Let’s talk date nights. Gone are the days when dinner and a movie were your only options (not that there’s anything wrong with that)! There are so many great things to do in Columbus that are perfect for couples. So, if you’re looking for some fun date night ideas in Columbus, you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re looking for something romantic, creative, active, or unique, there are great options in Ohio‘s capital city.
These 44 unique date nights in Columbus, Ohio are sure to be a hit the next time you’re out with your sweetheart.
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45 Ideas for Date Nights in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio is a great city full of amazing food, art, theater, music, sports, and more. If you’re looking for a fun date night check out these great ideas.
1. Dinner Music Series at The Refectory
Dinner at The Refectory is one of the most romantic things to do in Columbus, Ohio. If you want to take it up a notch, book a table at one of their Dinner Music Series events. These intimate dinners are served in a private upstairs room with limited seating. In addition to a fantastic 4-course meal, you’ll also enjoy live music throughout the evening.
2. Take a Glass Blowing Class
You don’t have to go all the way to Venice to experience glass blowing. Just head to Glass Axis for a glass blowing class. Class topics vary by date and can include things like a blown glass ball, a sculpted flower, or even a sculpted glass hot dog!
3. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Try this self-guided photo scavenger hunt that will take you to popular landmarks in downtown Columbus. The tour lasts about 2 hours.
4. Visit a Cat Cafe
For a unique date night, head to Kitty Bubble Cafe. You can enjoy cat-themed treats like Pink Toe Bean Bubble Tea while enjoying the resident cats in the cat lounge.
5. Tour Watershed Distillery
Watershed offers tours of their Grandview distillery Sundays-Thursdays. Stay afterward for dinner and drinks at Watershed Kitchen & Bar — they’ve got one of the best cocktail menus in Columbus (including a great selection of zero-proof cocktails).
6. Do a Haunted Scavenger Hunt
Explore the haunted side of Columbus during this scavenger hunt through Downtown Columbus. Try a Columbus Ghost Hunt if you dare.
7. Take a Beer Tour
You and your date can take a guided tour of North High Brewing Co. The 1-hour tour includes a t-shirt, pint glass, and beer, of course.
8. Brunch n’ Bike
Do a day date! Start with brunch at one of Columbus’ great brunch spots, then go on a guided bike tour with Columbus Bike Tours. During this almost-2-hour tour, you’ll also learn about some of Columbus’ historic sites.
9. Go to a Comedy Club
Enjoy a night of laughter at the Funny Bone Comedy Club at Easton Town Center. In addition to up-and-coming comedians, you’ll also find big acts like Kevin Nealon, Craig Robinson, and D.L. Hugley at the Funny Bone. You’ll get priority seating in the showroom if you do the pre-show dinner too.
Keep track of your fun date nights with this awesome date night idea scratch-off poster.
10. Go Ice Skating
Lace up your skates and hit the ice for a fun date night in Columbus. The Chiller has 6 locations — Dublin, Easton Town Center, Lewis Center, Springfield, Worthington, and downtown Columbus.
11. Shadowbox Live
Columbus’ own Shadowbox Live is the nation’s largest resident ensemble theater company! Performances include documentaries, dance, sketch comedy, rock n’ roll revues, and more.
12. Explore 2 Sides of Dublin
Enjoy dinner out in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Then stop into Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream to grab a cone to enjoy while you stroll across the new Dublin Link bridge. This 760-foot-long pedestrian bridge will take you across the Scioto River into the Bridge Park area of Dublin. Then you can head to Vaso Rooftop Bar for some date night drinks with a view.
13. Take a Food Tour
Explore the tasty side of Columbus, Ohio by taking a food tour. Columbus Food Adventures offers walking or driving tours throughout different parts of town. Themed tours include Dessert tours, Brunch tours, Coffee tours, and more!
14. Take a Curling Class
Get Olympics-ready by taking a curling class! The Columbus Curling Club offers 65-minute Curl Clinics to teach you the basics. Classes are offered during the curling season from October through March.
15. Go Kayaking
For a unique date night idea, try kayaking. Olentangy Paddle offers kayak rentals for 4 different routes in the Columbus area.
16. Take a Ballroom Dancing Class
Try a Cha Cha, Waltz, or Tango at Emerald City Ballroom in Dublin. Both private and group classes are available.
17. Try the Tasting Menu at Veritas
Veritas is one of the best restaurants in Columbus, Ohio, and it’s a great spot for a romantic date night. The restaurant’s tasting menu is something special and can be paired with wine flights for a full foodie experience.
18. Take a Cooking Class
Date nights usually involve food, so for a fun twist try a cooking class instead of just going out to dinner. Savoir Cooking + Wine in Powell, Ohio offers a variety of classes with fun themes like Chinese Take Out, BBQ and Beer, or Champagne Brunch.
19. Go Zip Lining
For an adventurous Columbus, Ohio date night, check out Zip Zone. There are lots of outdoor adventures to try including Adventure Park, canopy tours, and even nighttime zip lining!
20. Go to a Drive-In Movie
Have an old-school date night by visiting South Drive-In Theater for a fun twist on movie night.
21. Bake for a Cause
For a unique date night, consider volunteering to bake at the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus. You can sign up to bake treats for the residents at the Ronald McDonald House from 1-3 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. They’ll provide the kitchen and equipment, and you’ll provide the ingredients and time.
22. Go Roller Skating
For a fun and casual date night in Columbus, Ohio, go roller skating. Skate Zone 71 has adult skate nights every Thursday from 9 p.m. to midnight and every Sunday from 8 p.m. to midnight.
23. Play Video Games
Enjoy a date night full of old-school video games and drinks at 16 Bit Bar + Arcade’s 2 Columbus locations — Dublin and downtown Columbus. Or try out Level-One Bar + Arcade near Worthington.
Here’s a fun at-home date night idea. Order food in and make a hand casting with your sweetheart.
24. Tour Columbus on a Segway
SegAway Tours of Columbus offers daily guided segway tours from March 1 through December 23rd. Each 2-hour tour includes 15-20 minutes of practice time. Choose between the Original City Tour or a River & Bridges Tour.
25. Explore German Village
A list of date nights in Columbus, Ohio wouldn’t be complete without mentioning German Village. Enjoy a romantic stroll through the cobblestone streets of this charming area. Grab dinner at Lindey’s, then browse The Book Loft. Finish your evening with coffee and dessert at Pistacia Vera.
26. Go to Picnic With The Pops
If it’s summertime, head to Picnic with the Pops. You can bring lawn chairs and blankets to set up in the grass, or you can purchase tickets for table seating. Table seating is great because it’s closer to the stage and you don’t have to get there super early to save a seat. Either way, you can bring in your own food and drinks.
27. Take a Class at The Franklin Park Conservatory
The Franklin Park Conservatory offers a large selection of classes ranging from gardening and cooking to arts, wine, and glass blowing.
Read More: 60+ Columbus Festivals and Annual Events
28. Visit the Casino
If you can’t make it to Vegas, try your luck at Hollywood Casino in Columbus. You’ll find favorites like table games, slots, and video poker.
29. Take a Coffee Class
Head to the Crimson Cup Innovation Lab to take a class all about coffee! Different classes are offered throughout the year on topics like coffee basics, roasting fundamentals, and espresso at home.
30. Paint Pottery
Visit Clay Cafe to try your hand at painting pottery. You can bring refreshments and wine with you to enjoy while you paint. There’s even live music 1 night a week at each location (Wednesdays in Clintonville, Fridays in Grandview).
31. Go Rock Climbing
For an active date night, try indoor rock climbing. At Vertical Adventures near Worthington, you can get a day pass or take a class. You can also try out the 30-foot indoor rock climbing wall at Public Lands at Polaris.
32. Explore Franklinton Fridays
On the second Friday of each month, the Franklinton neighborhood opens its doors to the public for a celebration of art, theater, performance, and science known as Franklinton Fridays. You’ll find plenty of places for dinner and drinks in the area including Strongwater Food & Spirits and Land-Grand Taproom and Beer Garden.
If you decide to keep it simple with dinner and a movie for date night, try these fun date night dice to help you decide what to eat and what to watch.
33. Throw an Axe
Throw Nation, located in Dublin, offers axe throwing, football bowling, plate smashing, stump, and tiki table toss. There’s a full bar (for after the axe throwing!) and food available too.
34. Visit the Art Museum
Visit the Columbus Museum of Art to tour the exhibits or take a class. If you’re on a tight budget, don’t forget admission is free every Sunday.
35. Take a Hike
Get outside and enjoy a long walk through one of Columbus’ 19 metro parks. There are over 230 miles of trails throughout the metro park system. You can wander on your own or take a guided hike.
36. Play Mini-Golf
Mini-golf is a great date night activity and there are plenty of places to play in Columbus. Try The Frontier Mini-Golf Course in Westerville, Miner 49er, a blacklight golf course near Grandview, Sports Ohio in Dublin, or Glow Putt Mini-Golf in Gahanna.
37. Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
Solve a murder mystery during dinner! The Dinner Detective is an interactive comedy murder mystery dinner show that includes hidden actors in the audience so you never know what’s real and what’s part of the show.
38. COSI After Dark
Enjoy craft beers and themed cocktails while you explore COSI without kids. Each month, COSI After Dark features a theme with unique games, activities, and experiences.
39. Celtic Cocktail Trail
Wander through Dublin to taste some fantastic Irish-inspired cocktails on the Celtic Cocktail Trail. If you’re not much of a drinker, you’ll love that 11 of the trail’s stops are also offering mocktails. You’ll earn Cocktail Trail swag when you complete 5 or 11 stops!
40. Burgers and Burlesque
Stop by Forty Deuce at Easton for gourmet burgers and milkshakes. On Friday and Saturday nights at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., you can try the prix fixe dinner and Burlesque show. Show capacity is limited and tables are spaced out to allow for social distancing.
41. Visit the Perkins Observatory
Enjoy stargazing and other special activities at Perkins Observatory in Delaware, home to the 3rd largest telescope in the world.
42. Short North Gallery Hop
If it’s the first Saturday of the month, it’s time for Gallery Hop in the Short North. Gallery Hop is a favorite among the locals and is perfect for a fun and romantic date night. You’ll enjoy art, music, exhibitions, and shopping plus plenty of dining and bar options.
43. Visit the North Market
The North Market is a collection of local merchants, farmers, and makers. You can shop and grab dinner all in one spot. Check out the downtown location or the new Dublin location in Bridge Park.
44. Get a Couples Massage
Enjoying a bit of spa time is a great date night idea. You’ll find couples massages at many spas throughout the city including these:
- The Woodhouse Day Spa – Dublin
- Penzone Salon and Spas – Dublin, Gahanna/New Albany, German Village, Polaris, Short North, and Upper Arlington
- Open Sky Day Spa – Columbus
45. Go to a Dueling Piano Show
Yep, Columbus has dueling pianos. Check out The Big Bang Bar in the Arena District for a unique show that combines music, comedy, audience participation, and dueling pianos.
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