Sure Paris is the place for romance, but have you stopped to consider the ample opportunities Chicago has to offer? From swanky speakeasies to intimate Candlelight concerts and everything in between, there is so much to choose from when it comes to planning unique date ideas right here in the city!
Keep reading for the full list of inspired date ideas and let us know via @secret.chicago what your go-to date entails!
1. Check out this thrilling Bingo Loco experience
Bingo Loco is more than just bingo, it’s a wild dance party with confetti showers, epic lip-sync battles, and dance-offs! It’s coming to Chicago for two nights only this winter, on February 7 and the 28, so grab your tickets now for the most unforgettable date night. You never know, you could win some unique prizes like a cruise package, a piano, a giant inflatable flamingo, a microwave, a lawnmower, a trip to Vegas, and so much more!
2. Check out a unique VR experience or break out of an escape room
Venture to Wonderverse Chicago’s 45,000-square-foot entertainment paradise for an evening of thrills! From the action-packed Jumanji: Reverse the Curse VR experience that has you finding the stolen jewel to trying to break out of one of the three Uncharted escape rooms, there’s no shortage of adrenaline-pumping adventures to enjoy. End the night with a cocktail at the hidden Ghostbusters Ghost Trap Speakeasy.
3. Reserve a Valentine’s themed igloo at LondonHouse Chicago
For an extra-special date night, the LH Rooftop at LondonHouse Chicago has Valentine’s-themed igloos available to book for the entire month of February! These two-hour sessions are the perfect chance to reconnect with your partner as you take in the city views, sip on cocktails and nosh on delicious menu items like fondue, sandwich platters, mini tarte flambé, and more.
2/1–2/28
LH Rooftop at LondonHouse Chicago, 85 East Wacker Drive
Book: Reserve your igloo by emailing rsvp@londonhouse.com.
4. Dine in the dark
Combining the comfort of your age-old reliable dinner date with the added adventure of dining in the dark, this mysterious and interactive experience blindfolds diners meaning they can enjoy a delicious three-course meal a little differently from normal.
Eminent psychologists have been advocating dining in the dark as the ultimate taste experience for many years. With eyes eliminated from the equation other senses—namely taste and smell—take over to elevate your meal to a whole new level.
There will be no shortage of things to discuss at this unique night which is sure to take any date night to the next level with something so familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
Grab tickets to a Dining in the Dark experience.
5. Imagine you’re in a James Bond film at Activate Games with your date
If you want to bring on the adventure during your next date night, consider heading to Activate Games in Oak Brook. The thrilling, high-tech interactive gaming facility will get hearts racing whether you try out the laser games so you feel like you’re in an intense James Bond film, or play ‘the floor is lava’ activity in the Mega Grid room. With over 10 different game rooms, one thing’s for sure, you’ll be tested both physically and mentally—and what is more fun than that, whether you’re on your first date or 10th?
6. Grab a drink at any of the best cocktail bars in Chicago
Cocktails and chill the night away at a swanky bar of your choosing! Whether you prefer a dimly lit atmosphere or a hopping bar with an $800 vintage Mai Thai, settling in at a cozy place with a good drink in hand is always a nice idea.
7. Make it a museum date
Traverse Chicago’s ample museums for a day filled with art, culture, and yes, romance as you explore all the city has to offer when it comes to a rewarding cultural experience! Why choose when there are plenty of free upcoming museum days this month? Explore everything from history to grand art exhibitions, prehistoric exhibits, beloved writers, and much more whether it’s a first date situation or a settled-in partnership, it’s always exciting to learn something new together!
8. Sneak into a speakeasy
Chicago is replete with endless speakeasies to explore and the unique, intimate setting makes for a great date idea. We’ve got everything from The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge which has been around since the Prohibition Era, to Nine Bar in Chinatown, the first cocktail bar in the area.
Make a reservation, dress up, and go grab a drink!
9. Get cozy at a dazzling ‘We Call It Ballet’ show
If an enchanting evening of ballet, lights and music doesn’t sound romantic to you, then we don’t know what will! At ‘We Call It Ballet’ in Chicago, graceful ballerinas adorned in LED-lit costumes pirouette and plié to the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s timeless Sleeping Beauty. Cuddle up with your boo and experience this ballet classic in a whole new light at this magnificent spectacle of dance and light.
10. Grab brunch with your lover
Enjoy the fall weather with a daytime date at one of Chicago’s many brunch spots! Whether you want to enjoy a mimosa tower or settle in at a casual diner, it’s true that the best connections can be made over a good meal!
11. Enjoy a self-guided tour of Chicago’s best public art pieces
From the iconic Cloud Gate to smaller pieces like Calder’s Flamingo by Alexander Calder, there are so many cool public art monuments to explore in Chicago so grab your chosen date and head out on a self-guided tour to experience some of the coolest art pieces that Chicago has to offer.
Whether you relax in the grass below Lincoln Parks Chevron by John Henry or head to Congress Plaza to see Magdelene by Dessa Kirk, these incredible art pieces are sure to spark a conversation or two!
12. Kayak down the Chicago River
If you’re more of the adventurous type, there’s an unforgettable kayaking experience right here in Chicago that places you in the center of it all! Kayak your way down the Chicago River surrounded by extraordinary and historic buildings that will surely get your adrenaline pumping with this once-in-a-lifetime exhilarating experience.
Take your date on a sunset paddle or a coastal tour to experience all the stupendous water views in the Windy City.
13. Experience live fire cooking
Take your dining experience to the next level with an immersive live fire show. Yes, you read that right! Kindling Chicago makes it dinner and a show by focusing on experimental live fire elements sure to delight. The American-fare food comes from Jonathon Sawyer, a popular James Beard Award-winning chef.
With three distinct places to sit, from the chef’s table near the kitchen to a second floor filled with games, and an outdoor terrace that’s perfect for a nice night, this unique dining opportunity is sure to get those sparks flying!
14. Experience a romantic Candlelight concert
If live fire dining isn’t your speed, there’s another fun date idea on the list: a gorgeous Candlelight concert featuring contained flames, gorgeous musical renditions, and plenty of romance.
With tributes to legendary artists like Queen (who are actually coming to Chicago with Adam Lambert this year! ), Adele and Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop Favorites, these Candlelight concerts provide a special, intimate space to connect over music.
15. Do sun salutations at 360 Chicago’s weekend yoga class
Why do we all think a ‘date idea’ has to include dinner and a movie? Why can’t it be an invigorating yoga class that’s an entire 94 floors above Chicago? Head over to 360 Chicago for an unforgettable one-hour class where you + your date can take part in a rewarding and rebalancing yoga practice! Surrounded by the stunning Chicago skyline views, it’s the perfect place to connect with yourself and your date!
16. Take a multi- sensory art workshop
As Doja Cat once said: “I let all that get to my head, I don’t care, I paint the town neon”. Neon Brush is a creative art workshop that encourages attendees to let their creativity shine. With every brush stroke, your masterpiece will come to life with the bright colors and radiant tones from the paints provided.
The fluorescent ambiance combined with funky tunes stimulates creativity and motivates even the most hesitant of hands to paint outside the box, and even more so with a complimentary drink in your hand! Additionally, an expert will be on hand to offer guidance, ensuring that every attendee can explore their artistic potential to the fullest. You can grab your tickets here.
17. Relax together at an ultra-calming spa
Continuing on with a more relaxing date idea, there are so many recentering activities to partake in that make for a fun and restorative date. Take the luminous AIRE Ancient Baths for example. they provide a calming space to relax, breathe deeply, and immerse yourself in quiet conversation. Whether you book a couples massage or just float through the warm waters, this intimate setting is a great place to connect.
Or, make a joint customizable facial appointment at Heyday Spa! Sure, it might not be the best setting for ample conversation, but the chic space can also allow you to reset with tailored skin treatments, so you can go about the rest of your date glowing and relaxed.
18. Practice your swing at a mini golf bar
As we’ve established, Chicago is filled with enticing, exciting, and entertaining date ideas. One of those happens to include mini golf. From Chicago’s first mini golf bar in Wicker Park, to Oakbrook Centers mini golf tech space, there are so many options to choose from. For us, the best of the bunch happens to be Puttery at Fulton Market.
Whether you’re a mini golf novice or choose to make a sport of it, this exciting mini golf-centric bar is a fantastic choice for a unique, exhilarating chance to impress your date of choice!
Puttery takes the idea of mini golf and amplifies it tenfold, fusing high-tech gameplay with craft cocktails and curated cuisine, offering participating parties a space to laugh and play amongst lavishly decorated courses. Traditionally, maybe mini golf gets a bad rep as a date idea, but Puttery takes any cheesy preconceived notions and annihilates them (Just like you will on the course!)
– Melissa Maynard and Amanda Edelman