Rainy Day Date Ideas in Bay Area

Explore more than 700 interactive exhibits with a drink in hand at the Exploratorium's After Dark nights, an adults-only series at Pier 15 on the Embarcadero.

Sessions start at 6pm on Thursdays, which suits a rainy or foggy night when you want warmth and conversation. Plan dinner nearby afterward, with ramen as one idea.

SFMOMA is a great rainy-day date idea in San Francisco, with seven floors of modern and contemporary art to explore together. Wander through the galleries, compare your favorite pieces and discover something new while staying cozy indoors. With enough art to fill an entire afternoon, you can easily turn your visit into a longer date with lunch nearby in SoMa. The museum is open Thursday from noon to 8 PM and Friday through Tuesday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and is closed Wednesdays.

Chez Panisse is a Berkeley institution from chef Alice Waters, where seasonal California cooking and a warm, rustic atmosphere set the scene for a romantic dinner. Downstairs, stained glass windows and fresh flower arrangements create an intimate setting for a special occasion, with a prix fixe menu that changes nightly. For a more relaxed date, head upstairs to the café for Mediterranean-inspired dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Corner Bar is a cocktail lounge and restaurant in downtown Mill Valley, with two bars, windows over the town square, and a sleek interior. Corner Bar bills itself as downtown Mill Valley's first cocktail lounge.

The room is candlelit and intimate but energetic, with brass chandeliers and upholstered lounges. The menu includes salmon tartare, crispy duck wings, a mezze plate and burgers, along with cocktails.

Musée Mécanique brings a little nostalgia and friendly competition to date day at Fisherman's Wharf. Tucked inside a waterfront warehouse at Pier 45, this quirky museum is filled with vintage arcade games, antique slot machines, coin-operated pianos and mechanical curiosities. Challenge each other to a few games and explore the collection together, all while staying dry on a rainy San Francisco afternoon.

Pocket some quarters first: every game takes just one. The museum is open every day from 10am to 8pm.

Côte Ouest Bistro is a French bistro on the edge of Cow Hollow. French pop stays at a conversational volume, and the seating is close: cushioned nooks with big pillows, plus small two-tops, with a twinkle-light-lined parklet outside.

The menu includes beet salad and sole meunière. We recommend the crispy duck confit. The bistro is closed Mondays.

Ethel's Fancy brings a creative twist to date night in downtown Palo Alto, with a menu of American small plates influenced by Japanese flavors. The bright, airy dining room feels welcoming and relaxed, while the full bar is a great spot to settle in over cocktails and a few dishes to share. It's an easy choice for a casual dinner date that still feels a little special.

Mission Bowling Club is a six-lane boutique bowling alley in the Mission District, with a full restaurant, a cocktail lounge and a covered patio. Date night is one of the reasons it invites you in, and a few frames keep a rainy evening playful.

We recommend the Mission Burger with caramelized onions, caper aioli and Monterey jack. Weekend brunch brings mimosa pitchers, chicken and waffles and breakfast enchiladas.

Catch a film at Roxie Theater, a San Francisco landmark in the Mission District that calls itself one of the oldest continuously operated cinemas in the United States. The nonprofit theater mixes premieres, retrospectives and interactive events, with independent and distinctive films on the schedule.

Burdell is a Temescal soul food restaurant in Oakland from chef Geoff Davis, centered on family recipes. Family photos sit near the host stand, 60s and 70s hits play, and vintage ovens share the room with church pews and cane-backed chairs.

The menu includes chicken liver mousse on a cornmeal waffle and fried jidori chicken, and we also like the sound of the roast pork neck with honeynut squash. Dinner runs Wednesday through Saturday from 5pm to 9pm, with Sunday brunch and dinner as well.