I'm a dating noob in my mid 20s. I'm mostly meeting girls on OLD, trying to optimize for lay on first date.

1: Which bar should I pick for date?

a. Hip young spacious rooftop bar, music playing, 12 mins walking from my apartment.

b. Local style, smaller and more cramped indoor bar, 5 mins walking from my place.

Both places have similar affordable prices. Bar A looks hip and nice, only concern is that my apartment has a balcony, but with a shittier view than Bar A's rooftop so it might seem like a downgrade if I bring girls back to my place. Also if the first date is at a nice place but I can't close, the second date will probably be at a crappier place since there's not many better places near me. Bar A is also slightly farther (7 mins more walking).

  1. What are signs/how long should we stay at the bar before I know it's time to invite her back to my place?

  2. What's the order of places where I should take girls? My apartment is in between a public transit station that girls will probably take to get there, and the bars.

a. Ask her to meet at the bar. Invite her back to my place.

b. Ask her to meet at my apartment (outside building or inside)? Walk to bar together. Invite her back to my place.