The first date sets the tone for everything that comes after, and everyone has a favorite plan. This One Gotta Go card puts four classic first dates together: dinner at a nice restaurant, a movie, coffee and drinks at a bar.
Three ideas stay in the dating playbook, and one is gone for good. Think about your best first date, your most awkward one and what you actually want when meeting someone new. Then make your pick and share your funniest first date story with the group.
Dinner at a Nice Restaurant vs Movies vs Coffee vs Drinks at a Bar
A. Dinner at a Nice Restaurant
Dinner at a nice restaurant shows effort and gives you a long stretch to talk. It feels special. It can also be expensive and awkward if the conversation stalls, since you are stuck until the check comes, which makes it a fair cut.
Keep it if: You love a sit down meal, good conversation and the feeling that someone really planned the night.
B. Movies
A movie is an easy first date with built in entertainment. It takes pressure off. The problem is that you sit in silence for two hours and learn very little about the other person, which is why many people cut it first.
Keep it if: You get nervous on first dates and like having something to talk about afterward.
C. Coffee
Coffee is short, cheap and low pressure, which makes it a favorite for meeting someone new. It is easy to leave or extend. Some people feel it is too casual and does not show enough effort, which makes it a candidate for the cut.
Keep it if: You like keeping first dates simple and short, with an easy way to plan a second one if it goes well.
D. Drinks at a Bar
Drinks at a bar are relaxed and social, with music and a lively setting. It is a classic. It can also be loud, and not everyone drinks, which makes it a fair choice to cut for many daters.
Keep it if: You love a relaxed evening, a fun atmosphere and getting to know someone over a drink.
Our take
We would cut the movie. It is easy, but a first date is about getting to know someone, and two hours of silence in the dark makes that hard. The other three all leave room for real conversation. The most fun debate usually comes down to coffee against dinner, since one is low pressure and the other shows effort. Ask everyone what their ideal first date would be, and you might learn a lot about your friends. Second dates count too.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which first date idea tells you the most about effort level?
- Who should pay on a first date?
- What is the best first date you have ever been on?
- What first date idea would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
First Date Ideas: quick answers
What is a good first date idea?
Good first date ideas give you a chance to talk, such as coffee, a walk in a park, a casual dinner or an activity like mini golf. Picking a public place you both feel comfortable in is a smart choice, and keeping it short leaves room for a second date.
Is a movie a good first date?
A movie can work, but many people find it hard to get to know someone when you cannot talk for two hours. If you choose a movie, plan coffee or a meal before or after so you have time for conversation. A quick dessert after the film works well too.
