8 cozy fall date night ideas in the Bay Area near BART
ROOH is the perfect setting for a date night this fall during SF Restaurant Week. Photo courtesy of ROOH.
Autumn in the Bay Area is made for romantic adventures. Whether you’re planning a first date or a long-overdue night out, these BARTable fall date ideas are equal parts cozy and fun. From scary movies and scenic hikes to pumpkin-spiced lattes and rooftop craft beers, here are a few of our favorite suggestions. Just invite someone special and hop on BART.
Use BART's Trip Planner for detailed routes and transit options.
Fall date night ideas in the Bay Area
Date nights don't get much better than scary movies and comfort food. Photo courtesy of Alamo Drafthouse via Yelp.
1. Enjoy dinner and a scary movie at Alamo Drafthouse | 24th St Mission
Nothing pairs better with a spooky flick than comfort food. This fall at Alamo Drafthouse in the Mission, you can catch films like “Dracula,” “Frankenstein" and “Predator: Badlands.” You and your sweetheart can share a plate of loaded fries, vegan cauliflower bites or even a pizza. The food gets delivered right to your seat. Plus, they also serve craft beer and wine. For the best dinner-and-movie date, try the Alamo Drafthouse, just 0.3 miles from 24th St Mission at 2550 Mission St.
Enjoy fall's best flavors with a loved one at Chez Panisse. Photo courtesy of Visit Berkeley.
2. Savor a seasonal dinner in Berkeley | Downtown Berkeley
Chez Panisse has one of the Bay Area’s best seasonal menus. Every season, chef Alice Waters’ California cuisine uses fresh produce to create creative, delicious dishes. A date night at this famous eatery might include hits like wood-oven-roasted fig toasts with Bellwether Farms ricotta, prosciutto and crispy sage, or grilled chicken al mattone with sweet corn polenta, Romano beans and roasted pepper salsa. Check out the sample menu, and make a reservation soon. Your date will thank you! Chez Panisse is 0.7 miles from Downtown Berkeley at 1517 Shattuck Ave.
Don't miss the fall-flavored coffees at Red Bay Coffee. Photo courtesy of Red Bay Coffee.
3. Sip pumpkin-spiced anything on a fall coffee date | Multiple
You can get pumpkin-spiced lattes from almost any coffee shop in the fall, but Red Bay Coffee really elevates the experience. Their Candied Yam Latte highlights the flavors of roasted yams, rich espresso and steamed milk. Don’t miss this fall favorite—it’s the hottest drink for any fall date night. Stop by multiple BARTable locations around the Bay Area to visit Red Bay Coffee.
- 3136 International Blvd. (0.1 mile from Fruitvale)
- 1 Ferry Building (0.3 miles from Embarcadero)
- 220 Montgomery St. (0.1 miles from Montgomery St)
- 1741 Alcatraz Ave. (0.4 miles from Ashby)
- 650 California St. (0.4 miles from Montgomery St)
For a unique date night in San Francisco, head to the Exploratorium. Photo courtesy of the Exploratorium.
4. Celebrate Halloween at After Dark: Creepatorium at the Exploratorium | Embarcadero
If you’re looking to shake up date night, head to the Exploratorium’s “After Dark: Creepatorium” on Oct. 30. It’s an adults-only evening of spooky science, live jazz from the John Brothers Piano Company and immersive surprises like a haunted tactile dome and a DIY ghost illusion workshop. Stroll hand in hand through glowing exhibits, enjoy a cocktail and soak up the Halloween-style vibes. Bonus: dress up for the costume contest and make the night extra memorable. For a Bay Area date night at the Exploratorium, exit BART at Embarcadero. Spooky adventure awaits, 0.6 miles at Pier 15.
Hit the trails on your next Bay Area date night. Photo courtesy of San Francisco Recreation and Parks.
5. Take a hike to see the fall foliage | Multiple
In the fall, every hiking trail feels a little more magical. The crisp air makes treks easier than during the hot summer months, the ground is soft, and the changing colors are simply beautiful. The only problem is that with so many fantastic places to hike in the Bay Area, it’s hard to choose where to go. Particularly gorgeous BARTable hiking trails include the Lafayette Reservoir, Orinda’s De La Veaga Trailhead and Glen Canyon Park in San Francisco. Don your coziest clothes, pack a thermos of apple cider, lace up your boots and hit the trails before winter rolls in.
The Bay Area is loaded with cool venues (like Chotto Matte) that are perfect for a fall date night. Photo courtesy of OpenTable.
6. Take your pick of city restaurant deals at SF Restaurant Week | Multiple
From Nov. 1–9, treat your date to a culinary adventure during San Francisco Restaurant Week. Top city spots are offering special prix fixe menus. Whether you’re after rooftop views, intimate bites or global cuisine, Restaurant Week is the perfect excuse to toast fall and explore the city’s best dining near BART. Savor Nikkei fusion at Chotto Matte in Union Square (0.2 miles from Powell St), share Spanish tapas and wine flights at Canela Bistro Bar in the Castro (0.8 miles from 16th St Mission), or head to ROOH for modern Indian flavors and artful plating (0.8 miles from Montgomery St).
Share fall beers on your next date at the Barebottle Beer Garden at Salesforce Park. Photo courtesy of Barebottle.
7. Enjoy a fall beer at Barebottle | Montgomery St
Nestled atop Salesforce Park in downtown San Francisco, the Barebottle Beer Garden offers a perfect date-night stop for beer-loving couples. With over 20 rotating beers on tap, wine, kombucha and wood-fired pies, you’ll enjoy sweeping city views and laid-back vibes with a snack and perhaps a tasty seasonal brew. Barebottle is just 0.3 miles from Montgomery St at 425 Mission St.
Stay a spooky night at a haunted hotel. Photo courtesy of the Queen Anne Hotel.
8. Stay the night at the Queen Anne Hotel | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Built in 1890, the Queen Anne Hotel is the epitome of historic luxury in San Francisco. The bed and breakfast with beautiful 19th-century details offers a one-of-a-kind experience, and not only because it's considered haunted. The ghost of Miss Mary Lake, the former headmistress of the building (when it was a girls' finishing school), is believed to roam the halls, especially around Room 410, which was her former office. For couples who like a ghostly adventure, the hotel is the perfect place to lay your head this fall. The Queen Anne Hotel and the ghost of Miss Mary Lake are 1.1 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza at 1590 Sutter.
What's your fall date night?
