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29 Most Relaxing, Chill Date Ideas for 2024

Last Updated on Jan 10th 2024
chill date ideas

You or your partner want to try some chill date ideas, but what does a “chill” date even mean? The definition may vary between people, but in general, a chill date is a low-energy, low-pressure date that feels more like hanging out with a good friend.

Chill dates are a great way for new partners to get to know each other, but they’re also useful for committed couples to relax and unwind together.

If you’re wondering, “What is a lowkey date?” or “What can I do for a relaxing date night?” we’ve got you covered with this list of relaxing and creative chill date ideas. 

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Chill Date Ideas for Foodies 

1. Make a Meal Together

What could be better than learning new skills and tasting delicious foods with a hot date by your side? Sign up for cooking classes in Milwaukee, cooking classes in Indianapolis, cooking classes in Asheville or cooking classes near you to whip up something new under the guidance of an expert cook.

For even more chill date ideas, check out online cooking classes

cooking classes chill date ideas
via Classpop!

2. Have a Virtual Happy Hour

Going out for drinks is fun, but it’s not the most chill date idea when you have to dress to impress, keep a clear head and plan a ride home. Why go to all the trouble when you and your date could have a much more fun experience with virtual wine tastings and online mixology classes?

Plus, you’ll get to learn new bartending tips and tasting techniques to aid in your future imbibing endeavors! 

3. Decorate a Cake

There’s a holiday for nearly every day of the year, so use them to plan chill date ideas! Pick an upcoming random holiday, such as Gummy Worm Day on July 15th or Miniature Golf Day on September 21st, then bake and decorate a cake together in honor of the occasion.

Baking together is one of the best chill date ideas if you’re inviting them over for the first time, but be prepared to get a little messy!

4. Try a Brand New Restaurant

Eating out together is one of the most common chill date ideas for new couples, but that’s because it’s so easy and delicious. To make your dinner date a little more interesting and support local business, try a new place that just opened nearby or that neither of you has been to.

For better or worse, trying a new restaurant together will give you an experience to talk about in the future.

5. Go Out for Ice Cream

If you’re craving chill date ideas that are more creative than coffee, you can’t go wrong with inviting them out for ice cream. An ice cream outing is one of the best chill first date ideas or weeknight date ideas because there’s no pressure to stay out late, drink alcohol or talk for several hours

If your date isn’t going so well, you get to head home after one scoop, or if you’re having fun together, you can easily plan to meet again!

double date couples eating ice cream outdoors
via Canva

6. Visit a Farmers Market

Wake up early, grab a cup of coffee and head to your local farmers market to stock up on homegrown produce, freshly baked bread, local honey and plenty of free samples.

Visiting the farmers market is one of the best chill date ideas for foodie couples or solo date ideas to treat yourself. Because farmers markets usually happen every week, you’ll have the perfect excuse to meet up again. 

7. Throw a Double Date Dinner Party

Pick a regional cuisine like Italian or Mexican food, cook up several dishes together and invite one or two close couple friends over. A dinner party is one of the best chill hangout ideas with friends, especially if you’re introducing them to your date for the first time.

Just make sure you know and trust the couples well; playing matchmaker at your house isn’t always such a chill date idea! 

Chill Date Ideas for Creatives

8. Try Paint and Sip

There’s no better way to relax and un-wine-d than at a paint and sip in Chicago, paint and sip in Washington, D.C., paint and sip in Fort Lauderdale or paint and sip near you.

This is one of the best chill date ideas that takes the pressure off of planning and allows you and your date to show off your creativity. To turn this into an at-home date, check out online painting classes or other fun couple painting ideas

9. Make Your Own Pottery

Get a little dirty with your date at pottery classes in Portland, pottery classes in NYC, pottery classes in Minneapolis or pottery classes near you. In pottery classes, you’ll get to sculpt, shape and decorate your own glaze ware pieces to take home.

Forget free T-shirts and old movie ticket stubs; this chill date idea will leave you with a dating keepsake you’ll be proud to show off in your home.

couple molding clay in pottery classes together
via Canva

10. Get Creative in Art Classes

You’re never too old for art classes, especially when you can turn them into chill date ideas for creative couples. Check out art classes in Chicago, art classes in Los Angeles or art classes in Houston to enjoy making your own paintings, pottery, decorated glassware and more.

Attending art classes near you is a great way to flex your creative muscles or learn something totally new together. 

11. Make Collage Posters

Making collage posters is one of the best chill hangout ideas with friends, but it can be an equally fun chill date idea. Gather up some poster board, glue sticks, markers, old magazines and anything else that seems fun and quirky.

Cut out images to make a collage about yourself, your dream life, your date or anything else that inspires you.

12. Play Dress Up

Dressing each other up isn’t just a game for kids; having someone else play around with your wardrobe can be a cool date idea that gives you more creative outfits in the future!

Make your outfits as silly — or sexy — as you’d like, and experiment with hair and makeup too for a total makeover. When you’re done, wear your outfits out for a drink or parade them in a living room fashion show; this chill date meaning is all up to interpretation.

13. Make Music Together

No, that isn’t just a cheeky euphemism. Jamming and recording a song together is a great chill date idea for musicians, but even if you don’t own an instrument, you can still have fun with items from around your house like pots and pans, paper tubes, salt shakers and your own voices.

Not to be presumptuous, but a recorded song could make an awesome memory to listen to at a wedding someday. 

playing guitar chill date idea
via Canva

14. Create a Scavenger Hunt

To surprise your date with a scavenger hunt, roll clues into scrolls or stuff them into plastic Easter eggs and hide them in various locations around the house, the neighborhood or the whole city!

Each clue will lead them to the next location, and the end prize can be a scenic view, a drink at a speakeasy or even a sexy bedroom surprise. A scavenger hunt is definitely one of the best chill date ideas for married couples to keep the sparks flying.

Chill Date Ideas for New Couples

15. Dance Together

Dancing is one of humankind’s oldest traditions, and it so happens to be one of the best chill first date ideas. Break out of any awkward lulls in conversation and bust a move on the dancefloor at dance classes in Nashville, dance classes in the Bay Area, dance classes in Denver or dance classes near you.

Don’t feel like leaving the house this weekend? Online dance classes are just the thing for chill date ideas at home.

16. Go Thrifting

If you’re struggling to think of unique first date ideas that are also chill date ideas, there are hours of fun just waiting to be had at the thrift and antique stores.

Build a silly outfit for each other, admire cool old artifacts and look for goofy trinkets that are sure to strike up some laughs. Thrifting is an awesome chill date idea because it breaks you out of your comfort zone, it’s affordable and it only lasts as long as you’d like it to. 

17. Visit an Arcade

Another fun option for unique first date ideas, video game arcades are a place where you can let loose, show off some secret talents and engage in a little friendly competition.

Play a laser tag game, shoot some hoops or reminisce over some classics like Super Mario Bros. and Mortal Kombat. Don’t forget to count your tickets and collect a prize at the end of your date!

couple playing skeeball at the arcade
via Canva

18. Attend a Local Sports Event

Whether it's a college basketball game, high school football game or even a little league tournament, attending a local sporting event is one of the best chill date ideas not at home.

Dress up in casual attire or show a little team spirit with a jersey or T-shirt. To make things a little more interesting, place a friendly bet on our favorite team or player, like “losing team buys drinks at our next date.”

19. See a Comedy Show

A comedy show is sure to have you both rolling with laughter, and it’s one of the ultimate casual, chill date ideas not at home. Whether they’re a local talent or a well-known name, head down to your comedy club to enjoy some witty humor with your spouse or break the ice with a new date.

Even if the jokes are horrible, you’re sure to have a night you can laugh about for years! 

20. Try a Yoga Class

According to Healthline, yoga is one of the best relaxing activities for couples to do together because it reduces anxiety, encourages communication, fosters empathy, and can even improve your sex life by boosting your confidence and putting you in sync with your partner.

If you don’t like piña coladas but you are into yoga, try joining a yoga class together at your local gym or yoga studio. An hour of stretching, deep breathing and meditation is a chill date idea that should have you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to take on the world together. 

21. Sit Around the Fire

Most chill date ideas for new couples take place in public, but if you feel ready to turn the heat up on your new relationship, invite them back to your place and light up the fire pit, fireplace or backyard tiki torches.

Cuddling up around the fire is one of the best winter activities and relaxing activities for couples at home. There’s something undeniably romantic about a crackling flame on a quiet, chilly night. 

bonfire chill date idea
via Canva

Chill Date Ideas at Home

22. Try Virtual Flower Arranging Classes

If you’re looking for chill date ideas for new couples, virtual flower arranging classes are an awesome experience worth trying. In virtual flower arranging classes, you’ll get to cut, trim and arrange your own flowers to create stunning and perfectly balanced displays.

Plus, you can use the skills you’ll learn to impress your partner with bouquets in the future. 

23. Have a Backyard Picnic

Backyard picnics are easy and relaxing activities for couples at home, and they can also be one of the best staycation ideas.

Make a quick run to the grocery store or farmer’s market, then set up a blanket, ice chest and music player outside. Sometimes a day in the sunshine is all you need to inspire warm feelings and sunny memories. 

24. Play Video Games

When you’re having a hard time thinking of fun stay-home date ideas, video games will always be there to save the day! Mario Kart is a classic option to get your competitive juices flowing, or try newer games Just Dance, Call of Duty or It Takes Two.

Video game nights make great chill date ideas for new couples to let loose and relieve any shy tension. 

25. Read Together

Reading together is probably the quietest chill date idea you could ever imagine, but just think of how cute they’d look peeking over the pages. Put on a pot of tea, light a candle and read your own books or take turns reading to each other.

Reading books is one of the best indoor date ideas for a rainy weekend, and can easily be one of the best hot date ideas for married couples if you read a steamy romance together. 

couple reading together at home
via Canva

26. Have a Movie Marathon

Dedicate a day, night or weekend to watching a good series like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean or Harry Potter. Watching movies is one of the most popular chill and relaxing activities for couples at home.

To make the marathon even more exciting, whip up some on-theme drinks and snacks or start a game like “take a sip every time someone says ‘Harry Potter.’”

27. Build a Puzzle

Puzzle night can easily be combined with other relaxing date ideas to keep your hands busy while you talk or watch a fun movie.

For most chill date ideas, a 500-piece puzzle is a good size because it can be completed within two to three hours and won’t keep you up all night. Of course, if you’re expert puzzlers you can always challenge yourselves to 1000 pieces or more!

28. Watch the Sunset

To be fair, you may have to leave the house for this one, but you shouldn’t have to go far for this chill date idea. Walk to the hill at the top of your neighborhood, step onto your apartment balcony or camp out in the backyard on a clear night to chat and enjoy the sunset.

Bring a bottle of wine or a thermos full of hot tea to turn this simple tradition into one of the most romantic and relaxing date ideas.

29. Plan a Massage Night

A massage night is one of the best hot date ideas for married couples, but it can be a chill date idea for any partners whose love language is physical touch.

Do what feels comfortable to you, and look up some professional massaging techniques to practice on each other. Grab a bottle of nicely scented massage oil, put on a movie or soft music and massage each other’s hands as you talk about your day. 

couples massage chill date idea
via Canva

We hope this list of chill date ideas has inspired you with fun ways to relax and get comfortable with your spouse, partner or new boo!

Of course, a chill date meaning is always up to the couple’s unique interpretation; it can be as simple as a night in with a movie or as exciting as a night out dancing. Do whatever feels “chill” to you!

For even more fun date ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!