Top 30 First-Date Ideas From A Date Coach
What’s in a date? A date is a time for excitement, fun and information gathering. As a teenager, a dream date was a trip to the movies - popcorn, darkness, a sneaky kiss while no one is watching. In our 20s, we look at dates as something fun and exciting, with endless possibilities and probably one too many drinks at a bar or a club. From our 30s onwards, dating is still fun, but the stakes are higher, so we become more selective and can fall into the trap of treating a date like an interview. Of course, by this time we are fatigued by dinners, mid-week drinks and coffee walks. So, how do we remedy that?
My advice here is to stop letting those interview skills seep into the first few dates you go on with someone. We need to treat every date as a door opening a possibility and to help that along, we have compiled 30 amazing date ideas to keep your focus on the fun and the experience of getting to know someone and seeing if there is genuine chemistry.
First Date Tips
Planning a first date can be a bit nerve-wracking. Here are some of the key tips I can suggest:
Keep it simple. Go for something that will allow you to talk together but is not too overwhelming.
Be yourself. Authenticity goes far. What we're really aiming for is a connection with our date at the end of the day. So be your best self, not the self that you think they want you to be.
Choose a neutral location. Pick a place both of you feel comfortable in.
Plan for a flexible activity. You can increase or reduce activity; for example, a walk or a light dinner.
For more first-date tips, check out our first-date advice list
How Long Should a First Date Last?
A good first date doesn't need to be long; in fact, we recommend it should last only from 1 to 2 hours long. There should be an amount of time for getting to know your date without being caught in a meaty interchange. 1-2 hours for the first date is just right to build curiosity and create a lasting impression; not so much that the conversation starts dragging.
Best Date Ideas From Our Dedicated Date Coach
Alternative date ideas are trending, there are so many options that you can pick from now! What’s great about that is there’s more opportunity for you to show your date a little about your personality. If you’re an adventure seeker, a wine and diner, a creative soul. There is something fun and special for everyone. We’ve also taken the time to include our long-distance daters! Because you never know where you’ll find love.
Active First Dates
If you and your date like to be active, consider the following ideas.
Coastal Walk or Hiking Trail
The great outdoors, like going for a trek, allows one to bond with nature and have uninterrupted conversation. Check out a local park, walking by the beach, or trail. This is usually a low-pressure setting that can allow a natural ebb and flow in conversation.
Play a Couples' Sport
Choose one light-hearted like mini golf, bowling, or even a game of tennis if you both tend to get competitive. This can be lots of fun and it's also a good way to be very playful.
Go Take a Dance Class
Seriously, rocking out is awesome. It's funny learning to do something together; this is basically a good way for both of you to bring out your playful side. If dancing feels too private you might go to the painting or clay sculpting class.
Sailing
If living near water, a date on a sailboat can be a classic first date idea with a little bit of romance and adventure.
Creative First Dates
For the creative mind, here are some unique first-date ideas
Cooking or Baking Class
When it comes to making pasta—even cupcakes—there's more of a relaxed, interactive opportunity.
Making Perfume
Mix and match scents together to create a personalized fragrance that captures the essence of your first date.
Class for Glass Blowing
But perhaps a genuinely inventive workshop strikes your fancy—that you can use to produce your day mementos.
Art Class or Paint and Sip Event
Connect with your artistic side and let your date's creativity flow over a glass of wine and a blank canvas.
Boat Ride
Take a leisurely sail around the island, enjoy the views of the surroundings, share the serenity and privacy on the water.
Do a Wine or Whisky Tasting
Taste the wine or whisky together exploring varieties to find your shared tastes in relaxed comfort.
Visit a Theme Park, Zoo, or Aquarium
Night-time dinner at the zoo or dinner under the sea at the aquarium—adventure with a meal to remember.
Harbour Bridge Climb at Sunset
Experience the thrill of the Harbour Bridge at sunset, sharing the breathtaking views and creating a truly unforgettable moment.
One-on-One Dining Experience
Book a part of a venue for a private and exclusive dining experience. For instance, you can imagine reserving an entire floor in a hotel restaurant, with cocktails, a customized theme menu, and a private pianist playing the tunes your date loves.
First Date Ideas for Indoors
If you lean toward being inside, here are some low-pressure first-date ideas:
Go Watch a Comedy Show
Laughter is always the best medicine for breaking the ice. A live show not only does the trick for unwinding and relaxation, but you also have the chance to check out this person if they share the same sense of humour as you.
After the show, you might linger at the bar a little longer, as you'll both be in a good mood, open for conversation and have a few more common topics to discuss.
See a Play or Live Show Date
This could be an ideal setting to enkindle some rather nice talks before and after the show.
Visiting a Museum or Exhibition
A valuable cultural experience, with which you can learn new things together.
Trivia Night
Engage in some friendly competition while bonding over knowledge. Plus, it gives you a built-in conversation starter.
Find a Cozy Café or Bar for a Coffee or Drink
Opt for a relaxed and intimate setting where you can enjoy each other's company without distractions. A cup of coffee or a crafted cocktail, the laid-back atmosphere will make it easy to strike up a meaningful conversation and connect on a deeper level.
Dine at a Romantic Restaurant
Share a meal in a romantic restaurant where the ambience sets the stage for an unforgettable evening. The combination of delicious food and a warm, inviting atmosphere provides the perfect backdrop for getting to know each other better while indulging in some culinary delights. This is the most obvious but still very important and even classic option.
Romantic First Dates
If dinner in a romantic restaurant is not cute enough and you are looking for something a bit more romantic and interesting? These cute first-date ideas are sure to win over any heart:
Winery Visit
Classy winery tours are great for talking with someone and having a drink in a scenic location. The perfect first date for when you want to be low-key but high in charm.
Picnic
Keep it simple but considerate. Pack a basket full of different snacks for each taste or just simply ask what snack your date prefers, a bottle of wine, and a blanket, and head off to a scenic park or beach and just enjoy each other under the sky and/or stars.
Romantic Fancy Dinner Date at a Great Restaurant
Have a classy night out at one of the finer restaurants in town, where fine cuisine and an eloquent atmosphere provide the perfect setting for a truly memorable night.
Hire a Dome at a Hotel
For something seasonal and unique, hire a cozy dome down at Pier One, complete with cheese and wine for a romantic evening overlooking the views.
Open-Air Cinema
Visit an open-air cinema where you can watch a movie under the stars in a very laid-back and outdoorsy way, all snuggled up in each other's arms.
Bike Ride at Centennial Park
Rent bikes at Centennial Park and hit the trails together—combine a bit of adventure with the beauty of nature for an active, fun date.
Candlelit Concert
You can also buy a ticket to such concerts. It would indeed be a romantic gesture, for sure. Such events create a cozy and very intimate setting—perfect for the first date.
Long-Distance Appropriate Dates
Keep the romance alive with these creative date ideas for your long-distance relationship:
Video Call Dinner
Surprise your partner by ordering dinner to be delivered with wine, dessert, and all the accoutrements right to the door. Then, video call them and eat together over video like you were next to each other.
Cook Together over Video Call
Pick a recipe and cook it together, side by side, even from miles and miles apart, experiencing making and eating a meal together that you are preparing in your respective locations.
Cocktail Making Night over the Call
Shake up some fun by making a night of cocktail-making on a video call. You each make and share your favourite drinks together while enjoying each other's company.
Wine Tasting on Call
Bring the winery to your screens-Virtual wine tasting. Pick the same wines to taste together and discuss the flavours, enjoying it as if you were side by side.
What Next?
After the first date, if successful, you may have mused a lot over the second and third date, subsequently. Worry not! We are taking you through that as you read on to get some ideas on how to make follow-up dates amazing. Stay tuned!