AI dating just moved from your phone screen to a table for two.
EVA AI — one of the biggest AI relationship apps — announced it’s opening what it calls the world’s first AI dating café in New York City, a pop-up designed entirely around going on a romantic night out with an AI companion. Not a human date.
The concept is exactly as wild as it sounds, one human and one phone together for what EVA AI calls "maximum romantic immersion." Think dim lighting, minimalist interiors, cozy single-seat tables and—in the most 2025 touch ever—a sleek built-in phone stand so your AI companion can sit across from you “naturally.”
It’s the physical-world bridge to a trend that has moved fast. Nearly 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women under 30 say they’ve interacted with AI companions.
They text, laugh, confide and decompress with AI the same way people do in early-stage relationships. But until now, those relationships never left the app. The café wants to change that.
What dining with AI looks like
EVA shared early interior concepts that lean into a dark, moody, upscale aesthetic: soft shadows, curved walls, and enough space between tables that you won’t overhear someone asking their AI girlfriend how her day was. It looks less like a novelty pop-up and more like a boutique wine bar. Hopefully the Wi-FI is solid.
Each table comes with a dedicated stand that positions your phone at natural eye level — as if the AI is seated across from you. (Imagine a FaceTime date, minus the person.)
You can preview the full design renderings and join a waiting list on EVA’s site.
The takeaway
At first glance, a café built for dates with AI companions sounds a little crazy, maybe even a joke. But there are a few reasons why this kind of space could make sense right now.
For one, a growing number of people use AI companions for stress relief, emotional support or to rehearse conversations before big moments. For users who rely on these tools as part of their mental health routine, a dedicated space removes the awkwardness of explaining why you’re having dinner with your phone.
It also provides people a low-pressure environment to practice real-world social skills. EVA Café is a place where someone can practice small talk, rehearse dating scenarios or work through social anxiety without judgment.
AI companion apps have surged over the past year as models became more personalized and emotionally fluent. EVA AI claims its users are forming long-term, meaningful connections with its characters — so much so that users have been asking for a way to “go on a date.”
EVA Café is positioning itself as a space where people can sit across from their AI, talk about their day and order a drink without worrying about side-eye from the next table. The company says it wants to “normalize” AI–human relationships and give users a place where it feels socially acceptable.
Even if you’re not planning a date with your chatbot, EVA Café is a sign of the times proving AI companions are no longer fringe.
What do you think? Would you go on a "date" with your AI, or is this a sign of the apocalypse?
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More from Tom's Guide
- 11 underrated AI tools that can save you serious time — and most are free
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Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
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