'May This Reach All the Men': Did This Man Just Come Up With The Best-Ever Date Night?

An Austin-based influencer is going viral on TikTok after sharing what he says is the “perfect” date for anyone trying to impress on a second or third outing.

Jose (@onlywayjose), who notes in his bio that he moved to Texas from California, recently laid out what he described as a tried-and-true Austin date formula.

In the clip, he walks viewers through a carefully planned night centered on downtown and the East Side, arguing that the setup works best once you’ve already cleared the first-date hurdle.
Jose starts by explaining his broader dating strategy. He says he prefers first dates on Friday nights, since a good one makes it easier to roll into a more casual follow-up, like coffee on Sunday. But the itinerary he shares in the video, he notes, is “more so formulated for second date interactions.”

The approach, he says, is about pacing, proximity, and reading the room. As of Sunday, the video had been viewed more than 81,000 times.

What Is the Date Idea?

Before diving into specifics, Jose points out that every stop on his list is within walking distance, and urges viewers to “take notes.”

He suggests starting around 7:30 p.m. at Cosmic Saltillo on the East Side. “The drinks are always great, the music is good if they have a DJ,” he says, adding that sticking to just one drink there helps take the edge off without overdoing it.

From there, Jose says the move is Licha’s Cantina, where he raves about both the food and staff. If the conversation’s still clicking and no one’s ready to call it a night, he recommends walking over to Seven Spirits for something more low-key. He says he likes the spot for its Mexican-inspired cocktails and gives a special shoutout to their espresso martini, which he says contains tequila.

By that point, Jose says you and your date should be capped at three or four drinks. If the chemistry is still there, he suggests ending the night dancing at Hotel Vegas.

“Four spots in the night,” Jose says. “Perfect, perfect formula for a second or third date.”

“Take what I say and try it out,” he adds, noting that the plan can even work as a solo night out.

Austin Largely Considered A Good Place For Singles

While plenty of people who live in Austin complain about the city’s dating scene, Austin has, in general, earned its reputation as a good city for those looking for love.

As Jose suggested in his video, it’s a place that makes it easy to show up and do something without overthinking it, as the city is overflowing with bars, restaurants, live music, and outdoor spaces, all of which means dates can feel casual without being lazy.

One of the things that makes Austin a great spot for singles is that, on a typical night, it’s easy to hop from a cocktail bar to a food truck to a show to dancing, all without moving your car.

Daytime dates come with just as many options: coffee shops, a walk around Lady Bird Lake, paddleboarding, or sitting in a park are all viable options.

That kind of flexibility matters, especially after a first date, when you want enough structure to avoid awkwardness but enough freedom to actually talk.

The people matter, too. Austin pulls in young professionals, creatives, and transplants—especially from tech and media—which keeps the dating pool both large and in flux.

It’s not all upside, of course. Austin is expensive, and a few nights out can quickly hit the budget.

But even so, the city gives you a lot to work with, and there are plenty of free date ideas other content creators have shared, too. Overall, Austin is a social city by nature, and that lowers the barrier to meeting someone and seeing where it leads.

Viewers Say the Date Formula Actually Works

Plenty of people in the comments said Jose’s suggested route isn’t just theory—it’s something they’ve already tried, with solid results.

“I’ve done this date night with my friends before 10/10,” one viewer shared.

“Love Cosmic,” another chimed in.

“Imma take myself on this date!” a third joked.

“1000% agreed on Cosmic & Hotel Vegas on a Friday nite! Need to try the other two,” someone else added.

Another commenter said the plan mirrored a successful night of their own: “Agreed! Had a first date at Cosmic Saltillo, then we walked down East 6th to a few other spots and ended the night at White Horse. 10/10 would recommend.”

Other Austinites used the thread to build on Jose’s idea, offering tweaks they said make the plan even better.

“Okay but hear me out … asking em out on a Thursday so if it goes bad you can use the excuse of work the next day, but if it goes good, you have the whole weekend to set up some more plans,” one man suggested.

“Thursdays are my fav date nights,” another agreed.

A few commenters said they hoped Jose’s video would reach a wider audience—specifically, men in Austin who struggle with date planning.

“May this reach all the men in Austin who can’t plan a date to save their life,” one woman quipped.

“Finding a man who is this intentional is the first step,” another added.

Patch has reached out to Jose via a direct message on TikTok.

@onlywayjose