Need to plan an epic date to impress? Thanks to its stunning scenery, world-class restaurants and bars, and smattering of adrenaline-inducing activities, Sydney/Eora has date night options galore.
If you're into getting outdoors, letting the stars or candles light your night, or setting hearts aflutter with some high-energy adventure, Urban List has you covered for memorable first dates, mate dates and special anniversaries.
Quit bumbling around—these are the best Sydney date ideas to take for a spin.
Test Your Relationship In An Escape Room
Image credit: Strike Escape Rooms | Facebook
Suited to a second or third date when you want to test your date's mettle, Sydney's best escape rooms range from spine-tingling spooky experiences to mind-bending lairs of lateral thinking.
Keeping things lighthearted? Book a session at the world's first challenge room hotel, Hijinx Hotel, with 15 themed rooms with different games and souped-up activities, like Floor Is Lava, a candy ball pool, pinball, Tetris, and Twister. The fun-packed spot in Alexandria is by the team behind entertainment meccas Holey Moley, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, B. Lucky & Sons and La Di Darts (which are all great hands-on date spots, too).
Amp Up The Romance At A Candlelight Concert
Image credit: Candlelight Concert | Instagram
Add candles to anything and it instantly feels romantic, so pairing hundreds of flickering candles and a live orchestra smashing out your date's favourite movie or band in symphonic style.
Sydney has an ongoing series of Candlelight Concerts held in unexpected locations like historic churches, the imposing Sydney Masonic Centre and pop-up outdoor stages, playing the music of Amy Winehouse, Studio Ghibli films or classical and modern composers like Ludovico Einaudi.
Try A New Type Of Speed Dating
Image credit: Entertainment Park | Facebook
Adults are absolutely allowed to play on a date thanks to the lineup of super fun activities at Entertainment Park. Getting to know someone might become a whole lot easier by letting your guard down, having some fun, and even getting competitive.
Entertainment Park is home to a giant bowling alley, a mind-blowing virtual reality arena, and a pretty full-on racing car simulator facility. We reckon it’s on the e-karting track where the most fun is to be had, especially since the electric cars can reach 85km/h.
Get Handsy At A Workshop
Image credit: Brix Distillers | Facebook
If you're looking to take off some of the pressure of planning an activity or keeping conversation rolling, getting stuck in to a workshop can be an awesome date idea.
Our top picks would be cheesemaking with bottomless bubbles, rug tufting to show off your creative chops, or Rum School at Brix Distillers—where you get to make and enjoy your drinks. You could check out some of the best Surry Hills bars when you're done.
Mix Up Movie Night
Image credit: Moonlight Cinema | Supplied
Movie night might sound like a basic date idea, but Sydney has amped-up cinema experiences that are well worth visiting to catch a new flick over a shared bucket of popcorn.
If you haven't already, check out the completely immersive cinema experience at the relaunched IMAX Sydney in Darling Harbour, where new releases are shown on one of the hugest screens in the world at 692 square metres.
If it's one of the warmer months, you might be in luck with the likes of Moonlight Cinema in Centennial Park (November–March), OpenAir Cinema rising over Sydney Harbour (January–February) or the pop-up beach-based Mov'in Bed Beach Cinema (January–April), or a completely free Laneway Cinema in The Rocks (October–March). All let you BYO food, or have excellent pop-up establishments on site.
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Cruise Around The Harbour On A Picnic Boat
Image credit: GoBoats | Website
You can whip around Sydney's waterways in Euro-style picnic boats from GoBoats, with hourly hire available for up to six-hour stints. These electric boats (that means you don't need a boat licence) come with a timber picnic table and sunshade to keep you and your date cool, calm and collected.
The cute boats are dog-friendly and you can BYO your food and drinks, and hire handy add-ons like an ice-filled Esky, a Bluetooth speaker, and even a dashing captain's hat. Prefer to do your own paddling? Check out the best places to hit the water in kayaks and stand-up paddleboards in Sydney, rentals included.
Cheers To A New Favourite Cocktail
Image credit: Aster | Supplied
It's easy to get caught in a routine—especially when you've been dating for a while—so mix things up by trying one of the best bars in Sydney that you haven't visited yet. We love Bar Conte to explore the range of the Negroni with Italian nibbles, Cantina OK! for little-seen agave spirits (and an excuse to get cosy in the tiny carpark space) and SPON, where you get to fill in the blanks of the by-the-glass list from the entire bottle shop range.
Elsewhere, elevate things by heading to one of Sydney's stunning rooftop bars like Aster at the Intercontinental Sydney, CIRQ overlooking Darling Harbour or Sky Bar at Shell House to set the mood with a sunset moment.
Stay At This Lavish Floating Villa
Image credit: Lilypad | Instagram
Anchored off Sydney’s stunning Palm Beach, Lilypad offers lots of luxury trimmings alongside the tranquil sound of splashing waves.
Your stay includes a bottle of champagne and a tasting plate on arrival, a gourmet barbecue platter to cook up for dinner, a complimentary wine selection, a solar-powered sauna, access to paddleboards, fishing rods and a floating day bed, and a breakfast spread for the morning.
You'll have a private boat to zip about the surrounding beaches, transfers to and from Lilypad and optional add-ons like couples massages. For something closer to the middle of town, check out the best luxury hotels in Sydney.
Get Gastronomic
Image credit: Arthur | Instagram
If you're celebrating a special occasion or know that great food is your date's love language, Sydney's best restaurants should be your starting point for date ideas. For truly memorable experiences, we love the cosy setting and set menu style at Arthur, Parisian vibes and live jazz at Restaurant Hubert, or luxe omakase at Besuto.
If you have a super romantic vision, check out Sydney's best waterfront restaurants or the most beautiful restaurants in Sydney.
Hit The Beach
Image credit: Destination NSW
Who said you can only organise dates at night? Head to Sydney’s magnificent coastline for a prime date spot complete with a bit of slip, slop, slap. Check out our favourite Sydney beaches, or opt for a li'l privacy at these secret swimming spots.
In our opinion, one of the best places for a beach date is picturesque Gordons Bay, just south of Clovelly. When it’s time for lunch or a twilight dinner, make the walk up to local favourite Out of the Blue and share some of the best hot chippies in town.
Want more date ideas? Check out:
- What's On This Week In Sydney
- The Best Theatre Shows To See This Month
- The Best Live Music To See This Month
Main image credit: Brix Distillers | Facebook
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