The impossible happened. Through an impressive flurry of texts and some masterful last-minute coordination, I managed to score a babysitter for Friday night with just one day’s notice. Hubby’s on board for the impromptu date night, but the question is: What exactly are we going to do on our night off?
Odds are, you’re probably a bit more organized than I am. And that’s a good thing — it gives you time to plan your date night and make reservations before things have completely booked up. But with all of the amazing venues and events popping up around Miami, it can be tough to pick a spot. Dinner and a movie is a classic go-to, but what if you’re looking for something a bit off the beaten path? Luckily, this city can deliver that in spades.
Here are five cool and unique date ideas for your next night out on the town — sans kiddos. And if you’re in need of child care, we have the perfect resource to help you find a babysitter or nanny.
El Tucan
Address: 1111 SW First Ave, Miami, FL 33130
Hours: Friday & Saturday, Dinner Seating, 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. | General Admission, 7:30 p.m. – 3 a.m.
Phone: 305-535-0065
Channeling 1940s Havana, El Tucan is the tropical cabaret you never knew you needed. Set in the heart of Brickell, this intimate theater puts on a impressive live show, complete with bedazzled dancers, sultry singers, talented performers and an 11-piece Latin orchestra led by a multi-Grammy winner. A three-course dinner accompanies the show with savory standouts like smoke roast miso seabass and robata grilled striploin. After the show, a DJ takes center stage as the crowd dances into the wee hours of the night.
Basement Miami
Address: 2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 11 p.m. – 5 a.m.
Phone: 786-641-7119
This subterranean hangout in the Edition hotel is a triple threat: It’s a bowling alley, ice skating rink, and dance club all rolled into one sleek and chic package. Play a few rounds on the neon-lit lanes while you indulge in some Jean Georges Vongerichten-created treats and then cool off on the mini ice skating rink as you attempt a triple lutz or two. If you have an overnight sitter option, dip into neighboring disco club for some late-night dancing to some DJ-spun tunes.
CMX Cinemas
Address: 701 S. Miami Ave., Miami, FL, 33131
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 305-350-9922
Okay, yes — this is essentially dinner and a movie. But it’s a completely next-level experience at Brickell City Centre’s new CMX Cinema. It’s the first of its kind in the U.S., and inside you’ll find a lobby modeled after a luxury hotel and a sports bar with a massive TV wall. Upstairs is a lounge and different theatres, each one filled with oversized upholstered reclining seats, where you can order in cocktails and king crab rolls from the CMX app or an attendant. If you managed to get seats in the special Dolby Atmos room, you’re in for a ride — the new audio format gives your movie’s sound a three-dimensional quality.
First Fridays at Frost Science
Address: 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132
Hours: First Friday of every month, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Phone: 305-434-9600
Remember those Pink Floyd laser light shows you used to flock to in high school? The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Downtown has brought them back with all of the old-school retro flair you remember. The Frost Planetarium’s 67-foot dome opens up after hours on the first Friday of every month for laser shows set to the likes of the Beatles, Daft Punk, and Lady Gaga. Grab a cocktail or a glass of wine at one of the portable bars, find a seat inside, and get in touch with your inner high school sweethearts.
Plant Nite Miami
Address:
Various locations
Hours: Check out the calendar
Wine-and-paint nights are ubiquitous around town. And while they can be a fun date night option, why not sub the paint for plants? At Plant Nite, couples and friends gather at a bar for an open bar and savory snacks as they build their own terrariums together. All of the materials are provided — from soil and gravel to succulents and decorative animals — while several instructors guide the group and provide info on maintenance and care at home.
