A first date with someone can be exciting but it can also be the basis for a whole lot of nerves! So how can you ensure you have a good…
Looking for fun things to do in San Diego but don’t want to deal with driving (and parking in particular)? We’re here to help! Our San Diego Trolley Date Map has one great date idea within walking distance of every trolley stop – that’s 52 ideas that will make it easier than ever to make romantic plans in San Diego.
Dating in San Diego is amazing. With sea views and beautiful parks (and that SoCal weather), it’s one of the best cities in America in which to plan an outdoor date. On top of that you have all the foodie date ideas – this town is home to great restaurants, lively bars, and hundreds of other great San Diego date ideas.
The only thing that isn’t great? Parking. Happily, that’s no longer a worry for the intrepid San Diego romantic, not with our San Diego Trolley Date Map! With one date idea within walking distance of every public-access trolley stop in the city (yes, all 52 of them!), you’ll no longer have to worry about taking the car to find a date idea near you.
Read more: want to meet singles in San Diego? Learn about San Diego dating with us!
52 truly great San Diego date ideas
Picking 52 San Diego date ideas is no easy task – there’s just so much to choose from! However, applying a few rules can help. First rule: all date ideas had to be actually good. We’ve only included places that averaged a 4 or more when we combined the rankings from Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and Yelp.
Second rule: all dates had to be a walkable distance from a Trolley station. No idea on the map is more than a 15 minute walk from its matching stop (with many only 1-5 mins away). That means, whether you want a romantic restaurant date, a beautiful beach date, or a buzzy bar date, you’re never far away.
Read more: want date ideas further afield? Try our Orange County date ideas
Presenting the San Diego Trolley Date Map
So how do you use the San Diego Trolley Date Map? Simply click the map below, and read it like you would the regular trolley map. You can then scroll down to find out why we picked each idea, what the walking times will be, and the average rankings. You’ll even find a Google street map showing each location – everything you need for the ideal date in San Diego.
Please note, all date ideas and rankings are current as of February 2018
UC San Diego Blue Line
- America Plaza: Kuma Café. Good for: rosemary bread, acai bowls, cozy coffee dates
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 2 mins - Civic Center: San Diego Civic Theatre. Good for: ballet, opera, and live performance
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 2 mins - Fifth Avenue: Vin De Syrah. Good for: romantic wine tastings,* wine flights, charcuterie
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 4 mins - City College: Tajima East Village. Good for: fresh, tasty ramen, kimchi, potstickers
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 5 mins - Park & Market: Knotty Barrel. Good for: lively dates, trivia nights, craft beers
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 4 mins - 12th & Imperial: Mission Brewery. Good for: brewery tours, super-local craft beer
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 4 mins - Barrio Logan: Ryan Bros Coffee. Good for: cold brew tea and coffee, laid-back charm
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 2 mins - Harborside: Los Tapatios Mexican Food. Good for: delicious tostas and breakfast burritos
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 5 mins - Pacific Fleet: Please see Harborside or 8th Street
Please note: limited public access to date ideas at this stop - 8th Street: Niederfrank’s Ice Cream Shop. Good for: homemade ice-cream, unique flavors
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 12 mins - 24th Street: Goody’s Sushi & Grill. Good for: tasty edamame, shrimp tempura, gyoza
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 4 mins - E Street: Cool Down Coffee. Good for: amazing breakfast bagels, great coffee, chill dates
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 1 min - H Street: Bayside Park. Good for: picnic dates, sea views, gorgeous sunsets
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 12 mins - Palomar Street: Bay Bridge Brewing. Good for: craft ales, cozy tasting room
Average rank: 4.9. Walking time: 15 mins - Palm Avenue: Fresh Donuts. Good for: unpretentious, delicious donuts, ice-cream
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 2 mins - Iris Avenue: Beyer Deli.+ Good for: swoon-worthy sandwiches, pastrami, lunch dates
Average rank: 4.8. Walking time: 8 mins - Beyer Blvd.: El Sabroso Restaurant. Good for: shrimp burritos, fish tacos, carne asada fries
Average rank: 4.4. Walking time: 2 mins - San Ysidro: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Good for: shopping breaks, interesting teas
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 10 mins
Green Line
- 12th & Imperial: Mission Brewery. Good for: brewery tours, super-local craft beer
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 4 mins - Gaslamp Quarter: Petco Park. Good for: Padres games, group dates, live music
Average rank: 4.4. Walking time: 5 mins - Convention Center: The Shout! House. Good for: raucous fun, lively dates, great music
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 7 mins - Seaport Village: Tuna Harbor Park. Good for: romantic strolls, public art, boat views
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 10 mins - Santa Fe Depot: Maritime Museum of San Diego. Good for: San Diego & maritime history
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 12 mins - County Center/Little Italy: Queenstown Public House. NZ-style food, dog-friendly dates
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 3 mins - Middletown: Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. Good for: craft coffee, carefully sourced beans
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 9 mins - Washington Street: Wine Vault & Bistro. Tasting menus, wine flights, winemaker dinners
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 7 mins - Old Town: Old Town San Diego SHP. Good for: embracing SoCal & San Diego history
Average rank: 4.4. Walking time: 4 mins - Morena/Linda Vista: PHO Kitchen. Good for: Vietnamese cuisine, super tasty pho
Average rank: 4.7. Walking time: 3 mins - Fashion Valley: STACKED. Good for: customizable dishes, mac and cheese burgers
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 11 mins - Hazard Center: UltraStar Mission Valley. Good for: super comfy seating, cozy movie dates
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 1 min - Mission Valley Center: Yard House. Good for: huge range of craft beer, lively atmosphere
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 9 mins - Rio Vista: Milano Coffee Company. Good for: spacious surroundings, delicious coffee
Average rank: 4. Walking time: 4 mins - Fenton Parkway: Luna Grill. Good for: super fresh Mediterranean food, feta fries, kabobs
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 4 mins - Qualcomm Stadium: Sushi Kuchi. Good for: pretty sushi, tempura ice cream, bento boxes
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 15 mins - Mission San Diego: Chicago Bros Pizzeria. Good for: amazing deep dish (stuffed pie) pizza
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 7 mins - Grantville: Osaka Japanese Food. Good for: kind service, tepanyaki, crunchy shrimp rolls
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 8 mins - SDSU: Viejas Arena. Good for: live music, basketball games, fun, rowdy date nights
Average rank: 4. Walking time: 8 mins - Alvardo Medical Center: DZ Akin’s. Good for: epic Reubens, blintzes, matzo ball soup
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 9 mins - 70th Street: Cucina Basilico La Mesa. Good for: homemade pasta, charming Italian vibes
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 13 mins - Grossmont: Hooley’s Irish Pub. Good for: friendly pub ambience, Irish food and drinks
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 11 mins - Amaya Drive: Lamplighters Community Theatre. Good for: live theatre, SD history
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 5 mins - El Cajon: Hacienda’s Mexican Food. Good for: fresh salsa bar, tortas, loaded omelettes
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 7 mins - Arnele Avenue: Burning Beard Brewing Co. Good for: gorgeous tasting room, craft beer
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 14 mins - Gillespie Field: Gillespie Field Cafe. Good for: plane spotting, all-day breakfast
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 11 mins - Santee: Anny’s Fine Burgers. Good for: huge range of burgers, freshly made buns
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 1 min
Orange Line
- America Plaza: Kuma Café. Good for: rosemary bread, acai bowls, cozy coffee dates
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 2 mins - Civic Center: San Diego Civic Theatre. Good for: ballet, opera, and live performance
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 2 mins - Fifth Avenue: Vin De Syrah. Good for: romantic wine tastings,* wine flights, charcuterie
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 4 mins - City College: Tajima East Village. Good for: fresh, tasty ramen, kimchi, potstickers
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 5 mins - Park & Market: Knotty Barrel. Good for: lively dates, trivia nights, craft beers
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 4 mins - 12th & Imperial: Mission Brewery. Good for: brewery tours, super-local craft beer
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 4 mins - 25th & Commercial: La Fachada. Good for: late night bites, carnitas, tasty horchata
Average rank: 4.3. Walking time: 2 mins - 32nd & Commercial: Imperial Grounds. Good for: cozy vintage ambience, Mexican mocha
Average rank: 4.8. Walking time: 9 mins - 47th Street: Tocumbo Ice Cream. Good for: raspados, homemade icecream, fresh sorbet
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 8 mins - Euclid Avenue: Jaquin Mexican Grill. Good for: delicious tacos, amazing tortilla soup
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 9 mins - Encanto/62nd Street: Caribbean Taste. Good for: Jamaican cuisine, jerk chicken, oxtail
Average rank: 4.7. Walking time: 2 mins - Massachusetts Avenue: Coop’s West Texas BBQ. Good for: soul food, pulled pork, brisket
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 15 mins - Lemon Grove Depot: Lemon Grove Deli & Grill. Good for: diner-style breakfast, pancakes
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 3 mins - Spring Street: Craft Kitchen. Good for: tasty pub food, craft beers, apple pie
Average rank: 4.2. Walking time: 6 mins - La Mesa Blvd.: BO-beau kitchen + garden. Good for: beautiful patio, tasty bistro dishes
Average rank: 4.1. Walking time: 4 mins - Grossmont: Hooley’s Irish Pub. Good for: friendly pub ambience, Irish food and drinks
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 11 mins - Amaya Drive: Lamplighters Community Theatre. Good for: live theatre, SD history
Average rank: 4.5. Walking time: 5 mins - El Cajon: Hacienda’s Mexican Food. Good for: fresh salsa bar, tortas, loaded omelettes
Average rank: 4.6. Walking time: 7 mins
Please note, date ideas marked with a * are venues where booking in advance is strongly recommended. A + means that it’s advised to check the opening hours before going. The numbers refer to the average ranking across Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google Maps for each date.
EliteSingles editorial, first published October 2017, updated February 2018.
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