Kids, this is the story of how I met your mother, and it was all thanks to ATXtoday.
Ok, so maybe that’s not exactly how the 2000s sitcom went, but if Ted Mosby had consulted us for date night ideas, we could’ve shaved the show down to two seasons (and saved his kids a lot of time).
Regardless, whether you’ve met “the one” or are hoping to impress someone new, we’ve got 35 local date night ideas that are legen — wait for it — dary.
For the ones who want a night out on the town
- Find out how to make them laugh by watching a show at a local comedy club like Fallout Theater, Comedy Mothership, The Creek and The Cave, or The Hideout Theatre.
- Get a boatload of good times on a dinner cruise or bat watching excursion on Lady Bird Lake with Capital Cruises.
- Meet at sunset to take in the skyline together at one of these 15 must-visit rooftop bars.
- See if the relationship is harmonious at one of the Live Music Capital of the World’s many music venues.
- Plan a date for the First Thursday of the month and head to South Congress Avenue to enjoy an Austin tradition celebrating arts, music, and culture.
- Grab tickets to a play or musical put on by one of the city’s 80 theatre companies.
- Stroll through exhibits and be inspired by romanticism at one of Austin’s local museums.
If the way to their heart is through their stomach
Uchi — which ATXtoday readers suspect will soon earn a Michelin star — is known for its elevated Japanese food from chef Tyson Cole.
Photo by Ruben Cabrera
- Source ingredients (and don’t forget the flowers) at one of Austin’s farmers markets before making dinner together at home.
- Head to a food truck park and get the first, second, and third courses from different trucks. Play “rock, paper, scissors” to decide who gets to choose each restaurant.
- Delight your date’s taste buds by introducing them to a new cuisine — you can eat around the globe without leaving Austin.
- Eat dinner at a restaurant in the 2nd Street District (let its twinkling trees set the mood), then keep the conversation going over chocolate fondue for two at Crú Food & Wine Bar.
- Impress your date by taking them to one of Austin’s best restaurants — here are the ones that ATXtoday readers think are deserving of a Michelin star.
If you love the great outdoors
- Watch the sunset from a scenic locale like Mount Bonnell or the Pennybacker Bridge Overlook.
- Wander through the sculpture garden at Laguna Gloria, then grab a grazing board at Spread & Co.'s on-site location to enjoy on the grounds.
- Take your date to the lake on a paddleboard, kayak, or quirky boat rental.
- Pack dinner, a deck of cards, and a cooler of beverages, then make your way to a local park.
- Take your relationship to the next level — aka have your pets meet each other — at one of these dog-friendly locations.
- Take a Downtown Austin daycation and reserve a poolside cabana at a luxury hotel through ResortPass.
For the ones who like to play games (just not with your heart)
Love is a battlefield baseball field.
Photo by @rrexpress
- Watch a Round Rock Express baseball game at Dell Diamond with a cold beer and hot dog in-hand.
- Fuel your competition with cider and go head-to-head in Skee-Ball, air hockey, and pinball at Cidercade.
- Kick your love into overdrive and turn up the adrenaline in a karting race at Circuit of the Americas.
- Break out the paddles and show off your skills at one of Austin’s pickleball courts.
- Feed off of the electric energy in Q2 Stadium at an Austin FC game.
- Challenge your date to a board or card game under the black-and-white umbrellas at Central Machine Works.
- Wear burnt orange to cheer on our local collegiate athletes at a University of Texas game.
If you’re really hoping that it works out
- Get into the groove and head to a dance class with Ballet Austin.
- Climb to the top of their “best date” list with an indoor rock climbing session.
- Find your zen through a heated yoga class at TruFusion Austin. Bonus: your first class is free.
- Hike to Sculpture Falls on the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Psst — wear a swimsuit and jump into the creek together.
- Sip coffee together at The Perch ATX before walking or biking the Ann and Roy Hike-and-Bike Trail.
- Learn to surf together on Lake Austin with ATX Wake Surf.
If you want an “old fashioned”-style date
- Eat French fare at Justine’s Brasserie, then take old-timey portraits together at Lumiere Tin Type in the back lot.
- It’s a classic for a reason — see a film or a show while sharing popcorn at The Paramount Theatre.
- Drink an actual old fashioned at The Roosevelt Room — or mix it up at one of its cocktail classes.
- Put on your cowboy boots and dance like Austinites have since 1964 at The Broken Spoke.
If you wanna show off by knowing all the hottest events in town
- Shameless plug: Sign up for our daily newsletter, where we call out our top picks of things to do around town. Your date doesn’t have to know we’re behind it, you can take all the credit.
- Stay up-to-date on the coolest local events around Austin with our events page (and check out this guide for our tips on navigating the page).
What did we miss? If you know a perfect date spot that’s not on the list, guide us in the right direction.
