The Perfect Dates for One
You don’t need a partner to enjoy these locations. Save a buck and enjoy a date with “me, myself and I.”
San Francisco may be full of endless opportunities, but it’s also prohibitively expensive to live in. Each time I pay rent (or 40 bucks for a bowl of ramen and a beer), I quickly ask myself if I should move away. Dating is difficult in any city, but it’s even worse in a city that’s this expensive. Sometimes when I have the spare cash, it’s more fun to indulge in a solo date instead. Check out this list of ways to let go and focus on yourself:
If you like low-key afternoons and people-watching
Sit down for a glass of chai at Samovar Tea Lounge at Yerba Buena Gardens. Not only is chai full of healthy ingredients (black tea, ginger, clove, cardamom, etc.), but also it tastes delicious! Grab your favorite book and bask under the sun like a cat. You could even reserve a table online to ensure that you’ll get a spot. Between pages you can gaze across the park to see women practicing tai chi and well-balanced people traversing a tightrope, or even bear witness to an open-air dance party. The simple activity of people-watching can be both entertaining and humbling as you observe the mannerisms of others and try to think from their perspective.
The simple activity of people-watching can be both entertaining and humbling as you observe the mannerisms of others and try to think from their perspective.
If you like swinging on a hammock while watching a sunset and sipping on chilled rosé
If you haven’t taken a walk down to Lands End, you’ll soon find your favorite afternoon escape for those days when you want to escape the office to clear your mind. The trail is short enough for a casual hike, and at the mid-point there is a beautiful overlook of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. Pack up a little bag with a hammock, painting supplies and/or a journal, as well as your favorite chilled beverage. Turn off your phone, and let your mind run wild.
If you like sunshine, sweat and a touch of solitude
This arduous hike is best completed in the morning. The starting point is a nearly hidden staircase to the Interior Greenbelt near the intersection of Stanyan and 17th Streets in Cole Valley. Within the first few steps, all signs of housing and city life will disappear. You’ll ascend a tree-lined slope toward the enchanted Fairy Gates exit. If you’re up for a longer trip, take a quick walk down the path of the UCSF Medical Center, where you’ll exit (on Parnassus) and hop across Clarendon Avenue, where you’ll find yourself eye to eye with Sutro Tower and a hidden reservoir. You’ll be nearly at the top of Twin Peaks. Finish by joining the tourists and taking in a view of the city while wind whips your hair and the sun meets your face. Pro tip: bring a snack.
If you like all-day Zen life
You can take your pick of various spa options if you plan ahead, like Onsen or Kabuki Springs & Spa, but in terms of availability, your best bet is the four-story Archimedes Banya, which offers a total physical and emotional detox while you sip Kvass and escape into a Turkish getaway. Put simply, the banya is a great place in which to relax because oxygen is good for you, and the heat of the spa will dilate your blood vessels and improve circulation. After a few hours at the hammam, your muscles will be less tense, and you’ll sleep better. Best of all: it’s clothing optional, so you can bask in nothing more than all your glory.
If you like farm-to-table produce, learning about food and artisan goods
Get fresh at the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market. Even the chefs at the Alembic hit up this farmers’ market, so you know its bounty is fresh and delicious. Explore each stand, ask the vendors questions about the items they grow or provide, and let yourself splurge on some of the best produce you can find in the Bay, which you can later turn into a five-star meal. Extend your stay by exploring the shops inside the Ferry Building, where you can sample fancy olive oils, imagine your soon-to-be-bomb dinner on a Heath Ceramics plate or stuff your face with some pre-dinner Humphry Slocombe ice cream.
Schedule: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
If you like browsing public art and walking aimlessly
Have you learned about the stories behind the murals in the Mission? Each wall among hundreds is rife with sociopolitical statements of cultural importance. Take an afternoon to yourself and walk down each alleyway with an open mind. If you want to focus your exploration on history, visit the Precita Eyes Muralists and visitor center website to book a tour.
If you like daiquiris for the writer’s soul
Vesuvio Cafe in North Beach is hands down the best spot in which to pop a squat with your notebook and favorite pen. If you find a vacant stool at the bar, you may hear stories from everyone and anyone: travelers, regulars, lifetime SF residents and the like. (Although you shouldn’t believe everything you hear. One woman once told me she was waiting for her longtime friend Patty Hearst while she knocked back a few beers at 10:00 a.m.) For a less social experience, find a small table on the balcony, where you can overlook the bar or the busy streets outside. The Bohemian bar has been hosting writers since 1953, so you’re sure to find inspiration — or at least a stiff drink!
