Get off the couch and go on a date with your spouse!
The job, the kids, the housework, the mortgage. No wonder we can only muster up enough energy to throw on sweatpants and turn to Netflix when it comes to a little quality time with our significant other.
Remember the days when you and your spouse were dating? Back then, you actually spent time deciding what to wear before going out on dates. Yes, dates, remember those? It’s kind of unfair that now that we’ve grown up, we’ve outgrown date nights!
These days, date nights for married couples are about as common as unicorn sightings, but we’re about to change all of that. We pulled together a list of 10 out-of-the-box ideas to help you get you out of those sweatpants, off the couch, and back in the date night game. All you need to do is lock down your regular nanny or babysitter so you and your partner can paint the town red!
New York Vintners
Address: 21 Warren St., New York, NY 10017
Hours: Check website for schedule
Phone: 212-812-3999
Fees: $75+ per person
If the thought of deciphering a restaurant wine list makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, help is in on way with Wine 101, followed by Wine 201 once you’ve mastered the basics. New York Vintners offers the perfect combination of education and entertainment in all of their fun and approachable group wine classes. Already know a little bit about wine? Skip the basics and try Wines of the States, Bubblicious: The World of Sparkling Wine, or any of their other terrific offerings. Wondering how to pair wine with food? Sign up for a food & wine-pairing course, like Fried Chicken and Sparkling Wine, Perfect Pizza Pairings, or Taco y Vino. Classes are between one and a half hours and two hours and seating is first come, first serve, so be sure to get there early. Reservations are required.
PaintNite
Locations, hours, contact, & fees vary. | Click here for options.
Who says kids are the only ones whose artwork can go up in the house? Create your own masterpiece at Paint Nite, lively events hosted by local artists in local bars around the globe. There is no experience necessary during these laid-back guided classes. Each class paints a pre-determined design, and themes range from sunsets and palm trees to iconic landmarks and skylines. The canvas and art supplies are all included in the ticket price. What separates this painting class from the kiddie ones is simple: booze. Since these classes take place in bars, drinks are available and sold separately, and many locations also have the option of ordering food. Reservations are required.
Escape Room Madness
Address: 38 W. 32nd St., Ste. 500, New York, NY 10001
Hours: Monday – Thursday, noon – 11:30 p.m. | Friday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Phone: 212-239-8800
Fees: $31.50+ per person
Now that you’ve escaped the house, you can try escaping the room at this popular, adrenaline-pumping, interactive activity. Join forces with up to 10 others to decipher riddles, complete puzzles, and solve mysteries in an effort to escape the room where you’re being held captive. Choose your own adventure between Nuclear Annihilation, the Perfect Crime, or Apocalyptic Mission, and get ready to something very different. Rooms accommodate 12 guests, so plan to be on a team. You will be locked in the monitored room and will have one hour to escape. Ready, set, go make your required reservation now!
Watson Adventures
Address & Hours: Check website for locations & schedules
Phone: 800-656-0713
Fees: $45+ per person
You spend most days searching for your house keys, trying to find your phone, and googling stuff. Now those hunting skills are going to come in handy as you embark on one of Watson Adventures’ public scavenger hunts. These highly acclaimed hunts take place in both indoor and outdoor locations and are typically two to three hours long. There are a variety of themes, including murder mystery, food tours, ghosts, and haunted places, and locations include the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Grand Central Station, the Bronx Zoo, and Chinatown. Play as your own team or join a larger group and start hunting!
Sur La Table
Address: 306 W. 57th St., New York, NY, 10019
Hours: Visit website for course calendar
Phone: 800-243-0852
Fees: Prices vary by course
Founded in Seattle over 40 years ago, Sur La Table is world-renowned for its selection of traditional and innovative kitchen products. They also host classes in 50 of their store locations around the country, so grab your partner and sign up for one of their classes, which include a variety of cuisine, including Thai, Mexican, Italian, Vietnamese, and Persian, as well as basic kitchen skills, like Knife Skills 101 or Grilling. Most classes run two to two and half hours. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing, pull your hair back, and come on an empty stomach so you can enjoy what you and your classmates whip up!
Camaje Bistro
Address: 85 MacDougal St., New York, NY 10012
Hours: Monday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Tuesday, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Wednesday, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Thursday, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Friday, noon – midnight | Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight | Sunday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 212-673-8184
Fees: $110 all-inclusive per person (food, wine, tax & gratuity included)
Prepare for adventure at this West Village Franco-American bistro that hosts “Dinners in the Dark” several times a month. Upon arrival, you’ll be asked to put on a blindfold in an effort to heighten your sense of smell and taste. You’ll be served a three-course mystery meal paired with wine along with other dinner guests. Once everyone is finished eating, the menu items will be revealed. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to share allergy information and dislikes in advance. It’s definitely something to try out, but you probably want to avoid wearing white! Reservations are required.
Premier 57
Address: 115 E. 57th St., Eighth Floor, New York, NY 10022
Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Phone: 212-750-8800
Fees: $75+ per person for all-day pass
Indulge your body, mind, and spirit with three floors of pure bliss at this midtown oasis. Upon checking in, you’ll be issued a bracelet linked to your own charge account for any services, food, or beverages you order. Next, you’ll switch out of your street clothing and into a standard uniform and slippers. Soak in a bath or take a relaxing shower and then spend a few hours exploring Sauna Valley — five different sauna experiences, including the Ice Igloo, Himalayan Salt Room, Infrared saunas, the Gold Sauna, and the largest sauna, the Losses Room. Bring a swimsuit along so you can enjoy the hydrotherapy bade pools, which have different water stations, each with nozzles to target different parts of the body. Then, head to the rooftop for a dip in the hot tub or get some shut-eye in the relaxation room. Additional services include massage, facials, traditional Korean body scrub, and reflexology, which can be booked in advance or onsite. No reservations are required for a day pass.
Chelsea Piers Golf Center
Address: 59 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011
Hours: Click here for seasonal hours
Phone: 212-336-6400
Fees: $6 for 2 club rentals | $30 for 158 balls on off-peak times or 90 balls on peak times
Swing into action on the driving range at Chelsea Piers Golf Center, located on the Hudson River Pier. Home to a four-tiered driving range and 200-yard hitting fairway, the 52 hitting stalls are all heated and weather-protected, making this a great date activity all year round. Gone are the days of getting a bucket of balls. Now, golf balls are automated through a computerized tee-up system, so buy a ball card and start swinging! Try for your luck on the indoor simulators, which feature 56 of the top courses around the world. The Club also offers Friday Night Swings throughout the year, where you enjoy open hitting, professional instruction, access to the Full Swing Simulators, open wine and beer bar (three drink maximum per person), and light snacks all for $40 per person. Reserve early to ensure your spots!
Dance Sport NYC
Address: 22 W. 34th St., East Entrance, New York, NY 10001
Hours: Visit website for schedule
Phone: 212-307-1111
Fees: One-hour intro group lesson, complimentary | 30-minute private lesson, $35
Get dressed up, put on your dancing shoes, and shimmy over to Dance Sport, the largest ballroom and Latin dance studio in New York. This acclaimed dance school choreographed the famous tango scene with Al Pacino for “Scent of a Woman,” so you’ll be in good company with these talented instructors. Choose between ballroom, Latin, and popular dance. It’s a fun way to exercise, get close to your partner, and learn something new, plus the next time you go to a party, you’ll be dance-floor ready.
Smoke Jazz and Supper Club
Address: 2751 Broadway, New York, NY, 10025
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 5:30 p.m. – 3 a.m. | Sunday, 11 a.m. – 3 a.m.
Phone: 212-864-6662
Smoke offers world-class jazz every night in an intimate setting. The room only holds 50 guests, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. Dinner is served starting at 5:30 p.m. every evening, so why not do dinner and a show? Settle into your cozy banquette and enjoy the candlelit crooners in this legendary club. Each Sunday, the venue hosts a longstanding Jazz Brunch (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.), featuring Harlem jazz vocalist Annette St. John and her trio. Be sure to reserve tickets in advance due to the limited amount of seating available.