Summer is almost here, and while the season tends to breed a feeling of needing to be free, we aren’t above yearning for a summer fling.
It’s 2025, so trying to find a date is just a swipe away. The actual date planning, however, requires a bit more grunt work, but it can lead to grunting work if all goes well. According to the popular dating app, Bumble, 74% of Gen Z singles struggle to come up with new date ideas. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of ways to spend time in North Texas.
As part of the app’s latest “Date in Dallas” campaign, Bumble has released a list of the best first-date spots in Dallas-Fort Worth, according to locals. So, skip that cliche dinner and a movie suggestion and check out these ideas below.
Nature and Nurture
Dallas Arboretum8525 Garland Road
Spring is in the air, and love could be in bloom this summer. Getting to know your date while walking through the flowers and greenery could set the scene for something beautiful to flourish. But this is Texas, after all, so don’t forget to bring some water… and maybe your Zyrtec!
Movement Grapevine
3105 William D Tate Ave (Grapevine)
Relationships can make for a bumpy road, but at Movement Grapevine, you can get the rocky part out of the way from the jump. See how high you’re willing to climb for your date by quite literally stepping your relationship game up to new heights.
Rockledge Park at Grapevine Lake
3600 Pilot Point (Grapevine)
If you’re struggling to figure out what your date likes to do, Rockledge Park offers various opportunities for fun. Hiking, swimming, running, and biking are great ways to have fun (and test your patience) in this gorgeous hangout spot. But if you want to keep it low intensity for the first date, there’s ample room to set up for a romantic picnic.
Common Ground with Coffee
Good Boy Coffee3901 Main St. (Deep Ellum)
They say your dog can spot a winner before you can – Good Boy Coffee helps you put that theory to the test right away. Bring your best friend to meet your date at this canine-friendly cafe to see if you and your fur baby can sniff out if they’re the one.
Common Good
1619 N Hall St. (East Dallas)
Not only is Common Good one of Dallas’ most exciting new coffee shops, it’s also a listening lounge. DJs and baristas spin vinyl during business hours so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the vibes while feeling out each other’s shared music tastes. If it works out, you can come back for a hair appointment (objectively an unforgettable second date) in Common Good’s hair salon.
Art in the Afternoon
Nasher Sculpture Center2001 Flora St. (Arts District)
Art is always subjective, but the works at the Nasher will naturally spark conversation. A walk through the inspiring collection can give you an understanding of your date’s sense of imagination and an idea of how their mind works. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Montgomery Plaza
2600 W 7th St. (Fort Worth)
Fort Worth’s Montgomery Plaza is a robust shopping and dining destination, but walking through the plaza can make for an aesthetically memorable date in and of itself. Enjoy views of local art, statues, and historic buildings — or if your date is a cinephile, pretend you’re in a Wes Anderson film.
A Nightcap or Three
Lounge 3187 Highland Park Village (Park Cities)
Enjoy a delicious roll of sushi with one of the best old-fashioneds the city has to offer. We know this spot may bruise the bank a little, but you can’t put a price on the perfect first date, right? Flexing from the start is unofficial Dallas etiquette anyway.
Ladylove Lounge & Sound
310 W Seventh St (Bishop Arts)
Dinner, drinks, and dancing are tried and true. We recommend the CDMX cocktail, composed of Condesa gin, prickly pear, grapefruit, and rose water. And if you get hungry, there’s a modest menu of bites to choose from. Ladylove's hearty roster of DJs in the booth helps add a transcendent atmosphere, too, so if the vibes are right, you can get your groove on until the wee hours of the morning.
