Are you looking for romantic date ideas in San Francisco?
If you’re looking for romantic date ideas in San Francisco, hopefully this article will give you loads of great ideas!
We get it, you want some great romantic date ideas in San Francisco that make you look like…
- You’re really romantic
- You know about San Francisco
- You’re really good at dates (this is key!)
The great thing about San Francisco is how many great date options there are in the city. It might be known as one of the USA’s most romantic cities – but we know first hand just how gorgeous and loved up this city can be!
So, we’ve taken all the hard work out of finding romantic date ideas in San Francisco, and we’ve come up with a few great ideas so you don’t have to spend loads of time planning…
You just have to show up and have a great time.
So let’s get into it…
Here are our favorite romantic date ideas in San Francisco!
Take a Bike tour of the city
First on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, it’s a bike tour! If you’re both confident on a bike, and enjoy cycling, then bike tours will always be top romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Taking a cycling tour of the city is actually a really cool date idea, especially in the spring of summertime when the weather is great. If you want to book a bike tour in the city, I recommend trying this Electric Bike Tour.
Always go for an electric bike tour in San Fran – because OH MY GOD THE HILLS ARE HUGE.
If a tour sounds a bit too ‘structured’ and you just want get on a bike and explore at your own pace – then you can rent bikes in the city instead!
It’s a perfect choice for fun San Francisco date ideas!
Do a high-speed boat ride
Next on my list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, a high speed boat ride. Nothing screams adventure and romance more than a high-speed boat ride through San Francisco Bay.
This will have you clinging onto each other, screaming with joy (or fear) and feeling the wind in you hair. It’s a pretty epic date idea…
Perfect for making a first impression! And it’s definitely one of the most memorable San Francisco date ideas!
You can book tickets online here.
Take a food tour!
We couldn’t make a list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco and not include food! So our next suggestion for romantic date ideas in San Francisco, is taking a food tour together.
If there’s one thing 2 people can bond over, it’s food. Food is one of the most perfect date activities, it’s fun, it’s delicious and you get to learn about each other’s tastes and preferences too.
Literally food tours are so much fun, and you get to try lots of different restaurants / cafes all in one afternoon.
Whether you’re a SF local, or a tourist visiting the city, food tours have to be one of the top choices on my list of San Francisco date ideas!
North Beach food tour: A great food tour if you LOVE Italian food. You’ll get to explore the Italian restaurant scene of San Francisco, and try pizza and try some of the best Italian food in the city. It’s a great pick for San Francisco date ideas.
Mission District Walking Food Tour: The Mission District is probably one of SF’s oldest neighbourhoods, but recently it has transformed into one of the trendiest parts of the city. This walking tour combines some of the area’s BEST food, and some of the best urban art too.
SF’s Chinatown food tour: Who doesn’t love Chinese food? Chinatown in San Fran is bursting with amazing restaurants and food stalls, and this food tour will literally take you to the best places for the best menu picks.
North Berkeley 3-Hour Food Tour: This tour is a little out of the centre… but OH WOW are there some iconic food destinations on this food tour. You’ll visit Jewish deli, Saul’s, Peet’s Coffee flagship location, The Cheese Board Collective, The Local Butcher Shop, and more.
Do a traditional dinner date
Of course, no list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, would be complete without some dining options.
Whether you make the restaurant you’re sole date activity, or whether you plan an activity and then a meal – it’s always good to have some food options to hand!
- Robin – robinsanfrancisco.com – The Hayes Valley’s best sushi restaurant, in our opinion. Get a seat at the bar so you can watch the masterful chefs work their magic, but rest assured this will be the most amazing sushi you’ve ever eaten. It’s a bit pricy, but honestly so worth it!
- Lavash – lavashsf.com – This restaurant has been going for 10 years, but recently had to do a two year refurb after a 2018 fire, so it’s back in business, and you’ll look very cool for knowing all about it.
- It’s one of only a handful of Persian restaurants in the city, and you’ll find that the Shiraz salad and the Koobideh are amazing.
- Lazy Bear – lazybearsf.com – It’s fine dining without the white table cloths. Lazy Bear is going to give you something a little different to what you’re used to. With communal tables and an attentive but casual style of service, you’ll feel like you’ve been invited to an incredible dinner party.
Read more about San Francisco: 15 restaurants open on Christmas Day in San Francisco
Take a romantic twilight cruise on the bay
Next up on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, it’s a romantic cruise on the bay.
If you want to plan a super romantic date, and by that we mean something really memorable, maybe even once-in-a-lifetime… this is the part of my list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco you’ll want to pay attention too!
A sunset or twilight boat tour is the ultimate choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco to sweep someone off their feet.
A boat tour, at sunset, on the bay. Can you think of anything more beautiful? It’s definitely a classic choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
I love the Luxury Catamaran tour on Get Your Guide because it’s quite a small group on the boat, the boat is open-air and you get to see so many beautiful parts of the city from the water (click here to book tickets).
Take a seaplane tour of the city
Next on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, it’s a seaplane tour. Now this is one for the big-spenders in San Francisco. It’s pricey, but it’s magical.
If you don’t know what a seaplane is, it’s a small aircraft that takes off and lands in water. It’s insanely cool, and it’s one of those mega romantic ‘Bachelor TV show’ kind of dates that you’ll remember forever. Definitely a perfect pick for romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Also, the views you’ll get from the air are crazy cool, it’s one of the best ways to see the city. You can book tickets here.
Read more about San Francisco food: 15 restaurants open on Thanksgiving in San Francisco
San Francisco date ideas: Watch the sunset
If you’re looking for a super romantic option for romantic date ideas in San Francisco, then you need to arrange to meet up and watch the sunset together.
There’s nothing quite like a San Francisco sunet – the colors, the atmosphere, the views… It’s ultimate romance!
We recommend packing some food and drinks, heading to one of the city’s many vista points, and enjoying those slow sunsets with those amazing city views! This is a great pick for San Francisco date ideas.
Read more about San Francisco food: Top 15 upscale restaurants in San Francisco
Grab late-night dessert!
Our next suggestion for romantic date ideas in San Francisco, is to grab a late dessert! Sometimes the most fun date ideas are the ones are take you back to childhood! And we think grabbing a dessert (only dessert!) is such a fun and childish way to get to know each other!
Fun a delicious restaurant, and head there JUST for dessert! Order as many as you want and have a feast of sugary treats over some great conversation!
Read more: 20 amazing dessert places in San Francisco!
Take a Napa Valley wine tour
Napa Valley is one of the most scenic locations in the San Francisco area, and who doesn’t love wine tasting!? If you want romantic date ideas in San Francisco that are truly ‘wow’ and also last the whole day – then a wine tour is pretty awesome.
If you book a tour, you don’t need to worry about driving, and you can just enjoy the day and enjoy each other’s company., which makes it a great choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
We recommend this tour, as you’ll get to visit 3 different wineries – and both the Napa Valley and the Sonoma Valley too.
It’s a great addition to my list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Read more about San Francisco: 30 things to do in Union Square, San Francisco
Visit the Ferry Building Marketplace
If you fancy a couple of hours where you can browse some food and drinks, stores, and do a little bit of shopping (and maybe some eating too!) then we can’t recommend the Ferry Building Marketplace enough!
This is a really lovely choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco! Not only is the Ferry Marketplace in a great location on the coastline, but it’s also got a little something for everyone!
Grab some icecream
Next on our listof romantic date ideas in San Francisco, it’s icecream! If there’s one things San Francisco has plenty of, it’s icecream places!
Grabbing icecream together is one of those super cute date ideas in San Francisco, that is laid back, affordable and chilled. If you’re looking for date ideas in San Francisco that are laid back and relaxed, then this is a really cute idea.
Grab your favorite flavors and take a stroll around the city, it’s such a cute choice for San Francisco date ideas.
Napa Valley Hot Air Balloon
OK, another super-romantic and big budget choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco, is a hot air balloon ride! This is a pretty epic pick for romantic date ideas in San Francisco, and it’s ideal for special occassions!
Taking a hot air balloon is just WOW. You can even finish your tour with a Champagne breakfast option too – just to add in that extra bit of romance. I just think this is the perfect romantic date in San Francisco. You can book tickets here.
Catch a movie at the Roxie Theater
The Roxie Theater is a San Francisco landmark, and it’s an iconic spot in the city for movie lovers. If you’re going down the classic route for romantic date ideas in San Francisco, then we highly recommend heading here to enjoy a movie!
To add a bit of extra romance, you couod organize a dinner date before or after too, or maybe enjoy a sunset stroll before your film starts!
Have a weekend in Sonoma
If you’re looking for romantic date ideas in San Francisco that can perhaps span the whole weekend… maybe you need to plan a little weekend away at one of the nearby scenic towns?
Sonoma is only a few hours drive from San Francisco, and it’s a perfect location for a weekend away (or even a romantic day trip).
You can visit some of the gorgeous wineries, or just explore the towns and eat at some lovely restaurants. There are some more ideas for visiting Sonoma here. It’s a perfect choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco!
Take a picnic in Alamo Square Park
Next on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, it’s a date idea that is really low budget and purse friendly.
A picnic is simply, affordable and super romantic, and Alamo Square Park is one of the most beautiful city parks to sit and people wath. You can enjoy some good food, enjoy the views and enjoy each other’s company! Sounds like an ideal option for San Francisco date ideas!
It’s one of the prettiest parks in the city, with great views, so pack a picnic and head over to Alamo Square Park to hang out for the day. Take a ball, or a frisbee and inject a bit of fun into the afternoon afterwards too! We think you’ll love this choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Go kayaking
Next on our list of date ideas in San Francisco, it’s kayaking! If you’re into outdoor activities and love being active, then we think kayaking together is going to be an awesome choice for date ideas in San Francisco!
You can get a double kayak (and share the work!) or you can get seperate ones and go at your own pace! Either way, it’s a great pick for romantic date ideas in San Francisco. There’s nothing quite like exploring the great ocean together, and seeing those amazing views of the city skyline too!
It’s a perfect pick for romantic San Francisco date ideas!
Take a walk along the beach
A beach walk is next on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco. And, yes, San Francisco has beaches! If you didn’t know! When it comes to San Francisco date ideas, a beach walk is ideal, whatever the weather.
Even on days when it might not be ‘beach weather’ a walk on the beach is still super romantic, so it had to make our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco. If it’s warm then take your swimsuits, if it’s cold bundle up and keep each other warm!
Take a hike
Hiking is our next suggestion for romantic date ideas in San Francisco. There are so many amazing hikes around the San Fran area, and taking a hike together is a really cool date idea if you want to rope them into spending more than a couple of hours with you!
Pop on your hiking gear (or just some gym pants and a pair of trainers!) and set off! Sometimes getting a bit lost together makes it even more fun! The San Francisco Redwoods are beautiful and an amazing place for a romantic stroll, and make for a great choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Here are some hiking trails you might want to consider. This is on my list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco because it’s fun, adventurous and free! Another great choice for San Francisco date ideas.
Find a Shuffleboard bar
Next on our list of San Francisco date ideas, it’s a shuffleboard bar! Me and my husband love Shuffleboard, and one of our favorite romantic date ideas in San Francisco is finding a shuffleboard bar and spending a few hours playing and drinking.
Shuffleboard is a great ice-breaker, and it’s really fun too, which makes it a perfect choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco for first dates or blind dates!
Here’s a list of the best shuffleboard bars in San Fran. This is on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco because it’s one of our personal favourite date ideas, and it’s budget friendly too.
San Francisco date ideas: Play mini golf
Next on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, it’s mini golf! Mini golf is one of those classic date ideas – and San Francisco has some great options for this fun game! And we all know mini golf is one of the best San Francisco date ideas!
Of all the mini golf locations in San Francisco, we reocmmend checking our Stagecoach Greens, it’s definitely one of the best mini golf locations int he city – and one of the best date ideas in San Francisco!
Ride the street cars / trolleys in the city centre
Next on my list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, ride the street cars! We think this is just good fun and a nice way to get around the city, and if you’re not local to San Francisco, then it’s a perfect way to explore too!
Some routes are free, others cost a few dollars – either way it’s a super affordable but also a great pick for romantic date ideas in San Francisco!
Visit a comedy club
There are some amazing comedy clubs in San Francisco, and if you’re a couple who enjoy laughing together – we think you’ll love a night of stand-up comedy!
OK, so comedy clubs aren’t the most romantic date ideas in San Francisco, but romance is subjective! So if you love laughing, and want a chilled, funny and relaxed date night – then we think this is a great option for San Francisco date ideas! This is a great choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Here’s a few comedy clubs you might want to try out:
- The Punchline
- Cobb’s Comedy Club
- The SetUp
- Cheaper Than Therapy
- Killing my Lobster
Go for cocktails
Next on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco, it’s cocktails! There are some amazing cocktail bars in San Francisco, and a night out at one of the city’s many cocktail bars is actually a classic date idea!
Here are some of our favorite cocktail bars in San Francisco to try out for romantic date ideas in San Francisco!
- El Techo
- Bellota
- Trick Dog
- Rambler
- Violet’s
- Novela
- Elder
The Garden of Shakespeare’s Flowers
Next on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco for culture fanatics… What’s more romantic than Shakespeare? This is one of those romantic date ideas in San Francisco for the literaries and romantics!
This garden is heavenly, make this a day date and go strolling through the Garden of Shakespeares Flowers. You can stroll along cobbled pathways, and wind your way around the sundial. It’s not the most exotic or adventuous date idea, but it’s charming and romantic and thoughtful! A lovely option for San Francisco date ideas.
Stroll around Haight-Ashbury
Next up on our list of date ideas in San Francisco, it’s a romantic stroll around Haight-Ashbury! Haight-Ashbury is one of those gorgeous, quirky, neighborhoods in San Francisco, and we think you’ll love it!
There are loads of lovely stores, coffee shops, restaurants, etc – so it’s a perfect date idea for a lazy Sunday! The vibe here is lovely, and it’s a great place to explore, with all it’s quirky buildings, colorful streets and indepenedent bsuinesses!
Read more: 9 reasons you’ll love Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco
Exploratorium
This next suggestion is kind of a quirky romantic date ideas in San Francisco. A visit to the Exploratorium, is equal parts culture and arty, but also mega fun and a great pick for San Francisco date ideas.
There’s so much to see and do in the Exploratorium, and it’s a great date idea in San Francisco because it gives you so many opportunities to laugh and explore / discover together. You can get skip-the-line tickets by clicking here.
Another super fun pick for romantic date ideas in San Francisco!
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Next on my list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco it’s the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It’s a really cute choice for San Francisco date ideas!
The SFMOMA is one of the best art galleries in San Fran, and if you both love art (or just exploring galleries / museums) then heading to SFMOMA is a great date idea. This is a great idea for romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
You can easily spend all day wandering around the exhibitions, and it’s such a great activity to get you both talking and discussing your favourite artists or pieces on show. You can book tickets online here.
7D Darkride experience
Our next suggestion for romantic date ideas in San Francisco, it’s the 7D Darkride experience. There aren’t really any theme parks in San Francisco, but this 7D Darkride is as close as you can get. This is a unique and cute option for San Francisco date ideas.
It’s just totally weird and random, and I think it’d make a great 1st or 2nd date, when you’re trying to break the ice a little and just do something super fun. You can book tickets here.
Do the GoCar Tour of San Francisco
The GoCar Tour is next on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
A GoCar is basically if a gocart and a mini car had a cute little yellow baby. It’s a unique type of transportation and driving one and taking a tour in one is so much fun.
It’s totally unique too and it’s such a fun way to spend time together and explore the city. You’ll see LOADS of the city’s most famous sights during the tour, but for me, this date idea is all about doing something a bit wacky and adventurous together. You’ll love this pick for romantic date ideas in San Francisco!
You can book yourself onto a tour here.
Visit San Francisco Zoo
Next on our list of date ideas in San Francisco, it’s San Francisco zoo. San Francisco Zoo is a fun day out, and it’s one of the best zoos in the USA too!
If you want a fun day out together, something that’s a little different to a dinner date or cocktails – then the zoo is a great shout. It’s fun, it’ll give you plenty to talk about, and it’s certainly not boring! A great idea for date ideas in San Francisco.
Stroll along Lover’s Lane
Did you know San Francisco has it’s own Lover’s Lane? Taking a stroll along Lover’s Lane is a perfect choice for romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Wait for a sunny day, and arrange to meet at SF’s Lover’s Lane. Bring some coffee, and have a chat and catch up in one of the city’s romantic spots. Another great pick for San Francisco date ideas!
See the cherry blossoms together
If you’re visiting San Francisco during the spring, we really recommend viewing the Cherry Blossoms together, as it’s one of the most romantic date ideas in San Francisco.
Of course, you’ll need to time this one right! The cherry blossoms aren’t always visable, and they’re very much a seasonal occassion! But it’s one of the most magical San Francisco date ideas!
