first date ideas nyc

Let's be honest- most people can pick a bar and conjure up 2 hours of shared conversation, using alcohol as a social lubricant. You might even have enough of said social lubricant to go home together at the end of the night. However, that doesn't mean there's a real connection necessarily. Studies show that creative first date ideas lead to more meaningful interactions and a better chance of finding out of there could truly be a real connection (there's totally a study, I read it in a book somewhere for sure). I've compiled a list of fun activities for your first date. Here's my criteria:

• There should be something to do other than just drink (but you can drink too, don't be insane, I love alcohol)
• Location can't be too loud because I need to be able to comfortably interview you to see if I'm going to date you/sleep with you/hate you/marry you
• Location can't be too quiet either because 1. it's important to see how the other person interacts with society around them and 2. noise will help fill the void of any awkward pauses in a conversation 
• Do something fun but also casual. It doesn't have to be a crappy dive bar, but you also don't need to take me to the Met Ball (second date)

*This guide is written in conjunction with Hinge, a community of people looking for real connections.*

Here's what I suggest: 

Baseball game

Outdoors, casual, good food. Plus if someone could entertain me through something as boring as baseball I would definitely marry them 

Barcade

A spin-off of a Williamsburg bar, this hang has vintage video games (Pac-Man, Donkey Kong) & beer.

6 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

Fat cat

Diverse venue, open late, offers live music, pool, Ping-Pong, board games, art exhibits & classes.

75 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club

Shuffleboard courts draw playful crowds to this big bar with food trucks & occasional live music.

514 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

brooklyn brewery tour

Microbrewery with tastings & tours that offer an inside look at the creation process.

79 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Brooklyn bowl

Bowling alley in Williamsburg with high-tech lanes, live music & food by Blue Ribbon.

61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Chelsea market

Food hall, shopping mall, office building and television production facility

75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Chelsea piers

City's largest training center for gymnastics, two basketball courts, playing fields for indoor soccer, batting cages & a rock climbing wall 

62 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011

Pier 25 Mini Golf

Mini gof course 

225 West St, New York, NY 10013

museum of sex

Mix of erotic and clinical sex stuff. Exhibits range from sex in the animal kingdom to nearly 20,000 artifacts (vintage condoms, erotic sculptures) and will, at the very least, strike up some interesting conversation.

233 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016

comedy show 

Comedy Cellar, Upright Citizen's Brigade & Carolines are all great choices. 

Smorgasburg 

Buzzy seasonal outdoor foodie market Friday-Sunday, offering 75+ vendors & city skyline views.

90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (multi location, address varies)

The highline

1.45-mile-long elevated linear park, greenway and rail trail. Lined with art, greenery, plus things to eat & drink

Runs from 14th st - 34th Street, above 10th ave

Brooklyn crab

Tri-level seafood shack offers buckets of crab and raw oysters with outdoor seating,  water views & cornhole 

24 Reed St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

sur la table cooking class

A perfect conversation starter, whether you're both rubbish at cooking or love it

306 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019

basketball game

Both MSG and Barclays are exciting venues with tons of food & entertainment, so either team is a great choice.