Date Night Inspiration for Bay Area Parents
Date Nights — every parent could use more of them. But between organizing meals, nap times, school drop-offs, and child care (not to mention grocery shopping, and tending to that bottomless hamper of laundry) — who has time to plan a creative night out? Just booking a sitter and getting out of the house with clean clothes is impressive enough, am I right?
As a new mom and Yelp community builder — where our speciality is uncovering unique businesses that locals love — I’ve got a new appreciation for date night. Trendy restaurants are aplenty in the Bay, but if you’re looking for an outside-the-box date night experience, these hidden gems have been given the “woohoo!” seal of approval by yelping parents across the Bay Area.
San Francisco
- Ichido by Feastly — Feastly hosts pop-up chefs and culinary experiences around San Francisco, and Ichido is one of their highest rated dinners with a solid 5-star rating on Yelp. At this omakase feast, you’ll join about 20 other diners at a communal table, where chef Geoffrey, a self-proclaimed “sea forager”, presents each dish and the story behind the ingredients. By the end of the meal, you’ve made friends with your table mates, shared wine, snapped pics, and gotten an inside look at California-inspired Japanese cuisine. Tickets are $85 per person, and bonus — you can BYOB.
2. Woods Island Club, Treasure Island — This urban beach bar / island beer garden is the ultimate staycation experience in SF. Opened in summer 2016, it’s one of the only spots in the city where you can feel sand between your toes and enjoy epic views of the Bay Bridge, all while sipping a fresh “experimental” microbrew from Woods Brewery. Open from 12–6pm on summer weekends.
East Bay
3. Oakland Museum of California— Be those “cool parents” you always wanted to be, and spend date night at the OMCA. Fridays are extra lively with food trucks, adult bevs, DJ sets, and half-price museum admission. A pic with the rooftop peace sign is a must.
4. MeloMelo Kava Bar — Grabbing a drink at MeloMelo in Berkeley is a bit like hanging out at a hip, island hostel. Their kava-concoctions are all non-alcoholic but are said to give you a natural, more mellow buzz (hence, the name MeloMelo). Drinks are are served in coconut shells while surf videos are projected on the wall. Food options are limited to vegan desserts, but the vibe is perfect for quality time and conversation.
South Bay
5. Watercourse Way Bath House — Yelpers recommend this Palo Alto spot for a romantic & relaxed date, perfect for couples who need some “us time”. Watercourse has private spa rooms where you can chill in your own jacuzzi, cold soak tub, and add on a massage treatment if you like. A couples massage paired with dinner nearby? Date night = done.
6. American Improv Theatre — Maybe what you really need during your night away from the kiddos is a good laugh. Enter American Improv, with shows every weekend at their theatre in San Jose. Tickets are a reasonable $10, and they’ve earned a solid 5-star rating on Yelp. Make a night of it, and grab drinks at Hapa’s Brewing Company before or after the show.
North Bay
7. Downtown Fairfax — Broadway Boulevard is a one-stop shop for live music, local dining, and the colorful characters that Fairfax is famous for. You can build your own date night adventure by starting with an al fresco dinner at Mas Masa, then capping the night off with some rock & roll on the patio at Peri’s Silver Dollar Bar. The perfect combo of Fairfax’s old & new scene.
8. Sebastiani Theatre — If you prefer a quaint, old-fashioned movie-going experience to the 3D mexaplex screens, opt for Sebastiani Theatre in downtown Sonoma. Not only do they have modern flicks in their rotation, Yelpers love their “Vintage” movie series, with titles like Thelma & Louise and Great Expectations showing one Monday per month. Patrons are invited to “dress in the era” for each film. Throwback Monday… sure, why not?
Want to keep all these date night options handy? You can find the complete list right here on Yelp.
