Anna Gionet
While your idea of a perfect date night might be inspired by shows like The Bachelor, getting whisked off on a helicopter ride and eating a gourmet meal at the top of a waterfall might not be practical for most people. Still, that doesn’t mean your date night has to be boring! Whether you’re simply looking to put the spark back in your relationship or want to plan an epic blind date for you and your Tinder match, the team here at Shane Co. wanted to be your personal date guru and help analyze the dating scene in Phoenix!
We used Yelp to analyze 100 of the highest-reviewed and most-rated locations around the Phoenix Metropolitan Area so you can ditch the Netflix and chill and opt for something a little more exciting than burgers from your average fast-food joint. Keep reading to discover which streets and regions to hit up for the ultimate Phoenix date night!
Our “Rendezvous” Findings:
- Phoenix has the most 5-star locations (29), while Scottsdale has the most 5-star reviews (3,603 reviews across 22 locations).
- Locations with an even street number are most likely to earn 5-star reviews (57 spots compared to 42 with an odd street number).
- Locations on the streets labeled West are most raved about (3,417 reviews across 31 spots), while those on streets labeled East are close behind (3,100 reviews across 31 spots).
- The medium price range (i.e. $11-$30 per person) is the most popular for 5-star reviews (5,728 reviews across 35 spots).
- Restaurants are the most popular category for 5-star date night spots (9,502 reviews across 64 restaurants).
Analyzing 5-Star Hotspots Around Phoenix
Considering that the Phoenix Metropolitan Area is home to over 20 cities total, there are plenty of fun date ideas in Phoenix, but how do you choose where to go? Below, we’ve broken down the best zip codes and streets, according to customer reviews!
The 85281 (Tempe, AZ) zip code placed first on our list with seven 5-star locations and 697 Yelp reviews. Bring out your inner lumberjack at Hotshots Axe Throwing, located at 1290 N Scottsdale Rd Ste 102 Tempe, AZ 85281. You can even throw in the dark on one of their special glow-throw nights!
The 85251 (Scottsdale, AZ) zip code ranked second on our list of top regions to visit for a Phoenix date night! With five 5-star locations and a cost of $12.50 on average per activity, this area of Scottsdale is blowing up.
Share a spaghetti kiss at Forno 301, located at 7111 E Thomas Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85251. This Italian eatery features homemade pasta and an extensive drink menu. Glass of Cabernet, anyone?
When it comes to cute date ideas in Arizona, the Scottsdale region continued to dominate the map as the 85257 and 85260 zip codes came in third and fourth place, respectively. But you don’t have to waste time driving from location to location. Instead, if you’re looking for special date ideas in Phoenix, then simply stick to one street!
Start your Phoenix date night adventure by exploring Bell Road, which ranked first on our list of the best streets for a date night and boasts the most 5-star locations (five). Break the ice with some liquid courage by visiting Kitsune Brewing Co., located at 3321 E Bell Rd Suite B-5 Phoenix, AZ 85032. Next on our list is University Drive, which features three 5-star locations with 225 reviews. Keep the mystery alive in your relationship by visiting the Inferno Escape, located at 2155 E University Dr Ste 210 Tempe, AZ 85281.
Make sure to also put Gilbert Road on your itinerary; this street placed third and racked up 196 reviews for three 5-star locations. Book a table at Pita Island, located at 865 N Gilbert Rd Ste 101 D Gilbert, AZ 85234. This Mediterranean-style restaurant features mouthwatering dishes like gyro cheesesteaks and chicken shawarma — yum!
Honorable mentions include Thomas Road and Scottsdale Road, which came in fourth and fifth place on our list, respectively.
Closing Thoughts
Phoenix has plenty of places to visit if you’re looking to spice up your date night. Whether you already call Phoenix your home or want to plan a trip there to get away, there are so many cute date ideas in Arizona to reconnect and have fun!
Looking to top off your Phoenix date night experience with something extra? Spoil your partner with something sparkly at one of Shane Co.’s Phoenix locations, including jewelry stores in both Chandler and Scottsdale. You can also shop our selection of engagement rings if you’re looking to take things to the next level with your favorite date-night partner!
Methodology
To find the location of the most 5-star date ideas in Phoenix, we turned to customer reviews on Yelp. We analyzed 100 of the highest-reviewed and most-rated locations in the following categories: restaurants, bars, activities (i.e. arcades, escape rooms, axe throwing, music venues, etc.), and parks. We looked at the addresses of each 5-star location and broke down the streets and zip codes that appeared the most frequently, as well as various other characteristics of the restaurants (including the price range, city, and more).
Anna Gionet
Rachel McCreight