The Bay Area is home to some of the best art and science museums in the country. Whether you’re going on a first date or celebrating a ten year anniversary, museums are a fun date where you can learn something new and have fun while doing so. Check out our favorite museums for date night along with details for our upcoming deYoung event.
Date Night at deYoung with Off the Grid (June 12)
5 to 10pm
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco
Off the Grid is partnering with the deYoung Museum to make date night extra special. Grab your special someone and enjoy a couple of bao before heading in to enjoy the art. The museum is in Golden Gate Park, so you can keep the evening going with a stroll to the Conservatory of Flowers or bring a picnic blanket to chill by the fountains.
Balloon Museum (Limited Time)
3601 Lyon Street
Open March 29 to September 7
Child tickets $32. Adult tickets $42.
A traveling exhibit that opened in 2021 built around the theme of air. The San Francisco exhibit is title Emotionair: Art you can feel. It includes several interactive exhibits such as Electric Moons, Octopus Attacks, Synchronized Chaos, and Voyage.
Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)
1000 Oak St, Oakland
11am – 5pm (daily) and open late from 5-9pm on Fridays
The best day to stop by for a date night is on Friday night from 5 to 9pm. Off the Grid brings nearly a dozen food trucks to grab a bite before checking out the museum. There’s also live music, drinks, and a DJ. Bring a blanket to lay back on the lawn and enjoy the evening.
CalAcademy
55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco
9:30 – 5pm
This museum is for science lovers interested in sea creatures, rainforest habitats, outer space, and natural history. On Thursday nights from 6-10pm, they host NightLife, a 21+ event with themed cocktails and live music.
Exploratorium
Pier 15 Embarcadero at, Green St, San Francisco
11am – 5pm (daily) and open late from 5-9pm on Thursdays
The Exploratorium is the most hands-on museum in the city. Exhibits cover physics, biology, and psychology. It’s the ideal spot for couples with kids since they’ll enjoy it just as much as the adults. They also host an Exploratorium After Dark event every Thursday from 6-10pm with a full bar and live music.
SFMOMA
151 3rd St, San Francisco
12 – 8pm
It’s also a great pic for a budget friendly date since the first Thursday of every month provides free admission for residents of the nine Bay Area counties. Currently exhibitions include Ruth Asawa’s Retrospective and Samson Young’s New Work. There’s also a large collection of art from the 1900s to today. Tickets need to be reserved online two weeks in advance. You even get a free coffee from Illy coffee included in your ticket.
