San Francisco is full of lovely romantic places to have a date, from fine dining to intimate outdoor adventures. Are you looking for fun date ideas in the San Francisco Bay Area with a partner? Read on to get inspired, and see our list of solo date ideas if you just want to treat yourself.
1. Warm up by a cozy fireplace
A homey, roaring fire is a hot commodity during winter (and basically any other season) in SF’s characteristic foggy weather. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite fireplaces in San Francisco, ranging from outdoor patios to neighborhood bars to fine dining restaurants. Read on to discover your next cozy haunt.
2. Browse some local bookstores
Many a San Franciscan loves to curl up with a good book. Not sure where to find your next good read? These famous bookstores around the city are musts for any local bookworm.
3. Heighten your senses at SF’s Dining in the Dark experience
The city’s Mexican restaurant Copas is hosting the ultimate bucket list dining experience. Don a blindfold and sit down to a mysterious ninety-minute meal where you can appreciate three carefully-prepared dishes using only your senses of taste, touch, and smell. Tickets are limited over the coming months, so make sure you book a spot soon for your next San Francisco date night.
4. Take in the views on a local hike
Whether you’re looking for a quick stroll in the city or a more strenuous day hike in Marin, you’ll love these incredible hikes for a chance to stretch your legs.
5. See over 200 magnolia trees in bloom at SF Botanical Garden
Every year, the San Francisco Botanical Garden explodes into a beautiful spectrum of deep magentas and bright pinks. The “Magnificent Magnolias“ event occurs in late January through March. On Jan. 13, 2024, the garden announced the first blooms of the season, so be sure to find a day soon to see these spectacular blossoms at their best.
6. Enjoy a nice meal on a romantic outdoor patio
The perfect romantic SF date night can take a variety of forms, but a night of upscale dining al fresco is a classic go-to. These restaurants have magical outdoor patios to enjoy a variety of delicious food options, creative cocktails, and much more.
7. Enjoy classical music by candlelight at these intimate concerts
The extremely popular series known as Candlelight is wowing crowds in San Francisco. Experience beautiful classical concerts featuring everything from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to a Hans Zimmer tribute, all in the lovely glow of thousands of candles.
8. Check out NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences
NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences is one of our favorite ongoing events. The popular adults-only Thursday night events feature live DJs and music, outdoor bars, and ambience lighting. Keep your eye out for rotating themes, many of which feature fantastic local community partners and a variety of activations. Activities include hands-on crafting, science talks, silent discos in the aquarium, fashion shows, and more.
9. Find a new perspective on an unconventional city tour
Even native San Franciscans have a thing or two to learn from these city tours. Take your date on a fun tour of the city for a unique night out.
- Fort Point Candlelight Tour: A unique night tour of Fort Point National Historic Site.
- Self-guided light art tour: 11 of the best light art installations in the city, reaching from the Bay Bridge to the Castro.
- SF Ghost Hunt: You’ll see the haunted trees of abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant, learn about the Chambers Mansion poltergeists, and more
- Outdoor spots for history lovers: Our roundup of outdoor spots for history lovers isn’t technically a tour, but save the map so you can check these places out when you’re in the neighborhood.
10. Try out a new bar
It’s never a bad time to discover an amazing new bar in the city, whether it has excellent craft cocktails, a unique ambience, stellar service, or an awesome view.
Cocktail bars
Wine bars
11. See the new rendition of Entwined at Golden Gate Park
Charles Gadeken’s Entwined, a sprawling immersive LED light installation in Golden Gate Park’s Peacock Meadow, has been delighting San Franciscans since it first opened in 2020. The whimsical installation is an otherworldly ecosystem of glowing trees, bushes, and other natural elements created from colorful pixel-like LED lights. This year it returns with a new iteration: Entwined: Elder Mother. The sculpture stands at 30 feet tall and casts a 25-foot canopy of light that welcomes people to sit and enjoy its glow. See it now through April 2024.
12. Discover a new sunset viewing spot
There’s truly no shortage of excellent places to see a sunset in the Bay, but we wanted to get to the bottom of where locals love to watch the sky light up. These key sunset viewing spots are recommended by locals!
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Twin Peaks
- Ina Coolbrith Park
- And more
13. Turn your gaze skyward at the best local stargazing spots
Stargazing might be one of the most magical and underrated date ideas in San Francisco. While the furthest person from the city has the highest chances of witnessing a starry night, it’s possible to catch a glimmer or two nearby, and we’ve sought out some promising viewpoints where you can share intimate conversation as you gaze toward the heavens.
14. Treat yourself and your partner at one of SF’s most affordable Michelin-starred restaurants
If you’re looking to treat yourself to a Michelin-starred meal, we’ve put together a list of the most affordable restaurants in San Francisco that have made it into the coveted Michelin Guide.
15. Check out the Exploratorium’s light sculpture exhibition
The Exploratorium’s visitor-favorite GLOW: Discover the Art of Light is back through Jan. 28, 2024. GLOW is a luminous expansion of the Exploratorium’s typical exhibits and a must during the holiday season in San Francisco. This year’s new artworks allow visitors to compose music with light, play experimental LED dungeon crawlers, discover hidden crystals, and much more. Access to the exhibition is included with museum admission.
16. Go whale watching from land or by boat
Whale watching in the San Francisco Bay Area is a nearly year-round phenomenon thanks to staggered migration seasons, and gray whale migration is about to take off. Even from land, you’re likely to see them spouting, slapping their tails (known as “lobtailing”) or even breaching. We’ve put together a guide to Bay Area whale watching boat tours and promising viewing spots.
17. Take a stroll through one of these romantic spots in the city, recommended by San Franciscans
We asked our Instagram followers for their favorite romantic spots in the city, from the beach to restaurant patios. Here are their recommendations!
- Pier 7
- The Embarcadero
- Coit Tower
- And more
18. Go for an adventure on one of these spectacular day trips
We love San Francisco for its countless activities to enjoy everywhere you go. But anytime there’s a long weekend or a free day, we’re quite well-located to check out some neighboring California gems.
19. Skate the night away at this groovy 19th-century church turned roller disco
Have you heard of this amazing roller disco near the Painted Ladies? The Church of 8 Wheels is the ultimate hidden gem, hosting San Francisco’s most avid skaters within a 120-year-old abandoned church. You can zoom around the rink before a backdrop of stained-glass windows featuring Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Disco music and neon lights bring the party to this unconventional skating experience!
20. Take a lap around the Ferry Building
San Francisco’s Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic buildings, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It’s a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers’ market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily in the building’s many stalls. When’s the last time you explored this beautiful and famous landmark? Read on to learn more about the Ferry Building’s history, plus some essential stops you should make on your next trip.
21. Step up the competition at an arcade bar
Looking to shake up your weekend plans? It could be as simple as finding a great pinball machine! No matter how you want to keep yourself entertained, there’s something for everyone at these awesome arcade bars in the Bay Area.
22. See a new museum exhibition
Each month in San Francisco, local museums refresh and replace their temporary exhibitions. Now’s a great time to take stock and plan ahead to see some of these wonderful displays before they’re gone. Check our running list of current and upcoming museum exhibitions so you’ll never miss one again.
23. Explore the Bay’s best saunas and spas
San Francisco is known for its famously chilly weather but is luckily also home to some world-class saunas and spas. Whether you’re looking for an intimate spa day with your partner or a or a more casual environment to chat and relax, there’s a sauna for every occasion.
24. Go shopping at these popular vintage stores
Vintage clothing is always in. Whether you’re trying to channel the bright ’80s vibe of Stranger Things, nail that ’60s Summer of Love look, or want to step into a hip speakeasy in your best ’20s flapper dress, San Francisco has a vintage clothing store for that.
25. Have a WFH/study date at these local workspaces
Whether you’re a student looking for somewhere to crank out an essay, or you work from home and want a change of scenery, here are some great spots to visit and focus up. They’re even better with a friend or date!
26. Attend a hilarious SF comedy show
The eclectic SF comedy scene has produced some of the country’s most legendary performers including Ali Wong, W. Kamau Bell, and Robin Williams. From big-name venues to smaller comedy clubs in San Francisco, these local hotspots are musts for anyone who loves to laugh.