First Date Spots in San Francisco

True Laurel works well for a first date because it has enough energy to feel vibrant and fun without being so loud it gets in the way of the conversation. They're known for their seasonal cocktails and small plates that make it easy to share. Grab a seat inside or outside on the patio, and start with the TL patty melt to split.

Meet over a glass of wine at Ungrafted, a low-key Dogpatch wine bar and neighborhood restaurant where the bright room has a warehouse feel and the volume stays easy for conversation. Wine is the draw, with cider and beer alongside it, while small plates such as za'atar bread with labne or everything-spiced fries are made for sharing. The bar seats serve the full menu. Ungrafted is closed Sundays and Mondays.

For a casual first meal, slurp Fukuoka-style udon at Katsuo + Kombu, a counter-service spot in NoPa. The house-made noodles are thinner and softer than the Japantown style and arrive in a light dashi broth with toppings such as vegetable tempura, sesame miso pork or thin-sliced wagyu beef. The meal takes about 45 minutes, and Fool's Errand on the same strip gives you an easy second stop if you want one.

Otra is an easy Lower Haight first-date stop for margaritas and a few things to split, with two-tops and a menu that includes carnitas, roasted mushroom tacos and battered Baja-style fish. Margaritas come blended or over ice. Stoa, Woods and Bar Jabroni are nearby for a second stop.

Work through a Mexican wine list together at Cantina Los Mayas, a Richmond wine bar pairing bottles from San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato and Valle de Guadalupe with Yucatecan dishes. There is also a full bar. For food, we'd share the panuchos with cochinita and the seafood skewers over papaya and pineapple sauce, or order the mole chicken. Cantina Los Mayas opens at 5pm Wednesday through Sunday and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Settle into a leather booth at Pearl 6101, a California-inspired Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar in the Richmond with dim lighting and both indoor and outdoor seating. The small plates are built for sharing, and tables are not hard to book. Share the handkerchief pasta with white bolognese, and open with the cauliflower on black tahini hummus or the seasonal crudo. Pearl 6101 is open daily from 5pm to 9:15pm.

Try Armenian wine at Roaming Goat, an Armenian and Georgian wine bar on Union Street in Cow Hollow with a barely lit dining room and a heated parklet. Service moves quickly, so the date can stay under an hour or stretch into something longer. The wines, which are tough to find, come with Mediterranean small plates such as black lime tahini falafel and labneh.

Côte Ouest Bistro gives you a close-quarters French bistro date in Cow Hollow, with a twinkle-lit parklet, cushioned nooks inside and French pop playing at a conversational volume. The menu is made for sharing. We'd begin with the beet salad, then choose between the sole meunière and the crispy duck confit. Skip show nights at the Palace of Fine Arts, when date night gets pushed elsewhere. Dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30pm to 9:30pm.

For a more intimate first date, Verjus in Jackson Square pairs a glossy maroon ceiling and candlelight with close seating that keeps the focus across the table. Bistro classics and bar snacks rotate week to week, alongside a wine list from small independent growers. We'd start with the buttery omelettes or rich seafood soup. Verjus is closed Sundays and Mondays, and it takes walk-ins first come, first served.

The Anchovy Bar makes a polished first-date stop in the Fillmore, with dark tile, flowers, orb lights and a seafood-and-wine menu. We'd start with the broiled oysters in sambal butter and the tender anchovies in hot oil. If you do not have a reservation, the bar and outdoor tables take walk-ins any night.