First Date Spots in San Diego

Take a slow walk through the 12-acre Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, where bamboo groves, waterfalls and koi ponds line the paths. Cross the Japanese-style bridge or stop at a bench along the way. The garden is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with the last ticket sold at 5pm, making it easy to fold into a longer Balboa Park date.

Bring a blanket and picnic to Sunset Cliffs Natural Park and let the sunset set the pace for the date. The 68-acre park sits on Point Loma's western edge above the Pacific, where sea caves, arches and bluffs shape the coastline. Sunset viewers gather around the Ladera Street area, with street parking and small lots nearby. Wonderland, Surflodge and South Beach in Ocean Beach are close enough for a meal or drink afterward.

Keep dinner casual at Liberty Public Market in Liberty Station, where separate vendors cover seafood, prepared food, cocktails, beer, wine and pastries. You can each order something different and share, or wander the stalls before deciding what you want. The market is open daily from 9am to 8pm, and it can follow a film at The Lot or a round of mini golf.

Combine dinner and a movie at The Lot in Liberty Station. The luxury cinema has its own ZENTRL Kitchen and Bar, along with craft coffee, pastries, spirits and wine, and the leather recliners come with food delivered directly to your seat.

Swan Bar gives a North Park first date a cozy, slightly playful setting with velvet Elvis portraits and pink light. Start with the mezcal-and-coconut-creme Juarez Weekend or the draft espresso martini, then add beer-battered onion rings or a smash burger if you want food. The kitchen closes at 9pm.

Turn coffee into more of an outing at Il Giardino di Lilli, a La Jolla cafe styled like an Italian villa. Outside, you can sit at a table made from a carved door or find a spot under trellised vines in the small alley. The outdoor area can get lively but has a few quieter nooks. Try the flower-bud latte with the eggplant panino alle verdure.

Talk over a tomato gimlet at Convoy Music Bar, a listening bar in the Convoy District where vintage R&B plays on a hi-fi system and velvety emerald furniture fills the room. The acoustics are excellent for conversation. The entrance is down the back alley of a strip mall, and most weekend stays are limited to about 90 minutes.

Craft Bar Kamon is tucked away in East Village, through a discreet door in the back of Asa Cafe & Bakery. Inside, the 1920s theme brings together a zen garden, shoji paper screen walls and oversized armchairs and love seats. Start with the hojicha-infused Negroni and add the chicken karaage. Guests must be 21 or older.

At Juniper & Ivy in Little Italy, the open kitchen gives you something to watch while the chef-driven, seasonal meal unfolds. The restaurant occupies a once-abandoned warehouse with seating at the bar, in the main dining room, at the chef's counter and on a covered patio. The Michelin-level food is aimed at impressing a date. Hours are 5pm to 9pm Sunday through Thursday and 5pm to 10pm Friday and Saturday.

Meet for cocktails at Polite Provisions in North Park, where an apothecary theme and old-timey drug store decor give the room plenty of character. The handcrafted menu takes creative turns on whiskey sours and negronis, with drinks built around gin, rum and more.