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First date ideas in South Africa

The best first date is short, in daylight, and gives you something to do besides stare at each other. Dinner is none of those. Here is what works instead.

What makes a good first date

  • Short. An hour or two, with an easy way to end it or to keep going. Coffee can turn into lunch; a three-course dinner can't turn into anything shorter.
  • Something to do. Walking side by side is easier than sitting face to face. A market, a view or a game gives you something to talk about when the conversation pauses.
  • Public, and in daylight. Safer, and more relaxed for both of you. Evenings can come later.
  • Cheap. Nobody should feel they owe anyone anything after a first date. Splitting a coffee keeps it simple.

Ideas that work almost anywhere

  • Coffee. The classic for a reason: it takes half an hour or three, and it's fine either way.
  • A hike or a long walk. Pick something easy and well used, so the effort doesn't get in the way of the talking.
  • A weekend market. Food, coffee, stalls to wander past, and plenty of people around.
  • Pickleball, padel or putt-putt. A bit of friendly competition breaks the ice faster than anything you can say.
  • A botanical garden. Most cities have one. Quiet, green and cheap, with a tea garden at the end.
  • A museum or gallery. You'll each have opinions about what you see, which is half a conversation already.

Save these for later

  • A braai at someone's place. The best kind of second or third date, once you've met in public and want to meet each other's friends.
  • A film. Two hours of not talking. Better once you know you like talking to each other.
  • A long drive. Wait until you've met a few times, and until then get there on your own.

By city

Ideas for Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Gqeberha and Bloemfontein.

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