Drinks are the default first date because they're low-commitment, but "low-commitment" is a property, not a location — plenty of other dates share it without the bar tab. A good first date needs three things: it should be short (an hour, easily extended or ended), cheap (nobody's out real money if it doesn't click), and easy to leave (no reservation guilt, no shared ride locking you in).
Seven that clear all three bars: a coffee walk instead of a sit-down coffee. A bookstore browse. A short hike with a clear turnaround point. A museum's free hour. Mini golf. A farmers' market. Splitting one dessert instead of a full dinner.
None of these require chemistry to already be confirmed — that's the point of a first date. What kills first dates isn't the venue, it's picking something with a two-hour minimum before you know if there's anything worth two hours. Pick short and cheap first. Upgrade the venue once you both actually want to stay longer than planned.