74 Awesome Brisbane Date Night Ideas

What is your go-to date night in Brisbane? What ideas do you have on standby for date night in Brisbane? Do you keep a list of ideas?

We can not be the only ones who have so many ideas until date night rolls around and then our minds turn to mush.

No matter how many lists I have, pins I have pinned onto various Pinterest Boards, or suggestions that I have gotten, I can not decide what to do when we finally get a date night.

That brings us to this list of fun date night ideas, none of which is dinner and a movie (though of course, we like both of those things as well).

If you would rather go out during the day, here is our list of day dates in Brisbane.

Take a Cooking Class

You can combine dinner and an activity by taking a cooking class or learning to make dessert.

We have taken quite a few cooking classes while traveling, but never where we live.

#1 Golden Pig is a restaurant and cooking school in Newstead. They teach a wide variety of classes available from pizza and pasta to Argentinian BBQ, and even a butchering class called “Nose to Tail.”

#2 Vanilla Zulu also offers cooking classes for many cuisines from around the world. They are located in Tenerife.

#3 Located in Newstead, Salt Meats Cheese specializes in Italian-style cooking workshops, in addition to being a restaurant. Class options include making pizza, gnocchi, and cannolis. Italian vegan options are also available at Salt Meats Cheese.

#4 Cakes and Shit, in Paddington, has cupcake, cake, and cookie workshops. Find more things to do in Paddington before or after your class.

#5 Learn to make chocolate and confectionaries such as marshmallows, caramel, and honeycomb at New Farm Confectionery. A master class in candy? That sounds amazing.

Class Bento offers cooking classes around Brisbane including Beer and BBQ, Vegan Mexican, Cheese Making, and a Breakfast Masterclass.

Play a Sport

#6 Holey Moley has indoor miniature golf with various themes. Each hole has a different and very unique theme. We went with the kids, but it is adults only after 5 pm for the Fortitude Valley location and 8 pm for the Winter Garden location. You can choose between 9 or 18 holes, and they also offer karaoke. The Winter Garden location also has laser tag, bowling, and escape rooms. Holey Moley has a full bar and sandwiches available for purchase.

#7 Victoria Park offers outdoor putt-putt until 10 pm on weeknights and 11 pm on weekends. They also have a driving range, open at the same hours. Their golf course closed recently, but you can still take golf lessons. The Victoria Park Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

#8 There are a bunch of places to go barefoot bowling. So far, we have been to Camp Hill and Norman Park bowls club. The clubs generally have restaurants attached. Camp Hill has a Thai restaurant while Norman Park offers the more typical pub food. If you are on a group date, barefoot bowls are a good choice. We have only gone in a group so far.

#9 Climb Story Bridge. (Read about the time we climbed here).

#10 Go kayaking or ride a water bike with River Life. They have twilight kayaking available. Note that River Life only has single kayaks so your date will be in a separate kayak.

#11 If you are more adventurous than I am, River Life also offers abseiling both during the day and in the evening. You can abseil down the rocks at Kangaroo Point. If you would rather climb up, rock climbing at Kangaroo Cliffs is an option as well.

River Life has lots of great options for adventurous date night ideas including twilight kayaking, abseiling Kangaroo Point Cliffs, and rock climbing. 

Find more things to do in Kangaroo Point.

Play Games

There are many arcades of various sizes. While they tend to be family-friendly during the day, they often serve alcohol and prohibit minors after a certain hour. Here are the ones that have been on our radar.

#12 Kingpin Chermside is much more than an arcade. Besides video games, they have bowling, laser tag, escape rooms, virtual reality, and karaoke. There is a full bar and restaurant inside, as well as many restaurants to choose from in the shopping center.

#13 Lucky B. and Sons is an arcade in Fortitude Valley. They have a full bar and restaurant, or you can check out Chinatown before hitting the arcade. Lucky B. and Sons reminds me of a grown-up Chuck E. Cheese.

#14 Netherworld is another bar and arcade in Fortitude Valley, but this one is more like the old arcades with classic video games and pinball. They also have a very large variety of board games available, which you can see on their website. Netherworld has a large vegan menu, but many items can be made non-vegan if you prefer.

#15 Oche in Fortitude Valley is a bar and restaurant with darts. I am used to free darts in basic bars, but Oche seems to be a nice restaurant with fancy darts, and the price tag shows that.

Find more fun things to do in Fortitude Valley.

#16 Lumber Punks in West End has ax throwing. While ax throwing has gotten more popular around the world, we have still yet to try it. Lumber Punks has a wide variety of drinks and snacks, but no alcohol is allowed. You are able to bring in food or have it delivered to you.

#17 Another place for ax throwing has opened in Newstead. Maniax has snacks and pizza as well as alcohol with a limit of 3 drinks per person.

#18 A few times a year, CluedUpp Games hosts a city-wide murder mystery. Teams of 2-6 people spend a few hours solving clues around the city and competing for prizes.

#19 Brisbane Street Games can be played as a couple or as a group date with up to 3 couples. This mystery takes place in Brisbane CBD over 1-2 hours and 2.2 kilometers. We played Brisbane Street Games as a Family, though it would be easier to play without kids.

#20 Fun House Brisbane located in the Myer Center in Brisbane CBD has arcade games and lots of machines where you can win tickets to earn prizes.

#21 Pincadia is a pinball arcade in Woolloongabba. Pincada has a full bar and offers burgers, pizzas, and other menu items.

Learn Something

#22 Class Bento is a site that keeps track of many different classes from different companies in Brisbane. They also have a bunch of classes that you can currently attend virtually. Many virtual workshops include a kit sent to you. That sounds like a perfect lockdown date or even one for after the kids go to bed.

#23 Work-Shop has a wide variety of classes from jewelry making to basket weaving, learning to pickle to beekeeping. Their event calendar is currently out through the end of the year so there is plenty of time to book your favorite workshop. Work-Shop used to be located in Newstead but they have moved to Paddington.

#24 Take a tour with Brisbane Greeters. They offer neighborhood tours, history tours, and a twilight tour.

#25 Only T has classes where you leave with 3 different items: a t-shirt, a concrete planter, and a bag. If you are looking for at-home date night ideas, they are currently selling take-home kits.

#26 Go on a Bike Tour with Brisbane by Bike. They offer a 2-hour twilight tour that includes everything you need to ride around the city. If you aren’t interested in the guided tour, just rent a bike and go for a ride.

#27 Head to Gin School at Brisbane Distillery.

#28 Take a Brewery tour at Felon’s Brewery or XXXX.

Book your XXXX Brewery Tour and Tasting.

Paint Something

#29 Fresh Prints Paint and Sip is the one kind of paint night I think even my husband would enjoy. Complete with a live DJ and a variety of fun projects to choose from, it is not your typical paint night. Fresh Prints takes place on Tuesday and Friday nights in Fortitude Valley.

Read our review here.

#30 Pinot and Picasso has many locations, including a studio in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

#31 Newstead’s Brush and Barrel has paint classes in the afternoons and in the evenings.

#32 Located in South Bank and South Brisbane, Cork and Chroma also has pop-up events at nearby Brisbane restaurants.

#33 In addition to painting classes, Wesley Taylor Art Studios offer clay and sip classes.

#34 Frida’s Sip and Paint in Paddington offers many unique painting options.

More Paint and Sip options are available through Class Bento.

Have Someone Else Plan Your Date

#35 AmazingCo is a company that plans events for you. All you have to do is show up!

Currently, their Brisbane couples dates include a Mystery Picnic (read our family mystery picnic review here), which includes solving clues to figure out where to collect items that will be eaten at a special location at the end of your date.

AmazingCo also hosts Mystery Walks which are like picnics but take place in restaurants. Another restaurant experience is their Secret Menu Taster.

If you want to get out of the city, check out the Explorer Picnic which is like a mystery picnic but includes a hike.

Maybe you don’t want your date to be food-focused. If you would rather just explore and take fun pictures, they have an Insta Worthy Adventure.

For those of you who want to get away for the night, but don’t want to plan it, AmazingCo offers a Mystery Weekend (which is available every day of the week).

Check back, it seems like AmazingCo is expanding its offerings all of the time.

Also, if, like us, you usually just stay home with the kids, AmazingCo has at-home date nights as well.

Another way to have your date night planned is by purchasing The Adventure Challenge Couples Edition.  The book includes 50 different scratch off date ideas.  For even more date night ideas, get this scratch off poster of 100 date ideas.

Brisbane Date Guide

#36 For those who really don’t want to decide what to do, It’s Just for Two has a Brisbane date guide filled with 147 different date ideas and 3 custom itineraries.

They have guides for areas nearby as well.

Sign up for a Hidden Brisbane Event

#37 Hidden Brisbane has a plethora of events, usually themed after a popular book or movie. From pop-up bars to tea parties, and dinners to dances, Hidden Brisbane has many fascinating events.

Make Your Own Drinks

#38 If you are interested in wine, City Winery has a wine blending workshop. They also have tastings, tours, and pairing workshops.

#39 Create your own gin at Brisbane Distillery.

#40 Take a cocktail-making mixology class through Class Bento. Options include specific drink options such as margaritas or daiquiris, masterclasses, and “the prettiest cocktails.”

#41 If you are willing to head a little north of Brisbane, you can help brew and bottle beer at Hub Brewing in Geebung.

#42 Real serious about beer brewing? Brew Schools Australia has accredited courses as well as short workshops at various brewery locations.

#43 Brews Brothers in East Brisbane has a 2-hour beer and cider-making class.

#44 Contact Coffee Commune if you are interested in learning how to best brew coffee. They are currently offering private classes.

Enjoy the River

#45 Take a walk along the Brisbane River, or rent a scooter or electric bicycle and ride along the river.

#46 Besides their boat rides to Moreton Bay, River to Bay has a variety of Brisbane local boat rides including a pub tour, cocktail cruise, and twilight brewery tour.

#47 If you have spent time on the Brisbane River, you have most likely seen the Kookaburra River Boat go by. Hop on board and view Brisbane from the river while enjoying lunch, dinner, or high tea.

#48 For a different kind of boat ride, Golden Gondola offers private dinner tours.

#49 Book a double or triple date and rent a Go Boat, where you drive the boat yourself. Go Boat is located in Newstead along the Brisbane River.

#50 Take a 90-minute sunset cruise ride down the Brisbane River.

See a Show

Of course, you could go to the movies, but Brisbane is home to some great theatres. See what is on, and what is coming up.

#51 QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Center) is made up of multiple theatres. This is the largest theatre in Brisbane and features traveling Broadway shows as well as smaller local performances.

#52 Brisbane Powerhouse has live shows and films, cabarets and comedy shows, as well as visual art exhibits.

#53 Brisbane Arts Theatre is a small theatre in Petrie Terrace. Both well-known, and lesser-known performances take place at Brisbane Arts Theatre.

#54 Another small theatre, Queensland Theatre has a different play performed each month.

#55 A theatre and music venue in Fortitude Valley, The Tivoli offers a wide variety of entertainment options.

#56 For those who enjoy dance and off-the-beaten-path performances, check out Metro Arts at West End.

#57 Located in Kelvin Grove, the Roundhouse Theatre has performances by La Boite Theatre Company.

#58 12th Night Theatre in Bowen Hills runs popular musical performances in its small space.

#59 Learn about the stars at Sir Thomas Planetarium. The shows at the planetarium run during the afternoon. Sir Thomas Planetarium is located at Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

#60 Did you know there is an Underground Opera in Spring Hill? Find more fun things to do in Spring Hill.

#61 Watch a comedy show at Sit Down Comedy Club.

#62 Yes, it is a movie and I said this list isn’t for things like dinner and a movie, but Moonlight Cinema is a different kind of movie-going experience. An outdoor movie theatre in Roma Street Parklands, Moonlight Cinema is open seasonally.

Attempt an Escape Room

#63 We have tried and failed to get out of 2 escape rooms, but they’re always fun.

Escape rooms are great for a group date as the more brains you have working together the easier it should be.

My one issue with an escape room date is that you are not able to bring your phone with you so make sure whoever is watching your children knows how to reach you.

So far in Brisbane, we have attempted a room at Escape Manor which I recommend. There are plenty of escape rooms in Brisbane, so see what is near you.

Escape Manor also offers an outdoor “escape” called Equilibrium. As of now, they accept large groups only, but you can join the waiting list as a couple.

Staycation at a Local Hotel

You don’t need to spend the night in order to enjoy a date night at one of Brisbane’s best hotels. Depending on the time of year, Brisbane hotels offer special events that are open to non-guests as well as hotel guests.

#64 The Westin has opened up its pool and a swim-up bar to day guests in the summer. A ticket to Nautilus Beach Club includes access, a towel, and a drink. Food is available to purchase and so are cabanas.

#65 W Brisbane hosts pool parties, floating movie nights, and even special events in winter such as eating in an igloo.

Turn date night into a whole weekend by booking a stay at The Westin or W Brisbane.

Relax at the Spa

Brisbane has many day spas for various budgets. Here are a few unique spa options.

#66 Soak Bathhouse in West End is open late, making it a fun place to go for a date night in Brisbane. In addition to being open late, Soak Bathhouse is located on a rooftop and treatments include time to relax at the mineral pool, hot spa, cold plunge pool, steam room, and sauna.

#67 With an early evening option, Cenote Casa Bathhouse offers plenty of places to lounge and soak at its spa. Frequent Soaker passes are available for those who want to make a date night at the Cenote Casa Bathhouse a weekly or monthly thing.

Get Spooked

Learn about Brisbane’s spooky side on a true crime tour or a haunted cemetery tour.

#68 Is your date obsessed with True Crime? Book Brisbane’s True Crime Tour and explore the not-so-nice stories about the city.

#69 Another option for a true crime tour is Bloody Brisbane CBD Crime Tour.

#70 Listen to spooky stories as you explore a 19th-century cemetery on the South Brisbane Cemetery Ghost Tour.

#71 Learn about the haunted past of Toowong Cemetery and receive a copy of the book Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery on a 2-hour tour.

Hang Out at a Museum After Dark

#72 Queensland Museum has nighttime events for those 18+ throughout each year. Special events may include entry into exhibits, food and drinks, talks, and live music.

#73 Cinematheque at QUAGOMA screens films. Some of the films at QUAGOMA are free, while others are ticketed.

Go out for Dessert

#74 It is like a (very sad) joke between Mark and me, but every time I say I want dessert, there is nothing open except ice cream places and I rarely want ice cream. This goes back to a small town in Asia in 2009 when I made him wander the streets with me looking for something sweet. He had an icee from a truck, but I wanted more. Spoiler, I got nothing.

Flash forward to now, every time we look for dessert at night, only ice cream shops are open.

Here is my list of places that are specifically dessert places AND open at night AND aren’t mainly ice cream.

If you want ice cream, don’t worry, I promise it is available near wherever you happen to be.

• Cowch, Southbank
• Max Brenner Chocolate Bar, Southbank
• Doughnut Time, South Brisbane
• Chocolateria San Churro, multiple locations
• Mr. Treat, Fortitude Valley (CLOSED)
• Cakes and Shit, Paddington

Date Night Brisbane

How often do you go out for a date night in Brisbane?

What are your top picks for a fun date night in Brisbane?

Who usually plans the date night? Do you take turns? Do you only go out for special occasions, or do you try to go out weekly?

If you are looking for a fun date night at home, read our post How to Connect with Friends and Family and Learn New Things Virtually.

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