Figuring out first date ideas can be tricky! While there is nothing wrong with meeting up for a casual dinner, it can also be fun to do a little something more. Have you been talking to someone who seems to be adventurous? Are they super sporty? Do they like live music? What about you? Are you someone who has a soft spot for romance or do you prefer more unique outings? Whatever vibe you want to go with, I hope you find these first date ideas in Dallas helpful!
PS- be sure to follow @SBE.Dallas on Instagram and TikTok for more fun around DFW!
Let’s dive into some fun and unique date ideas in Dallas Fort Worth! And if you’re not quite in the first date stage, and more so looking for the right person to ask out, here are some Bumble opening lines that you can try!
Get Active on Your First Date
These dates are for those who are a little bit competitive, love a friendly challenge or enjoy physical activities. Now get your mind out of the gutter and see if any of these first date ideas in Dallas are what you’re looking for!
Axe Throwing
I’ve heard amazing things about Whiskey Hatchet in Deep Ellum! As you can infer by the name, this is whiskey bar with the axe throwing element. You can see more of the vibe, some food (looks delicious) and drinks on their Instagram. One thing to note, they do require close toed shoes, so make sure your date is prepared for that.
If BYOB is more your style, Dallas Axe Throwing is located in Richardson. Per their website, reservations are required, so make sure you plan ahead.
For my friends in the Grapevine area, Corky’s Gaming Bistro is another axe throwing spot in DFW!
Not Your Average Putt Putt
For some elevated putt putt action, two places come to mind… Puttery is in The Colony and they offer craft co*cktails, incredible vibes and tasty food to help make your experience top notch.
Another Round in West Dallas has indoor mini golf along with a fun patio and a golf simulator to round out your experience.
And if mini golf isn’t your thing, there’s always TopGolf!
Take a Hike
While I’m the first to say that Dallas isn’t the most outdoorsy place in the world, there are some great spots to go for hikes/walks at. Never under estimate the power of exploring nature while getting to know someone!
You can try some of the well known spots like White Rock Lake or Katy Trail. There’s also Spring Creek Nature Area Trail in Richardson and Cedar Ridge Preserve in the Duncanville area.
Visit Electric Shuffle
Electric Shuffle in Deep Ellum looks like a freaking blast. I think it looks like the perfect first date spot in Dallas for people who want to have some flirty fun! They’ve got fun co*cktails, lots of food options and, you guessed it, shuffle board. Take a peak at their Instagram to get a feel for it.
Not So Basic Bowling
There are a handful of bowling options that would make for great first date ideas in Dallas! If you’re in the Garland or Addison areas, you’ve got to try Bowlero! In the Garland and Richardson areas you’ll also find AMF and Strike and Reel. You’ve also got Bowl and Barrel at the Shops at Park Lane in Dallas,
But the one that looks like the most fun is Bowlounge Bar and Grill in Dallas! They’ve got a fun retro vibe and it’s really making we want to throw a ball at some pins with a cold beverage in hand.
Play Some Pickleball
Pickleball is the hot new thing! You can play at a local court or go to Chicken N Pickle in Grand Prairie for a different vibe. Chicken N Pickle is new to the Dallas area, but my family in Kansas has been raving about it for ages!
Old School Gaming at the Arcade
Tell me you don’t love an old school arcade game… It’s the best! There’s Arcade 92 in McKinney, Cidercade in Bishop Arts and Free Play in Richardson. Or for a slightly different vibe, you can go to the National Videogame Museum in Frisco!
Virtual Reality
You can head to Village on the Parkway for a VR experience called Zero Latency DFW! These Virtual Reality adventures can take you to the depth of the ocean, space or more! They provide all of the equipment for the experience that is sure to be out of this world.
DFW Date Ideas Revolving Around Food and Drink
We can’t talk about date ideas in Dallas and not touch on the food scene. There are so many Dallas date ideas that revolve around eating and drinking, but here are a few of my personal picks.
Pick Up for Your Picnic Favorites and Head to White Rock
Start your date off with a trip to Eataly (or Trader Joe’s) to pick up some tasty food and something to drink. Then head somewhere like White Rock Lake or Dallas Arboretum for a picnic! Such a sweet way to spend quality time getting to know someone!
Enjoy a Cold Drink on the Patio
I’m not claiming this to be a unique idea, but at least you can go to a unique place! Head to a patio like Truck Yard in the Colony, Toller Patio in Dallas, Paradiso in Bishop Arts or one of these other cool patios in Dallas, for a great time outside.
Be a Little Cliche with Dinner and a Movie
It’s okay to stick to the basics for your first date! Check out the cool theatres in your area like Alamo Drafthouse and Inwood Theatre to see what’s playing. Then grab a tasty dinner afterwards. I always like doing it in this order because you can talk about the movie!
Create Your Own Food Tour
Do you know what your date’s favorite food is? Could it be ice cream? What about french fries? Wings? Put together a list of places to try the same food item out in the area! Or do it more of a progressive dinner style and pick a spot for drinks, apps, main meal, dessert and night cap!
Grab a Coffee
We’re not talking about meeting at Starbucks (although I do really love a good frappe), but grabbing a coffee can be a great first date! Some unique coffee shops you can try are George in Coppell, Window Seat in Dallas or Staycation Coffee in Richardson.
Unique First Date Ideas in Dallas
Here are some other unique first date ideas in Dallas that include getting artsy, exploring and testing your knowledge!
Go On a Mural Hunt
Take a look at these DFW mural lists and pick an area or two to explore! Bonus points if you have snacks and drinks packed in the car or make a pit stop for a tasty lemonade.
Test Your Knowledge at Trivia
Show how much you’re paying attention to your date and find a trivia spot for something they’ve expressed interest in! Some spots to check out include Addison Ice House, Flying Saucer in Coppell, Legacy Food Hall in Plano, Pluckers in Dallas and so many more.
Get a Little Dirty in the Splatter Room
The Splatter Room at Pipe Palette is one of the Dallas date ideas that’s at the top of my own date night ideas list. Like the name sounds, this activity is all about splattering paint and creating a badass canvas. BYOB is welcome, or you can order things there.
Be a Tourist in Your Own City
Have you ever been to Dealy Plaza? What about the George Bush Library, Reunion Tower or the Holocaust Museum? Now is your chance! Take your date and explore places that you’ve never been in Dallas.
Create a Master Piece at Upstairs Circus
If you want to get a bit creative, check out the DIY project bar, Upstairs Circus! They have a full bar and a huge catalog of projects to choose from. Projects range from jewelry, to cutting boards and painting.
Attend an Event with Your Date
There is always something happening in this city, which means live events make for great Dallas dates ideas!
Bop Along to Some Live Music
Live music is such a treasure. You can go the casual route and find free live music in the metroplex at places like CityLine in Richardson, Watters Creek in Allen,
There are also restaurants in Dallas with live music including The Rustic in Uptown, Adair’s in Deep Ellum, Sundown at the Granada in Lower Greenville and The Box Garden at Legacy West, to name a few.
You can also check out the calendars of venues like The Factory and Club Dada in Deep Ellum, House of Blues in Victory Park, Toyota Music Factory in Irving and Dos Equis Pavilion in Fair Park to see what shows are coming up.
Cheer on Knights at Medieval Times
If you want a show that’s a little outside of the norm, Medieval Times is calling your name. This is one of the more unique first date ideas in Dallas and could end up being one of the most fun! This show features staged equestrian acts and knights who both joust and battle it out with swords.
Cheer for the Home Team
Dallas date ideas revolving around watching sports… What’s not to love?
Pending the time of year, you can watch pro sports like the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium, Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks at ACC or Dallas Wings at College Park Center.
Looking for something a little more low key? The Frisco Roughriders games in Frisco are always a good time! Plus there are college sports in the metroplex like TCU, SMU and UTSA.
Seasonal First Date Ideas in Dallas
If you stumbled upon this post during a festive holiday season, I’ve linked some other posts below to give you even more DFW date ideas to choose from!
Dallas Fall First Date Ideas
If you’re heading on your date in the fall, you could go to a pumpkin patch in Dallas, Oktoberfest celebration or try out one of these other festive fall date ideas in Dallas.
Christmas Time First Date Ideas in Dallas
Stop by a Christmas Pop Up Bar or have a drink at a festive hotel bar for a fun Christmas time first date in Dallas. This post has you covered for even more holiday first date ideas in Dallas.
Dallas Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
I went on a first date on Valentine’s Day… So while I know it’s not super likely, it is possible! Here are some Valentine’s Day date ideas for the Dallas area.
