The best first date is short, public and gives you something to talk about. Here are ideas for every budget and mood, all easy to leave if it isn't clicking.
Updated · By the Paire team
Easy and low-pressure
Coffee at a café you both like
A walk in a big city park (Lodhi Garden, Cubbon Park, Marine Drive)
Chai and a snack at a popular tapri
Ice cream or dessert crawl
Bookshop browsing, then coffee
Sunday morning flea or farmers' market
Something to do together
A museum or art gallery
A stand-up comedy show
Bowling or arcade games
A pottery, painting or cooking workshop
Board-game café
A short heritage walk
Live music at a café
Food lovers
A street-food trail in an old market
Trying a cuisine neither of you has had
A regional thali place
Late-night food streets (Manek Chowk, Mohammed Ali Road during Ramzan)
Outdoorsy (better for a second or third date)
Sunrise trek or hill drive
Cycling tour
Lake or riverfront walk
Birdwatching at a sanctuary in winter
Festive and seasonal
Garba or Dandiya during Navratri: try Paire's Garba Nights
Something short, public and easy to talk over: coffee and a walk, a museum, a comedy show or a street-food trail. Save long drives and treks for later dates.
Who should pay on a first date in India?
There's no fixed rule. Many couples split the bill or take turns; agree on whatever feels comfortable.