I’m afraid the rumors are true: Winter is, in fact, upon us. But while the colder weather may find you ready to cuddle up with takeout and TV till spring, let this be your reminder that winter does not mean you have to put your dating life on hold. While this may not be the sexiest time of year, it is the coziest—which means that the cooler months ahead are filled with romantic date-night potential. To help you make the most of that potential, allow me to present this list of the best winter date ideas for you and whoever you’re cuddling up to this season.
Whether you’re already happily cuffed and committed, single and seeking, or feeling things out with a new crush, there’s something on this list for every kind of winter date vibe. Prepare to fill your cold-weather calendar with these 18 winter date ideas.
1. See a Comedy Show
What better way to heat up your winter nights than an evening of laughs with the one you love? And by the way, you don’t have to shell out for a Netflix Special taping (although if you can swing it, by all means). Tons of venues in cities across the country regularly host affordable standup shows where you can grab some food or a drink and enjoy a chill night filled with plenty of laughs.
2. Go the Ballet
To be clear, you can support the arts any time. But there’s just something a little fancy-yet-cozy about winter ballet.
3. See a Burlesque Show
In a similar if much sexier vein, nothing beats a burlesque date night. If you’re New York–based (or have an NYC trip coming up this holiday season) I literally can’t recommend Company XIV’s Nutcracker Rouge highly enough. Get tickets here!
Mark Shelby Perry for Nutcracker Rouge by Company XIV
4. Go to the Theater
Can you technically see a play any time of year? Yes, of course. But you can’t tell me there’s not something about “going to the theater” that just seems to ooze a certain wintery sophistication. Whether it’s a Broadway show or a more intimate performance at your local theater, catching some live entertainment is a perfect way to spend a winter night out on the town.
5. Go to a Jazz Club
If you’re down to class things up a bit this winter, nothing will make you feel more hot and sophisticated than a jazz club date night—just you and your date, sipping cocktails and enjoying some live tunes.
6. Learn to Ski
If you and your person are already seasoned slope-hitters, then a ski trip is a given. But if you don’t know your way around the slopes yet, why not take a lesson together? It’s a great opportunity to learn something new, get outside, and make the most of the cold weather—and it comes with a built-in excuse to warm up with a steaming mug of hot chocolate (or your après-ski beverage of choice) afterwards.
7. Cook a Romantic Dinner Together
Sometimes an intimate evening with a home-cooked meal you prepare together is actually more romantic than dining out. Pick a recipe you both want to try, open a bottle of wine, and channel your inner chef.
8. Do a Virtual Wine-Tasting
Plenty of companies now offer virtual wine tastings you can do from the comfort of your own home. They send the wine to you, and you and your date can follow along as an expert guides you through the various selections in a Zoom-style seminar. What better way to spend a night in than exploring new wines together and refining your sommelier sensibilities?
9. Go to a Christmas Tree Farm
Alexa, play “Christmas Tree Farm” by Taylor Swift. Whether or not you actually want to perform the manual labor of cutting down a live tree, lugging it home, and setting it up when you could just order a fake from Amazon, spending a cozy day at a Christmas tree farm is an iconic holi-date. It’s outdoorsy without being too physically demanding, it’s brimming with cute selfie potential, and you can basically pretend you’re in the cheesy-yet-addictive holiday rom-com of your dreams. What more could you ask for?
Tom Werner – Getty Images
10. Put Up Holiday Decorations Together
Get into the holiday spirit and cross some seasonal chores off your to-do list by turning holiday decorating into a cute date night. Best of all: You get to stay inside and keep your comfy clothes on.
11. Take Down Holiday Decorations Together
This one may sound a little less fun, but hear me out. Un-decorating is sad and boring and work—but turning it into date night can make an otherwise tedious chore actually kind of fun! Grab some wine, throw on a movie or set the mood with some music, and un-deck the halls.
12. Revisit One of Your Favorite Summer Date Spots
While some of your summertime haunts may be closed for the season, plenty of typically summery destinations are actually open year-round. Not to mention, a lot of them are probably less expensive and less crowded during the off-season. Plan a trip to your favorite beach town or seaside locale and see what it’s like in the winter. Chances are it’s probably a lot more peaceful.
13. Book a Hotel Room for a Cozy Staycation in Your City
Spending a night together in a hotel is a great way to get out of the house and treat yourselves to a romantic mini-getaway. Some hotels even offer special holiday/winter packages for the season.
14. Visit Your Hometown
Nothing says cuffing season like meeting the parents! But even if you’re not ready to take that step, a little trip to your hometown to show your crush all the old haunts is a great way to spend a winter weekend and indulge in a little nostalgia.
15. Get Dressed Up and Go to That Nice Restaurant
Sometimes it can be tough to work up the motivation to actually get up and go out in the winter. It’s dark, it’s cold, your seasonal depression is acting up, etc. But that’s exactly why you deserve to treat yourselves to a luxe night out. You know that fancy restaurant you’ve been saving for a special occasion? Screw the special occasion. Go now, for no reason other than you can.
16. Spa Day
What better way to unwind and beat the winter blues than a spa date? Treat yourselves to a couple’s massage, a relaxing sauna steam, and/or some beauty treatments that your dry winter skin will definitely thank you for.
17. Take a Mixology Class
Lots of bars offer mixology classes where you and your date can not only enjoy some delicious seasonal cocktails but also learn to make them yourselves. If you’d rather not leave the house, there are also virtual options you can attend online from the comfort of your own home.
18. Go to the Movies
Going to the movies is a lost art. Catch a new release (Wuthering Heights, anyone?) and enjoy your date’s company while snacking on popcorn, candy, and slurpees
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