Fun and Romantic Things to Do in Austin for Date Night

I’m a lifelong Austin lover (I chose this city as my forever home) and these are some of my favorite quirky date ideas around town:

Laugh it out at Cap City Comedy — You're going to leave with sore cheeks from laughing so hard, so grab tickets at Cap City Comedy Club and do that together for a unique date idea in Austin.

Get fancy at the Austin Symphony — dressing up and enjoying classical music is one of my favorite kind of nights; grab tickets at Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Wander & shop on South Congress — a bit touristy? Maybe. But strolling down SOCO and popping into boutiques and cafés always reminds me why I love this city (guide here to the best South Congress restaurants if you're hungry.)

Cheer on UT Basketball at Moody Center — indoors, electric, and way more affordable than football—this is my go-to “fun, not expensive” date plan in Austin. Plus it makes me think of How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days so that's a win!

Sip + craft at Upstairs Circus — I love a place where creativity and drinks collide, and making a leather stamp or piece of jewelry while we chat is such a vibe for a cool date night.

Try glass blowing at Ghost Pepper Glass — wild thought: make something (maybe imperfect) that you can keep! Most Austinites haven't been to Ghost Pepper Glass and it's pretty cool.

Experience Austin Opera — even if opera isn’t “your thing,” there’s something thrilling about seeing a full-scale production.

Attend an ACL Live taping — being in that energy, knowing you’re part of a TV show in the making, is pure Austin magic! You have to win the lottery to get tickets, so enter early!  —

Visit a cute bookstore — I’ll always say yes to wandering rows of books with a date. Here are some of the cutest bookstores in Austin.

Explore the Blanton Museum of Art — this is one of my favorite quiet date ideas in Austin. Psst: check out their website to find the occasional free days at Blanton Museum!

Take a day trip — when we need to get out of town, I love heading to Wimberley, Round Top, New Braunfels, or Gruene for small-town charm. They're all easy drives from Austin!

Trivia night at a local brewery — This is a fun double date idea in Austin! Grab another couple and create a trivia team. Lots of breweries offer trivia on Tuesday nights - a quick online search will let you know if there's one near you.

See a play at ZACH Theatre — I adore catching local theatre, and ZACH Theatre often surprises me with depth and humor. File this under "sophisticated date ideas" because it always feel very cultural!

Thrift at Uptown Cheapskate — one of my weirder ideas, but hear me out: head to this Austin-y thrift store and try picking outfits you wouldn’t normally choose for each other and wearing them for the rest of the date. It'll give you laughs and stories.

Catch a drag show at Cheer Up Charlies — bold, colorful, hilarious — going to Cheer Up Charlies never fails to be a memorable night.

Tour the Texas State Capitol — I once toured it again as an adult and was awed by all the history I missed in grade school. It's a very unique Austin date idea!

Watch a show at the Paramount — there’s something electric about vintage stages; check out Paramount Theatre Austin and see what’s playing.

Experience Broadway in Austin — I still catch my breath when a Broadway-level show lands here — see upcoming performances at Bass Concert Hall.

See a ballet by Ballet Austin — graceful movement, live music, and that hush before the dance begins make me feel alive.

Race each other at K1 Indoor Karts — for the nights you want adrenaline, challenging each other at K1 Speed Austin is perfect.