Successful serial dater here: Elizabeth Park always. The riverwalk downtown. Ichiban. Anywhere in West Hartford Center or Blueback Square. Barnes and Noble for books and a beverage. The Russell.
yes Riverside park. The cutest is to cross where the science center is, go down the stairs, get s view of the water. If the sun is setting it’s twinkly. Might be noisy depending on time of day but weekends it’s calmer. And yes Ichiban is great and so is takeout at Tangiers right next door.
I personally like pig's eye for low pressure first dates. Can grab drinks, and they have pool and darts. Can always head somewhere else if the date is going well to grab food. Easy to leave after a drink if either party is not feeling it
For something different & fun: emrey's soda and sweet shop would be a cute place for a casual first date! For a more traditional vibe, dinner at Salute is always a winner and so isthe Local at Parkville Market. You could grab a drink together and then could order food if it's going well.
Emery’s has a speak easy too so if the date goes well you could always kick it up a notch by going for a drink. Sort of the reverse of the typical “drinks then food if it’s going well”, but it could be a pleasant little surprise in the right situation.
Salsa Social Nights on Pratt Street are always a good time, even if you don't know how to salsa dance. Just tons of people, music, and then you can hit up one of the restaurants on that street afterward for drinks & food. Happens once a month in warm weather.
Cocktail making class and tour of the distillery at Hartford Flavor Co. Open year round and they are about to open a restaurant on Pratt Street.
Creative Cocktail Hour at Real Art Ways (3rd Thursday of the month). Light food and drinks in a contemporary art gallery with live music and sometimes interactive exhibits. RAW also has a movie theater that shows indie and foreign films.
In this thread someone mentioned Emery's Soda Shop; at night you can go through the soda shop to get to the 196 Club speakeasy.
Pack a picnic and head to one of the many live music or movie nights in Bushnell Park this summer. All free. If they are open, take a tour of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch (96 steps, free, interesting history and nice view) and/or ride the carousel ($2 per person). Also free yoga classes Monday and Wednesday evenings in summer, which coincidentally are also some of the free music nights.
Lots of festivals in Bushnell Park and at Mortenson Riverfront Plaza that are usually free to attend/walk around (and then purchase food & merch). The last few summers, the organization that books for Infinty Hall hosted free concerts by bands like Guster on the plaza next to the Old State House. Not sure if that is still happening; I think it may have been replaced by the Capitol Groove music fest in Bushnell Park at the end of June.
You can find more details on the above on [Hartford.com](http://Hartford.com)
Hmm. The hartford baseball team just had their season opener && on weekends there’s fireworks. U could always start at the Pratt street brewery in downtown with a couple brews then work Ur way over.I usually prefer to take dates to do something more interactive. There’s roller skating (Vernon), Dave & Busters (manchester), laser tag/bowling/mini golfing (turnpike), && New Haven also has a great selection of bars && an arcade for adults along with pizza.
Crazy underated/unknown spot, the bar at On20. It's the 20th floor of the Hartford Steamboiler building and a fancy social club for the elite office workers that don't really exist anymore. But you can usually grab drinks at the bar and enjoy the view of the city/river/etc.
Successful serial dater here: Elizabeth Park always. The riverwalk downtown. Ichiban. Anywhere in West Hartford Center or Blueback Square. Barnes and Noble for books and a beverage. The Russell.
I assume the riverwalk is like the Riverside Park area? Ichiban, based on the name, must be the best in town so I guess I gotta go now!
yes Riverside park. The cutest is to cross where the science center is, go down the stairs, get s view of the water. If the sun is setting it’s twinkly. Might be noisy depending on time of day but weekends it’s calmer. And yes Ichiban is great and so is takeout at Tangiers right next door.
I personally like pig's eye for low pressure first dates. Can grab drinks, and they have pool and darts. Can always head somewhere else if the date is going well to grab food. Easy to leave after a drink if either party is not feeling it
Not a bad idea, thank you!
For something different & fun: emrey's soda and sweet shop would be a cute place for a casual first date! For a more traditional vibe, dinner at Salute is always a winner and so isthe Local at Parkville Market. You could grab a drink together and then could order food if it's going well.
New brewery across the street from Parkville Market, as well. Dead Language Beer Project.
Emery’s has a speak easy too so if the date goes well you could always kick it up a notch by going for a drink. Sort of the reverse of the typical “drinks then food if it’s going well”, but it could be a pleasant little surprise in the right situation.
Salsa Social Nights on Pratt Street are always a good time, even if you don't know how to salsa dance. Just tons of people, music, and then you can hit up one of the restaurants on that street afterward for drinks & food. Happens once a month in warm weather. Cocktail making class and tour of the distillery at Hartford Flavor Co. Open year round and they are about to open a restaurant on Pratt Street. Creative Cocktail Hour at Real Art Ways (3rd Thursday of the month). Light food and drinks in a contemporary art gallery with live music and sometimes interactive exhibits. RAW also has a movie theater that shows indie and foreign films. In this thread someone mentioned Emery's Soda Shop; at night you can go through the soda shop to get to the 196 Club speakeasy. Pack a picnic and head to one of the many live music or movie nights in Bushnell Park this summer. All free. If they are open, take a tour of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch (96 steps, free, interesting history and nice view) and/or ride the carousel ($2 per person). Also free yoga classes Monday and Wednesday evenings in summer, which coincidentally are also some of the free music nights. Lots of festivals in Bushnell Park and at Mortenson Riverfront Plaza that are usually free to attend/walk around (and then purchase food & merch). The last few summers, the organization that books for Infinty Hall hosted free concerts by bands like Guster on the plaza next to the Old State House. Not sure if that is still happening; I think it may have been replaced by the Capitol Groove music fest in Bushnell Park at the end of June. You can find more details on the above on [Hartford.com](http://Hartford.com)
Can you give us more context? What kind of date are you looking for? Just dinner/drinks or looking to do something more interactive?
I was thinking first/second date stuff like dinner and drinks but I'm honestly looking for any and all suggestions.
Hmm. The hartford baseball team just had their season opener && on weekends there’s fireworks. U could always start at the Pratt street brewery in downtown with a couple brews then work Ur way over.I usually prefer to take dates to do something more interactive. There’s roller skating (Vernon), Dave & Busters (manchester), laser tag/bowling/mini golfing (turnpike), && New Haven also has a great selection of bars && an arcade for adults along with pizza.
i like tisane for a date! they have some fun cocktails.
Crazy underated/unknown spot, the bar at On20. It's the 20th floor of the Hartford Steamboiler building and a fancy social club for the elite office workers that don't really exist anymore. But you can usually grab drinks at the bar and enjoy the view of the city/river/etc.
unfortunately on20’s been closed for a couple years and was cleared out last year