Seeking inspo for a date night in the Twin Cities? I got you! And I won’t even tell you to go look at the cherry spoon like all the other date ideas posted up here seem to! (No hate on the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, of course! It’s iconic for a reason!).
There are so many great spots to go in the Twin Cities metro, and if you have any recs yourself, let me know! Whether you’re looking for something a little more active, something cozy, or just want to take a cute selfie, I have ideas! I’ve sorted them by what you and your partner might be in the mood for, but I think plenty of these ideas could be mixed and matched for your own little adventure as a couple! 🙂
If you and your partner are feeling like learning something new
Community Education class — Minneapolis | Saint Paul
This option will take a bit of pre-planning, but the diverse and awesome offerings of the community education classes in our two Twin Cities are understated. Sign you and your partner up for a walking tour of a place in your city you’ve never been to, or try a one-night cooking class. Or, try an intro to a new language! …Maybe a language spoken in a country you’ve never been to but plan to visit? At the very least, you can make a whole night of it! Or practice what you learned together in between sessions, if it’s a multi-week class. SO many affordable opportunities for connection :)!
We all know about the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Walker, and most of us have at least heard of the Bell Museum. But have you been to The Bakken Museum? Some probably find it by accident while they’re walking around the west side of Bde Maka Ska. It’s got STEM, literature, history, and many highly interactive exhibits to entertain and inform people of all ages.
Cinema Ballroom Dance in Saint Paul has ballroom dance and latin dance classes and events. They have a great full calendar of affordable lessons and events for people of all skill levels! Do you want to practice for the traditional First Dance at your wedding? Or do you just want to have a little fun? Cinema Ballroom Dance has something for you!
If you and your partner are feeling hungry
With two locations (Edina and Saint Paul), Coconut Thai delivers some truly underrated Thai cuisine on both sides of the metro. The entrees have generous portion sizes, for those looking for a great value. The head chef was born in and professionally trained in actual Thailand, so you know the food is legit! 🙂
The Finnish Bistro in Saint Paul has lighter fare, but both their breakfast and lunch/dinner menus are excellent. It’s cozy in the Finnish Bistro, like you’ve been there before but can’t remember when. They also have a great full coffee bar, great for a Sunday morning date! If the weather is nice, the neighborhood is a bit of a hidden gem for casual walks as well. 🙂
House made pasta, romantic vibe without any stuffiness. What else could you want? Nestled between the Fulton and Lynnhurst neighborhoods, Broders offers delicious fresh pasta and risotto, complete with a wholesome family-owned restaurant context. They also source produce from Minnesota farms whenever possible. You know me — I love the sustainability vibes!
Definitely the spendiest option on this list, but you’re paying for an experience, with crazy-good service and an experience you will, in the future, compare other dining experiences to! Everything they make is from scratch. If you visit another restaurant and find yourself saying “oh, but it’s not Joan’s…” you wouldn’t be the first!
If you and your partner are feeling like taking a cute selfie
Okay, a complex or unique backdrop is not the only way to achieve a great photo — selfie or otherwise! But having a beautiful background certainly doesn’t hurt when it comes to making memories.
The Guthrie Theater has several great spaces for selfies and photos in general. Just, please do not take photos in the actual theaters themselves! Instead, check out the endless bridge, or the “yellow room” on the ninth floor. You don’t need to have tickets to a show to explore the Guthrie, but it’s easier to poke around when it’s not show time. The Guthrie staff know that their building is beautiful and interesting inside and out, so they fully expect folks to come by and just look around. And hey, maybe there’s a show in one of their three very different theaters that looks interesting to you, too?
Okay, most residents of Minneapolis have been to Minnehaha Falls, right? If you haven’t been in a while though, it’s worth returning. This year’s record breaking precipitation boasts roaring river and falls, with many places along the trail that have a variety of vibes and environments, including a wading pool. It’s a great place to take a cute selfie, have a nice walk, or have a picnic in the park above the falls. There’s also Sea Salt Eatery, if you’re into pretty reasonably affordable seafood. They can get pretty busy though, so maybe try a weeknight for that adventure!
Maybe the most unsung hero on this list, the humble Hansen Park is kind of a regular ol’ park, but as a result, it’s not super crowded, parking is free, there’s a cute little bridge where you can see the ducks, and the walking path is short (good for loops!) and accessible. Since most people in the Twin Cities don’t even know it exists, it’s easy to find privacy (as much as you can find in a public space!). There are volleyball courts, disc golf courts, and PRIME selfie-taking backgrounds in multiple places. Great place for when the leaves start turning in the fall, too!
If you and your partner are feeling playful
New to the Twin Cities! Activiate in Roseville is new (as of late summer 2024) and a fun place to be active. It offers small rooms for 2-5 people, with lots of fun games. Are you and your partner both competitive? You’ll love Activiate I bet!
Tried and true, Bryant Lake Bowl offers a date night special for $38 per couple, which includes an entree for each, two beers or glasses of wine per person, and a game of bowling. That’s pretty cheap in this economy! Bryant Lake Bowl has offered their date night-specific service for ages, so you know they’re for real about it :).
PS: Did you catch that drone footage that was viral for a while?
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I hope that this inspired at least a couple ideas for you, as a couple! If you’re thinking about a date that leads to a proposal, I’m ALL about this plan. Hit me up if you are looking for support for something bigger 💍.
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