Living in the Bay Area means that you’re constantly surrounded by incredible activities, food, and more. Even with all these options, for those dating or in relationships, sometimes it’s nice to have a little help in the date-ideas department. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list of the 30 best date ideas in the Bay Area. And given that the Bay Area is huge, we’ve organized the list by North Bay, East Bay, South Bay, the Peninsula, and San Francisco to make planning that much easier.
Your romantic first (or third or fiftieth) date awaits!
Spend a day at Muir Beach soaking up the sun (if it decides to make an appearance). Afterward, walk about 5 minutes by trail to Pelican Inn, a quaint English-style inn and pub. Order two pints, and sit out on the grass for a lovely post-hike brew with your boo. We think this is one of the best date ideas in the Bay Area.
Visit Muir Woods early before the crowds so you can take in the majestic redwood canopy without it feeling like Disneyland. If you and your date aren’t too tired from your early wakeup call, there are several hiking trails that you can take leading from the main path.
Just north of its big sister Napa, St. Helena is still in the Napa Valley but has more of a small-town feel. Spend a day sipping your favorite cabs or petite syrahs with your loved one. And if you get a second date and want to come back for more, purchase the Napa Valley Wine Passport for St. Helena, which gives you access to wine tastings at 13 participating wineries. Cheers!
Some of the best Bay Area date ideas are spent on the water. Head to Seatrek, located in Richardson Bay, to rent single or double kayaks, then paddle in the calm waters and enjoy amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and beyond.
Santa Rosa might be the largest city in North Bay, but it’s home to plenty of open space ripe for exploring. Trione-Annadel State Park has lots of trails and fields of wildflowers in the spring. Hood Mountain Regional Park offers nearly 20 miles of hiking trails with scenic vistas overlooking the city and surrounding landscapes.
If you’ve never visited the Suisun Valley, now’s your chance. This area is full of wineries and farms, one of which is Larry’s Produce. This farm offers U-Pick fields, meaning that you can pick your own peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, flowers, and more. Produce-picking might not be first on your list of date ideas in the Bay Area, but it can be a fun, refreshing, and even grounding activity that you and your date can share together. Then, head home and cook a delicious meal together with your farm-fresh produce.
You don’t need something fancy to make a good impression on a date, but it never hurts to pull out all the stops. Make reservations for The Bungalow Kitchen’s three-course prix fixe menu on Sunday nights. The menu for the Sunday Supper changes every month and always delights the taste buds. Make sure to request a table on the deck to enjoy views of the Tiburon marina and the lights of San Francisco in the distance.
For first date ideas in the Bay Area, head to the Grand Lake neighborhood in Oakland. First, you’ll visit the Grand Lake Farmers Market. Peruse the vendor stalls, picking up a few treasures and tasty bites along the way. Then, spend a few hours strolling up and down nearby streets Grand Ave and Lakeshore Ave, popping into small shops, bakeries, and eateries.
Don’t worry—we’re not talking about the Pacific Crest Trail. For romantic date ideas in the Bay Area, take your date to the Crest Trail in Richmond, a low-key hike perfect for a sunset where you can witness epic views of the bay. If you don’t want the date to end, take the route that ends near East Brother Beer Company for a pint and more time with your partner.
When you need some competition to spice up your romance, Plank is the place to go. It’s a huge restaurant and entertainment space in Oakland, near Jack London Square, where you and your date can bowl, play bocce, or head to the arcade.
A list of date ideas in East Bay isn’t complete without mentioning the West Wind Solano Drive-In movie theater in Concord. It’s perfect for an old-school date night but shows modern movies, of course. Bring snacks and cozy blankets for a night of cuddly romance and a good film.
If you and your date have a case of the Mondays, go to Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland, where every Monday night is blues night. Post up at the bar and listen to great live music. This is one of those date ideas in the Bay Area that makes you want to move and groove with your loved one.
For a fun dinner experience, take your date to La Marcha Tapas Bar. Nestled in Berkeley, this is a wonderful spot to share small plates of calamari and patatas bravas or large-scale paella. Don’t forget the sangria to top off your Spanish-inspired date night.
Central Park, located in Fremont, boasts an 80-acre lake, pickleball courts, a golf course, and walking and biking trails. While you can rent boats to take out on Lake Elizabeth, save your sea legs and instead bike around the lake, stopping for a romantic picnic along the way.
The GrandView steakhouse perched above San Jose is one of the most romantic spots in the Bay Area. It’s been around for nearly 150 years and still serves up a delicious steak and incredible, panoramic views. This historied restaurant is a quintessential date idea in the South Bay area for a reason. Don’t forget to dress to impress, as The GrandView does observe a dress code.
From Morgan Hill south to Gilroy, you’ll find a number of picturesque wineries. Take a drive along the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail with your favorite passenger and stop at the wineries that intrigue you the most.
Weeknight date ideas often involve happy hour or a quick bite to eat, but why not get out of your comfort zone and go to a hockey game? You and your date can cheer on the beloved San Jose Sharks from October through April.
Hand in hand with your loved one, stroll through Hakone Estate and Gardens, which sits on 18 lush acres and boasts koi ponds, quaint bridges, and even a bamboo forest. You both will love the refreshing few hours exploring this beautifully landscaped estate in Saratoga.
Every first Friday of the month, galleries in the SoFA district participate in South First Fridays, a San Jose art walk near downtown. Galleries open up their doors from 5–9 pm so that visitors can check out cool artwork with their favorite person by their side. This is also a great cheap date idea in the Bay Area, as admission is free!
Get ready for one of the most romantic date ideas in the Bay Area. Another wow-worthy dinner spot in South Bay is La Foret in New Almaden, about 25 minutes from San Jose. Reserve a table on the outdoor patio to enjoy dinner with the peaceful sounds of the nearby creek.
Want to know if your date shares your humor? Get tickets to one of the improv shows at ComedySportz, where the audience rates each scene and has plenty of laughs along the way.
Outdoor date ideas in the Bay Area don’t have to involve breaking a sweat. Just grab tickets for a show at the outdoor Frost Amphitheater on the Stanford University campus. The concert hall hosts events for the San Francisco Symphony and concerts for well-known bands and musical guests. Spread out a blanket on the grass, order a couple of drinks, and enjoy music under the stars with your S.O.
Half Moon Bay is less than an hour’s drive from pretty much anywhere on the Peninsula, so it makes for one of the best Bay Area date ideas for people who live in this neck of the woods. Grab a bite at Sam’s Chowder House, sunbathe for a couple of hours, and end the day with a sunset stroll along the Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trail.
The Bay Area has no shortage of notable sushi restaurants, but Sushi Yoshizumi in downtown San Mateo has one of the most coveted reservations. Each nightly seating is omakase, where you’ll be surprised by the chef’s picks and enjoy an intimate dining experience with your sweetheart. Keep this idea in mind for a special occasion—the price is worth it for the memories.
Want dive bar games without the dive bar vibe? Head to The Great Entertainer in San Mateo, which has pool tables, foosball, ping pong, and more—which means you and your date can have endless fun all night long.
Explore Crystal Springs Park on your own sets of wheels by taking the Sawyer Camp Trail that runs along the Crystal Springs Reservoir. This is a nice option when you want a relaxing and refreshing date idea in the Bay Area.
You don’t need to make a trek to vineyards to sip delicious wine. Just head to The Wine Room in Palo Alto for a cozy (and convenient) date night, a great option for a first date idea in the Bay Area. If you are, indeed, on a first date, don’t leave home without brushing up on these conversation starters.
The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University is the perfect daytime date spot for art enthusiasts. It boasts contemporary and classic art as well as a sculpture garden, a lovely setting in which to walk hand in hand with your loved one.
Need daytime date ideas in San Francisco? Look no further than Haight St., which is home to seemingly countless vintage and thrift shops. Spend your daylight hours trying on cool jackets, vintage sweatshirts, and more with your S.O.
With various intersecting trails and points of interest, the Presidio is a wonderful starting point for adventurous date ideas in SF. You could walk, bike, or jog through the park with your date, picking a new trail at each turn. Here’s one route idea: Start at the Lyon Street Steps in Pacific Heights, choose your own trails, then end at the southwest corner near Lake Street to reward yourselves with a savory pie at Pizzetta 211.
Want more SF date inspo? Check out the 9 best romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Now that you have the best date ideas in the Bay Area, all you need is to find your person and start exploring this heavenly slice of the California coast together.
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