restaurant also happens to have bowling lanes in the back, making it a fun first-date destination for everyone. Delicious dining options like Break Point’s Blistered Shishito peppers are perfect for sharing while you wait on your lane. The San Felipe Fish Tacos will beckon you back to Break Point long after your first date here is over.
Tavern + Bowl East Village
930 Market St San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 677-2695
Snag an online reservation to hold a lane but get to Tavern + Bowl early enough to enjoy the atmosphere and get the date started with a drink at the bar. This popular destination is always full of folks out for fun and good food. We love the Andouille Sausage Corndog Bites to share before hitting the lanes, but when we are hungry, we crave the Carnitas Flatbread and the Farmstead Burger dripping with a fried egg on top, maybe not the prettiest of first date foods, but it sure is delicious.
The Lot Liberty Station
2620 Truxtun Rd San Diego, CA 92106
(619) 566-0069
This luxury cinema is perfect for a classic first-date experience of dinner and a movie. The oversized, reclining seats guarantee comfort while watching the latest theatrical release, but the stars of the show are The Lot’s dining choices. Eat at your seat, in the restaurant or bar or outside on a patio. Surprising options like the Buttermilk Fried Calamari, Prosciutto and Burrata Flatbread and the Tuna Poke Bowl make The Lot the perfect first date destination.
Punch Bowl Social San Diego
1485 E St San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 452-3352
For a night that just won’t stop, Punch Bowl Social is the place to be. Sing your hearts out with karaoke, battle it out over a game of cornhole or shuffleboard or partner up for a game of ping pong doubles against another couple. Punch Bowl Social is not just fun and games, though as they serve up some delicious food when you need a break from competing. We love their Low Country Crab Dirty Fries and the savory Roasted Beet Salad, but the strawberry-topped Chicken and Waffles is a classic game night food sure to fill your belly with deliciousness.
Bernardo Winery
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 487-1866
Stop by the tasting room at Bernardo to share a glass and a Calabrese pizza or make a reservation at The Kitchen for a more formal dining experience on your first date. Dining options at this stunning historic winery include house-made pasta like their Rigatoni with Vodka Sauce as well as Seabass Risotto and Lambchops with Rainbow Potatoes to go along with a glass of Bernardo’s award-winning wines.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our San Diego page, here!
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