First Date Ideas: Where to Go and What to Do

Good first date ideas take the pressure off. When you have something fun to do, you are not staring at each other across a table trying to think of the next question. The activity does some of the work, and you get to see how the other person handles a little adventure. Here is a big list of where to go and what to do, plus how to choose.

How to pick a good first date

Before the list, a quick filter. The best first dates are:

• Public. Meet somewhere with other people around, and get yourself there and home on your own.
• Short-ish. One to two hours. If it goes great, you can extend. If not, you have an easy exit.
• Easy to talk. Avoid super loud clubs or a movie where you cannot speak for two hours.
• Low cost. Nobody should feel like they owe anything after a first date.
• Something you actually enjoy. If you are having fun, you are more yourself.

Classic first date ideas that always work

These are popular for a reason. They are simple, flexible and easy to end or extend.

• Coffee or tea. Daytime, cheap, quick. Perfect if you are nervous.
• A walk with a drink in hand. Grab coffee to go and walk a park, a neighborhood or a shopping district. Side by side is easier than face to face.
• Brunch. Relaxed, sunny and less loaded than dinner.
• Dessert. Ice cream, a bakery, a late-night pie spot. Sweet and short.
• A drink at a quiet bar or lounge. Pick a place where you can hear each other.

Active and playful first dates

A little friendly competition gets people laughing fast. Laughing together is one of the quickest ways to feel at ease with someone.

• Bowling. Nobody is good at it, and that is the point.
• Mini golf. Silly, cheap and full of built-in jokes.
• Arcade or board game cafe. Pick a two-player game and trash talk a little.
• Trivia night. You find out how their brain works, and you are on the same team.
• A short, easy hike. Pick a well-known, busy trail, bring water and keep it short.
• Batting cages, a climbing gym or a dance class. For people who like a bit of a challenge.

Food and culture dates

These give you an easy topic, because you are both reacting to the same thing.

• A food truck gathering or a food hall. Share a few small things and rate them.
• A farmers market. Sample stuff, talk about what you like to cook.
• A museum or gallery. Pick your favorite piece in each room and explain why.
• A comedy show. Laughing together is a great start. Grab a drink after to talk. (Dawn would like to remind you that comedians are very good company.)
• Live music in a small venue. Choose somewhere you can step outside and chat between sets.

Free and cheap first date ideas

A great first date does not need to cost much at all:

1. Sunset at a scenic lookout.
2. A free outdoor concert or movie night in a park.
3. Window shopping and people watching.
4. A picnic with sandwiches from a deli.
5. A free day at a local museum or botanical garden.
6. A community event: a street fair, a lantern festival, a cultural celebration.

Not sure what is happening in your city this weekend? Check your city's tourism site, the events page of your local library and the free weekly paper. Those three alone will usually give you a month of ideas.

First date ideas in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is famous for big nights, but some of the best first dates here are low-key. Think a walk to see the lights, a free show or attraction, a local coffee shop off the Strip, a dessert spot, a hike at a popular trail in cooler months, or a casual bar where you can actually hear each other. Keep the first one simple and save the big Vegas night for date three.

Want more ideas? Our page on singles events in Las Vegas is a good place to start.

Make the date go well, wherever you go

• Suggest a plan. "Want to try bowling Thursday at 7?" beats "So what do you want to do?"
• Have a backup. If the place is packed, know a spot nearby.
• Put the phone away. Full attention is the best gift on a first date.
• Bring two good questions. Not "what do you do," but "what are you excited about right now?"
• Tell a friend where you are. Always.
• End warmly. If you want to see them again, say so. Call the next day.

Need someone to go on that first date with? Now or Never is our speed dating in Las Vegas for everyone 21 and over, with a quick lesson first and a room full of people who came to meet someone. New dates are coming soon, so register free and you will hear the moment one is set.