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The Houston Bucket List of Date Ideas

The Houston Bucket List of Date Ideas
| Last Updated: December 2022

Whether you are new to the dating scene or have been married for a few years, the love sparks between you two can disappear if you don’t date your partner. Going out on dates helps maintain the love spark between you and your love. 

However, some find going out on a date can be nerve-wracking—especially if you don’t know what to do. Hence, to save you some time from stressing out, we’ve planned a list of date ideas for you and your special someone to do in Houston.

1. Get your skates on at Dairy Ashford Roller Rink 

  • Website: Dairy Ashford Roller Rink 
  • Address: 1820 S Dairy Ashford Rd St, Houston, TX 77077, United States
  • Contact Info: 281-493-5651

Rolling skating is a romantic date because you can hold your partner’s hand or clutch onto their arm the entire time. After all, neither of you wants to fall—if you’re not already a professional roller skater, that is. 

Depending on what night you go to, the roller rink has different events for couples to participate in. No matter what, the lights and disco ball in the center of the rink help set the mood for a romantic date.

2. Go to Minute Maid Park

Go to Minute Maid Park
  • Website: Minute Maid Park
  • Address: 501 Crawford St, Houston, TX 77002, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-259-8000

If you and your date are both baseball lovers, you should plan your date around a visit to Minute Maid Park. Or, if you’re simply craving the hotdogs or the nachos at Minute Maid Park—that’s fine too.

3. Cuddle together at Moonstruck Drive-in

Grab your pillows, blankets, and snacks galore for a date at the Moonstruck Drive-in. It’s the perfect opportunity to cuddle up close to each other while watching classic movies. 

Moonstruck Drive-in also plays new releases, so we recommend looking on their website in advance of your date for an idea of what there is to watch.

4. Be sneaky and slip into a speakeasy

Be sneaky and slip into a speakeasy

Speakeasies have a unique charm and make great spots for a date. The allure of secrecy and the sense of the forbidden that comes from being transported back in time to the Prohibition era makes sipping on cocktails alluring at any of these Houston speakeasies below. 

The Sugar Room

  • Website: The Sugar Room
  • Address: 5120 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 832-388-3288

The Sugar Room is a speakeasy-inspired hidden bar behind a bakery. You can access the unmarked door by entering the building through the main entrance and proceeding past the pantry.

Once you enter through the door, you’ll find yourself in a chic lounge with leather chairs and a bar cart decorated in gold. One of the many interesting drinks on the cocktail menu is the Gunsmoke, the house’s smoky, decadent spin on the classic margarita.

Marfreless

Marfreless
  • Website: Marfreless
  • Address: 2006 Peden St, Houston, TX 77019, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 281-630-6248

Since the early 1970s, Marfreless has been a standard in the speakeasy scene, with its signature leather couches, red chambers, and lighting so dim that you practically need night vision goggles. 

To enter Marfreless, you must go through a blue door that is not clearly labeled. It is on the side of the building beneath a white stairway. 

The entire oak bar is decked out in Prohibition-era furnishings. If you and your date like people-watching, you can sit upstairs with a view of the bar’s chandelier and the entire lower level. 

Mijo Mezcal Bar

  • Address: 3701 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009, United States

Mijo Mezcal Bar is your one-stop shop for all things mezcal. This bar, housed in a small shipping container on Cantina Barba’s patio, has a mezcal collection worthy of the most sophisticated connoisseurs. 

However, at Mijo Mezcal Bar, there is only a small amount of seating available, so we recommend getting there with your date right when they open. 

5. Experience a galactic adventure at Seismique

  • Website: Seismique
  • Address: 2306 S Texas 6, Houston, TX 77077, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 346-202-6006

Any fan of Star Trek or Star Wars will be in awe after going to Seismique. You can take an intergalactic adventure with your date at this interstellar exhibit. 

Seismique explores the relationship between artificial intelligence, immersive environments, and extraterrestrial landscapes. By the end of your date, you and your date will be immersed in exotic realms brimming with originality, inventiveness, and enchantment.

6. Workout together by playing pickleball

  • Website: Bumpy Pickle
  • Address: 554 Lockwood Dr, Houston, TX 77011, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 832-850-3942 

Houston is home to Bumpy Pickle, a lively pickleball pub where you can experience firsthand the sport’s rising popularity by utterly dominating your significant other in a game.

7. Take in the views from the skylawn at Post HTX Downtown

  • Website: Post HTX Downtown
  • Address: 401 Franklin St, Houston, TX 77201, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-999-2550

Climb the winding stairs to Post HTX’s gigantic five-acre skylawn after enjoying the show-stopping food hall. Indeed, Post HTX sells everything from West African delicacies and rock ‘n’ roll Indian street cuisine to a Gulf seafood market with a Nordic twist. 

You and your date can take a leisurely stroll through the gardens, snap a picture in front of the cityscape, and relax while gazing at the stars. 

8. Keep it simple and have a picnic at Hermann Park 

Keep it simple and have a picnic at Hermann Park
  • Website: Hermann Park 
  • Address: 6001 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-526-2183

Take the day to the next level by packing a basket, grabbing a blanket, and having a picnic. Enjoy each other’s company over a glass of champagne or wine, homemade sandwiches, fruit, and a cheese board. 

9. Slurp on oysters and bubbly cocktails during happy hour

Slurp on oysters and bubbly cocktails during happy hour

Oysters on the half shell at Caracol are a work of art and a natural aphrodisiac, but the restaurant’s wood-roasted oysters doused in chipotle butter are the real deal. 

You may also visit Acme Oyster House, a New Orleans institution that has relocated to the chic Westheimer Curve neighborhood, without leaving Houston.

Caracol

  • Website: Caracol
  • Address: 2200 Post Oak Blvd #160, Houston, TX 77056, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-622-9996

Acme Oyster House

  • Website: Acme Oyster House 
  • Address: 1201 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 346-571-2071

10. Go for a couples massage

Go for a couples massage

A day at the spa is one of the best ways to forget about the anxieties that come with going on a date. Getting a couples massage together is a date idea that draws you closer in a more intimate way. 

Here are a few places where you can go to get a couples massage. 

The Petite Retreat 

  • Website: The Petite Retreat 
  • Address: 1119 Roy St, Houston, TX 77007, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-520-8999

Zalla Massage

  • Website: Zalla Massage
  • Address: 1411 Haddon St, Houston, TX 77006, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 281-974-2823

11. Float around on the lazy river at Marriott Marquis

  • Website: Marriott Marquis Houston
  • Address: 1777 Walker St, Houston, TX 77010, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-654-1777

You can find a sunny day any time of the year in Houston, but weekends are perfect for lounging by the pool—more precisely, the Texas-shaped lazy river at a five-star resort. So on your next date, head to the Downtown Houston Marriott instead of staying at home.

12. Have a wine-and-paint night

Have a wine-and-paint night

Bring out your creative side with a date of wine and painting. If you’re not a Picasso in the making, that’s okay. 

By the end of your wine-and-paint date, you’ll have masterpieces to show off. Here are some wine-and-paint places perfect for your next date. 

Pinot’s Palette

  • Website: Pinot’s Palette
  • Address: 2406 Taft Street, Houston, TX
  • Contact Info: 713-523-4769

Painting with a Twist

  • Website: Painting with a Twist
  • Address: 1111 Holman St, Houston, TX 77004, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 832-476-0996

13. Go on a Bookshop Date

Go on a Bookshop Date

There is something adorable about a date in a bookstore. Find a cozy bookstore with a café and some couches so you can stay for a while. 

You and your date can lose yourselves in conversation or get absorbed in a fictional world—all while still spending quality time together.

Below are a few bookstores in Houston that are quaint, private, and perfect for a romantic bookshop date. 

Blue Willow Bookshop 

Brazos Bookstore

Kindred Stories

14. Take a hiking adventure 

Take a hiking adventure

Pack your hiking boots and a field jacket for a day of leisurely hiking or strenuous climbing if that’s the route you choose. With any luck, you’ll get your daily exercise and come across some stunning new sights to photograph for your social media. 

Furthermore, don’t dismiss the possibility of a breathtaking hike at sunrise or sunset just because it’s a little chilly. All you have to do is wear layers so you can take them off or add them on as necessary because the temperature changes frequently in Houston. 

Below are two popular hiking trails that you and your date can explore. 

Memorial Park Hike and Bike Trailhead

Memorial Park Hike and Bike Trailhead

Terry Hershey Hike Trail 

Terry Hershey Hike Trail

15. Take your dogs and your date to Levy’s Dog Park 

Levy Park is a great place for dogs and their owners to hang out, whether you’re a new pet parent or just looking to make a good impression. 

As you and your date watch your dogs play safely in the open park, you can munch on food and spend quality time together. 

16. Go thrift shopping together 

It’s been proven that couples that save money together tend to stay together. Thrift stores and consignment shops are great places to find unique pieces at the beginning of the season. 

Here are a few thrift stores in the Houston area. 

Lo-Fi Vintage 

Strangely, Lo-Fi is better known from the outside than the inside. The storefront’s graffitied front often testifies to Houston’s booming street art scene. 

The store’s interior is where you’ll find some of the city’s finest examples of vintage sportswear and superb ’90s streetwear.

My Flaming Heart 

Located at the crossroads of Main and Winbern Streets in the heart of Midtown, My Flaming Heart is a miniature crystal palace stocked to the brim with one-of-a-kind treasures. That is, if you’re in the market for an amputated doll head, we hear My Flaming Heart is your best bet.

Buffalo Exchange 

Buffalo Exchange is a Houston secondhand store that aims to be the city’s coolest by stocking trendy vintage clothing from the 1990s and early 2000s. Their clothes, shoes, and jewelry are carefully curated, meaning they may be more expensive than you’d like them to be. 

However, that might not deter you from purchasing that tweed jacket, high-waist jeans, and grunge t-shirt combination.

17. Take a trip to Lucky Land in Houston’s Chinatown 

  • Website: Lucky Land
  • Address: 8625 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77037, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 281-447-3400

Lucky Land is the perfect place to escape Houston without leaving the city. The Great Wall of China and the Life-Size Shaolin Kungfu Sculpture Garden are just two of the many reproductions of iconic Chinese structures that visitors can see as part of the Asian cultural experience. 

18. Sight-see Houston with a helicopter tour

Sight-see Houston with a helicopter tour

Want to see what Houston’s famous skyline looks like from above? Take your special someone on a Houston Helicopter Tour and enjoy a ride together in the sky. 

During the thirty-minute journey, which takes off from Minute Maid Park and passes over the Galleria and Downtown Houston, you will hear many “oohs” and “ahhs” as you take in the city’s many thrilling views from above. Make it more romantic by taking a ride at sunset.

Helicopter Tours in Houston
National Helicopter Solutions• 18000 Groschke Rd, Houston, TX 77084, United States

• +1 281-795-9995
Flex Air Helicopters Houston• 1-800-615-9754

19. Go Camping and have a bonfire

Go Camping and have a bonfire

Camping with your date is one way to test whether there’s chemistry between you two—physically and emotionally. While camping can be a bit strenuous, when you and your date are able to work together as a team it’s rewarding and fun. 

Besides, when camping, campfire activities are a given, such as stargazing, making s’mores, and telling stories. Tell each other scary ghost stories or embarrassing stories from when you were kids. 

However, don’t let the excitement of an impromptu camping trip leave you unprepared by leaving behind the basics, like sleeping bags and tents.

Here are some spots to go camping near Houston whether glam style or roughing it. 

Lake Houston Wilderness Park 

Lake Houston Wilderness Park

Lake Houston Wilderness Park is an extensive campground two hours from Houston. You and your date can go hiking or biking for miles, enjoy fishing or swimming in one of the area’s lovely lakes. 

Since Lake Houston Wilderness Park strives to preserve its natural regions, no RV hookups, water hookups, or electricity are available in close proximity to the tent sites. 

Because of this you and your date will be able to hear the owls hoot, the crickets chirp, and the fire crackle without any other noises to interrupt your enchanted night. 

While parking is prohibited in the area of the campgrounds, if you need to drop off bags at a few different locations, you can drive there and back. 

Their nightly rent is $7–perfect for couples on a budget. This also includes a lantern pole, a picnic table, and a fire pit. 

By the way, if you and your date don’t wish to stay in a tent, you can always glamp the night away in one of their cabins. 

Galveston Island State Park 

Galveston Island State Park

Galveston Island State Park’s white sand beach is made beautiful by the brilliant blue seas crashing against the shore. While, there aren’t any tree-lined meadows here, there are an abundance of open spaces to relax in despite Houston’s humid sun.  

Galveston Island State Park is only an hour’s drive from Houston. There are many miles of trails available for walking or riding bikes. 

Also, water sports including surfing, kayaking, boating, and fishing are all popular here. Moreover, camping is permitted for at least one night. 

The campground is situated just between the beach and the water. Campers can have campfires, access to flush toilets, and are connected to a water source. 

If you and your date want a more secluded campground, you can use the bayside campground. The bayside campground has scenic views of three smaller lakes. 

There are some supplementary amenities at this campground too, including showers, electrical hookups, and picnic tables. 

The individual nightly rates for both campgrounds on Galveston Island begin at $15.00. However, there is a $5 per-person surcharge for rooms that need power.

Magnolia Gardens Park 

Magnolia Gardens Park

Magnolia Gardens Park is conveniently located near the San Jacinto River, about a half-hour drive from downtown Houston. When you go camping in Magnolia Gardens Park, you can enjoy many water-based activities.

The wonderful sandy beach where sunbathing, volleyball, and thrilling rides on banana boats can be enjoyed is the park’s main feature. The woodland areas, on the other hand, provide a tranquil setting, perfect for a relaxing stroll or bike ride away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. 

On their beachfront campground, you can relax in the sand while listening to the waves. Or you can relax in the woods with the convenience of electricity. 

Camping here requires a minimum of 2 nights, with nightly rates starting at $20 per person. Moreover, the property enables campfires to be built and is pet friendly. 

Keep in mind though that tent sites are spread out, and it’s not always easy to find a parking spot close enough for your car.

20. Ride a horse at Cypress Trails Equestrian Center

You and your date can visit the Equestrian Center at Cypress Trails for a romantic horseback ride in Texas, where you can enjoy the state’s abundance of beautiful horses and the state’s clean, unpolluted air. 

21. Spend the night under the stars at George Observatory 

Spend the night under the stars at George Observatory
  • Website: George Observatory 
  • Address: 21901 FM 762 Rd, Damon, TX 77430, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 979-553-3400

Stargazing with your date is a simple romantic date idea that is sure to make your partner’s heart swoon with love for you and the stars above. In Houston, George Observatory provides stargazing tours with knowledgeable guides. 

The Houston Museum of Natural Science collaborated with the park to provide an observatory complete with powerful telescopes, live camera feeds, laser tours of the constellations, and on-site astronomy experts. 

You’ll need to plan ahead if you want to use the observatory, but even if the night you choose has cloudy skies, you can still enjoy looking at archived photographs and getting a guided tour of the facility.

22. Hang out with your date at a cidery

Hang out with your date at a cidery

When the weather outside is too chilly to be enjoyable, a trip to an indoor cidery is a great way to relax and unwind. Here are some cidery spots in Houston. 

Houston Cider Co

  • Website: Houston Cider Co
  • Address: 1125 W Cavalcade St, Houston, TX 77009, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 832-834-7151

Houston Cider Co. is Houston’s first production cidery. Located in the Houston Heights neighborhood, this cidery focuses on using high-quality fruits and ingredients to develop uniquely flavored ciders.  

Some recommended drinks at Houston Cider Co. are their classic dry hard ciders and their Kashmere Gardens drink collection—which are sweetened with honey from Houston’s native bees. 

City Orchard

  • Website: City Orchard
  • Address: 1201 Oliver St Unit #108, Houston, TX 77007, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 832-648-7773

City Orchard is a true farm-to-market cidery that imports apples and juice from nearby orchards via truck to make traditional ciders. 

The Cherry Red from their Cider Fresca Series is a must-try.  It is a semi-dry cider flavored with cherries. 

Additionally, their Mrs.Green is a floral and zesty cider liked by many Houstonians. 

Bishop Cidercade

  • Website: Cidercade Houston
  • Address: 2320 Canal St Suite 100, Houston, TX 77003, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 281-787-2726

There are more than 275 arcade games and 48 cider taps at Bishop Cidercade. When the sun is up, the cidery welcomes children, but after dark, it’s strictly an adult establishment—making it perfect for a date night. 

Among their popular ciders are the Texas Tea and the Cranberry Firecracker. The Texas Tea cider is brewed with sweet black tea and tart lemon to get a bittersweet taste. 

On the other hand, their Cranberry Firecracker Cider is a mulled beverage with a fiery kick from cinnamon and cranberries.

23. Play Blanket Bingo at Market Square Park

  • Website: Market Square Park
  • Address: 301 Milam St, Houston, TX 77002, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-650-3022

Date night doesn’t always need to involve fancy dinners and fancy cocktails. Sometimes a classic game of bingo will do the trick. 

Blanket Bingo is held in Market Square Park, and you and your date can enjoy a fun night of fantastic music, tasty food, and even a bit of luck.

24. Grab a lane at Pinstripes

  • Website: Pinstripes
  • Address: 3300 Kirby Dr Suite 3A, Houston, TX 77098, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 346-297-1770

At Pinstripes, you’ll get the kind of high-end bowling action you probably wouldn’t have sought out on your own. Strike out some pins in style at this upscale bowling alley while indulging in some freshly prepared American and Italian cuisine at the café.

24. See a comedy show together 

  • Website: The Riot Comedy Club
  • Address: 2010 Waugh Dr, Houston, TX 77006, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-264-8664

You will surely have a great time when you and your date can share some good laughs. The Riot Comedy Show is an excellent option for this. 

Fun times are guaranteed at this live comedy performance featuring top-notch performers from around the USA.

25. Have a video game night at Joystix

  • Website: Joystix Games
  • Address: 1820 Franklin St, Houston, TX 77002, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-224-2225

At Joystix, there are plenty of pinball machines, and the drinks are cheap. Keep slamming buttons until your arms hurt, then take a breather in the photo booth to snap some adorable couple shots. 

On Fridays, they have something called “Pacman Fridays,” where you may play as many games as you want for the low price of $15. Indeed, you and your date may be living out a long-held childhood fantasy.

26. Indulge in cheese tasting at Houston Dairymaids 

  • Website: Houston Dairymaids 
  • Address: 2201 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-880-4800

For cheese connoisseurs, the Houston Dairymaids holds tastings every Saturday. If you like Gouda and Brie, you’ll love this place. 

You can enjoy your cheese with a wide selection of crackers, breads, jams, and wines. 

27. Explore the park cistern at Buffalo Bayou Park 

Explore the park cistern at Buffalo Bayou Park

What was formerly a water storage facility has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind subterranean attraction. Take a guided or self-directed tour of Houston’s water system and architecture if you and your date are history enthusiasts.

28. Splurge on a private dinner at Hidden Omakase 

  • Website: Hidden Omakase 
  • Address: 5353 W Alabama St #102, Houston, TX 77056, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-496-2633

This romantic activity is ideal for couples who appreciate exquisite cuisine. Guests can reserve one of only two spots at night for Hidden Omakase’s highly coveted curated event. 

This is the ideal place to splurge on an anniversary or treat yourself and your date to something memorable for $175 per person.

29. Relax in a beer garden and have a beer or two 

  • Website: Axelrad
  • Address: 1517 Alabama St, Houston, TX 77004, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-597-8800

So suppose you’ve sampled every Houston establishment, from rooftop bars to educational opportunities. It’s time for you and your date to discover the city’s hidden fun, and the best place to do that is at the massive Axelrad arena. 

This crowd-pleaser is perfect for lovebirds looking to kick back and have a good time in the center of Houston. This unique venue is ideal for a dating night because it offers something for everyone. 

30. Take a cooking class together

Take a cooking class together

This could be the answer if you want to spice up your next date but aren’t sure how to do so. Trying to prepare a meal for your date can be a fun and challenging way to bond.

Moreover, participating in a simple cooking class taught by some of the city’s greatest chefs is a great way to spice up your dating life.

Virtual Cooking Classes in Houston
UrbanCHEF

• Address: 3651 Weslayan St, Houston, TX 77027, United States

• Contact Info: +1 713-504-1700

• Three hour long classes centered around a theme

• “Date Night” cooking classes start at $200 per couple

• Not BYOB
Well Done Cooking Class

• Address: 2811 Airline Dr Suite 5, Houston, TX 77009, United States

• Contact Info: +1 832-782-3518

• Each “Date Night” cooking class is $169 per couple

• BYOB

• Three hour long class

31. Saddle up and go horseback riding on Galveston Island 

Regarding romantic dates, horseback riding on the beach is one of the more exotic date ideas. While you can’t precisely ride horseback in Downtown Houston, with Galveston Island Horse and Pony Rides, you may gallop into the sunset. 

You and your date can visit the area for an action-packed afternoon of sightseeing, horseback riding on the beach, and more.

32. Tour around different art galleries 

Tour around different art galleries

Art galleries are peaceful areas for the two of you to get a sense of each other’s hobbies and conversational skills, whether you’re a true art enthusiast or just along for the ride. 

If you’re worried about not having enough to talk about, pick a lively and intriguing gallery or picture exhibit that isn’t too obscure.

Here are some of Houston’s best art galleries to check out. 

The Menil Collection

  • Website: The Menil Collection
  • Address: 1533 Sul Ross St, Houston, TX 77006, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-525-9400

The Menil’s Renzo Piano building, which has been there since 1987, is widely regarded as one of the most important structures to have been built anywhere in the world in the last half-century. 

World-renowned artwork from the Neolithic and Ancient periods all the way up to the present day is housed in its modest but impressive collection. 

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is housed in a modern metal parallelogram and was one of the first venues in the United States to feature contemporary artists. 

If you come here on a date, check out the striking museum shop and don’t forget to admire the Mel Chin sculpture that appears to be growing out of a pyramid at the building’s rear.

33. Sing your hearts out in karaoke

Sing your hearts out in karaoke

It’s worth a shot for an enjoyable first date with a stranger if it will facilitate required romantic camaraderie. Remember not everyone needs to be able to belt out hit after hit like a professional singer. 

What matters most when doing karaoke as a date is having fun and expressing yourself. However, if you are doing karaoke for a first date, you should check with your date first before showing up at a KTV bar. 

Below are some places in Houston that you can go to for your karaoke date.

Glitter Karaoke

  • Website: Glitter Karaoke
  • Address: 2621 Milam St, Houston, TX 77006, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 713-526-4900

Happy Zone KTV

Happy Zone KTV
  • Website: Happy Zone KTV
  • Address: 9889 Bellaire Blvd St 207, Houston, TX 77036, United States
  • Contact Info: +1 281-733-2661

Not everyone enjoys planning out dates. Some people can’t decide on what to do that won’t be a bore. 

Going on a date within Houston doesn’t need to be dull or challenging. These 33 Houston date ideas can spice up your dates no matter whether it’s your first date as a couple or you’ve been dating for years. 

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