To make things more interesting, you could both resolve to try a new drink each date or pick a mystery drink for each other. Alternatively, do a mini-bar crawl. Pick a couple of places you’d like to try and sample a cocktail at each. The goal isn’t to go crazy, as it’s a weeknight, but you can still get a little adventurous! You can also just do a cocktail hour at home. Buy a few spirits and mixers so you and your date can make delicious cocktails together.
If you want to shake things up a little, try differently-themed dinner nights. You could do an Italian night with pasta and wine, a Mexican night with quesadillas and margaritas, and so on.
You and your date could order several desserts off the menu and try all of them! Craft your own makeshift dessert bar and swap notes on your favorite treats. Do a dessert bake-off at home if you’d rather not go out. You and your date can each bring a dessert or bake them together and enjoy.
If you have time, find a peaceful spot along the path to sit with your date and watch the sunset for a romantic moment both of you can treasure. If you’re an avid biker, you could pick a scenic bike route instead! Bike around the area and bring a snack so you can relax together somewhere with a great view.
Stay long enough to watch the sunset and do a little stargazing. Try picnicking somewhere you haven’t been before. Find a park or beach you want to explore and go there for a romantic date.
For some extra excitement, pick a movie neither of you has seen before. Otherwise, you could always watch an old comfort movie; it’s still fun, and you can chat with your date without missing anything.
Try incorporating a couples’ game to get to know your date better! There are lots of games that involve asking each other fun, creative questions. You could also take your game night outside the house. Visit an arcade or go bowling, for example. Check out your local game shops. Plenty of stores host game nights and even let you play board games there for free.
You can always head out to a karaoke bar or a spot with private rooms if you’re looking for a professional setup.
You can also go to a real spa for an authentic experience. Book a couples’ massage, or get your nails done alongside your partner.
For example, say you’re great at drawing, and your date knows guitar. Spend a date night swapping skills; teach your date to draw something simple, and learn basic guitar skills from them. There are plenty of video tutorials for just about anything online, or you could check out offerings from platforms like Skillshare and MasterClass.
Escape rooms can include different heist, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and historical-themed settings. Double-check the escape room website for difficulty, as some rooms are harder than others. Nonetheless, pick the room you like most—it’s okay if you need a few hints in a particularly tricky room.
Many bars do theme quiz nights, like Star Trek or Disney trivia. Try to find a theme both you and your date will enjoy.
Comedy clubs are a great way to laugh and let off some steam with your date, and they’re usually not too expensive. Concerts can help you both get to know each other’s taste in music and make happy memories simultaneously.
Make things interesting by placing a friendly, low-stakes bet with your date. For example, you could wager that the loser buys the ice cream after mini golf.
A night in a hotel can be a fun interlude if you don’t have any travel plans for a while. It’s a way to feel like you’re getting away with your partner without leaving the area.
Make a night out of your planning session by getting snacks and drinks for you both to enjoy while you brainstorm. Plan for a special occasion, like your next anniversary or a birthday getaway—or just plan a trip for fun. You don’t always need an excuse to get out of town together!
