Make a date night in Dallas with one of these ideas

Kids, this is the story of how I met your mother, and it was all thanks to DALtoday.

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). Whether you’ve met “the one” or are hoping to impress someone new, we’ve got 30+ Dallas date night ideas that are legen — wait for it — dary.

Photo by FTWtoday

For the ones who want a night out on the town

• Get all dressed up and head to one of our local theatres or opera houses to watch a musical or play. If you’re headed to Winspear Opera House, try going downtown early for an intimate dinner at nearby Ellie’s.
• Take the classic “dinner and a movie” date up a notch at a unique theater like Cinépolis, where you’ll find meals like a shaved ribeye sandwich or hot honey ricotta toast that go beyond typical theater grub.
• Dallas has no shortage of professional sports teams to cheer for alongside your special someone — depending on the time of year, check home game schedules for the Mavericks, Cowboys, Black Hawks, Stars, Rangers, or Dallas FC.
• Make the trip out to Fort Worth and check out the Stockyards, where you can grab a drink, take in history, and enjoy the uniquely Old West vibe. Bonus: Try FTWtoday’s Stockyards cocktail crawl.
• Head to Reunion Tower for panoramic views of the Dallas skyline from 470 ft up. Afterwards, dine at Crown Block, the tower’s resident restaurant. Really hoping to impress your date? Check out the “Love is in the Air” package.

Photo via @trinitygroves and @artparktg

If the way to their heart is through their stomach

• Try one of Kitchen Social’s “first date” cooking classes — most of which allow you to BYO-wine or beer.
• Head to Trinity Groves, where you and your date can choose from seven different restaurant concepts. Enjoy your food at the outdoor ArtPark with craft cocktails, colorful decor, and a lively atmosphere.
• Treat your date to a special drink experience; admire skyline views while sipping cocktails + sake at Kessaku, try unique “Alice in Wonderland"-themed concoctions at Apothecary, or sneak away to a secret speakeasy at Room 520 (you’ll just need the code first).
• Make a trip to Italy Eataly for a cooking class. If you’d rather eat without the work, enjoy a meal at the restaurant, grab some gelato to share, and sip on wine while shopping Italian products and groceries.
• Make a reservation at one of Dallas’ upscale restaurants well-known for intimate date nights like Georgie, Monarch, Gemma, or The Charles.

Photo via @katytrailicehouse

If you love the great outdoors

• During the summer or fall, pack a picnic and spread a blanket on the lawn for a movie night at Klyde Warren Park or Griggs Park.
• Take a hike together at Oak Cliff Nature Preserve — note that the park closes at dusk. If things are going well, stop by the nearby Baskin Robbins to cool off after hiking.
• Make the ~20-minute drive to Irving for a gondola adventure on the Mandalay Canal and Lake Carolyn. Try one of the gondola dinner packages, or enjoy a post-cruise meal at a nearby restaurant like Monaco or Pacific Table.
• Take advantage of the City of Dallas’ shared dockless vehicle program to rent e-bikes and ride around the city together. We recommend taking the 3.5-mile Katy Trail + stopping at the Katy Trail Ice House for food and a drink.

Photo via Electric Shuffle

For the ones who like to play games (just not with your heart)

• Try your hand at something new by visiting Electric Shuffle Dallas, a cocktail bar and restaurant that features 17 shuffleboard tables.
• Unsure what the night’s vibe is? Head to The Sports Garden, where you can choose indoor or outdoor seating, grab a drink or a full meal, and take part in a variety of activities ranging from axe throwing and darts to corn hole and volleyball.
• Have fun on a budget at Cidercade, where you can play 140+ games for a $12 entry fee, or Free Play Arcade, which offers a similar deal of 160+ games for a $12 fee. Bonus: If you don’t mind the drive, Free Play’s Fort Worth location also features a rooftop bar.
• If you prefer a more bookish fun-filled evening, stop by The Wild Detectives — a bookstore, bar, and coffee shop that stays open late and often hosts live music or readings.
• Head north to Frisco’s Nerdvana for a scratch kitchen that focuses on video and board game culture. The space features a library of digital and cardboard games that you can play from your table while waiting for food to arrive.

Photo via @dfwindoorpickleball

If you’re really hoping that it works out

• If you’re in a pickle planning date night and relish getting active, take a shot at pickleball. Dallas has seven local parks with courts dedicated to the sport, or you can check out the DFW indoor pickleball facility.
• Step to the beat by taking a dance class together at a local studio like The Movement Loft, Sons of Hermann Hall (where you can grab a drink and learn to swing dance), or Studio 22. Bonus: Check Studio 22’s events page for free classes at local parks.
• Pick up a Dallas low intensity fitness passport for you and your partner + see who can check off all the classes first — or make plans to take all the classes together. Whoever wins buys dinner on the next date.

Photo by Taylor Horn via @taylor_and_sam

If you want an “old fashioned”-style date

• Grab some popcorn, fill the car with comfy pillows, and make like Sandy + Danny at a nearby drive-in theater such as Galaxy or Brazos. Here’s hoping your date won’t leave you stranded at the drive-in.
• Split a milkshake at the old-school Diner of Dallas, which serves up pies, shakes, floats, malts, and classic diner food in its retro space.
• Visit the 1938 theater-turned-entertainment space, Bowlski’s Lakewood Theatre, for nostalgic vibes and “The Big Lebowski"-esque bowling lanes.
• Sip on an actual Old-Fashioned at The Library inside of the Warwick Hotel. Going at night makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, making for a doubly old fashioned evening.

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 Dallas with our events page.