The Greatest Second Date Location Is Ikea

There’s a method for second dates. You recognize you just like the individual sufficient to do one thing extra than simply get a drink with them, and a meal plus an exercise is so typically the format of selection. Therefore the basic date plan: dinner and a film. However why would you go to dinner and a film, when you possibly can go to Ikea as a substitute?

Final January, I went on a date with a person I met on a relationship app. We went out for drinks in Brooklyn, and it went very nicely. So nicely the truth is that we lately celebrated our one-year anniversary. However whereas the primary date was nice, I believe what actually sealed the deal for me was our second, once we took a visit to Ikea.

If you happen to’re picturing a scene à la 500 Days of Summer season, wherein Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt start their romance by taking part in at home bliss in an Ikea, I wish to suppose we weren’t that clichéd — and we definitely weren’t pretending to be married with mock conversations in a mannequin kitchen. As a substitute we had a goofy, straightforward, and insightful few hours on the 346,000-square-foot Ikea retailer in Brooklyn’s Purple Hook neighborhood. It was so good that we went again about eight months later, only for enjoyable. I’m now on a campaign to persuade everybody else that Ikea is the very best place for a second date.

Begin your Swedish furnishings journey by having fun with a meal on the Ikea cafe. They’re all the time arrange in a cafeteria format — which your date would possibly suppose is cute. The costs are terribly reasonably priced, so if you wish to pay for the opposite individual it received’t break the financial institution. Getting dinner with somebody who’s vegetarian? Don’t fear, they will benefit from the plant-based model of Ikea’s basic Swedish meatballs. A plate of meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, lingonberry jam, and peas can also be very user-friendly for a date — you received’t must awkwardly spear giant leaves of lettuce or battle to carry a messy sandwich collectively. 

Want to do one thing earlier within the day? You’re in luck, as a result of Ikea serves breakfast that comes full with crêpelike Swedish pancakes and, you guessed it, lingonberry jam.

In contrast to whenever you take a date to see a film, you possibly can truly speak as you’re strolling via Ikea. And that stroll will take loads of time, at the least one hour, and nearer to 2 if you happen to’re having enjoyable — which you’ll be. The perfect half about rambling via this cavernous furnishings retailer although, is what you’ll be taught concerning the different individual. Throughout the course of my second date at Ikea, I noticed it’s the proper place to get perception into the issues you’ll want to find out about somebody, however wouldn’t suppose to ask.

A primary date covers the massive compatibility and background questions, like, “What are you on the lookout for?” and “Are you a serial killer?” A second date is for extra refined interrogations, which might typically be tougher to think about — so let Ikea do the be just right for you. Which of the absolutely staged studio flats do they like? What colour of metallic would they select for the {hardware} on a kitchen sink? Do in addition they hate white granite counter tops? If they are saying they love the bed room lamp with color-changing LED lights, run the opposite approach.

You don’t have to be nervous about awkward silences or having sufficient issues to speak about, as a result of each few steps you’ll uncover one thing else to touch upon. Stroll into the realm with dishware and focus on your wine glass of selection. Check out couches collectively. Give your opinion on the ultra-generic, printed paintings that depicts scenes like a forest of birch bushes or a lighthouse on a cape. My now-boyfriend and I spent half-hour solely on the subject of “What would you say is your splendid eating desk?” 

I can’t formally sanction this, however if you wish to have a cocktail whereas strolling via the aisles, you possibly can pack it in a Thermos or opaque tumbler. My date did this and I used to be impressed by his mixology abilities. Simply be sure you convey one thing on the lighter aspect; it’s disrespectful to be sloshed in Ikea, and also you don’t need to embarrass your self on a second date.

You don’t have to be out there for any furnishings in an effort to get pleasure from meandering via this warehouse of house items. No matter whether or not you plan to purchase something alongside the trail via Ikea you’ll inevitably discover at the least one or two small objects you didn’t understand you wanted — and for an important worth. I got here away with a really cute potholder that had illustrations of broccoli printed on it ($3.99), and a few new string lights for my front room ($6.99). 

Maybe the very best half is that in case your date goes nicely, Ikea will help you intend what to do for the subsequent one. Whereas going via checkout I snagged some discounted gingerbread kits left over from the vacation season, and the 2 of us assembled them collectively the subsequent weekend. If you happen to’re not visiting close to the vacation season, snag some Swedish snacks for a house film night time, which appears like splendid third date territory. And in case your date does buy furnishings at Ikea, probably the most romantic transfer potential is to supply to assist them assemble it.