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Ah, the classic dinner date—often hailed as the gold standard of first dates. Romantic? Sure. A great way to get to know someone? Ehhh, debatable.

I have gone on dinner dates for first dates before and it’s always been a gamble. But to be real, mostly dinner dates are just overpriced interrogations with bad lighting.

The Case for (and Against) Dinner Dates

If you enjoy spending KSh 10,000 on a person you’ll probably never see again, then by all means, go for it. But for the rest of us who value our money and sanity, let’s reconsider.

I’ve learned the hard way that bad table manners are a deal-breaker. If someone treats the server like a servant ( I know it’s in the name), or doesn’t know how to hold their cutlery properly, I’m just kidding; why waste a second date?

The first date should be coffee; dinner is when you know you actually want to see them again.

Dinner dates come with an entire list of hazards:

• The awkwardness of sitting down, grabbing the menu, and realizing you have no idea what to talk about.
• The forced obligation to stay, even if the date is a walking red flag.
• The sheer expense, especially when you are the one paying

For those reasons alone, I say ditch the dinner first date. But what’s the alternative?

Better First Date Ideas

I’ve been in situations where my date orders like she’s on death row, and that is her last meal, to a point where if I had to stick to the initial budget, I could only afford an appetizer for myself.

Here’s the thing: there are plenty of better, lower-stakes first date options. Let’s run through some that don’t require you to commit to a three-course meal with a near-stranger.

All these options are low risk, low investment, give you time to talk and get to know the other person a little. There are zero downsides for anyone who’s actually trying to meet someone.

1. Coffee Dates

Just order something else if coffee isn’t your thing. Tea, lemonade, hot chocolate, or even sparkling water. It’s about the experience, just because its called a coffee date doenst mean coffee should be involved you moron.

Speaking of coffee dates, I once went on a date with a girl whose entire personality was Netflix😂. No exaggeration, those were all her talking points, couldn’t steer the conversation to something else.

Needless to say, it ended badly and she said I have zero personality just because I didn’t text her after.

The damage? 50 minutes of my life and two cups of coffee. Not too bad honestly compared to if it was a nice dinner.

Back to topic, good thing Nairobi has “cute cafes” if you want somewhere that still looks nice for coffee, Izzi Brunch & Cake is probably the most aesthetic cafe because I know that is what you guys care more about for dates, than the actual food. If you want to pretend you are fancy, you can also try Tea Houses.

2. Food Truck / Street Food Date

When I say street food, I don’t mean the mayai and smokie pasua your date grabs every evening while waiting for a matatu. I’m talking about the good kind—the kind that requires some effort to find.

Something a little obscure, tucked away in some random corner of the city.

If we were talking food trucks, Mama Rocks at Alchemist would’ve been a prime example, but they shut down (RIP to a legend), so I don’t have a solid food truck recommendation at the moment.

The point is, it’s casual, easy on the wallet, and lets you enjoy your burgers—or whatever—while sitting on a bench, talking, and doing normal date things without the pressure of a fancy restaurant.

3. Ice Cream/Froyo/Bobba Dates

Everyone loves ice cream. Everyone. Young, old, city folks, villagers—it’s the great equalizer. I wish I could say the same for frozen yogurt, but let’s be honest, it’s just ice cream with self-esteem issues.

And boba? People seem to love it. I’ve never had it, but judging by the cult-like following, I guess it’s time I finally try that… thing.
Now, if ice cream is on the date agenda, go big or go home. Cold Stone is the obvious choice—yes, it’s absurdly expensive (a small tub will set you back KSh 1,000, which is borderline criminal for frozen dairy), but it’s worth it. It’s rich, silky, and almost life-changing.

Once you go Cold Stone, your ice cream standards will never go below. That said, if your budget isn’t looking too friendly, frozen yogurt might be the move.

Planet Yogurt is a solid pick—affordable enough that both of you can indulge for under KSh 1,000, and the self-serve customization makes it a fun little experience.
As for boba? (I don’t even know if I’m spelling it right). Just walk into any mall and throw a rock—you’ll probably hit a boba shop. Do your research, pick a spot, and prepare to chew your drink.

4. Farmer’s Market

So, apparently, Nairobi has a farmer’s market. Yeah, I just found out last week. It happens every Saturday in Karen. Sounds weirdly Western, I know—I half expected to see people in cowboy hats discussing kale.

Traditionally, farmer’s markets are all about selling organic produce, but let’s be real, I’m not sending you there to buy overpriced, dirt-covered carrots. There’s more to it than that.

Think of it as a collection of portable restaurants disguised as market stalls. Remember that high-quality street food I mentioned earlier? This is where you’ll find it.

Every vendor specializes in something unique, and if you’re craving, say, Chinese street food, trust me—there’s a guy for that. Probably making the best dumplings you’ve never had.

As for first dates, this is the least stressful way to do it. No awkward silences, no weird pressure. You’re walking around, sampling food, and casually chatting with vendors, which means you’ll never run out of things to talk about with your date.

It’s a conversation goldmine. Plus, if the date is going south, you can just disappear into a stall selling artisanal honey and pretend you’re deeply invested in beekeeping.

5. Museum or Art Gallery Dates

This is a food blog, so I try to keep things on theme—I won’t go off on a tangent here. But if we’re talking first date ideas, museums and art galleries are solid options. Plenty of conversation starters, zero awkward silences.

You can debate whether modern art is genius or just someone’s toddler going wild with paint, and boom—you’ve broken the ice.

Highly recommend. Nairobi has at least five museums and a ridiculous number of art galleries, so take your pick. Just make sure your date actually enjoys looking at art because most people find this “boring”

6. Park Walks & Picnic Date

I was hesitant to recommend this at first, not gonna lie. Meeting a stranger in a park? Sounds like the opening scene of a true crime documentary. Unless it’s one of those private secure parks like Evergreen Kiambu Rd.

Read: Picnic Spot Review: Evergreen Park Kiambu Rd

But if you’ve been talking for months and feel like you actually know each other (and you’re reasonably sure they’re not an organ harvester), then yeah, a park date could work.

Now, full-blown picnics require planning, effort, and probably a Pinterest board—so if you’re not ready for that level of commitment, do the lazy version.

Grab some snacks, order takeout, and call it a day. Just make sure it’s a public, well-lit area.

The Key to a Great First Date? Low Pressure

While there is nothing wrong with a dinner date for a first date—most of us just want something where we can ease into a conversation without the added pressure of choosing the perfect entrée.

If you’re like me and think dinner is better left for a second date, try something lighter for the first meeting. A beverage at a lounge or bar, a fun activity, or anything that lets conversation flow naturally without forcing you to sit across from a stranger and evaluate their chewing technique.

Final thoughts? Dinner dates aren’t bad, but they can be awkward and expensive.

If you have to do that and have no better option, then do that—provided the place isn’t wildly overpriced.

But if I have a choice? A fun activity first, then dinner. Because if I’m going to spend hours stuck at a table with you, I at least want to know you don’t talk with your mouth full.