Forget dinner and drinks and break the ice with one of these unusual date ideas
Dating stories, we’ve all got them. From dull to disastrous, awkward or awesome, it can sometimes be pot luck on how a date turns out. But with a so much happening in Melbourne, we’ve picked out some of our favourite date ideas that leave no space for small talk or awkward silences. Get inspired with one of these dates next time you swipe right and match.
Go to a secret dinner party at Secret Foodies
This one is for food lovers with a sense of adventure. Secret Foodies is a surprise dining experience. Buy tickets to a themed culinary event and you’ll be unaware of where you’re going or who you’ll meet until two hours before when you and your date will be sent the address via sms. Popping up in amazing restaurants across Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland as well as randon locations including warehouses, laneways, parks and rooftops you’re in for a delicious surprise. Oh and there’s masks, making things ever so secret and mysterious for you and your date.
Cupid’s Undie Run
Get running for a good cause at the annual Cupid’s Undie Run, supporting the Children’s Tumour Foundation. The major fundraising event aims to raise awareness and fund vital research for families impacted by the genetic disorder Neurofibromatosis (which affects 1 in every 2,500 people). For one-day-only the event invites racers from across Melbourne for a fun 1.5km run. The fundraiser encourages runners to strip down to their undies for the race, with a Sunday session party taking place after the run at West Beach Bathers Pavilion.
March 22nd 10:30am
West Beach Bathers Pavilion, Melbourne
Find out more here
Tokyo Tina’s Bingo Academy
Who said dates have to happen after dark? Switch it up and go for brunch instead at Tokyo Tina’s Bingo Academy where bingo, breakdancing and (self-confessed) bogan drag kings keep the conversation flowing between plates of karaage chicken, steamed mapo tofu and braised eggplant buns. While you may not win the game, you might just have a bingo moment with your date!
Sundays from 12pm – 2pm or 2pm – 4pm.
66 Chapel Street, Windsor
www.tokyotina.com.au
Artist curated drinking at Grau Projekt art gallery
An abandoned warehouse in Clifton Hill doesn’t seem like the kind of place you’d want to go on a first date. But Grau Projekt is a concept by Matt Bax, a Melbourne artist and the mastermind behind Melbourne’s Bar Americano, Der Raum, Bar Economico and Munich’s Gamsei. The idea is that for each art show, Matt and his team work with the artist to concoct a selection of cocktails that reflect the artist’s work. Each show is ticketed and comes with a cocktail on entry plus the bar’s open for more as you take a walkthrough tour of the exhibition and explore the art with your date.
Level 1, 2-12 Alexandra Parade Clifton Hill
Check the website for shows and tickets
Take a Drinking History Tour around Fitzroy
A drink at the pub is the default date plan, so taking a drinking history tour of Fitzroy is the perfect date idea. Discover the history of the area’s ‘sly grog shops’ and the back story to your favourite Fitzroy drinking dens in this entertaining walking tour that’s got plenty of time for drinks and conversation at each stop.
Thursdays 6pm-9pm
drinkinghistorytours.com
Volleyball and penguins in St Kilda
If less talking and more action sounds like your kind of thing, date ideas don’t get better than working up a sweat playing beach volleyball! Head to Republica at St Kilda Beach Tuesdays – Thursdays from 6pm for a game of volleyball. For $20 each you’ll get two hours of volleyball, a drink and share pizza afterwards. If the chatter is flowing and you’re keen to keep the night going, stroll over to the pier to watch the penguins swim back to shore. With the sounds of the water lapping and the endorphins giving you the happy feels, this is one date that’ll end on a high.
Vic Beach at Republica, Tuesday – Thursday from 6pm.
For more info: Contact ‘Big Al’ on 0422 242 308
Forget dinner and a movie and go axe throwing instead
Nothing says ‘I want to get to know you more’ than a date with danger, so why not try axe throwing to really get down to the nitty gritty of your new love and discover their inner viking warrior.
www.manianx.com.au
19-21 Russell Street, Abbotsford
Get creative at a boozy art class
Unleash your inner Picasso at a boozy art class where you’ll be able to scratch beneath the surface of your date’s creative side. With a wine in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, it’s the perfect scenario to discover more about your date than what team they barrack for. We like Cork and Canvas in South Melbourne where wine and paint palettes go hand-in-hand.
Cork and Canvas
206 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
www.corkandcanvas.com.au
Snuggle up to furry felines at this adorable Cat Cafe
Have the purrfect date sipping on coffee and brunch whilst in kitten heaven. Cat Cafe offers a calm and relaxing environment over two levels where you (and your date) can come and play with 14 cats to your hearts content. All the cats in the cafe are from rescue shelters and have the cutest names (Shakespeare and Chirp to name a few). Once you visit, you won’t want to leave!
30 Guildford Ln, Melbourne
https://catcafemelbourne.com/
Take a craft food or drinks making workshop in Collingwood
If your date is a foodie too (note to self: only date a foodie) what better way to know if they are ‘the one’ than seeing how good they are in the kitchen? Sign up for a food-making workshop and get some hands-on bonding over a sausage-making workshop or gin blending class. For more date ideas for foodies, check out workshops at The Craft & Co in Collingwood.
390 Smith Street, Collingwood
www.thecraftandco.com.au
Dumplings for Dating
Spice up your date night with a ‘getting to know you’ four stage board game that guides couples through a series of questions to put to each other as you dine on yum cha and sip fun cocktails at Dumplings for Dating. The game starts off with easy questions such as ‘what is your favourite dessert’ and builds up to ask more probing questions around wanting kids or revealing fantasies. The final stage of the game takes on twists and dares, from choosing each other’s cocktails to forfeiting your phone. Held daily at Oriental Teahouse, make sure to mention Dumplings for Dating when you book
$60pp for the game session
455 Chapel St, South Yarra – Everyday except Sat & Sunday lunch
378 Lt Collins St, Melbourne – Everyday except Mon – Friday lunch
www.orientalteahouse.com.au
Get into character at Underground Cinema
Put in your best Oscar-winning performance at an Underground Cinema event where you can dress in theme and immerse yourselves in the world of the film which is set in a secret location. You’ll be sent a text the day before the event letting you know where to meet, creating a buzz of excitement about your upcoming date. Once there, you can interact in character with the live cast and get sent on secret missions on site before settling in and watching the film. Afterwards, head to one of Melbourne’s rooftop bars for cocktails and conversation into the wee small hours.