Finding fun date ideas in Brisbane has just become easier than ever! Whether you’re going on a first date or you’re just looking for something different to do in Brisbane with a special someone, there’s plenty on this list for you to explore.
This list is full of fun date ideas, at any time of day, and everything from a spontaneous adventure to a well planned occasion. If you’re looking for date night ideas, check out my popular guide for the Best Things To Do In Brisbane at Night.
Prepare to impress your other half and kick start your romance with these date ideas in Brisbane.
These best date ideas are fun and memorable activities that’ll (hopefully) guarantee you a next date, all written by a Brisbane born-and-bred local!
Looking for romantic restaurants in Brisbane? Check out my guide for the Best Secret Places To Eat In Brisbane.
1. Tick off your Brisbane bucket list and climb the Story Bridge
Score massive brownie points and tick off the ultimate Brisbane bucket list by climbing the Story Bridge as the perfect date idea. I recommend pre-booking this 2 Hour Night Climb to make it extra special as the lights over to Howard Smith Wharves and across the Brisbane River are absolutely spectacular.
2. Embrace your inner detective and book a popular true crime tour
With true crime being so popular on Netflix these days, it’s no wonder many people love this true crime tour in Brisbane.
Even if you’ve lived in Brisbane all of your life, I bet you’ll learn so much about Brisbane’s past that you never knew before. This icebreaker date night idea will give you something to talk about once the tour is over when you go and grab a drink at your favourite bar afterwards.
3. Cosy up on a beautiful sunset Brisbane River cruise
Looking for an affordable romantic date night idea? Pre-book This Sunset Brisbane River Cruise will definitely win you points! The cruise will take you from South Bank and up the river, and across to Teneriffe as you pass by the city lights during those romantic twilight hours.
Interested to learn more about the cruise? Check out my 9 Tips For The Sunset River Cruise In Brisbane before you go!
4. Embrace messy eating at a crab boil
While first dates are normally where you want to avoid messy food, this place could make you rethink that. Originating from the USA, a crab boil is where your food is quite literally poured onto the table in front of you, and you dig in!
Thankfully, Kickin Inn Restaurant gives you bibs and gloves to go with your crab, prawns and potatoes. Their house-made sauce is absolutely delicious too. Happy Crab in the Brisbane CBD is another excellent option.
This isn’t just your standard dinner – it’s a really fun date idea and one where you’ll both be talking about it for ages to come.
5. Show off your knowledge at a trivia night
Show off how much you know with trivia, one of the best date night ideas in Brisbane. Trivia nights can be found in most suburbs on most weeknights so it’s a great spontaneous idea.
For a fun atmosphere in a cosy venue where you can also order dinner and drinks, check out the QA Hotel in Fortitude Valley or Felons Brewing at Howard Smith Wharves. They also normally have weeknight specials so you won’t need to spend too much money.
If you and your special someone have a favourite tv show in common, you can also look up special trivia nights to show off your competitive side. Brisbane regularly hosts Seinfeld, The Simpsons and The Office trivia nights.
6. Go old school with arcade games
Some of the most fun date nights are to go back in time with board games, pinball machines, and arcade games. Enjoy retro games like Pacman, Donkey Kong, Tetris and Street Fighter, or test your skills at basketball or air hockey. You can spend as much time here as you like, which I love.
My favourite inner city date spots to go to are Welcome to Bowen Hills, Netherworld in Fortitude Valley, and Pincadia in Woolloongabba. All of these venues offer food and drinks, as well as games that everyone will enjoy.
7. Sit down and snuggle up for a cosy dinner date
Brisbane has so many amazing restaurants for date night ideas, and many of these are centrally located in the inner Brisbane city so it’s perfect for a first date too. Firstly, check out my Best Secret Places To Eat In Brisbane guide to find some of the best Brisbane restaurants.
In the meantime, if you’ve got the time to book in advance, my picks are the upscale Thai spot Same Same, the degustation at Rogue Bistro, Argentinian BBQ Navala, or Italian institution Beccofino. These are all spots for a full sit-down meal and you’ll want to order a couple courses and spend quality time here.
For smaller share style plates, head to Snack Man for cosy and delicious Cantonese yum cha in Fortitude Valley, La Patrona for Mexican fare, or Botany for modern Australian.
After dinner, if you’ve still got room in your belly, head to a nearby bar or gelateria for dessert. One of my favourite spots for gelato is La Macelleria – hands down, it’s the best gelato in Brisbane city.
8. Take a romantic stroll along the Brisbane River
Take a relaxing walk or cycle along the Brisbane river, taking advantage of the lengthy bikeways and walkways that stretch across the city and through the Botanic Gardens. This is the perfect idea for a couple of fitness enthusiasts as you can take as long as you like.
This is also an easy (not to mention, cheap!) date idea for the morning or the evening – both provide fantastic views and there are multiple locations you can stop and rest with a coffee or snack.
If you go at night time, Kangaroo Point is less well-lit than South Bank, but there is a lovely riverside walk in the daytime. If you go towards sunset you might be able to see events at the riverside marquee which is great for people watching.
9. Hang out in West End
West End in Brisbane is a popular riverfront suburb with plenty of bars, restaurants, cafes, parks, and shops. Close to South Bank, this trendy suburb is full of fun things to do.
My favourite spots for a date is the Brisbane Distillery, or Brisbane Brewing Co for craft beers. If you’re looking for something unique and you’re gin lovers, create your own personal gin to take home at the Brisbane Distillery’s Gin School. It’s super fun and creative!
While you’re there, go to the world famous Anita Gelato, or check out quirky bar The Bearded Lady.
10. Check out what’s on at South Bank
There’s so much happening in South Bank which makes it a perfect date idea to spend a few hours especially on a Friday night or weekend.
Wander through markets, explore street art, try a new restaurant or bar, and stroll along the sandy beach or the riverfront. Or see the latest exhibit at the Gallery of Modern Art, find live music, or see what events are on in Brisbane.
My favourite fun dinner date ideas in South Bank include The Plough Inn, Ahmets Turkish Restaurant for belly dancing, or the upscale riverfront Otto Restaurant. Afterwards, go to Cowch for dessert, and the Emporium rooftop bar for a cocktail.
11. Get dinner thrown at you at Teppanyaki
Think of a Teppanyaki date as a dinner and a show in one, and one you can’t take too seriously (or wear anything too fancy!).
I love watching the chef cooking up a delicious set course in front of you at your table. They’ll throw the cooked food at each guest for you to catch in your bowl (or mouth). Tip: don’t move your bowl to try catch it – these chefs are experts in their aim so hold your bowl still and you won’t be wearing your dinner.
A teppanyaki dinner date is the perfect place for fun-loving couples who like to have a good time. Go to Kabuki at the Stamford Plaza for the best dinner date in Brisbane.
12. Test your patience with escape rooms
This is a unique date idea for a first date, or on a group date. Each escape room is themed so you can pick one you all like, and start cracking the code.
An escape room date is a great first date night idea to test your skills in communication and problem solving. Plus you only have a certain amount of time to spend in the escape room.
Go to Escape Manor in Brisbane city (their wine cellar themed room is the best one), or Escape Hunt in West End. Both escape rooms are near Brisbane’s restaurants or bars which is perfect to extend your date night and to chat about how you did (or didn’t quite) escape the puzzle.
13. Picnic at Mt Coot-tha with city views
Take in views of the Brisbane region, particularly beautiful at sunset, from the summit of Mt Coot-tha. Mt Coot-tha is the highest point in the city of Brisbane and only 20 minutes from the Brisbane CBD.
You can grab a bite to eat from the cafe or Summit Restaurant, but I’d suggest to pack a picnic and set up on the grass below the Mt Coot tha restaurant where it’s a little less crowded. Pick up your picnic provisions from one of Brisbane’s great providores – Botanica for tasty salads, The Standard Market or Rosalie Gourmet Market for artisan cheese, meats and bread.
14. Bar hop in Newstead
The suburb of Newstead is well known for its wine bars and restaurants, and its close proximity to the city, Brisbane River and the entertainment district of Fortitude Valley.
I prefer a more vibrant atmosphere, so I normally head to the patio at Zero Fox, Green Beacon Brewing (with food trucks on Wednesdays!), or the industrial chic Mrs Brown’s Bar & Kitchen.
When I’m in the mood for something quieter for a date night, I’d suggest to check out the cosy Ardo’s Wine Bar, Niky, or sink into the chesterfield couches at Streetcorner Jimmy.
These are fun date ideas for the couple who love to relax over good food, great wine or beer, and conversation. Sounds pretty good to me!
15. Get the catch of the day at local farmers’ markets
Who says dates should be at night? If you’re early birds, I think grabbing coffee and wandering the local farmers markets in Brisbane are a great date idea. Combine it with a sunny stroll along the river and you’ve ticked off your weekend’s exercise and social activity in one!
On weekend mornings, head to the Jan Powers Farmers Markets at the Brisbane Powerhouse, the West End Markets, or the beachfront Redcliffe markets. They also have live music so it’s the perfect place to sit down over a breakfast wrap and enjoy a date day.
16. Bowls in the inner city
If you want to spend a relaxing afternoon in Brisbane, then a bowls club date is a great idea. Lawn bowls is an affordable date night, and not just one for retirees!
Merthyr Bowls Club, New Farm Bowls Club, or The Boo, are three excellent options to kick your shoes off for barefoot bowls. I also love the well-priced food and drinks to keep you sustained.
After bowls, if you’re still keen to continue the date, walk past the rose bushes in New Farm Park and over to the Brisbane Powerhouse for riverfront views.
If outdoor bowls isn’t your thing, check out Strike Bowling in the CBD. Strike Bowling is one of the best places for ten pin bowling. Show off your skills and enjoy the fun music and atmosphere. This one is one of my top picks for a first date.
17. Enjoy a sunset picnic or kayak at the Kangaroo Point cliffs
The views over the Brisbane CBD from Kangaroo Point Cliffs are stunning. You can see from South Bank to the Brisbane botanic gardens, and over to the Story Bridge. The city lights are beautiful, and it’s a great spot to enjoy your date.
If you’re more adventurous, check out the Twilight Kayak Adventure Experience through a guided sunset paddle – a must-do date idea in Brisbane.
18. Take a swing at mini golf
Brisbane has great mini golf venues where you can show off your skills and enjoy fun date nights with your significant other.
Holey Moley golf club or Victoria Park putt putt are two of the best date ideas in Brisbane. Holey Moley golf club in Fortitude Valley is a fun spot to enjoy each other’s company – I love their themes at each putting green. Victoria Park also has a driving range overlooking the city if you’re looking to try more than just putt putt.
19. Cook up a storm at a cooking class
The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, right? So a cooking class is the perfect date! The hardest part is deciding which cuisine, as the classes range from Thai to pastries to Spanish tapas and more.
Vanilla Zulu and Lumiere are excellent spots offering classes perfect for couples. The best part is you get to eat your delicious creations there, and can also recreate your signature dish at home.
20. Craft the wine of your dreams
Once you’ve ticked cooking classes off your list, the next date idea to try is a wine blending workshop.
At the Brisbane local, City Winery, you can learn about the art of wine making and blend your own bottle to enjoy at home. Pre-book The City Winery Experience which is a fantastic experience I thoroughly enjoyed, I learned some new things, and the accompanying cheese board was perfect.
21. People watch over a drink under the Story Bridge
Along the Brisbane River and under the Story Bridge, Howard Smith Wharves is the refurbished and increasingly popular bar and dining precinct.
With everything from pub lunches at Felons Brewing, to upmarket restaurants such as Stanley or Greca, you’ll find something for everyone here. You really can’t go wrong with any of them!
It’s a great casual date spot for people watching along the waterfront. Stay for sunset – the best time of day at the wharves, and finish off the date at Goodtimes Gelateria (the apple crumble gelato is to die for).
22. Have a laugh at the Sit Down Comedy Club
The Sit Down Comedy Club in Paddington is a great night out when looking for date night ideas in Brisbane! Pre-book tickets and enjoy a night of laughs with some of Australia’s best comedians.
You can order some massive share drinks that look like the type of colourful drinks you’d see in a resort in the Mediterranean. You’ll definitely walk away having had a unique night out in Brisbane for sure!
Looking for more things to do in Brisbane?
Check out our other Brisbane guides to help you plan your adventures around the city, all written by Brisbane born-and-bred local Kat McTaggart!
- 27 Fun Things To Do In Brisbane At Night
- 9 Tips For Doing A Sunset Cruise Along The Brisbane River
- 25 Best Things To Do In Brisbane Right Now!
- Best Suburbs To Live In Brisbane (For New People)
- 12 Secret Places To Eat In Brisbane Only Locals Know About
- 8 Tips For Visiting Greenes Falls Near Brisbane
Fun Date Ideas in Brisbane
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