Why Breakfast Dates Are The New Dinner Dates

Few things are better than the buzz of a dinner date: being out in the city at night, dressing up – but there’s something about the easygoing vibe of a breakfast date which just feels like pure happiness.

Here’s why I love them!

1. You’ll Have More Energy

Sometimes you make plans and look forward to them all week. Then when the evening rolls around, you’re just too tired, or you had a bad day, or you somehow just don’t feel like it.

During the morning, all the potential of the day is still ahead of you. It’s a great time to make plans for how you’re going to spend it (either together or not, depending on how things are going).

Also, if you do want things to continue after you’ve paid the bill, it can be less awkward to suggest it during the daytime.

2. Getting Around – And Getting Home – Is Much Easier

If you’re going on a dinner date (or any night-time date) and you don’t have plans to stay overnight, you have the hassle of getting home in the dark with limited transport options. When is the last night tube again? Are Uber prices surging around this time?

Sometimes this even leads to calling it a day before you really want to, because you won’t have a way of getting home if you stay any later.

Not so with daytime dates, when public transport is running all the time, or you can walk or cycle your way home!

3. Laid-Back Vibes And Easy-To-Love Food

Coordinating a dinner date isn’t always easy, especially if it’s the first date. Is that upmarket restaurant just right, or too much? How much should you spend if you’re not sure how things will turn out? What about courses – can you just have a main or does the occasion call for starters and/or dessert?

There’s less pressure with breakfast dates. You both know it’s going to be on the casual side, breakfast foods are normally affordable, and there’s no need to splurge on multiple courses or expensive wine.

What about choosing a spot? Normally, you can count on a cosy place with a chalkboard menu, but keep the following points in mind.

How To Choose A Great Spot

If you don’t know your date well (such as if it’s a first date) and you don’t know what they like, it’s best to choose somewhere that has a bit of a selection.

If you’re dating a health-conscious gym bunny and you suggest a greasy spoon for your breakfast date, they’re unlikely to be in their element. Unless you know what they’ll like, picking a spot with a versatile menu means you’re unlikely to go wrong.

Here are some menu staples that a good all-rounder breakfast spot should offer:

Full English (and Vegetarian/Vegan versions)
Avocado toast
Pancakes and/or waffles
Porridge
Eggs how you like them
Smoothies or smoothie bowls
Bloody Marys and Mimosas, if you want to drink at breakfast!
And of course, great coffee

Some examples of great versatile places include Bill’s, Granger & Co, The Book Club and Cafe Rouge.

If you know exactly what you both want, there are some great specific breakfast places as well, such as:

The Cereal Killer Cafe – as you’ve probably guessed, they offer cereal of every kind
My Old Dutch – a few branches around London and only does pancakes (really well)
Avobar – a California-inspired cafe dedicated only to avocados and also offering clean favourites like kombucha, acai bowls and green smoothies

What To Wear

Casual is usually best for a breakfast date (unless you’re going for some kind of super classy champagne breakfast, in which case feel free to dress up a bit).

Only you will know if you’re likely to spill coffee or egg yolk down a white t-shirt, but if you’re a messy eater then avoid white and go for an outfit with more than one layer, like a button-down shirt over a t-shirt, or a cardigan over a tank top. This way, you can quickly take it off if a disaster happens (just blame the heat).

If you wear makeup, be aware that it usually looks harsher in the daylight than in the evening, so you might want to keep it on the lighter side if you’re concerned about that.

Cute t-shirts and sneakers are allowed 🙂