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Dinner and drinks are a classic for a reason, but sometimes you want your next date to be a little more memorable. Think less sitting across from each other making small talk, and more laughing, creating, tasting and trying something new together.
Whether you're planning a first date, celebrating an anniversary or simply looking for an excuse to get out of the house, these fun date ideas are guaranteed to shake things up.
Creative date ideas
1. Take a pottery class
A pottery class is a great date night option because there's plenty to focus on while you chat, plus you get to see each other's creative sides. Don't worry if your bowl comes out looking more abstract than expected—that's part of the charm!
Idea: You could make matching bowls or mugs as an anniversary gift to each other (or just to remember this date night). It’s also a great way to start or add to your ceramic collection at home.
2. Head with your partner to a paint and sip class
Grab a drink, pick up a paintbrush and let paint flow onto the canvas! Paint and sip classes are relaxed, social and beginner-friendly, making them an easy choice when you want a date that doesn't feel too formal.
3. Make your own perfume
Want to bottle a little memory from your date? Try a perfume making workshop and create your own personalised scent. You can experiment with different fragrance notes and leave with something that's uniquely yours—much more memorable than another dinner reservation.
4. Try tufting together
Ready to get a little weird and wonderful? Head to a tufting workshop and create your own fluffy wall art. Choose your own design to work on or collaborate together on a rug! Either way, tufting is a great way to spend a few hours off screens and instead make something with your hands (and memories with your partner!).
5. Get crafty with a candle making workshop
If your partner is a homebody, we recommend a candle making date night for two! Select your favourite fragrances, get creative with colours and scents, and make a candle to take home. It’ll be the perfect addition to romantic and cosy date nights in!
Need more inspo? Find romantic activities that aren't dinner and a movie here.
Food and drink date night ideas
6. Learn to make pasta
Sure, you could just go to a restaurant, but let’s spice up date night and learn how to make pasta together! No experience required, your teacher will guide you both through each step, from mixing the dough to shaping your pasta. Then, you’ll sit down and enjoy your homemade creations together. Romantic? Absolutely. Delicious? Even better.
7. Make it a Japanese cooking experience
Looking for something different? Turn date night into a delicious adventure and learn how to cook Japanese food together, from ramen and sushi to gyoza dumplings. That way, you can take home new recipes up your sleeve to impress!
Idea: Invite another couple friend and make it a double date! Book a private class, get hands-on with the cooking and enjoy a meal you've made together.
8. Shake things up with a cocktail class
A cocktail making class is ideal when you want your date to feel more like an experience than a meal. Hosted by a master mixologist, you both will learn how to mix, shake and garnish your own drinks before savouring them at the end.
Not drinking? That’s alright; look for a class that offers mocktails so you can still get involved in the fun.
9. Have a chocolate making date
Chocolate and romance? It's a pretty unbeatable combination. Spend an afternoon learning how chocolate is made, create your own sweet treats and, naturally, sample a few along the way.
10. Go on a food crawl
Pick a neighbourhood you've been meaning to explore and make your own tasting tour. Stop for an appetiser somewhere, share a main at another spot and finish with dessert. The rule? You both have to choose one place you've never tried before. Or better yet, book a food walking tour, led by the experts in your city.
Here are some fun recommendations:
- Marrickville Food Tour Workshop in Sydney
- Dumpling Discovery Walking Tour in Melbourne
- Food Discovery Tour and Tasting Experience in Adelaide
Adventurous date experiences
11. Go rock climbing for date night
If you're looking for a date that gets your heart racing, head to an indoor climbing gym. You'll encourage each other, tackle new challenges and have plenty to laugh about when one of you discovers you're not quite as fearless as you thought.
12. See the world through a new lens
Want to get out of the house? Try a photography class and discover how to capture the world around you in a whole new way. You’ll learn new techniques and have plenty of opportunities to snap some memorable shots together. It’s a fun way to turn an ordinary day out into an adventure, and you might even discover a new favourite hobby along the way.
13. Get hands-on with blacksmithing
For an unusual date night option, step into a blacksmithing workshop and learn how to shape hot metal into something you can take home. With an experienced instructor guiding you through the process, you’ll both get hands-on with the tools, discover a new skill and cheer each other on your progress. It’s a date that’s a little unexpected, a lot of fun and definitely not your usual dinner and drinks.
14. Try something completely new
When was the last time you did something neither of you had tried before? Make a rule that your date has to involve a first. It could be learning to surf, trying archery, taking a dance class or even attempting a new sport. The less predictable, the better.
15. Plan a mystery date out
Take turns choosing where you're going, but don't tell the other person until you arrive. One person handles breakfast, the other picks the afternoon activity, then swap again for dinner. You might discover a new favourite place or at least have a great story to tell.
Relaxed date ideas
16. Have a picnic
Sometimes the simplest dates are the best. Pack a picnic with your favourite snacks, grab a blanket and find a pretty park or beach. Add a playlist, a deck of cards or a bottle of something nice and you've got an easy afternoon sorted.
17. Visit a gallery or museum
Explore an exhibition together and compare notes on your favourite pieces. You don't have to be an art expert either—debating whether something is genuinely brilliant or just very expensive-looking is half the fun.
18. Browse a market
Spend a lazy Sunday morning wandering through a farmers' market or local makers' market. Pick out treats for each other, hunt for quirky finds and stop for coffee whenever the mood strikes.
19. Arrange flowers together
Bring a little colour into date night with a flower arranging class. You’ll learn how to put together a beautiful bouquet to take home. It’s a lovely way to slow down and enjoy a few hours together.
20. Make a toast over wine tasting
If you’re looking for a date that’s a little more relaxed, take your partner to a wine tasting experience. Here, you can discover new flavours, learn a few tasting tips and compare your favourite picks with your date. It’s a delicious way to spend an afternoon together, where you can chat, laugh and find a new favourite wine. Cheers to that!
Make your next date a little different
The best date doesn't have to involve an expensive restaurant or elaborate plans. Sometimes all you need is a new experience, a little curiosity and someone you'd happily spend a few hours laughing with.
So instead of asking, "Where should we eat?”, try asking, "What should we try?" You might just find your new favourite date night.
