As Valentine’s Day approaches, matchmaker, relationship coach, and Fern Connections CEO Daphney Poyser has compiled a list of the best first-date venues in Dallas-Fort Worth.
To help you plan your special afternoon, here are Poyser’s eight favorite spots in DFW for a date, as compiled by Thrillist:
Café Momentum features a high-end menu if you want to splurge a little, and the restaurant is located on Pacific Ave., in Dallas. Some of their creative entrees include braised rabbit pasta and coffee-rubbed steak.
In addition to having a fascinating menu, the restaurant also offers 12-month paid internships for teenagers aged 15-19 coming out of the criminal justice system.
If you want a more adventurous date, try out Poyser’s pick, Bad Axe. You can get some wine or beer while you chat and throw axes. You can also move your date to Corky’s Gaming Bistro in Grapevine, where you can enjoy an escape room or classic arcade games.
Poyser suggested that this is a good way to see how your date reacts to competitive environments.
If you are looking into venturing into downtown Fort Worth, you can check out the recently opened Rooftop Cinema Club. They also have locations in Houston and Dallas. At the venue, couples can grab food and cocktails before the show. All shows after 4:30 p.m. are only for those 18 and up. (Just in case you were worried about kids taking some of the romance out of your night.)
Poyser described it by saying, “the rooftop is outdoor-sexy and you have your own personal headphones, deck chairs, and awesome food and drinks.”
A little bit of a spicier date venue could be found at Better Than Sex: A Dessert Restaurant. The Plano features a wide variety of desserts and cocktails with names like “Peanut Butter Perversion.”
Poyser says this is a good option for those who want a date that is not just dinner.
Miniature golf is a favorite of many couples, and Poyser also recommends Puttery in Dallas. This venue has three different bars, and you can bring your drinks onto the course as you play. “This is a fairly new spot and a great first-date idea because like axe-throwing, it’s both interactive and humiliating, giving great insight into the personality of the person you’re with,” Poyser said.
A more sophisticated first date option can be found at the Kimbell Art Museum during the museum’s happy hours. You can purchase discounted drinks, listen to live music, and explore the artwork. Happy hour is on Fridays, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Central Market offers cooking classes for those who either need the pointers or maybe want to show off their skills on a date. The Couples Cook classes are ideal for a date night. Poyser chose this venue as it is a good mix of the “fun, entertaining, and interactive date” alongside still getting to sit down for dinner with your date afterward.
You can also check out Haywire in Plano, which offers a unique dining experience in cozy booths inside tents. According to Poyser, these tents will help you get privacy with your date, and it helps that the “food is great.” Their menu features locally sourced ingredients and creations such as mini elk tacos, fried green tomatoes, and queso blanco.
