10 Second Date Ideas in Seattle

Make handmade pasta the focus of a second-date dinner at Spinasse in Capitol Hill. On the Piedmontese Italian menu, look for tajarin with sage butter, semolina gnocchi with milk-braised pork, and cavatelli topped with braised short rib.

We'd start with the tajarin, though the cavatelli is a tempting alternative. Tables can be booked up to 60 days in advance.

Dress up for a second-date dinner at Canlis, a family-owned fine dining restaurant in a mid-century building. Natural light and views of Seattle, Lake Union, and the Cascades give you something to take in between courses.

Book through the website, email reservations@canlis.com, or call (206) 283-3313. Check the site's FAQ for attire and cancellation details before you go.

Sit side by side and let the chef guide dinner at Sushi Yoin, an omakase counter in Queen Anne. The seafood draws plenty of praise, while chatty, warm hospitality includes a hug from the chef at the end of the meal.

Reserve through the website for one of two seatings, at 5pm or 7:30pm, Wednesday through Sunday.

French cooking and a view make Maximilien an appealing second-date dinner. The chef-owned bistro is in Pike Place Market and is known as a date-night spot.

You'll find it inside the market at 81A Pike St.

Keep a second-date dinner relaxed with pizza and a spritz at Bar Del Corso in Beacon Hill. The wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas have charred crusts, with Italian small plates, salumi, cheese, wine, and housemade bread and sweets rounding out the menu.

Choose a table inside or on the patio. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 4pm to 9pm. Book through the Make a Reservation link, or email for parties of 7 or more.

Handmade ni-hachi soba and seasonal tempura give you a craft to appreciate up close at Kamonegi, a tiny restaurant in Fremont. The quiet, calm room leaves plenty of space for conversation.

Small plates go well alongside sake, including ikura on battered shiso leaves. Reserve through the website, or try the limited walk-in seats at the chef's counter and bar for parties of up to 5.

Take your time talking as you walk through Seattle Japanese Garden, a quiet daytime stop within Washington Park Arboretum.

Buy tickets at the booth, with no reservation needed. The garden is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays; October hours are 10am to 5pm. Parking is free but limited.

Wander the gardens on a free daytime date at Ballard Locks. The Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden has terraced greens, and you can look across the locks toward Kiwanis Ravine to spot a heron colony.

Start with brunch at Portage Bay Cafe, at 2821 NW Market St. If you want to plan around the herons, they typically arrive in February for courtship.

Settle into a candlelit evening of dinner and live jazz or blues at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley downtown. The intimate setting suits a second date with a show.

Dinner tables get preferred seating at the 7:30pm performance, while the 9:30pm show is an option for sitting near the stage without dinner. Shows run Tuesday through Sunday, with reservations strongly recommended, especially on weekends.

Make something to take home together at Seattle Glassblowing Studio in Belltown. With an instructor beside you, you will shape an ornament, paperweight, or bowl.

The studio is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with classes running as late as 10pm. Reserve using the website's Book Now button.