Really, a good date comes down to the company. But if one thing aside from that guarantees a great night, it’s the location. Live music spots where you can’t help but dance; restaurants with the perfect combination of soft lighting and great food; bars with a vibe so good, you shut it down.
Here are 10 spots where the venue does most of the work for you – on a dedicated Google Map here, ready for you to save.
De Willem, Amsterdam
The small plates, the perfect light at sunset, the community vibe – the place gives you options rather than deciding the mood for you.
Gresca, Barcelona
Natural wine and modern Catalan cooking done in a way that feels effortless. A long dinner, great wine – this is a restaurant that might restore your trust in tasting menus.
Preservation Hall, New Orleans
Preservation Hall is the heartbeat of New Orleans jazz. It’s small, it’s loud and the musicians are extraordinary. There are no seats, no drinks, just pure live music in a space that has been doing this since 1961. You will not stand still.
Kingston Dub Club, Jamaica
The Kingston Dub Club is a unique experience. Held outdoors on a hillside on Sunday evenings, the sound is old-school reggae and dub played on a real soundsystem with the whole of Kingston below you.
Dal Bolognese Milano, Milan
Dal Bolognese restaurant in Milan is where you go when you want to feel Italian for an evening. The tagliatelle al ragu is the single best version of that dish I've had. A classic for a reason.
Nancy’s Hustle, Houston
Nancy’s Hustle bistro in Houston surprised me. The wine list is one of the best I’ve seen in America and the food backs it up. It’s a date night restaurant in the truest sense: somewhere that makes the other person feel like you went to real effort.
Corral de la Morería, Madrid
Corral De La Morería is one of Madrid’s most iconic flamenco tablaos and it has never disappointed me. You eat, you drink and then the show begins and everything stops. The dancers are extraordinary.
The Dreamery, London
The Dreamery is a tiny, psychedelic jewel box tucked away in De Beauvoir. It’s the kind of place where the glowing ceiling mural and stainless-steel curves do half the work for you. Between the artisanal scoops and low-intervention wine, everything is considered but nothing feels forced – the ultimate “if you know, you know” spot for a date.
Sala De Despiece 1 (SDD1), Madrid
Sala De Despiece in Madrid is unlike anywhere I’ve been. You stand at the counter, you point at what you want, it arrives in seconds. The quality is extraordinary and there’s something about that format that makes the whole night feel more alive.
Bistrot Des Tournelles
I mean you can’t beat a bit of candlelit romance and, if you’re doing it right, it’s Bistrot des Tournelles in Paris all the way. Soft, sexy and very classic. Great wine list.
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