Dating – or as some like to call it, interviewing a human for the role of orgasm-giver – is tedious. Real tedious.
With that in mind (and a little help from the legends over at True Local), we’ve compiled a list of v. solid date ideas in *your* city – ones we can pretty much guarantee you haven’t entertained.
SYDNEY
1. Miss Peaches Soul Food Kitchen
This is a personal fave – Papa Gedes might be tiny, but it’s got 10/10 cocktails and banter. Tuesdays things get a lil’ crowded for comedy night, when you can soak up some of the best up-and-comer comics in Sydney (and the occasional heavy weight) for chump change.
Website: www.papagedes.com
3. 505
This place literally has it all: jazz music for your ‘alternative interests’, reasonably-priced cocktails for your wallet, and Battleship for when your chat starts to dip.
4. Bertoni Casalinga
Frankenfood is fucked, but it’s also fun, and Bertoni Casalinga in Balmain has a Lasagne Burger. That is exactly what it sounds like and quite frankly, if you ask someone if they wanna split a Lasagne Burger and they say no, you know where this relationship is heading: the toilet.
5. Soda Factory
As well as actual drool-worthy fried chicken and a delightfully / horribly hipster hidden door (depending on where your tastes lie), Soda Factory has stuff going on all. the. time. Monday Movies, Jukebox Thursdays, various pop-culture themes.
MELBOURNE
1. Milk The Cow
Provided your date is non-lactose intolerant and keen to eat their weight in cheese, this place is the goddamn tops. Milk The Cow is a bright, breezy St Kilda Bar with over 150 top-notch cheese, plus drinks to match. And the fondue is on another level entirely e.g. rtuffle honey. WTF.
Website: milkthecow.com.au
2. After The Tears
After The Tears is a Polish bar (with a name like that, of course it is) that’s the little sister of Borsch Vodka & Tears on Chapel St. Poles know their vodka, and this place has over 100 types. Go nuts you crazy kids.
3. The Night Cat
When in doubt of your conversational skills, dance. Iconic live music space The Night Cat in Fitzroy holds salsa classes on Sunday nights followed by live Latin music, so at least you can trip over your own feet together, right? Fair warning: this place is semi-dirty and very good fun if you want to get slaughtered and perhaps your shoes ruined.
4. Pixel Alley
This is like the date of your 80s and 90s dreams: Pixel Alley packs over hundred retro arcade games (Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Mortal Kombat 2, to name a few) into its ‘barcade’, and serves up arcade-themed drinks. Nostalgia + alcohol? Winner winner.
5. Bayside Coastal Trail
The benefits of a walking date: activewear is flattering as hell, it’s good for you, and nothing keeps an awkward convo going quite like two bodies moving in the same direction. Pick anywhere along the scenic 17km walk between Brighton and St Kilda and go nuts.
BRISBANE
1. Mister Fitz
Mister Fitz combines two of Australia’s favourite things: ice cream, and highly Instagrammable food. Get amongst the hand-made ice cream custom sandwiches , and be thankful you live in a city that’s 98% summer.
2. Fromage the Cow
Brisbane’s first ever dedicated fromagerie, Fromage the Cow, is the brainchild of renowned French cheesemaster Tony Launay. If you want a date where the talking points are provided, go for the cheese flights with varieties and wines from ’round the world; if you’re after something more chill, get the toastie. Actually, the toastie’s made with gruyere and truffled mushrooms. Just get the toastie.
Website: www.fromagethecow.com.au
3. Cloudland
Get down to Cloudland on Thursday nights for margaritas, mojitos, and salsa dancing w/ live music and a lil’ bit of instruction. Alternatively, head down for the pan-asian grub at Madame Hedges restaurant and forgo the dancing. Your call.
4. QAGOMA
For something a little off-beat (and let’s face it, impressive on the verge of wanky), catch a free film at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art’s Cinémathèque. And depending on how deep your pockets go (i.e. to the mole people), grab a ~casual bite to eat~ at the two-hatted GOMA Restaurant afterwards.
5. Cork and Chroma
BYO wine & date, and experience the thrill of ~making art~ together while getting on the piss.
6. Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Either opt for the pretty walk lookin’ at the city, or get a lil’ gung-ho about it and rock climb / abseil. Bonus: adrenaline is really good for first dates and making you closer, or something.
ADELAIDE
1. Rhino Room Comedy Club
Depending on how brave / kind you’re feeling, Thursdays are open mic night, and Fridays are ‘professional’ night. Either way, comedy ticks all the ‘unusual but non-terrifying’ date boxes, i.e. there’s entertainment and drinks.
2. Urban Cow Studio
Urban Cow Studio – i.e. the Smurf-blue building on Frome Street – features a new exhibition of local artists each month. It’s also got a stella gift shop. IDK how this is relevant to a date (unless you want to leave them with a gift bag?) but it’s worth mentioning.
3. The Market Shed on Holland
Nothing says ‘please marry me’ like wandering around a famers market on a Sunday morning. Either pick up ingredients for dinner or just go fuck it and gorge on the nibbles / food offerings. Also, buy flowers. Dates love flowers.
4. Culshaw’s Restaurant
Culshaw’s speciality is the Hop, Snap & Swim, a.k.a. char grilled pepperberry, ras-el-hanout spiced ‘Paroo’ kangaroo fillet, salt & pepperberry squid & crocodile tail and baked NT barramundi. Obviously NSFV (Not Suitable For Vegans).
5. Windy Point Lookout
Windy Point Lookout is 15 minutes out of the city, so one of you should probably drive. The 180° panoramic views from the restaurant are defs worth it, though.
CANBERRA
1. Reload Bar and Games
This is like somebody ripped an ideal date spot from ya typical millennial’s mind and made it a reality. Live music, arcade games, board games, Cards Against Humanity, and all the weird ones you didn’t get to play as a kid. Excellent.
2. Gibraltar Falls
I ask you: is there anything more romantic than hiking out to a waterfall? Well, probably, but it won’t be as cheap.
Website: www.visitcanberra.com
3. Moxom & Whitney
Book into one of their flower or terrarium classes and learn how to choose, prepare and care for your flowers… and then keep them at the end of the night. Champagne & nibbles included, obvs.
Website: www.fyshwickfreshfoodmarkets.com.au
PERTH
1. The Cheese Barrel
Okay, cheese places have popped up a few times in this piece, but fuck it, cheese rules. Go to The Cheese Barrel, share a board of cheesy delights, plan the names of your 12 cheese children and two maltcheese puppies.
2. Lesmurdie Falls
Ditto what I said above re: Gibraltar Falls in Canberra, but these ones are in Perth! Winner! Pack a picnic for post-hike snacking.
3. Perth Observatory
Nerds need love too, okay? Just kidding, stargazing is romantic as hell, and is only slightly nerdy.
HOBART
1. Willie Smith’s Apple Shed
Like wine tasting, but with cider. And unlike wine tasting, less wanky.
2. Hasting Caves and Thermal Springs
This is one hell of a romantic road trip. Spend the day walking underground through majestic caves, indulge in a picnic at the thermal strings, and take a romantic stroll through the forest. Best not to make any ‘hiding the body’ jokes.
3. MONA
Obviously MONA must be included in every ‘things to do in Hobart’ list, but where it comes under unusual date ideas is this: did you know you can book the sleepover package? It includes museum entry, a winery tour, tasting, and breakfast the next day.
4. Honey Badger Dessert Cafe
Okay, this feels like a very ‘dinner and drinks’ option, except for two things. One, it shares its name with an extremely long-living meme, and two, it serves desserts like this:
Put a fork in us, we’re done.
Find more ideas here over at True Local.
