Eco-Date Night

Updated: April 20, 2009

Mother Earth is the last person on your mind when you're trying to get some, but in eco-obsessed San Francisco, our most luscious man-eaters are locavores, manly studs ride bikes to work, and neither likes it when you leave the lights on. Boost your eco-cred and you might just pass third base--without leaving even the faintest carbon footprint.

Going Out Green

  1. 1 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
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    1881 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115 (map)

    This indie multiplex is not only one of the greenest in the country--reclaimed wood, recycled materials and organic food at the popcorn stand--but they also let you drink cocktails in the theater balcony and reserve your seats ahead of time.

  2. 2 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Opaque - dining in the dark
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    689 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

    The idea behind Opaque is that by eating in the dark, your sense of taste is heightened, but it also saves a huge amount of energy and allows for games of footsie that can pass third base.

  3. 3 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended ELIXIR
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    3200 16th St., San Francisco, CA 94103 (map)

    The first bar in the city to be green certified is also one the best, with several awards for its bar program and fun atmosphere. Plus, there's just something beautiful about plying your date with 100-percent organic cocktails.

  4. 4 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Ferry Building
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    Market and Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105 (map)

    Another day-date option, the Saturday farmers' market offers enough organic, locally grown produce to make your "Want to make dinner at my house?" proposition seem plausible.

  5. 5 Friends Of The Urban Forest
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    PO Box 29456, San Francisco, CA 94129 (map)

    Tree-loving San Franciscans--or shrewd daters who want to seduce an eco-babe--can get help planting and maintaining their urban oases, or volunteer to help green-up SF neighborhoods, from this nonprofit organization.

  6. 6 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Orchard Garden Hotel
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    466 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108 (map)

    For a luxurious overnight date, this posh hotel is one of only four green-certified in the country, and it has a secret rooftop bar and organic restaurant, Roots, on premises.

  7. 7 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Golden Gate Park
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    Fulton at 36th Ave / Lincoln at 41st Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

    For a day-date, bring a blanket, a basket of food and a bottle to GGP on Sundays, when it's closed to pollution-spewing cars and open to carbon-neutral kissing in hidden meadows.

  8. 8 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Jardiniere Restaurant
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    300 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

    This upscale Cal-French restaurant has garnered multiple stars from critics and eco-types alike for using fresh, local ingredients and recycling 85 percent of their waste--although, to be fair, most diners leave nary a crumb on their plates.