We Made The First Move at These 10 Date Places in Houston
- Get Cultured at Sawyer Yards
- Go for a Classic Vibe with H-Town Carriage Rides
- Have Great Conversations at The Coffee House at West End
- Practice Cooking at urbanCHEF
- Go Full Ghost at Smashed Clay
- Watch Movies Under the Starts at The Rooftop Cinema Club
- Have an Insta-worthy Date at Seismique
- Visit The Raven Tower
- Make Candles at Forth & Nomad
- Visit The Menil Collection
Houston is known for many things – the 713, the Space Station, and being the biggest city in Texas. However, unlike its sister cities of Austin and Fort Worth, Houston is far from being the most romantic.
Luckily, Houston is the biggest city in Texas which means that there’s bound to be one or two places to go on a date with your partner for a romantic time!
We scoured the city for date ideas that you can use for your next date with your partner! Whether it’s to have fun, relax or maybe even pop the question, we’ve got you covered!
1. Get Cultured at Sawyer Yards
Address: 2101 Winter St, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: 713-993-9823
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
If you and your partner are fans of modern art, then we suggest visiting Sawyer Yards for a picturesque date. Sawyer Yards is, in their words, “the nation’s largest creative campus: – and you can go on a date and learn about art at the same time!
One of the things that you can do at Sawyer Yards is to visit the art exhibitions that they have on display! As of the time of writing, they have displays like The Healing Power of Color and “Blood Quantum” by award-winning Houston artist Cressandra Thibodeaux.
Sawyer Yards also has plenty of dining establishments that offer a good variety of food options, too! We suggest trying the Maine-ly Sandwiches for authentic, Maine-style sandwiches, or Holler Brewing Co. for a more relaxing time.
| Pro Tips: Be warned: some of the restaurants’ serving times can be a tad bit slow. So order an appetizer to make sure you don’t get “hangry”! It’s great to dress to impress, but you and your date may want to wear something comfortable. Sawyer Yards is pretty big, so maybe skip the high heels and leather shoes for this date spot. |
2. Go for a Classic Vibe with H-Town Carriage Rides
Credit: @santaswonderland on Instagram
Address: 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002
Phone Number: 210-818-2190
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Found in every major city in the United States, you too can now ride from your home to anywhere in Downtown with H-Town Carriage Rides! It’s more romantic than ridesharing and who DOESN’T want to roll around Houston strolling behind a carriage?
H-Town Carriage Rides is most famous for newlyweds, it can also be seen as a romantic gesture if it’s your first date – or any date, for that matter. You can even go so far as getting a Cinderella-esque carriage for you to ride in!
A single carriage ride lasts for 30 minutes to an hour depending on the tour. It can get hot for a lunch-hour tour, especially with the velvet seats so we recommend nighttime rides. Plus, the lighting carriage makes everything much more romantic!
| Pro Tips: Yes, the tours are great for dates, but we recommend booking your tour a little bit earlier if you’re looking to surprise your date on Valentine’s Day. Ideally, January would be the best month for a romantic, horse-drawn Vaneltine’s! |
3. Have Great Conversations at The Coffee House at West End
Address: West End Church, 802 Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: 281-762-1850
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Quaint, chic, and oozing with charm, The Coffee House at West End is a quiet coffee shop that lets you and your date enjoy your coffee in peace. They also serve excellent coffee so it’s a good place to bring your date – whether it’s your first or a hundredth!
The Coffee House at West End has a beautiful vibe in its interior and exterior. We love their Instaworthy front door which is very reminiscent of old London-style buildings, and everyone can greatly appreciate the interior decor’s chic design.
The chic and classy decor is offset by The Coffee House at West End’s more casual, upbeat vibe. The music provides a calming atmosphere, and add that with their excellent drinks like the Cafe Au Lait Drop Coffee and the Love Tea and your date is set.
| Pro Tips: The Coffee House at West End’s Wi-Fi can be wonky sometimes. We suggest going with your mobile data if you’re planning to use the internet, or just enjoy some quality time and coffee with your date. |
4. Practice Cooking at urbanCHEF
Address: Greenway Commons, 3651 Weslayan St, Houston, TX 77027, United States
Phone Number: 713-504-1700
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
They say that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – and if you want to sharpen your cooking skills, then we recommend trying out urbanCHEF’s lessons with your date! They teach you how to cook, AND you’re in for an interesting date, too!
It’s not like the classes that you can find on your local learning annexes where you can learn just one dish and you’re good to go. Depending on the class, urbanCHEF can teach you pretty much everything – from Steaks to Sushi, and even how to cook Steaks!
urbanCHEF also lets you take their class online if you can’t be bothered to visit them for their classes! This gives them a lot more convenient and makes an at-home date that much more fun rather than just watching Netflix.
| Pro Tips: urbanCHEF doesn’t let you bring your own booze, but they do have a stellar wine list that you can try out during your class. The Jean Leon is a good one, but Domaine Zafeirakis Limniona from Greece is also a nice pick. |
5. Go Full Ghost at Smashed Clay
Credit: @caitlin.faul on Instagram
Address: CITYCENTRE, 12848 Queensbury Ln #204, Houston, TX 77024
Phone Number: 281-305-0651
Hours: Monday – Wednesday: Closed
Thursday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Yes, we know the Ghost reference is a bit outdated – but who doesn’t like a cute, pottery-class date to unlock a brand-new talent for the both of you? Smashed City lets you learn a new hobby that both of you can partake in – along with a challenge!
What makes Smashed City an ideal date spot is that they offer an exclusive Couples-only class! You and your date will work together on one pottery wheel but create two pots that are uniquely yours!
The best part is that the pottery needs to be baked in the kiln and dry for 2-3 weeks in the studio after you make them. Why is this great? Well, because it offers the opportunity for another date because you can paint the pots before you take them home!
| Pro Tips: If you want a romantic time with your date, we suggest booking the private couple’s classes and play The Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers (or a song both of you like!). It’s cheesy, but it’s the thought that matters! |
6. Watch Movies Under the Starts at The Rooftop Cinema Club
Address: BLVD Place, 1700 Post Oak Blvd 5th Level, Houston, TX 77056
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Why watch movies at home when you can bring your date to the immersive cinema experience that’s The Rooftop Cinema Club! The location on top of BLVD Place and the immersive movies that you can watch gives them a romantic aura – suited for your date!
The Rooftop Cinema Club shows a wealth of popular movies like the original Scream and Mean Girls, along with some cult classics like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. As of the time of writing, they’re also premiering the Mean Girls musical remake!
While tickets generally cost around $20, we suggest upgrading to the $26 option for your date. This gives you a loveseat along with a bucket of popcorn, which makes for a cosy date night!
| Pro Tips: Don’t forget to check the weather in advance before your movie night! While you can always get a refund if it rains, you may want to have a back up plan. |
7. Have an Insta-worthy Date at Seismique
Address: Village at West Oaks, 2306 S Texas 6, Houston, TX 77077,
Phone Number: 346-202-6006
Hours: Monday, Wednesday – Thursday: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Friday: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Seismique is an Insta-worthy museum that offers a unique perspective on modern art that allows you to capture some beautiful images. From the 3D light tunnel to a roller skating rink, there’s plenty to see (and snap) at Seismique, for some glow-in-the-dark fun!
Speaking of which, Seismique also has a glow-in-the-dark bar that you can dine in! Aptly named the Drinque, they offer cocktails and a pool table where you can flex your pool hustling skills to your date!
When it comes to having your date there, we suggest going with the galaxy-themed Color Portal. It’s strangely reminiscent of sci-fi movies like Star Trek and Avatar with all the ambient lighting, plus holograms make it a lot more immersive.
| Pro Tips: Seismique’s tickets are on the more expensive side – $40 to be exact. We suggest using third-party apps to get a discount – or wait for a promotion! |
8. Visit The Raven Tower
Address: 310 North St, Houston, TX 77009
Phone Number: 832-925-7585
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Friday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Saturday: 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM
If you’re looking for more of a traditional wine-and-dine type of date, then the Raven Tower fits the description. It has a beautiful ambiance with a view, unique cocktails and live music – a perfect setting for a romantic evening!
The Raven Tower’s unique atmosphere is thanks to its unique construction premise. It used to be a metal fabrication shop from the 70s which gives it a rustic charm. The restaurant itself is also located high above too, which gives it a view unlike any other.
If you want to take your date to the next level and pop the magic question, then you can also book The Raven Tower for private events! You can rent out either The Bar/Patio or go the extra mile and rent out the 700-square-foot Tower!
| Pro Tips: The Raven Tower often runs out of draft beer, which is a shame if you and your date like to chat over a glass of a cold one. We suggest letting them know of your beer preferences ahead of time, especially if you book the entire venue! |
9. Make Candles at Forth & Nomad
Address: 731 Yale St, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: 713-814-8198
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Forth & Nomad isn’t just a place to shop for chic, seasonal clothes – you can also take your date there and get some new candles for your respective living spaces with their candlemaking classes! It’s lots of fun, plus you can bring the goodies home with you!
Forth & Nomad’s candlemaking class costs $50 and includes everything from the complimentary beer or wine of your choice to the candles that you made. And since you will be making the candle, you can choose its scent
Afterward, you can take your date out for a nice shopping trip at Forth & Nomad. They have a nice selection of clothes and lifestyle products for your date to choose from! They even have a good selection of liquor made in-house – and they all come in pretty bottles!
| Pro Tips: We suggest visiting Forth & Nomad every time the seasons change! They have a rotating collection of clothes that fit the current season, along with some nice discounts thrown in there, too! |
10. Visit The Menil Collection
Address: 1533 Sul Ross St, Houston, TX 77006
Phone Number: 713-525-9400
Hours: Monday – Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Yes, we know – museum dates are clichéd. But it’s because they work – and if you want to impress your date with your knowledge of art (or you just want something to post on your Instagram), then we recommend visiting The Menil Collection!
Entrance to The Menil Collection is free – so all you need to do is to visit them on days they’re open and enjoy their displays. As of the time of writing, they currently have Janet Sobel’s Abstract Expressionism art on display in their Mail Hall!
The Menil Collection also hosts a wealth of artwork from all over the world, too! Their regular display consists of art pieces from Africa, Pacific Islands, Medieval and Byzantine, and even Surrealist art!
| Pro Tips: Though the artwork at The Menil Collection is lovely, the staff can be a bit too strict. If you do visit them, we strongly advise you not to lean against the wall if you’re sitting on one of their benches, especially if it’s inside the museum. |
