Do you and your partner ever go on day dates? Getting dressed up for dinner and drinks is always an exciting and welcome change from my casual, toddler-filled day-to-day, but there is something sweet and unique about a day date. My husband and I met in college, so aside from class, every day was a day date. Our first official date, about 8 years ago, was actually a day date in the Mission. We devoured giant burritos, held hands, wandered and talked all afternoon. It was laid back and perfect.
I recently realized my husband had never seen the Painted Ladies, and I knew it was the perfect excuse for another spontaneous and romantic day date in the City. We went to Alamo Square Park a few weeks ago and explored the surrounding area. We had no reservations and no agenda, yet we had the best time! We were completely transported back to our carefree college days, and it was like a breath of fresh air that we didn’t know we needed. Check out our itinerary below if you’re interested in a little day date inspiration!
We had just under three hours, while our son was with friends, and we managed to hit a ton of spots! Our first stop was Alamo Square Park for some serious City views. The Painted Ladies are a favorite amongst tourists but still worth seeing at least once. The day went was a little windy, and the fog was starting to roll in, but we couldn’t resist a stop at Bi-Rite for ice cream. Then, we walked over to Rare Device to window shop. It’s almost impossible to browse in small boutique shops with a toddler in tow, so this felt like a rare treat.
My husband and I love to make and drink craft cocktails, so we stopped at Horsefeather next. Maybe I don’t get out enough, but it feels kind of wild to sidle up to the bar in the middle of the afternoon! After a strong cocktail featuring mezcal (and the realization that ice cream isn’t the ideal “lunch” for day drinking), I was craving something salty and savory. Luckily, Souvla was right across the street. We got french fries to go and decided to stroll to Hayes Valley. Hayes Valley is the perfect place for window shopping, with many cool local shops, like Marine Layer. We had already indulged quite a bit at this point, but it’s hard to walk past Christopher Elbow and not stop for chocolate. We picked out some chocolates for our friends as a thank you for babysitting and ended the date on a sweet note.
The key to a good day date is to be spontaneous and pack in as many small experiences as you can. We usually opt to eat and drink at a few different places, rather than having one long sit down meal. I’ve also learned that we talk so much more when we’re walking side by side than when we’re sitting across from each other in a crowded restaurant, so we try to choose neighborhoods that are fun to explore on foot. If you have any recommendations for romantic and fun day dates in San Francisco, leave them in the comments below!
