Ready to step things up a little and show your date you've still got some tricks up your sleeve? There are plenty of things to do in and around Perth/Boorloo that will make your date think you're oh-so-creative and clever and not at all like their boring ex who just wanted to watch Netflix all the time.
At Urban List, we've copped the bad dates so you don't have to. Here's our pick of the best Perth date ideas to try right now.
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Embrace The Cheese Factor
Image credit: Powell's | Instagram
We shouldn't have to explain how good the classic cheese and wine night goes down for date nights, but if you wanna break away from the boring Coles selections you've gotta go to Powell's. The aesthetic fromagerie and wine bar is basically made for first dates, with conversation starter coasters, cosy little two-seater tables and seriously smashable nibbles and vino. If you're watching your wallet, take note of their current Wednesday night deal. For $80 (so $40pp) you can get a 500ml carafe of wine, a three-cheese platter, olives, focaccia and a slab of Perth's finest tiramisu to finish you off. Date night sorted.
Get A Little Hot And Steamy
And by that we mean, take your date for a good soak and steam at one of Perth's saunas or bathhouses. For a really special moment of shared relaxation, the stunning Ember Bathhouse— complete with multiple saunas and both a hot and cold spa—is an absolute dream. Otherwise, you can keep things a little more low key and book a private session at one of these beachside saunas and combine a cold ocean plunge with your steam. Either way, it's one of our fave sober date ideas.
Cue The Romance At A Candlelight Concert
Image credit: Candlelight Concert | Instagram
Add candles to anything and it instantly feels romantic. So it should come as no surprise at all that when you pair hundreds of flickering candles and a live orchestra, something pretty damn magical happens: suddenly the urge to blurt out your first 'i love you' goes waaaayyyy up. Fever is known for throwing the dreamiest Candlelight Concerts in Perth, with a string of different musical-themed nights. From Queen to Coldplay, Amy Winehouse to Fleetwood Mac—you're bound to find something that'll make your partner feel super special.
Cook Your Way To Their Heart
We will now be taking all first dates at this Spanish cooking class because if they can't handle the heat in the kitchen and are not into eating endless tapas, what are we even doing here? It also happens to be byo, so at least your date can redeem themselves with a good tempranillo if they fall short in the kitchen.
Set Off On A Fremantle Market Food Crawl
Image credit: Viet Kites | Instagram
If you prefer to bond over your love of food but are looking for something a little more fun than the traditional dinner and drinks sitch, you can’t beat a day wandering around Freo markets, tasting your way from stall to stall. Come armed with an empty stomach and this hit list of all of our favourite spots and set out on your own special foodie adventure. Sharing is 100% encouraged.
Head To Rottnest
If you really want to impress the pants off your date, head straight to Rottnest Island. Hire a couple of bikes (or take your own) and ride around the island, where you can tick off these winter-appropriate activities if you don’t jag sunny weather, or try a few new things you might not have done before. When you've had enough adventuring, head to the pub and grab a drink and a feed before jumping on the ferry to come home.
Hit The Ice And Cosy Up
Throw on a beanie and prepare to cosy up at one of Perth’s top ice rinks. We suggest hitting the Sunday social session because who can go past those disco lights and poppy DJ mixes—it’s just screaming out for some cute hand holding. If it all gets too much you can always grab some hot chocolates and cosy up on the sidelines. As to which rink to hit, head to Cockburn Ice Arena—there's a rinkside bar attached so you can enjoy a well-earned post-skate beverage.
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Belt Out Some Bangers Together
Do you even know a person if you don't know their go-to karaoke tracks? You can quickly find out if your music tastes line up at one of Perth's best karaoke bars. But for something a little different, we say drag 'em out to one of the Subiaco Hotel's duelling piano nights. Basically, you bring your requests and the pianists bring them to life while the whole bar screams along to each song. It's on every Saturday night, with free entry and drink specials so go ahead and get boozy.
Get Hands-On With A Pottery Class
Image credit: Not Yet Perfect | Instagram
We can write off a The-Notebook-Style kiss in the rain because it's summer here in Australia, and we can also write off a Dirty-Dancing-Esque lift because we aren’t dating Patrick Swayze. But we WILL NOT write off a Ghost-Style sensual pottery venture. Not Yet Perfect Pottery Studio in Applecross runs regular wheel throwing and wine classes that are definitely worth a crack (pun intended) for your next date night. Afterwards, you can head to The Rowing Pavilion or the Raffles Hotel for riverside bevs and bites.
Stroll Through Perth’s Galleries
Whether you're into art or not, there’s something pretty romantic about strolling through gallery exhibitions and soaking up the cultural sights with someone. Plus, they also provide plenty of great conversation starters along the way. The Art Gallery of WA has some awesome new exhibitions and a rooftop bar with epic views over the city. There’s also the nearby Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, which can also be paired with a glass of wine and nibbles at Picabar.
Go On A Mystery Picnic Hunt
Image credit: AmazingCo | Facebook
While a park picnic with your partner always hits the spot, why not add a little adventure into the equation? Mystery picnics with Amazing Co reimagine a classic date activity. If you both love a bit of puzzle-solving and some healthy teamwork, this experience is for you. You’ll be sent a series of riddles and clues to solve, each of which will send you to a different location to pick up a stunning picnic spread of artisanal products. Romantic AND entertaining. Just select your location, tailor your picnic to your dietary requirements, and you’re all done. Read more about this prime date idea right here.
Have A Laugh
Let some of Australia's funniest stand-up comedians keep you entertained at the iconic Comedy Lounge, or check out The Brisbane Hotel’s Oasis Comedy Club, jam-packed with talented jokers for a night to remember. Grab a drink and settle in for an evening of laughs. After all, you wanna know you’ve got the same sense of humour before progressing much further.
Loosen Up Over A Good Bottomless
Image credit: Neon Palms | Instagram
Look, we're not saying you should be getting smashed on all your dates, but free-flowing bevs with someone you can't get enough can be a damn good time. There are loads of great bottomless offers in Perth at the moment, but the top of our list for a date would have to be Servo, Tommy Tacos and Neon Palms. Just be smart about it and save your bottomless date for someone you know you're actually going to enjoy spending a couple of hours with (read: no first dates).
Line Up A Night At The Drive-Ins
Slide into the backseat with your squeeze, cuddle up under a blanket and enjoy an old fashioned movie night with BYO drinks and snacks at Perth's only drive-in theatre, Galaxy Drive-In. The old-school cinema screens a selection of new releases and on Tuesdays it’s only $22 per car.
Head Straight To Gin School
Image credit: Republic Of Fremantle | Instagram
The Republic of Fremantle has a gin school, where you can distil your very own yummy gin. The 2.5-hour session will teach you all about the history of distilling before getting hands-on as you craft your very own bottle (which yes, you get to take home), from selecting your botanicals and building the perfect recipe to distilling it in their one-of-kind copper stills. Oh and don't worry, you'll get a gin and tonic on arrival with more drinks available for purchase at the bar if you're feeling thirsty.
Get Jazzy With It
For a rainy date night that you don’t just want to spend in: go straight to the Jazz Cellar. Park up with a pizza, BYO vino and then dance your absolute heart out to the most intimate, lively jazz you’ll experience in Perth. Or, why not stop by the Ellington Jazz Club for something a little more sultry? They're both open 'til the early morning, so you could hit them all in one night. And if you're down Freo way, hit up the Duke of George.
Throw A Few Darts And Sip Cocktails
Image credit: Flight Club | Instagram
Perth is home to the first Aussie outlet of the popular UK social dart experience, Flight Club. Inside this two-storey bar, which has a fun 1800s British fairground aesthetic (think vintage wallpaper, retro amusement park lighting and art pieces curated from UK flea markets), you can have a go at playing darts—a seriously underrated pub activity. At the bar, they sling some fun remixes on classic cocktails like espresso martinis, old fashions and more. Back it all up with a DJ spinning party tunes all night, and you’re in for a damn good night.
Go For A Gorgeous Hike
For those who have half a day and don’t mind going on a little mission, Serpentine Falls is less than an hour east of Perth and a pretty beautiful way to spend a day getting to know someone. Bring some snacks and a pair of runners (and a pair of bathers if you’re keen for a quick dip) and hike one of the three trails. We recommend the Kitty Gorge Walk as it only takes a few hours to do the return trip, which means you should still have enough time to grab a post-hike bevvie at Millbrook Winery if you want to keep the date going a little longer. There's also all of these top Perth hikes to try too.
Tee Off Together
Image credit: Holey Moley | Instagram
It looks like regular mini-golf just won’t cut it these days, with Holey Moley's fabulous novelty courses and super fun cocktails making for plenty of playful date energy. And then there's Glowing Rooms and its out-of-this-world mini-golf course, designed by two German artists using glow in the dark paint and 3D special effects. If putt putt sends you a little mad (feels), we're also big fans of sending a few balls flying at the public driving range in Wembley. You can get 100 balls plus club hire for two for $35 dollars and the range is open from morning til 8pm seven days a week.
Get Crafty During A Paint And Sip
Whether you're artistically blessed or struggle with basic stick figures, a good old paint and sip class is always a good time. Aided of course by a glass of vino in hand, these art classes include all the equipment you need and a qualified artist as your instructor. So all you really have to worry about is looking cute and turning up on time. Scope out Perth's best paint and sip classes and get booking.
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Main image credit: Urban List Staff | Supplied
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