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First date ideas in Phoenix
In Phoenix, the weather plans half your date for you. Outside is for mornings, sunsets and the cooler months. Inside is for everything else. The list below covers both, and everything was open this year. Places change, check hours before you go.
The low-key drink
- Bitter and Twisted Cocktail Parlour (downtown, in the Luhrs Building). In the old Arizona Prohibition headquarters, with a menu as thick as a book. Text her: "bitter and twisted thursday? the cocktail menu is like 24 pages, i need help"
The walk and talk
- Hole in the Rock (Papago Park). A short, steep climb to a rock window that frames the sunset. Go early in summer. Text her: "hole in the rock for sunset saturday? short hike, big payoff"
The activity date
- Desert Botanical Garden (Papago Park). Desert paths, open into the evening in fall, with seasonal events at night. Text her: "desert botanical garden at night this weekend? i hear it's beautiful after dark"
- Musical Instrument Museum (north Phoenix, Mayo Blvd). Instruments from every country, with headphones that play as you walk up. Perfect for a hot afternoon. Text her: "too hot to be outside. musical instrument museum sunday? i'm serious, it's fun"
Cheap and cute
- Tacos Chiwas (Indian School Rd). Chihuahua style tacos, a local favorite. Text her: "tacos chiwas friday? i owe you the best gordita in town"
- Lux Central (Central Ave). Coffee shop by day, cocktails by night. A first meeting that can go either way. Text her: "lux on central after work? coffee or a drink, your call"
The rainy day (or the 110 degree day)
- Phoenix Art Museum (Central Ave). Cool, quiet and big. Wednesdays are pay what you wish from 3 to 8. Text her: "phoenix art museum wednesday after work? air conditioning and art, the dream"
The impress-her dinner
- Pizzeria Bianco (Heritage Square, downtown). The pizza people fly in for. No reservations, so go early and wait together. Text her: "pizzeria bianco friday? we go early and wait together, it's worth it"
- Bacanora (Grand Ave). Sonoran cooking over open fire, one of the most talked about restaurants in the state. Text her: "i got us a table at bacanora saturday. you like steak?"
Texts you can send
bitter and twisted thursday? the cocktail menu is like 24 pages, i need help
hole in the rock for sunset saturday? short hike, big payoff
too hot to be outside. musical instrument museum sunday? i'm serious, it's fun
A woman's read
Nobody wants to sweat through a first date. If you invite her on a hike at 2pm in July, she'll think you don't know the city. Sunset at Hole in the Rock, then a drink downtown, shows you thought about her comfort without saying it. Little things like that read as care.
The move
Check the forecast. Hot, pick an inside spot. Mild, pick the sunset hike. Text her a day and time, and keep Bitter and Twisted as the second stop.
Before you go
Places change, check hours before you go. Bacanora books up, so plan ahead. If you're doing Hole in the Rock in summer, bring water and go at sunset, not noon. For conversation backup, see first date conversation topics.
Tell Val about her and she'll plan the whole night.
Questions guys ask
What is a good first date in Phoenix in summer?
Stay inside or go at sunset. The Musical Instrument Museum and Phoenix Art Museum are cool and quiet, and Hole in the Rock is best at sunset.
What is a cheap first date in Phoenix?
Hole in the Rock at sunset, tacos at Tacos Chiwas, or Phoenix Art Museum on a pay what you wish Wednesday.
Does Pizzeria Bianco take reservations?
No. It is walk in only, so go early. Check hours before you go.
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