Looking for some cute ideas for your next solo date night? Here are nine ways to take yourself on a date because you deserve it.
Whether you’re in a relationship and want some alone time or you’re single and want to enjoy your own company (because, honestly, what’s better?), you’ll want to treat yourself to one of these solo dates.
This post is all about ways to enjoy a solo date night. The best part is each of these date nights can be dressed up or down depending on your budget and how much you want to leave the house.
This post is all about ideas on taking yourself out for a cute solo date night.
CUTEST SOLO DATE NIGHT IDEAS:
1. Go on a Mystery Picnic
I’m not being dramatic when I say you need to run, not walk, to go on a mystery picnic. Unfortunately, this company (highly recommend if it’s available and in your budget) has a limited amount of locations where you can book.
The good news is you can totally create your own even if they have a location near you! Okay, so you probably won’t be able to create a clue for yourself, but you definitely can explore local restaurants.
I constantly drive by places and think “that looks good” then I never actually go. This picnic is the perfect chance to try out some of those restaurants you’ve always wanted to try. Just like the paid mystery picnics through Amazing Co, you can build a three-course meal from ordering out at different restaurants then go to a super cute location (look for a park near you) to picnic.
No matter how you go about it, you’re going to LOVE this modern twist on a picnic. Usually, the picnic is the best part. This time, the entire experience will be the best part from getting the food at different restaurants to scoping out the best place to enjoy all of your delicious food.
2. Do a DIY Spa Day
Whether you want to go out or stay in for this date night, a spa day will be perfect. You can go all out and spend some solo time at an actual spa—can’t recommend this enough because you feel like lowkey royalty.
You can also go completely DIY and make anything and everything you want to create a spa in your own home. Use what you have around the house—candles, bath tub, fun soaps—and look up recipes to make stuff like hair masks, face masks, and sugar scrubs. There are tons of online recipes you can use if you’re wanting to dress your spa down and spend some time in the house.
If you want something in the middle, you can look into a kit from Etsy (I recommend this one). The best part about Etsy, once you read through the reviews and look into item descriptions, is a lot of the self-care products are self-made, so they’re good for you and you’re supporting a small business.
3. Host a Movie Night In
If you’re anything like me, you love a good movie at the theatre. I love waiting in line to get popcorn that’s almost always gone before the movie starts (gotta love the previews). I love a huge screen in front of my face with all of that surround sound.
But, I also love doing the movie thing at home. In fact, doing it at home gives you the freedom to pause, get up, and pop some non-movie theatre popcorn (which, let’s be honest, is never the same).
Most of the time, you can also find a movie on one of your streaming services, so you won’t pay much if anything for a low-key night in. All of this and a projector to really give you movie theatre vibes and you may never have to go back to the theatre again (unless it’s for their popcorn).
4. Treat Yourself to a Shopping Spree
I’m convinced thrifting is the best way to shop for fun and it’s the best solo date night. Nowadays, prices have gotten a little steeper because thrifting has caught on as a “trendy” thing to do, but it’s still a great solo date.
You never know what you’re going to find at a thrift shop, which makes them all the more intriguing. Plus, you’re giving clothes a second life for what is hopefully a cheap price.
There’s no better feeling than scoring a super cute pair of shoes (true story) that would probably have cost an arm and a leg at a department store for a quarter of the price you are used to paying.
Not gonna lie, half the time I go to thrift stores, I just like looking at all of the eclectic items they have. One time, I got a legit Italian pasta maker for ten dollars and I use it at least once a month for some delicious, easy homemade fettucine and ravioli!
5. Hire a Photographer for a Solo Shoot
Okay, so this one can get pricey and, while you don’t have hire a photographer to have a solo shoot (tripod and self-timers on your phone or camera are your friend!), imagine about badass you’ll feel posing for a pro.
Whenever I get my picture taken, I’m always nervous and skeptical because I almost never like how they turn out. So, I totally get if you’re not 100% comfortable in front of the camera.
That’s why this is the perfect way to show yourself some love! Bathe in that discomfort and build up your confidence.
P.S. If you’re feeling extra confident and a tad spicy, I highly recommend a boudoir shoot. While they’ve historically been done for significant others, it’s getting increasingly popular to do one for you and only you. Enjoy! ๐
6. Relax in a Yoga Class
If you’ve never tried yoga, please try it right now. Like click this video and try it out. Okay, but, seriously, if you’re never tried yoga, I’m going to tell you right now it’s kind of like magic.
I’d always thought of yoga as the stereotypical stuff you see on TV, which primarily shows middle-aged women walking in with a yoga mat under their arm and perfectly-toned calves. One thing changed my view: Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score.
Such. A. Game-changer. I’ll keep it short, but basically he talks about how moving the body, whether you do yoga or Pilates or some type of exercise, helps you work through the things that give you anxiety and depression.
So, go attend that full-on, outside-of-the-house yoga class or keep it simple with a YouTube video at home (I linked my favorite beginner, full-body yoga video). You can go without a yoga mat or check out one of my personal favorites (vegan suede, thick, CUTE design, and durable). Either way, you’ll want to go on a second date with yourself after this.
7. Attend a Staycation
Travel doesn’t have to be you going some unbelievable distance or getting a plane or even leaving your town (check out this awesome podcast to hear more about this). Sometimes, it’s nice to play tourist in the city where you live.
I live in a big, well-known city and I can tell you firsthand: there have got to be so many touristy places I’ve never even seen because I have to work, do school, or relax at home.
I forget to actually appreciate the very expensive location where I’ve grown up because it’s a normal part of my day. If this resonates, please do this date for yourself and to shake your routine.
It’s so nice to make a conscious effort to get out in your town (or a town nearby), get a hotel or AirBnB, and re-experience a place you think you know pretty well. Getting out of the house overnight will really make you feel like you’re in a different place while on your staycation.
8. Try Your Hand at Pottery
Pottery is inherently a very solitary activity, which is nice since that’s the whole point of this post. You can attend a workshop where an instructor will walk you through some techniques on how to make the clay do something, paint it, and fire up the kiln so you walk away with something tangible.
You can also get go it alone and grab some clay from Amazon, Michael’s, or a local art store. You’ll want to stick with Air Dry clay to avoid the stress of finding a local store or artist to fire your creation in a kiln.
Don’t forget to watch a few YouTube videos before you get started just to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. You don’t want to get all ready for some romantic alone time only for your clay to dry out before you’ve had a chance at molding it.
9. Make a Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards have become my newest obsession. It’s so fun to explore the flavor combinations of various fruits, veggies, cheeses, crackers, and dips until you find that one combo that hits every tastebud just right.
What’s better than going out and ordering one? Making one yourself. You can definitely find some great combos and charcuterie recipes by googling (I linked a personal fave), or you can get a pre-made kit from a local cheese store.
If you have one near you, I’d highly recommend a pre-made kit because it’s less work, so you can focus on assembling and eating. Plus, you’re guaranteed to love all of the flavors since the pros picked them out.
The best part of this plan? Putting on your favorite show, assembling the plate, and eating as much as you want because it’s all yours (and saving the rest, of course, because future you has to eat, too).