Looking to treat your partner or fiancée to a romantic fun date night in San Francisco? What could be more romantic? And we’ve got you covered. From fun date night ideas in San Francisco to secret romantic spots and luxury date ideas, we’ve compiled the most romantic things to do in San Francisco.
What you’ll find in this article:
- Why having a fun date night in San Francisco goes beyond fun
- Best date night ideas in San Francisco that aren’t boring
- The most romantic restaurants for fun date night in San Francisco
- Secret romantic spots in San Francisco
- Romantic date ideas in SF for outdoorsy couples
- Best luxury date ideas in San Francisco
Why having a fun date night in San Francisco goes beyond fun
Going on a date is an amazing way for couples to connect and create new memories. A date night in San Francisco can be a way to celebrate a wedding anniversary. You could even go on a date before your big day to ease the stress of wedding planning. And one great thing about San Francisco is the city’s many romantic date options. But the importance transcends the fun.
Having new experiences can stimulate your mind, ease stress, and serve as an escape from your every day worries. Especially when you are stressed out from work, having a rough patch in your relationship, or making up after a crisis, trying out some fun date ideas in San Francisco can help tremendously.
Here, we are all about helping couples! And hey, a fun date in SF won’t make you go broke! There are many budget-friendly and free things to do in San Francisco. So sit back as we bring you the best fun date ideas and secret romantic spots in San Francisco.
Best date night ideas in San Francisco that aren’t boring
Here are some incredible fun date night ideas in San Francisco:
Enjoy a movie at the theatre
One of the most notable things you’ll discover in SF is the myriad of theatres the city offers. Spice up your San Francisco date night with a movie experience in the historic Castro theatre. The moment an organ player rises from underneath the platform is when you realize this is a movie experience you’ve never had. Strictly “made in San Francisco!”
Other movie theaters to try for your fun date night in San Francisco include the giant screen at Fort Mason and Foreign Cinema Patio. If you’re looking for the best Friday date night ideas in San Francisco, you don’t want to miss the free Friday movie nights at the Chase Center, where you can watch different kinds of movies.
Catch an outdoor Drive-In movie at the park
One of the most fun date night ideas in San Francisco is snuggling up while watching a movie at one of its many parks. Take a cozy blanket and a food basket and enjoy a movie on the big screen. It is free, arguably the most romantic thing to do in San Francisco on a budget. Just ensure you make a reservation early to get a front-row seat.
One of the best places to see a Drive-in Movie is Fort Mason; it’s a fun activity for a date night.
Play couple games
No one likes it when people play games while dating unless it’s a game where everyone wins! Games will always remain one of the most fun date night ideas you can think of. Fun Games can help bring you and your partner closer together or at least make for an exciting date night.
The best couple games to try for a fun date night include:
- One word, one answer. Start with any word, and let your partner reply with another word. The goal should be to form sentences to tell your love story.
- 36 questions. These questions will help you know your partner better and make you fall more in love.
- The dating divas
- Card games
- Scavenger Hunts
- Ping Pong
- Classic Games like Board Games
- Video games if your partner is cut out for it
- “Just for you” question games
- Truth or Dare. It’s just you and your partner, so make it fun.
Enjoy some stargazing for your romantic date night in San Francisco
What could be a more romantic night than cuddling up and gazing at the stars? San Francisco offers some of the best stargazing spots for a date night. Get some sheets, torchlights, and binoculars for added fun!
Catch a theater performance for a fun date night San Francisco
Enjoying an evening of Jazz at the SFJAZZ Center or a hypnotic dance at the SF Ballet is the definition of a fun date night in San Francisco. Want more? Then you need to visit the ACT Theater for an out-of-this-world performance. The best part is that these places are a walking distance of each other.
Other theaters to visit include:
- Presidio Theatre
- Palace of Fine Arts Theater
- Boxcar Theater
- Cowell Theater at the Fort Mason Center
- San Francisco playhouse
Consider these San Francisco date night ideas if you and your partner are one for stage performances.
Enjoy a night of laughter at a comedy club in San Francisco
This fun date night idea in San Francisco is the definition of fun! Laugh your hearts out at the Punch Line, The Setup, or the Cobb’s Comedy Club. The best part is the food and drinks you enjoy alongside the jokes.
Cozy up around a beach bonfire
Cozying up around a beach bonfire is one of the most romantic date night ideas to try. The rest of the country can rely on the summer heat to keep them warm, but we in San Francisco know better. Thankfully, Ocean Beach has 16 rings of fire on the beach, a perfect date night spot. Simply load up a ring with wood and light it up for a truly romantic evening. Indeed, the fire rings make Ocean Beach one of the best secret romantic spots in San Francisco.
Note that the rings are only available through October and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dine through the night at SF’s biggest food truck patty
Want to take your date out for a truly fun date night in San Francisco? Visit Fort Mason Center on Friday night for the biggest food truck party you’ve ever experienced! With over 25 food trucks and live music, you and your partner will surely have an evening of staggering fun! One of SF’s best date night ideas that aren’t boring.
Strike out at a bowling alley for a fun date night in SF
Bowling remains one of the best date ideas ever, and the Presidio Bowl of San Francisco offers a fun bowling experience like no other. Find out how competitive and game-loving your date is with this amazing date night idea in San Francisco with lots of beer and fancy cocktails. If you can drive, check out the Sea Bowl in Pacifica and end your evening with great tacos at the world’s most beautiful Taco Bell.
Dance through the night at the Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is never devoid of fun, but its nightlife event makes it one of the most fun date night ideas in San Francisco. From 6-10 pm on Thursdays, expect unlimited drinks and DJs that transform this four-story rainforest into an exhilarating arena. Sit in the dark, watch bioluminescent sea creatures, and marvel at the 87-foot-long blue whale skeleton with your significant other.
Tour the Alcatraz by night for a fun date night in San Francisco
Touring Alcatraz Island is next on our fun date night ideas list in San Francisco. You experience the island by night as you’ve never seen it before. An otherworldly sunset view hovering above the city in the distance creates a romantic and calm sight. It inspires you so much to talk about with your partner.
The most romantic restaurants for fun date night in San Francisco
Eating and drinking at any ordinary restaurant may seem cliché for a date. Take your date to the most romantic restaurant to make it special and sensational.
Here are the most romantic restaurants in San Francisco:
Californios
As one of the most romantic restaurants in San Francisco for a date, Californios takes California Mexican food to new heights. There’s hardly anywhere else better for fine dining with your significant other.
Shanghai Dumpling King
A romantic restaurant in SF, this popular Chinese restaurant has such an extensive and yummy food menu that it can take some time, making it a great fun date idea in San Francisco. Munch on some appetizers like hot chocolate while you and your date have fun choosing. Or perhaps try everything you could lay your hands (or tongues) on!
Plaj
enjoy some Swedish and Scandinavian mouthfuls in this cozy, sophisticated SF restaurant.
Campton Place
The intimate dining room at Campton Place makes it a perfect restaurant for a romantic date in San Francisco. Enjoy yummy dishes and exquisite cocktails.
Mister Jiu’s
The elegant, open, and historic room at Mister Jiu makes it one of the most romantic restaurants in San Francisco for a date.
Along with visiting famous restaurants, you can also have fun with your partner by taking some cooking classes together; taking a cooking class together will be a very fun idea for you and your partner.
Secret romantic spots in San Francisco
There are so many romantic spots in San Francisco that you might think the city was specially designed with couples in mind. Looking for such a spectacular location?
Here are secret romantic spots in San Francisco for a romantic date:
Strawberry Hill, Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is arguably one of the best locations in San Francisco but least known to tourists. Of all its features, Strawberry Hill is the best for stargazing, making this secret romantic spot ideal for a date night in San Francisco.
Foreign Cinema’s outdoor patio
This serene outdoor patio is one of the secret romantic spots in San Francisco. Adorned with string lights and a large screen for movies, it’s the perfect date idea for a romantic evening under the night sky.
Grandview park
With spectacular views across the San Francisco peninsula, Grandview Park instantly makes you fall in love. It’s a secret romantic spot in San Francisco you’ll want to return to as frequently as possible.
Pier 7 for a romantic date night in San Francisco
Here’s some secret romantic spot in San Francisco where you can have all the privacy in the world for your SF date night. Go at sunset and watch with your partner as the sun goes down and the stars come out. Here are some of my favorite spots that are very underrated.
Baker beach
Baker Beach is the perfect romantic spot for anyone looking to admire the Golden Gate Bridge in the arms of their significant other. Sit in the sand and take in the fresh air as you bask in the presence of each other.
Tank Hill
Although not so secret, Tank Hill is a romantic spot in San Francisco that drowns you in peace and calm. There’s greenery and trees all around, and the atmosphere is so peaceful here. Make your date night in San Francisco romantic and memorable by spending time at Tank Hill.
Lover’s Lane
Strolling down Lover’s Lane Trail is the perfect romantic date idea if you desire a secret romantic spot in San Francisco. The name tells it all! Hold your lover’s hand as you walk towards Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line installation, and finish the stroll at the Main Post Parade Ground, where you can place a blanket down and savor a picnic—one of the most romantic dates ideas in San Francisco.
Ina Coolbrith Park at night
This small, modest park in Russian Hill is an absolute hidden gem, perfect when you desire a secret romantic spot in San Francisco. Climb the steps for a breathtaking sunset view and lounge on a bench with your partner for a romantic date night in SF.
One Kearny
The privately-owned public space on the rooftop of One Kearny is one of the best secret romantic spots in San Francisco. With limited seats, there’s never a crowd here, and you can enjoy a quiet, peaceful, and romantic date night in SF with your partner. The place is gorgeous, and you’ll think there’ll be crowds, but no.
Romantic date ideas in SF for outdoorsy couples
Not every fun date occurs at night. Perhaps, you prefer the outdoors and are looking for a fun date in San Francisco to explore beautiful locations with your significant other.
Not to worry; from boisterous parks to fantastic museums, this session discusses the best romantic things to do in San Francisco for outdoorsy couples.
Visit the San Francisco Zoo
Take a day trip and visit the San Francisco Zoo with your partner. Or, if you’ve both been there, perhaps head out of town to the Oakland Zoo. This is undoubtedly one of the best date ideas around San Francisco.
Take a trip to the aquarium
Visiting the aquarium is one of the best date ideas in San Francisco. As one of the best aquariums in the US, it will surely leave you amazed with incredible sights of creatures you’ve never imagined.
Go on a sightseeing trip
If you want to do some outdoor activities, one of the most fun date ideas in San Francisco is sightseeing. With so many breathtaking views in this great city, you can’t rule it out. Make it more fun by booking with a tour group so they’ll take you to the most intimate and spectacular tourist parts of the city.
Go on a hike
Hiking is next on our list of outdoor romantic date ideas in San Francisco. There are so many fabulous hiking spots around SF, and hiking is an excellent romantic date idea to get them to spend some quality hours with you. Try hiking through Lands End, Muir Woods, or Black Sands Beach.
Take a ferry ride to Angel Island
Book a private day tour to Angel Island on a ferry. This romantic date idea in San Francisco is a chance to explore amazing hiking trails, including one that takes you to the top of Mt. Livermore, with breathtaking views of the island in all directions. Suppose you’re not up for much walking, rent bikes. Finish off with beer and some sandwiches at the Island Café.
See a sports game
Enjoying a game together is one of the most romantic date ideas in San Francisco, and it’s so much fun. Whether you’re a baseball or basketball fan, the city offers many interesting sports and outstanding teams both partners can enjoy. It doesn’t matter if either of you doesn’t know the game’s rules. The cheers can be quite contagious. See the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium or the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center for a fun date in San Francisco. See a night game if you desire a fun date night in San Francisco.
Party at an outdoor music festival
Dancing at The Stern Grove Festival is arguably one of the best date ideas in San Francisco during the summer. With performances from super-talented artists, you and your partner will gas out rocking one another. One of the most romantic things to do in San Francisco, for sure.
Explore the gardens of Golden Gate Park
Exploring the breathtaking gardens of Golden Gate Park is one of the most romantic things to do in San Francisco for lovers of nature. You’ll see all kinds of blooms in an ambiance so romantic it feels fairytale-like. Go with a picnic and some alcohol to take this San Francisco date idea to another level.
Stroll through an art gallery
Next on our list of romantic date ideas in San Francisco is a stroll through art galleries. This fun date idea SF will help you learn more about your date’s interests. The SFMOMA and its top-class art never lose their splendor, while the Asian Art Museum welcomes you with magical worlds, capes and masks, and more. Or you can tour Walt Disney Family Museum and enjoy a picnic later. The visual sensations make this date idea in San Francisco one of the best for new lovers.
Go roller skating
SF’s only indoor skating rink inside Church of 8 Wheels is a good place to be for a fun date in San Francisco. Hold hands during your couple skate and never worry about falling — you’re in a church, so odds are your prayers not to fall will be heard. The place is for skaters of all ages, so if you want an adult-only environment, consider going by night.
Hit the road on a bike
A road trip can be one of the most thrilling date night ideas in San Francisco. With so many spectacular sights and things to do in this city, moving around never gets boring. To heighten the excitement, travel on a bike without a destination. Make stops at shops, restaurants, parks, and any spot that intrigues you. Try anything new. It’s the spontaneity that makes this San Francisco date idea truly fun.
Best luxury date ideas in San Francisco
Looking to splash some money and impress your date? Here are the top luxury date ideas in Francisco:
High Flying Love Story at Club Fugazi
First on our list of best luxury date ideas in San Francisco is visiting Club Fugazi to watch A High Flying Love Story. Produced by a world-renowned circus and arts collective, the show offers all kinds of daring and impossible feats- romantic ones- that will intrigue any couple—a super fun date night in SF for sure.
Book a reservation at SF’s newest hot spots
While you may roll your eyes at a cliché “Let’s go out for a drink” date idea, the experience is different when dining and wining at one of SF’s latest bars. Show off your dating skills by taking your date to one of the newest bars to open. Make a reservation for an expensive spot for a true luxury date night in San Francisco.
Wrapping up our list of fun date ideas in San Francisco
The possibilities are endless for a fun date night or outdoor date in San Francisco. You can have a romantic date night at a luxury restaurant, take a road trip, find a secret romantic spot, or play games all night. Just be creative and find what interests you and your partner to create an experience you’ll both live to remember.
