Whatever your dating intentions for the New Year may be, there’s always a reason to keep some first-date ideas tucked away just in case and with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I’m here to give you a few suggestions that won’t leave you bankrupt and can accommodate an array of tastes and preferences. If you’re tired of falling back on the old reliables (just because Masa opened a new location does not mean it’s a fresh new idea), keep reading for some spots you might not have considered before, and stay tuned until the very end for my short list of spots to avoid for a first date.
(https://www.facebook.com/bar1661)
Bar 1661 – €€-€€€
1-5 Green St, Rotunda, Dublin
With an extensive menu of incredibly unique cocktails and small bar snacks, Bar 1661 is the perfect spot for those who like a little liquid courage to ease the first-date anxiety. Many of their offerings are Poitín-based, a traditional Irish moonshine-esque liquor with a taste similar to vodka, and their vast menu is sure to have an option for even the pickiest of drinkers. While the price and potency of their cocktails will keep you from ordering more than two or three, Bar 1661 offers a comfortable setting to sip, chat, and get to know each other. The ambiance is dark and intimate but still lively, ideal for making any uncomfortable lulls in conversation less awkward. If you’re in search of a more refined bar experience and a few delicious drinks, look no further.
Merrion Square Food Market – €€
1 Merrion Square E, Dublin
The perfect low-stakes spot for a first meeting with food and drink options that will suit any palate. On Thursdays from 11:30 to 14:30, food trucks and stalls station themselves in the park, offering a variety of cuisines from Nigerian to Korean to Venezuelan in the gorgeous setting of Merrion Square’s east end. Perfect for the indecisive eater, the Merrion food market allows you and your date to choose your food based on personal preference or sample a share of dishes from around the world together. After you eat, a walk around the park or a quick jaunt to the National Gallery is the perfect way to wrap up your first date in style and give you some time to secure a second.
(https://sprudge.com/the-sprudge-guide-to-coffee-in-dublin-for-2023-208975.html)
The Morning – €
49 Pleasants St, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin
Just off Camden Street, The Morning is the perfect spot for a casual coffee and a mind-blowingly delicious pastry, savoury or sweet– a saving grace for those of us who have fallen out of love with the city centre cafes (I’m looking at you, Metro). Unassuming at first glance, The Morning is certainly worth venturing southward into Portobello to try its offerings that rival those of the famed Bread 41. Although you and your date might not be able to find a place to sit, I urge you to keep in mind that the constant crowd at The Morning is a testament to its quality and that the cafe is a short walk from Iveagh Gardens and the Grand Canal, both of which are settings conducive to the classic walk-and-chat first date model. .
(https://thefumbally.ie/cafe/)
The Fumbally – €-€€
Fumbally Ln, The Liberties, Dublin
If you prefer a sit-down experience but still want to opt for the casual cafe setting, head down into the Liberties to The Fumbally for some quick pastries and coffee or more filling dishes from their simple yet delicious menu. With an eclectic mix of furniture and wall decor, The Fumbally’s ambiance is light and bustling, with a constant flow of customers grabbing coffee or perusing the small in-house market that takes up a front corner of the cafe – a good spot for those in search of homemade bone broth or a bottle of natural wine. On top of The Fumbally’s stellar food and drink, their secondary venue “The Stables” right around the corner hosts a consistent stream of events from wine tastings to soundbaths to a pop-up thrift store, and it’s worth dropping in to check out before or after your date. Also check their website for information on upcoming events, as many of their activities make for good first-date ideas on their own!
The Porthouse – €€-€€€
21 Camden Street Lower, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin
Tapas are always a safe choice for a first date, and from the plethora of tapas spots in Dublin, The Porthouse rises to the top of my list for several reasons (and please do not start on me about Uno Mas, that’s not the price range we’re going for here folks). The chain has a few locations in Dublin, but I recommend The Porthouse Cava since it’s on Camden St. and there are plenty of places nearby to go if dinner goes well. Their other locations, in Temple Bar, Dundrum, and on South William St., all offer the same menu and cosy, romantic atmosphere. The Porthouse’s menu is designed for you to order a few different dishes, and I find their selection and flavours very friendly to the majority of palates. Their sangria is delicious, and I recommend their pa amb tomàquet as well as their cheeses.
(https://brindlecoffeewine.com/home)
Brindle Coffee & Wine – €
34 Lennox St, Portobello, Dublin
Last but certainly not least, Brindle Coffee & Wine is my personal favourite and number one recommendation for a first date spot. Brindle is a cafe by day and a wine bar by evening, serving coffee and pastries as well as a huge assortment of interesting wines. Think of it like a toned-down version of the Loose Cannon but in Portobello and with better seating options. I love Brindle because it’s perfectly customizable to whatever vibe you’re going for, be it romantic and intimate or casual and lighthearted. The baristas consistently deliver warm and friendly service and are always ready to help with wine suggestions at the drop of a hat, and the cafe itself is homey and cute. While my preference is to visit in the early evening for a few glasses or a bottle of wine, going earlier in the day will reward you with a great coffee and a vibe very similar to that of The Morning.
And now, my short list of spots to stay away from:
Bambino – I don’t think I need to comment on Bambino’s quality and popularity, and that’s not the reason it’s on the bad list. I just think we can all agree that the vibe of standing in a 20+ minute queue just to get your slice with nowhere to sit is a deeply awkward setting for a first date. Save your date at Bambino for later on in the relationship, once you’re more comfortable with the idea of causing irrecoverable damage to the roof of your mouth with a slice of hot pep in front of them.
Bread 41 – Bread 41 is a personal favourite and it cannot be contested that their pastries are top-notch, but finding a place to sit here is harder than walking down those fucked-up stairs outside the Arts Block. Since it’s located directly next to campus, the chances of running into someone you know are also extremely high, another reason why The Morning is the superior first date pick.
Masa – Yeah sorry, I’m coming for all the Dublin favourites today. As a proud and avid Masa hater, I might be a little bit biassed here but I truly think Masa is a terrible place to take a first date. Tacos are not something you can eat in a cute or sexy way to begin with, and Masa’s penchant for adding one too many ingredients to every menu item does not help this fact. If you want to wait 30 minutes for a table and then pay €9 for two tacos be my guest, but at this point the jalapeno and coriander marg is the only thing you’ll catch me dragging myself to Masa for.
WORDS: Scarlett Ferry
