It’s a pre-date. I used a favorite cafe specifically for this purpose. It was high-end, chandeliered, white table cloths, formal waiting staff, very 19th century Vienna. There were also tables out on the sidewalk. The place was perfect for the type of woman I was interested in. Across the street was an art museum stocked with pre-Columbian statuary and friezes, and it was noted for it’s collection and visiting collections of Impressionist paintings. Down the street was a museum with the largest collection of Salvadore Dali works in America. It was surrounded by restaurants of every class and ethnicity. Nearby was a Movie complex, a concert hall, and a jazz club. Next the the art museum was a pretty city park under huge magnolias, beyond that was an outdoor concert venue and beyond that was a yacht basin and the bay. Everything was within walking distance.
I never revealed the evolution of these activities to my date before they occurred so coffee could seamlessly transform into a late lunch and lunch could turn into whatever interested her. Conversely, we could part amicably at any stage without her thinking that she missed out on anything. If I liked her and she me, it didn’t matter what she wanted to do after coffee as all the available options were fine with me. The object was to observe her, learn about her, share something of myself, and have a good time.
So, with the right person, the pre-date could quickly evolve into a play-date, and then a real date, and if we really hit it off, a night sail on the bay, or a backroad drive into the Florida night in a convertible, to catch the morning sunrise on a deserted beach on the opposite coast.
The date could be terminated at any point to the satisfaction of both parties. Sometimes the evolution of the date ended after coffee and I had gained an attractive friend or not. Only a few ever made it to morning. These dates, no matter which stage they ended, were enjoyable for both of us. I really know no better way to get to know someone than to have coffee with them first.