First Date Spots That Will Guarantee A Second Date

First dates can be rough – there are all those awkward silences to deal with and not to mention that fact that you constantly have to worry about whether or not you have food stuck in your teeth (ordering that spinach and feta starter really was a rookie error). So it goes without saying that picking an epic first date spot, a spot that will guarantee you a second date even if you are a total spazz, is a must!

We’ve had a few requests from readers asking us to “help a brother out” when it comes to dating so we got our resident female to put together a pretty awesome list of first date spots in Cape Town and Joburg that will make sure you are guaranteed to score … a second date. And, she’s grouped them according the type of girl you are trying to impress – genius, right?

The High Maintenance Lass

This girl is all about being wined and dined and treated like the beautiful princess she clearly is. If the lady in question appreciates fine food and drinks then these spots are bound to impress.

The Saxon Boutique Hotel – Sandhurst, Johannesburg

It doesn’t get much fancier than The Saxon. Case in point – when you arrive at this joint you don’t walk to the hotel reception, they wait for you to park your car and then chauffeur you to the hotel’s door in a swanky black Mercedes. The hotel has some impressive dining options that includes the fanciest high tea you will ever experience set in the opulent piano room and five-star dining at Five Hundred Restaurant. If you’ve got money to burn or just want to make your date feel like a million bucks, then this a must-try.

KOI Restaurant – Bantry Bay, Cape Town

When in Cape Town, it is important to use the mountain and the ocean as your ally on all dates and there’s no place in Cape Town with a view quite like KOI at the Ambassador Hotel in Bantry Bay. The fancy pants eatery serves incredible sushi and Thai food that is hard to beat and the uninterrupted ocean views are nothing short of swoon-worthy. Go just before the sun goes down so you can sip on a cocktail and soak up the beautiful sunset with your date – if you she doesn’t agree to a second date after you take her here then there is probably no hope for you.

KOI Restaurant – Bantry Bay, Cape Town

The Romantic

This lady loves the mushy side of life – think hearts, roses and quality time getting to know each other. Follow my suggestions below and you won’t struggle to find the way to her heart.

Morrells Boutique Hotel – Northcliff, Johannesburg

Morrells is my boyfriend’s ‘’get out of jail free” card when he’s in the dog box. It is my favourite place in Joburg and for good reason! The French-themed boutique hotel oozes romance and offers a bistro which is perfect for lunch-time and dinner dates. Sit in the courtyard on warm summer days and nights and then tell her how beautiful she looks under the fairylights (or something along those lines). If you don’t have the budget to whisk your romance-obsessed date to Paris for a day then this joint is the spot for you. They also offer open-air movie screenings in the garden during the summer months so if you’re date is a movie buff then skip the bistro and wow her with a picnic in the gardens and a movie under the stars.

Green House at Babylonstoren – Klapmuts, Cape Town

There’s a reason tons of Capetonian women have earmarked this restaurant as their dream wedding venue – it’s so romantic it should be illegal. Set in an all-glass greenhouse and situated smack bang in the middle of an incredibly beautiful garden, the restaurant is the stuff women’s dreams are made of. Babylonstoren is near Stellenbosch and is a bit of a drive but it’s the perfect place if your lass is into all that romance stuff and you’re desperately trying to get out of the friend zone. It’s a daytime restaurant so your date will have to be a lunch affair but that just means you will have plenty of time afterwards for wine tasting on the farm.

Green House at Babylonstoren – Klapmuts, Cape Town

The Free Spirit

This lady is happiest when she is in the great outdoors rather than cooped up inside a stuffy restaurant. Keep reading to find out how to woo her the right way.

Down To Earth Farm Feasts – Various Farms, Johannesburg

Thanks to the ladies at Down to Earth, you can spend an afternoon chowing great food in a forest, on a farm or on the banks of a bubbling brook with the lady of your choice. Each picnic is arranged at a different farm in the Gauteng area and takes place once a month or more. The feasts are a great way to spend a relaxed afternoon breathing in fresh air and soaking up the sun with a special lady and will definitely guarantee you a second date – granted you don’t do something stupid like drinking your weight in the craft beer included in your feast price.

Warwick Wine Farm Picnics – Stellenbosch, Cape Town

If she loves being outside in nature then you can’t go wrong with a romantic picnic at Warwick Wine Farm. Book one of their unique picnic pods or a picnic blanket on the lawn overlooking  the farm’s dam and you will be on your way to securing a second date in no time at all. The farm offers a few picnic spots but the lawns and the 8 exclusive picnic pods are by far the best spot for a date. Plus, their gourmet picnics are a must-try and come with wine – what more could you ask for?

Down To Earth Farm Feasts – Various Farms, Johannesburg

The Cheap Date

If your date hates pretentious vibes and would rather spend her time discovering the most random, yet cool spots in your city then boy have we got some cracker suggestions for your first date!

George’s Best Fish And Chips – Helderkruin, Johannesburg (no website: 011 764 6061)

If you’re looking for the best fish and chips in Joburg then George’s is the spot to take your lady on a relaxed afternoon or evening date. Georges is down to earth and offers both a simple indoor and outdoor dining area where hungry folk can dig into their delicious, fresh seafood. If anything your date will be super impressed that you know about this place and she will give you major props for being the person who helped her discover it.

Burger Fair – Bellville, Cape Town

Made famous by the king of Zeff, Jack Parow, this roadhouse is a must-try if you are dating a girl with a sense of adventure and a love of nostalgia. One of the only remaining roadhouses in Cape Town, Burger Fair offers delicious takeaway burgers and fries which can be enjoyed from a basket attached to your car window while you sit and chat the night away in your vehicle (how’s that for old school?) or from one of their tables outside in the parking lot (not as glamorous or romantic). If you’re really clever you could even attach your tablet to your dashboard and watch a movie together while you eat – you’ll get extra points for originality!

Burger Fair – Bellville, Cape Town