21 BEST DATE NIGHT IDEAS IN SAN DIEGO

Are you looking for the best date night ideas in San Diego? You are in the right place.

Whether you want to take your date to an upscale rooftop restaurant, go on a romantic dinner cruise or cuddle up and watch movies in your car late at night, we have collected a wide range of different date night ideas in San Diego.

Grab a hot chocolate and read on to plan your perfect, dream date night in San Diego.

If you are looking for more fantastic things to do at night in San Diego, check out our detailed guide here.

POPULAR DATE NIGHT IDEAS IN SAN DIEGO FOR YOU

JOIN THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSET CRUISE

One of my favourite date night ideas in San Diego(or anywhere!) is an evening or a night cruise, especially in huge cities known for their stunning skyscrapers!

Watch the sun beautifully dip below the horizon while cruising the waters of the Mission Bay Lagoon overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

A part of Mission Bay Park, Mission Bay Lagoon is one of the wetlands and marshes and one of the top attractions known for its sandy beaches and water activities.

Joining a sunset cruise to enjoy a romantic evening escaping the crowds and admiring the beautiful views of the coastline. 

Watch the sandy shores of Fiesta Island Park, fishermen and jetties around the Ocean Beach Pier.

Soak in the beautiful panoramas of the San Diego coastline as the setting sun paints the sky magnificently above the Pacific Ocean, and see the city lights from the water on your way back. 

GO ON A ROMANTIC DINNER CRUISE

A romantic cruise surrounded by stunning city lights, delicious cuisines, drinks, and music is one of the best date night ideas in San Diego.

Admire the sparkling skyline and the city’s best sights from the comfort of a cruise ship on guided tours lasting for about 2 hours, enjoying the live music.

Admire the stunning views of the ocean and landmarks of San Diego, including Coronado Bay Bridge, the Star of India, and other skyscrapers enjoying a delicious dinner on your romantic date night on the sea.

Book your dinner cruise here.

DINE IN LITTLE ITALY

If you are looking for a romantic dinner date, Little Italy is the place to go. 

One of the trendiest places to visit in San Diego at night, the Little Italy neighbourhood gets its name as the first Italians settling in San Diego resided here.

Packed with quaint eateries and bakeries, wine bars, and boutique stores, it is one of the best neighbourhoods for night strolls, shopping, dining, and clubbing, and of course, one of the best date night ideas in San Diego.

Once a fishing village, it’s now the area with the largest Italians and is renowned for its world-class chefs and eateries.0

JOIN OTHERS IN STAR GAZING

It may be one of the most glamorous, and among the largest cities, and it is not somewhere you can expect clear skies. 

Still, one of the exciting San Diego date night activities is going star gazing or joining a star party by the San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA).

Tierra del Sol and Mission Trails Regional Park are just two locations where the San Diego Astronomy Association organize stargazing events.

Some events include the Julian Starfest, Stars in the Park, Oak Oasis Star Party, and Stars at Mission Trails. 

Located a 20-minute drive from downtown San Diego, Mission Trails Regional Park, the 7,220-acre park is a playground for stargazers at night.

Every first Wednesday of a month, SDAA sets up giant telescopes outside the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park to offer fantastic views of the stars in the night sky, following two planetarium shows.

ENJOY A BONFIRE BY THE BEACH

There is no better way to enjoy the cool sea breeze in the late evenings than cosying around the Bonfire.

It is one of the quiet date night ideas in San Diego if you want to escape the crowds and want something intimate and minimal.

There are over a dozen beaches from North County to the southern border where you can enjoy a bonfire, making it one of the best things to do in San Diego at night.

Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Coronado Beach, Cardiff State Beach, and La Jolla Shores are where you can burn marshmallows and have a fun time. 

Make sure that your fire is out before leaving. 

STROLL THROUGH THE GASLAMP QUARTER 

Known as the historic heart of San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter is one of the few remaining attractions existing besides the modern neighbourhoods.

One of the best date night ideas in San Diego is exploring this Victorian-period district.

The Gaslamp Quarter was the second neighbourhood developed after the old town, the first European settlement in California in the 1800s. 

It gets its name from more than 50 gas lamps lining the area, among the modern inventions at that time.

Today, Gaslamp Quarter at night is known for its vibrant entertainment and a nice blend of skyscrapers and many historic buildings transformed into boozy lounges, glitzy nightclubs, quirky eateries, cute cafes and boutique shops.

The best way to make the best use of your time is to join one or more walking tours downtown, where you will hop to bars, lively clubs, chic theatres, historic buildings and more.

For foodies, we recommend taking food tours to taste Japanese, Russian and Mexican, among others.

Some of the top nightclubs in San Diego are located downtown and worth checking out, including the House of Blues, known for its concerts, the stylish Parq Restaurant, and the Altitude Sky Lounge for stunning skyscraper views.

This guided night tour takes you through Balboa Park, the Gaslight Quarter glowing with Victorian buildings lit at every corner, the historic San Diego County Administration Center, the Star of India, and the USS Midway Museum.

Admire the magnificent views from the Coronado Bridge and the iconic Embarcadero on this tour. Book a City Lights Night Tour here.

SPEND AN EVENING AT BALBOA PARK

Not many know that Balboa Park, one of the top attractions in San Diego, is open at night and is spectacular, offering plenty of activities for all.

If you wonder what to do in San Diego on a date night, Balboa Park is the best place to start your evening.

This cultural heart of San Diego, spanning 1200 acres, transforms into an entertainment hub in the city.

You can enjoy a picnic, ride a bike or stroll around the park enjoying the glittering, intricate Spanish-Renaissance architecture. 

All the gardens remain open for you to explore with kids, including the cactus garden, rose garden, and Japanese garden.

There are plenty of events held regularly in the park, ranging from musical nights to plays, dances, and even the popular Food Truck Fridays.

During summer, over half of the park’s museums are open to the public at night (More details on this below).

If you are here in winter, one of the best ways to spend a night in San Diego is watching the spectacular Christmas special December night event, popular among locals and tourists alike.

Indulge in holiday delicacies while soaking in the brilliant festive lights and enjoying the live entertainment.

SPEND AN EVENING IN COIN HAUS

Located in La Mesa on 8361 Allison Avenue, Coin Haus is one of the fun date night ideas in San Diego.

With over 50 self-serve taps featuring the best brews amidst rustic industrial decor, it is no wonder it is one of the favourite hang-out spots in San Diego for beer lovers.

Whether you want to spend the evening with your date tasting the brews or playing one of their over thirty retro arcade games, Coin Haus ensures you have a fun date night in San Diego.

BEGIN WITH A STUNNING SUNSET AT CLIFFS NATURAL PARK

One of the best ways to begin your evening in San Diego is by watching a gorgeous sunset in Cliffs Natural Park, the sixty-eight-acre park along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and one of the busiest sunset spots in the city.

It is one of the free activities to enjoy before planning other date night ideas in San Diego at night.

There are many viewpoints along the 1.5-mile stretch of coastline. Bring a blanket and some snacks to make it into a romantic date.

JOIN THE CITY LIGHTS NIGHT TOUR

My favourite activity while exploring San Diego at night is the light tour, the perfect tour that takes you through the main attractions in the city, basking in brilliant lights.

If you only want to take one tour of San Diego at night, let it be this one.

This guided night tour takes you through Balboa Park, the Gaslight Quarter glowing with Victorian buildings lit at every corner, the historical San Diego County Administration Center, the Star of India, and the USS Midway Museum.

Admire the magnificent views from the Coronado Bridge and the iconic Embarcadero on this tour. Book a City Lights Night Tour here.

FUN DATE NIGHT IDEAS IN SAN DIEGO

LAUGH OFF AT THE COMEDY CLUBS

One of the fun things to do in San Diego at night with your friends signs up for comedy nights.

San Diego is one of the favourites among stand-up comedians thanks to the diverse crowds and eclectic groups of young and the young at heart thronging in large numbers to places like Mad House Comedy Club.

Now owned by Mic Drop Comedy, you can enjoy funny 90-minute shows performed Wednesdays through Sundays.

There are options for dinner and drinks along with your tickets.

Don’t Tell Comedy hosts two live performances nearly every weekend, and the best part is that the exact locations and comedians are not revealed to ticket holders until the day of the show at noon!

WATCH A DRIVE-IN MOVIE OR TWO

If Drive-in Theatres is your thing, San Diego offers two places to enjoy classic and latest movies with your friends and family, one of the enjoyable activities in San Diego at night.

Grab your blankets, snacks, drinks and pillows into the car, and head to South Bay Drive-in Theatre in Imperial Beach, which opened in 1958.

At South Bay Drive-in Theatre, you can catch the latest blockbusters on the brightest, state-of-the-art, full digital quality on three 100-foot screens.

They screen movies daily, all year round, at as low as $10.

Watch a movie from the comfort of your car and tune into the audio over the radio.

The showtimes adjust for winter and summer sunsets, so check the schedule to see what you want to watch.

Santee Drive-In is another excellent choice, an ancient theatre screening movies in digital format every day year-round. 

The movies from the two screens are broadcasted through your car’s radio for extra crisp audio.

They also have a snack bar and restrooms in the centre of the theatre.

RIDE THE GLOW BOATS

How about riding eco-friendly glow boats for a fun San Diego date night idea?

Eco Boat Rentals offers this magical ride, making it a trendy date night idea in San Diego.

Pedal boats are lit up and glow with colourful LED lights. Paddle around together, admiring the glittering city lights. 

The rental price starts at $99. It is best to make reservations on their website online(check here) since the demand can be high often.

WATCH CINEMA UNDER THE STARS

Another popular place to enjoy a movie is the Mission Hills Rooftop Theater, another favourite among the list of fun date night ideas in San Diego.

Snuggle up for a cosy outdoor movie night as every Saturday and Sunday, in July, the Mission Hills offers Cinema Under the Stars will feature a wide selection of old and beloved classic films on a 20-foot screen with surround sound and HD projection.

ENJOY A GOURMET ICE CREAM

One of the fun date night ideas in San Diego is tasting delicious ice creams. 

Share an ice cream flight at Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream, where you can choose from over three hundred types of flavours.

You can also enjoy some fantastic desserts or maybe even try a milkshake. No wonder it is among the favourite date night ideas in San Diego.

BIKE ALONG THE SILVER STRAND

One of the fun date night ideas in San Diego is taking a bike ride along the Silver Strand Bikeway.

Beginning at the Coronado Ferry Landing, you can soak in the cool breeze of the ocean and stunning views for over nine miles all the way to Imperial Beach.

Along the way, there are many options for pit stops, from picnic lunch to San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge, or swimming in Silver Strand Beach.

JOIN A WINE-TASTING TOUR

There is nothing better than wine that amps up a date night in San Diego.

Whether you want to learn the basics of wine tasting or master the advanced skills from the experts, one of the fun date night ideas in San Diego is joining a wine-tasting tour.

COMPETE IN A GAME NIGHT

Thanks to plenty of local bars and cafes offering fun games, you can combine bar hopping and challenging games on your date night in San Diego.

PAINT AND SIP IN SAN DIEGO

For an artistic and relaxing date night in San Diego, sign up for a paint-in sip, usually held at many locations in the city.

Not only can you impress your date by showcasing your creative side, but you can also have a fun and relaxing night, perfect if you want to keep it low-key but ensure it is an enjoyable night for both.

Sip on your favourite drink while relaxing, chatting and creating a fun work of art together.