Date night means something different to everyone so we’ve come up with a range of ideas to help you plan a special outing with your special someone.  After the whirlwind of the holidays, we all deserve a day or night out to connect and unwind. Book your favorite babysitter and head out to these date spots in Austin.  Consider this list a pick-your-own-adventure-date planner, ATX 2024 style.

FUN IDEAS
Hit up one of these unique and exciting dining spots followed by your pick of comedy, live music, dancing, or after-dinner drinks (and Dry January ideas!).  These are our fave fun spots to spice it up and surprise your date with a uniquely Austin night out.

via Uchi

Fun Dining Spots

  • Red Farm | New Austin restaurant by NYC chef, Joe Ng, whose menu takes a clean, fresh approach to Chinese food
  • Devil May Care | We vote this as Austin’s best mezze platter, and bonus for the cozy dining nooks
  • Zoe Tong | New, fun, modern Chinese dining on Barton Springs Road
  • Uchiba | Uchi’s newish, casual sushi spot
  • Patrizi’s Food Truck @ The Vortex | The line is always worth it for this homemade Italian food on their adorable patio.

Follow up your FUN dinner with a choice from one of these lists: 

Comedy 

Dancing

  • Superstition | Swanky dance club with notable DJs
  • Latchkey | They play the music elder-Millenials (etc.) love, but it can get crowded
  • Outer Heaven Disco Club | Dancing, and special nights like karaoke.  Check the lineup here
  • Coconut Club | Beloved LGBTQ+ dance club that’s set to close…but is still open right now, and always a blast
  • Volstead Lounge | Vintage cocktail bar mixed with East Side dive bar…but always good music
  • Barbarella | If you want to remember the glory days of college (read: grimy, sweaty, and always fun)

Live Music

  • Check out the Do512 Calendar for live music here

Karaoke

  • Ego’s | Classic Austin dive bar with Karaoke you’ll wait a long time to perform.  We <3 Ego’s
  • The Common Interest – Karaoke since 1989…this is not a Taylor joke.
  • Karaoke Cab | Just call them – you won’t regret it
  • More Karaoke options from our friends at Do512 here

Dry January Spots
If you’re participating in Dry January and are looking for spots with specialty mocktails, check these out: 

  • Uchibā Austin | Uchi’s izakaya-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant in downtown Austin delivers a huge selection of zero-proof options like their mocktail jamaica in jamaica ($10) made with ritual zero-proof “rum”, market lime, hibiscus, agave.  They have SO many, we can’t list them all
  • Loro | The love-child between award-winning chefs Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue introduces a multitude of options this Dry January including a Ginger Cooler ($7), Spicy Cucumber ($7). and a zero-proof boozy slushie like the Pina Horchata.
  • Mama Dearest | This East Austin dive bar blends cabin-themed core with the conjuring spirit of Joan Crawford from Mommie Dearest and is offering specials through the end of the month with a twist. These aren’t alcohol-free…but they’re made with “dry” spirits because they’re not sweet. Monday-Friday, 6-10 pm Mama Dearest will feature a Dry Martini ($10), Austin Eastsider Super Dry Cider ($5), and a dry House Chardonnay ($9).
  • Meanwhile Brewing Co | Meanwhile will offer a wide array of non-alcoholic mocktails like their Simsply Bulletproof Sesame, incorporating frozen black sesame with Moroccan mint tea reduction and brown butter fig syrup, and more
  • Uchi Austin – the award-winning contemporary Japanese restaurant founded by chef Tyson Cole, has a plethora of non-alcoholic beverages on their zero-proof menu. Check out their website here.

SPLURGE IDEAS
If you need some quiet pampering and connection, we vote for a couples spa day.  Bring your dinner clothes with you, have your massage, facial, etc., then shower and get ready at the spa, and head out to one of our fave fine dining spots below.

via Lakeway Resort and Spa FB Page

Couples Massage
Also check out Austin Spas and Salons: Where to Go Last Minute and Where to Book Ahead

Fine Dining

  • Jeffreys | One of Austin’s quintessential fine dining spots
  • Peacock @ The Proper Hotel | Divine Mediterranean dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Lutie’s @ Commodore Perry Estate | Gorgeous spot, with amazing food
  • Uchi Austin | Non-traditional Japanese cuisine with sushi, and amakase

Performance Art

After Dinner Cocktails

ROMANTIC IDEAS
Maybe you don’t have time for a lengthy day or night out but want to do something romantic with the few hours your sitter holds it down at home.  Here are a few options to get the romantic bang for your buck…and still come back connected and refreshed.

Quince Lakehouse via FB

OUTDOORSY IDEAS
There’s nothing like connecting with your loved one in nature.  Here are a few ideas for getting outdoors for a date in Austin.

Rowing Dock via Yelp

Don’t see your favorite date night go to?  Let us know in the comments below!

*Header photo by BM Capture