Would you like cream and sugar with that kiss?
Clover Dating surveyed data from 200,000 users to find out what the most popular date spots in the U.S. are and found that Starbucks is by far the most popular meeting place for people looking for love. Daters might have to unbutton their pants at the second most popular spot, and that’s not meant to be sexual: Chipotle, the home of America’s favorite overstuffed burritos, is also the most popular dining establishment on Clover’s list. Though mostly plebeian chains like Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings and Red Lobster populate the top 30 meeting places, Blue Bottle Coffee stands out as one of the more trendy first date spots on the list. Clover Dating also pulled a few surprising trends from the data – 51 percent of men prefer to meet at a restaurant on a first date, while 52 percent of women prefer to meet at a coffee shop.
Young daters between 18 and 24 chose Chipotle as their favorite restaurant for a first date and Buffalo Wild Wings as their favorite bar. Daters between 25 and 34 chose the Cheesecake Factory and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse as their favorite restaurant and bar for a first date, respectively; daters over 35 liked Olive Garden and Yard House. “We were surprised to see most people choosing to meet at coffee shops and casual restaurants for their first date,” says Isaac Raichyk, CEO of Clover. “We expected fine dining, bars and nightclubs to rank much higher, but clearly people want to meet in a relaxed environment. Men seem more willing to commit to a first meeting over dinner at a restaurant vs. women who prefer being able to screen dates quickly over coffee.”