Cole Valley Date Spots in San Francisco

InoVino is a wine bar and osteria from a master sommelier, with more than 30 Italian wines available by the taste or half glass. The room stays intimate and rustic, built around a seasonal Southern Tuscan menu. We recommend the amatriciana, and the gnudi is worth ordering if you want something lighter. Request a reservation through the restaurant website.

Lovely's serves smashburgers and hot dogs out of a space shared with a beer and wine bar, with crowds spilling onto the back patio and sidewalk most nights. The patio is where most people end up sitting, which makes it an easy spot for a double date. We recommend the Drive-Thru burger, topped with schmaltz onions and american cheese on a squishy sesame seed roll. It's walk-in, and lines build up in the evening.

Zazie has served French country cooking since 1992, known for brunch but arguably better at dinner. The dinner room shifts into something cozier and quieter than the daytime crowd, suited to a low-key date. We recommend the Salmon Piallat with risotto, one of the standout dinner dishes. Reservations are accepted for dinner, though brunch runs walk-in only.

Woods pours small batch beer and wine in a room with indoor booths and a spacious multi-level patio out back. The patio has trees for shade, heaters, and string lights, and it's often full of families and friend groups on a given night. We recommend pairing a pint with one of the smashburgers from the kitchen next door, made with lacy edged patties and hand cut fries. It's walk-in only.

Bambino's Ristorante has served Italian food in the neighborhood for over forty years, with complimentary bread service and a vintage dining room. It's the kind of place suited to an easy, unfussy dinner rather than a big production. We recommend the cannelloni, and the carbonara with mushrooms and peas is a reliable second option. Reservations run through OpenTable or by phone.