The World’s First AI Dating Café Is Opening In NYC This Valentine’s Day

More than a decade after Spike Jonze’s film *Her* imagined a man falling in love with his operating system, the idea of dating an AI no longer feels like distant sci-fi–it feels like a soft launch. According to AI relationship app EVA AI, nearly one in three men and one in four women under 30 say they’ve interacted with AI companions, chatting, confiding, and building emotional connections through their phones. The one thing missing? An actual, in-person date. This Valentine’s season, New York City is getting exactly that: a two-day pop-up billed as the world’s first AI dating café. NYC’s AI Dating Café Is Opening For Valentine’s Day --------------------------------------------------- Called EVA Café, the concept is simple and slightly surreal: a romantic café designed for dates...with your phone. Instead of couples leaning across candlelit tables, the space is set up with single-seat tables where your AI companion is the only plus one. Guests are encouraged to show up solo, open the EVA app, and spend the evening talking to their digital partner in a setting that looks like any other cozy NYC wine bar–until you notice everyone is gazing lovingly at a screen. The vibe leans hard into romance-meets-future: * Dim lighting and minimalist décor inspired by date night restaurants * Intimate tables for one instead of two * Sleek phone stands so your AI date sits “across” from you At a glance, it looks like Valentine’s Day in Manhattan. On closer inspection, it feels more like a preview of 2050. How The AI Date Actually Works ------------------------------ The pop-up centers around EVA AI’s customizable relationship app. Visitors download the app, create a companion, and take them out for the evening–no human interaction required. No AI partner yet? You can “meet one” at the café –guests will be able to create a companion on the spot and test EVA’s new live voice chat feature, which lets you talk to your AI date in real time. You don’t have to mingle. You don’t have to flirt. You don’t even have to explain your situationship. The whole point is spending intentional time out with your algorithmic date. Why This Exists (And Why It’s Raising Eyebrows) ----------------------------------------------- EVA AI frames the café as a response to how people already use AI companions–for comfort, conversation, and emotional support. For users burned out by dating apps or dealing with social anxiety, a controlled, judgment-free relationship can feel appealing. Critics see something else: a blurry new line between technology and intimacy, and a cultural moment where scheduling a date with software might be easier than texting a real person back. Whether it reads as dystopian, innovative, lonely, or peak NYC performance art depends on who you ask. Either way, the café taps into a very real conversation about loneliness, connection, and what counts as a relationship in 2026. When & Where ------------ EVA AI Café pop-up: * 📍 Same Same Wine Bar, Hell’s Kitchen — 401 W 47th St * 📅 February 11–12 * ⏰ 5 pm – 9 pm You can reserve your spot via EVA AI’s Instagram. Valentine’s dates are getting increasingly creative in New York. This one just happens to come with a charging cable. We certainly have some thoughts... Source: https://secretnyc.co/worlds-first-ai-dating-cafe-nyc-eva-ai-cafe/