Planning a date night in Taipei usually ends up in the same two options: dinner or a movie. One's too quiet to talk during, the other doesn't let you talk at all. This post is about a different idea: put darts on the date, specifically at AI DARTS, a 24-hour, no-cover darts bar in the East District.
Dinner and a movie are quiet and a little rigid
Most standard date spots are either a quiet restaurant or a dark theater where you can't talk at all. Coming up with things to say can feel like work. An interactive date activity tends to relax people faster than a fixed itinerary, because you're not stuck thinking "what do we talk about next."
Three reasons darts works as a date activity
- Someone wins, someone loses, and that's a topic on its own: the score gives you something to talk about without forcing it
- It's never dead quiet: taking turns throwing leaves natural gaps to chat, so you're not just staring at each other over a table
- You don't need to drink much to have fun: unlike a lot of bar dates that lean on alcohol to carry the night, darts is the activity itself: how much (or little) you drink is up to you
Why AI DARTS works for a date
It's open 24 hours, every day of the year, so the timing works around your schedule, not the venue's closing time. There's no cover charge, which matters on a first date when you're not sure how the night will go, and it won't cost you a full dinner if it doesn't click. When you're done playing, the same space is Hotdogray, so you can just sit down for a hot dog as dinner instead of planning a separate meal. Read the brand's own story at Hotdogray's site, or get the full story on Taipei's strongest cyberpunk darts bar. Menu's here.
A few tips for a first-date game
- Don't try to look good: missing the board is normal, and it gives you something to laugh about, not a test to pass
- Start with Count-Up: the rules are simple, highest total wins, no need to learn much before you play
- Loser buys the next round or the hot dogs: a small stake keeps it light without making it formal
FAQ
What if neither of us knows how to play darts on a first date?
The board walks you through the game, so you don't need experience. The scoreboard alone gives you something to talk about, and staff can show you the basics too.
Is there a cover charge? Will a date here get expensive?
No cover charge, and you can bring your own drinks, so the budget is flexible, and you could even just order a Hotdogray hot dog as dinner.
Do we need to come at night?
No. It's open 24 hours, every day, so you can schedule a date whenever works, not around a closing time.
What game should we play first?
Start with Count-Up: highest total over a set number of rounds, easy to pick up without much pressure to win.
A date doesn't need a special occasion to feel worth planning. If you want somewhere that isn't boring and doesn't require forced small talk, a game of darts is a good place to start.