Keep this list of date night ideas handy, and you and your sweetheart can explore Chicagoland for many dates to come! I always love a nice dinner out — we’ve covered many of our favorites below — but it’s always fun when we have new ideas for date night. Because let’s be honest: there’s nothing sadder than making arrangements for the kids for the evening, only to slump into the car for a round of, “I don’t know, where do you wanna go?”
Never again. We’ve got you covered when searching ideas for a “date night near me”, unique and memorable activities to do together, local spots offering bar trivia, and ideas for exploring the historic downtown areas you’ll find all over Chicagoland. It’s a helpful resource to keep surprises up your sleeve, or share it to see what ideas you both think sound like a great time.
Practice Your Swing with Indoor Golf
Many of these local indoor golf spots are focused on the overall experience, with food and drinks at the ready in addition to indoor golfing, simulations, and more. Check out these spots in the western suburbs to see what feels like a good fit for the two of you:
- Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook
- Score 18 in Bolingbrook
- Legends Indoor Golf in Downers Grove
- X-Golf Downers Grove, X-Golf Naperville, and X-Golf Schaumburg
- Halfway House Indoor Golf in Elmhurst
- Fairview Indoor Golf in Geneva
- Topgolf in Naperville and Schaumburg
- Game of Irons in Oak Brook
- Puttshack in Oak Brook
Explore a Local Downtown Destination
The western and northwest suburbs are full of historic and walkable downtown areas to explore! A downtown date night might involve dinner at a local restaurant, a stroll to see the shops and art downtown, and a final stop for coffee and dessert. Feeling adventurous? Drive to a downtown and explore it on foot, rather than planning your itinerary in advance.
A few fun local itineraries you might want to try:
- Downtown Aurora: A stroll around Stolp Island and a nightcap at the cocktail-bar-and-fine-art-gallery French 75 make for a fancy night out together.
- Berwyn’s Depot District: Hunting for treasures from vinyl to pop culture collectables at the fun-and-funky Reel Art Collectables, followed by wood-fired pizzas and local brews at Flapjack Brewery in Berwyn’s Depot District.
- Downtown Downers Grove: Exploring the historic Main Street Cemetery (one of the only cemeteries in a downtown area); heading right next door to Cellar Door for wine, cheese and charcuterie; and exploring Fair Game (now on Curtiss Street).
- Downtown Glen Ellyn: Grab a delightful dinner at Maize+Mash, then stroll over to Common Good Cocktail House for inspired cocktails in a hip locale. For a different sort of beverage, Elitea is open until 9pm with boba, smoothies, and more.
- Downtown Elmhurst: Take a walk through Wilder Park to see the conservatory, then go out for tacos at Guac N Tacos and play a borrowed board game over creative signature lattes at Brewpoint Coffee.
- Downtown Geneva: Exploring the Harvey’s Tales bookshop (if you’re early enough), dinner at the critically acclaimed Bien Trucha, and a stroll to see gorgeous historical buildings — and be tempted by all the sweets shops — in Downtown Geneva.
- Downtown La Grange: Honestly, this destination is great to just stroll until you find something that tickles your fancy! We’re partial to Mak’s House for urban cool in the ‘burbs, including band stickers everywhere and a secret beer garden in the spring. For a super-sophisticated meal, try fourteensixteen for New American fare.
- Downtown Naperville: If wandering bookstores is your thing (or a treat for your spouse), Downtown Naperville has you covered. Check out Anderson’s Bookshop (the indie bookstore after my own heart) or explore the two-story Barnes & Noble. If you haven’t been in a while, you’ll find some great newer restaurants over on Water Street, including Quiubo and Vaisili’s. In nice weather, strolling the Riverwalk is a great way to spend your time after eating.
- Downtown Westmont: Kim’s Uncle Pizza has been making a splash with Chicago critics and foodie lists (check out the Chicago Tribune’s review) with the other Chicago-style pizza: thin-crust, tavern-style cut into square pieces. There are only a couple of booths, so you can snag one or head over to the benches at Quincy and Cass to eat. If you’re looking for more of a sit-down affair, check out Neat Kitchen + Bar instead.
- Downtown Wheaton: Hale Street is the place to be for dining; take a stroll down the block and see what tickles your fancy. Then, take a stroll around Adams Park, which has benches spaced throughout for you to enjoy the greenery and conversation.
Save Your Budget with Free or Cheap Dates at Local Spots
Date night doesn’t have to be expensive. These free (or cheap) local destinations offer a chance to connect over something fun while still getting out of the house:
- The Chicago Athenaeum International Sculpture Park in Schaumburg combines 20 acres of forest and paths with a really cool selection of sculptures.
- Hiking together is probably the ultimate free date idea! Pack a picnic and explore a local trail. In the winter, hiking crampons for your boots can help you stay steady on icy hikes: for a cheaper alternative, microspikes are much more affordable and work on the kinds of easier, flatter trails you’re likely to find in our area.
- Look for the Classic Cinemas location near you to find cheap movie tickets. These classic theaters (including The Tivoli Theater in Downers Grove and York Theater in Elmhurst) show new movies in historic buildings!
- In the summer, an outdoor movie in the park is lots of fun. There’s usually a mix of kids’ movies and PG-13 fare offered throughout the summer, so you can look for a more mature offering on your night away from the little ones.
- Head to your local library together to browse the shelves, pick out books or magazines, and spend some quiet time reading together.
- Coffee shop dates are some of my favorites. I especially love finding a new local place. If the place is big enough and not crowded, we sometimes bring a board or card game along.
Get Creative with Unique Date Ideas
- Lock in your love with something that will last longer than a night out! Permanent jewelry and piercings at Adorn512.
- Tuft Stuff provides rug tufting classes every Thursday – Saturday 6:00 – 9:30pm.
- Share a laugh at CG’s Comedy Club in Bolingbrook. Check their calendar for upcoming shows and open mic nights.
- Enjoy a night out cheering on the Bulls or Blackhawks this season. There’s also so many great local high school and college teams to support.
- Awkward couples’ photo session at JCPenny’s. Check their website to reserve a time slot at Yorktown, Woodfield Mall, or Fox Valley Shopping Center.
- Grown Folks Stories is two hours of five minute stories shared by story tellers from the Chicagoland community. Doors open at 6:00pm, storytelling starts promptly at 7:00pm. $10 cover fee.
- WhirleyBall in Naperville gives couples a competitive experience that can also be enjoyed with friends! In addition to WhirleyBall, they have bowling, laser tag, games and full restaurant and bar.
- For an interactive, jaw-dropping night of laughs and mystery, be sure to check out the Chicago Magic Lounge.
- For a winter day trip, go skiing or snowboarding at Villa Olivia in Bartlett.
Compete in a Game Show
Go on a group date or get some friends together to battle it out in a game show setting. Game Show Battle Rooms in Lombard has curated games with a host and a producer to create an amazing experience. You really feel like you are in a game show! The Kidlist team went together and had so much fun. You can read about our experience and get the details here.
Dates Worth the Splurge
Looking for an extra-special date to celebrate a milestone anniversary (or just to treat yourselves)? Check out this luxe list.
- AIRE is located in the West Loop. Have a couple’s massage and enjoy the relaxing ancient baths.
- Prepare for the ultimate culinary experience at the newly opened Sushi | Bar. Reservations fill up quickly.
- iFly would be a great night out for those seeking a thrill! They have multiple packages to choose from and is designed for everyone of all ages, sizes, and abilities to enjoy.
- Enjoy a night of entertainment and catch a Broadway show at one of Chicago’s beautiful theaters.
- Six Flags Great America or any outdoor amusement park in Chicago’s Suburbs is a great way to bring out your inner child plus great shows and other themed or seasonal events.
Take a Couples Class and Do Something New
Honestly, these kinds of dates have been some of the most fun for us. There’s something about a new experience together that’s great for reconnecting. Plus, you get to bring home a new skill. Some places offer classes specifically geared towards couples, while others are more open.
Some local options include:
- The Wilton School for cake baking and decorating classes in their new Naperville location
- Board and Brush for DIY classes and sign-making in Downers Grove, Naperville, St. Charles, and more
- Painting with a Twist for follow-along painting classes in Arlington Heights, La Grange, and more
- Marcel’s Culinary Experience for cooking classes in Glen Ellyn
- Cooking Skills & Social in Itasca
- The North American Pizza and Culinary Academy for pizza-making and other cooking classes in Lisle
- Farmhouse Academy for BYOB cooking classes in Mokena
- Pinot’s Palette for follow-along painting classes in Elmhurst, Naperville, South Barrington, St. Charles, Woodridge, and more
- Sur La Table for cooking classes in Naperville
- Cook, Cork & Fork in Palatine
- The Kitchen Table for cooking classes in Wheaton
Dive Into an Immersive Experience
These over-the-top special experiences are a fun way to bring our your inner kid! At Kidlist, we tend to focus on the kid-friendly angle, but many of these spots also market themselves for adults-only trips. Check out our reviews of Color Factory Chicago and the Museum of Ice Cream for an idea of what you’ll discover.
Test Your Teamwork with Bar Trivia
Hit up your local bar to play trivia together! Trivia can run late, so you’ll definitely want to be realistic with your babysitter so that you aren’t running out before the winner is revealed. Trivia usually runs on weeknights.
While my husband and I have had fun as a two-person trivia team, this is also a great outing with friends or as a double date.
Baig of Tricks Entertainment
General and themed trivia nights, including Music Bingo, all over Chicagoland. Check out their calendar of events for regular trivia at local spots including:
- McWethy’s Sports Bar in Bolingbrook
- Goose Island Fulton Taproom in Chicago
- Miskatonic Brewing Company in Darien and Naperville
- Alter Brewing Company in Downers Grove
- The Beer Cellar in Glen Ellyn
- Cellar Door in Downers Grove
- Gulliver’s Pizza & Pub in Oakbrook Terrace
- Pollyana Brewing Company in Lemont and Roselle
- The VFW in Lockport
- Champions Sports Bar in Naperville
- Noon Whistle in Naperville
- SixtyFour Wine Bar in Naperville
- 302 South in Wheaton
Chicago Trivia Guys
Themed trivia and general knowledge nights in and around the city. Check their Facebook page for upcoming events at locations such as:
- Wings Etc. in in Crystal Lake
- Black & Gray Brewing in East Dundee
- Cemeno’s Pizza at the Park in Joliet
- Crystal Lake Brewing in Crystal Lake
- Roaring Table Brewery in Lake Zurich
- BuckleDown Brewing in Lyons
- The Evergreen Pub & Grill in St. Charles
- Riverlands Brewing Company in St. Charles
- Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in Willowbrook
Sporcle Trivia Night
Sporcle’s events team hosts regular pub quiz nights at local spots including:
- Old Republic Kitchen & Bar in Elgin
- Coach’s Corner in Elk Grove Village
- Krafted Burger Bar in Bolingbrook and Elmhurst
- Pints in Elmhurst
- Scratch Public House in Forest Park
- Nobel House in Glen Ellyn
- Barrel House Social in La Grange
- Coom’s Corner Grill in Lockport
- Scratch Kitchen in Oak Park
- Craft’d in Plainfield
- Union Ale House in Prospect Heights
- Whole Foods Tap Room in Schaumburg
- Alter Brewing + Kitchen in St. Charles
- McNally’s Irish Pub in St. Charles
- Ike & Oak Brewing Company in Woodridge
Check with your favorite local eateries, especially bars, brewpubs, and breweries! Many host occasional or weekly trivia nights. Some bring in an outside company like the ones above, while others do it all in-house. Their website or social media may list trivia.
Do Dinner and a Movie All at Once
The beauty of the classic dinner-and-a-movie combo is that if you go see the movie first, it gives you a great conversation starter for dinner. But that long of a date isn’t always in the cards, especially when you’ve got a babysitter in the mix. Chicago’s west suburbs have some great locations to eat while you watch, including:
- Star Cinema Grill in Barrington
- Hollywood Palms in Naperville
- AMC DINE-IN Rosemont 12
- Studio Movie Grill in Wheaton
- Hollywood Blvd. in Woodridge
- AMC DINE-IN Yorktown 18 in Lombard
In summertime, our list of drive-in theaters makes for a fun retro date, too!
We hope this list helps inspire some creative new date nights and fun outings with friends. Have another favorite spot? Leave a comment below and let us know.
