Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
This is no ordinary Asian restaurant. The decor is amazing, with a wall of birdcages at the entrance, lanterns, and turquoise velvet cushions with deep red pillows. The soft lighting makes it the perfect place to meet for a date, whether it’s a first rendezvous or a get-together with an old flame.
Meet for drinks on the open-air patio, a real Zen garden in the middle of the city. If things go well, move to the dining room to taste dishes from several Asian countries. Don’t miss the oysters with coriander leaves.
58 recommandé par les habitants
Bambou
23 Rue des JeuneursThis is no ordinary Asian restaurant. The decor is amazing, with a wall of birdcages at the entrance, lanterns, and turquoise velvet cushions with deep red pillows. The soft lighting makes it the perfect place to meet for a date, whether it’s a first rendezvous or a get-together with an old flame.
Meet for drinks on the open-air patio, a real Zen garden in the middle of the city. If things go well, move to the dining room to taste dishes from several Asian countries. Don’t miss the oysters with coriander leaves.
Even the approach to this restaurant on Villa Léandre is romantic, allowing you and your date to stroll the cobblestone streets of Montmartre. Inside, the place is very laid-back, with big windows that let in a lot of light. Great for a casual Sunday American-style brunch of eggs Benedict, bagels with lox and cream cheese, or Caesar salad.
Be sure to book ahead as there are only 15 tables and it’s always busy.
351 recommandé par les habitants
Marcel
1 Vla LéandreEven the approach to this restaurant on Villa Léandre is romantic, allowing you and your date to stroll the cobblestone streets of Montmartre. Inside, the place is very laid-back, with big windows that let in a lot of light. Great for a casual Sunday American-style brunch of eggs Benedict, bagels with lox and cream cheese, or Caesar salad.
Be sure to book ahead as there are only 15 tables and it’s always busy.
This Mexican taquería is casual up front but a party in the back. Beyond the tiny taco counter, which you can see from the street, there’s a dark, sexy bar with a menu of clever cocktails. The element of surprise when your date pushes open what appears to be a door to the kitchen is well worth the sometimes busy scene.
While they are famous for their alcoholic beverages, the Summer of Love, with carrot, ginger, cucumber, and tonic, is also incredible.
449 recommandé par les habitants
Candelaria
52 Rue de SaintongeThis Mexican taquería is casual up front but a party in the back. Beyond the tiny taco counter, which you can see from the street, there’s a dark, sexy bar with a menu of clever cocktails. The element of surprise when your date pushes open what appears to be a door to the kitchen is well worth the sometimes busy scene.
While they are famous for their alcoholic beverages, the Summer of Love, with carrot, ginger, cucumber, and tonic, is also incredible.
Hotel Amour is trendy and cool but still casual enough for a first date. Even though it’s a hotel, many Parisians hang out here. Definitely find a spot on the patio where dozens of plants hang over the art deco tables. It feels a lot like a sophisticated jungle. And I love that it’s covered, so you can come in the rain or winter.
It’s open all day for tea or drinks, but starting at 8 pm, you need to eat in order to stay, and tables are hard to come by, so book ahead.
345 recommandé par les habitants
Hôtel Amour
8 Rue de NavarinHotel Amour is trendy and cool but still casual enough for a first date. Even though it’s a hotel, many Parisians hang out here. Definitely find a spot on the patio where dozens of plants hang over the art deco tables. It feels a lot like a sophisticated jungle. And I love that it’s covered, so you can come in the rain or winter.
It’s open all day for tea or drinks, but starting at 8 pm, you need to eat in order to stay, and tables are hard to come by, so book ahead.
Parks & Nature
The main gate of this former mansion turned hotel can be easy to miss, but once you walk through it, you’ll be in a fairy-tale setting. You can even see the Eiffel Tower as you arrive. The downstairs lounge, with candles and red velvet chairs, is perfect for a date. But cocktails like the Lolita, made with absinthe, can be pricey.
Springtime, when you can enjoy the garden, designed by the same renowned landscape artist as the Jardin des Tuileries. It’s surrounded by so many plants and birds chirping that you feel like you’re in a rainforest.
226 recommandé par les habitants
Hôtel Particulier Montmartre
23 Av. JunotThe main gate of this former mansion turned hotel can be easy to miss, but once you walk through it, you’ll be in a fairy-tale setting. You can even see the Eiffel Tower as you arrive. The downstairs lounge, with candles and red velvet chairs, is perfect for a date. But cocktails like the Lolita, made with absinthe, can be pricey.
Springtime, when you can enjoy the garden, designed by the same renowned landscape artist as the Jardin des Tuileries. It’s surrounded by so many plants and birds chirping that you feel like you’re in a rainforest.
Sightseeing
For the views! The terrace of this hotel in Montmartre overlooks the most beautiful Parisian cemetery, and its restaurant and bar on the top floor offer one of the best panoramas in the city. The good news is that you don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy it.
Sunset is the most popular time to come, but it is often very crowded. Consider coming later at night when it’s more intimate.
254 recommandé par les habitants
Terrass Hotel
12-14 Rue Joseph de MaistreFor the views! The terrace of this hotel in Montmartre overlooks the most beautiful Parisian cemetery, and its restaurant and bar on the top floor offer one of the best panoramas in the city. The good news is that you don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy it.
Sunset is the most popular time to come, but it is often very crowded. Consider coming later at night when it’s more intimate.
Drinks & Nightlife
The specialty drinks are delicious at Little Red Door, but the best part of this charming bar in the Marais is the old, Victorian-era duo armchairs. They are fun to share with a date because you sit side by side, but facing each other, so it’s great for conversation. The place is very welcoming and has a relaxed atmosphere for meeting after work.
While the bar does have a “little red door” out front, don’t bother trying it. The real door is to the left.
191 recommandé par les habitants
Little Red Door
60 Rue CharlotThe specialty drinks are delicious at Little Red Door, but the best part of this charming bar in the Marais is the old, Victorian-era duo armchairs. They are fun to share with a date because you sit side by side, but facing each other, so it’s great for conversation. The place is very welcoming and has a relaxed atmosphere for meeting after work.
While the bar does have a “little red door” out front, don’t bother trying it. The real door is to the left.
There’s a lively scene at this rooftop bar high above the street in the 11th arrondissement. Not only is it a good place to bring a date for drinks, it’s also a good place to find a date. It’s one of the hottest places in Paris right now, so don’t be dismayed by the huge line. It’s definitely worth waiting.
There is another location of Le Perchoir, which means “perch” in English, on top of the BHV department store, but it’s only open after store hours.
698 recommandé par les habitants
Le Perchoir
14 Rue Crespin du GastThere’s a lively scene at this rooftop bar high above the street in the 11th arrondissement. Not only is it a good place to bring a date for drinks, it’s also a good place to find a date. It’s one of the hottest places in Paris right now, so don’t be dismayed by the huge line. It’s definitely worth waiting.
There is another location of Le Perchoir, which means “perch” in English, on top of the BHV department store, but it’s only open after store hours.
Arts & Culture
The Palais de Tokyo is an amazing museum with edgy programming that should definitely spark interesting conversation with your date. When I go, I always try to eat at the fine-dining restaurant Monsieur Bleu, which is absolutely magnificent—from the art deco furniture to the refined tasting menu.
The patio outside Monsieur Bleu is more casual and has great views of the Eiffel Tower right across the river, but inside the vibe is more elegant, so be sure to dress appropriately. This is a place to take someone very special.
111 recommandé par les habitants
Monsieur Bleu
20 Av. de New YorkThe Palais de Tokyo is an amazing museum with edgy programming that should definitely spark interesting conversation with your date. When I go, I always try to eat at the fine-dining restaurant Monsieur Bleu, which is absolutely magnificent—from the art deco furniture to the refined tasting menu.
The patio outside Monsieur Bleu is more casual and has great views of the Eiffel Tower right across the river, but inside the vibe is more elegant, so be sure to dress appropriately. This is a place to take someone very special.