Guides

23 Best Flirty & Fun Date Ideas in Philadelphia for 2024

by: Kristy Bowen

Last Updated on Jan 10th 2024

Looking for inspiration to find the best date ideas in Philadelphia? What are the most romantic date ideas? Philadelphia is a city rich with history, creative energy and buzzing nightlife.

The City of Brotherly Love offers an array of options, whether it's those first getting-to-know-you dates or a long-time couple looking for a fun date night to shake things up.

We’ve rounded up a few awesome date ideas in Philadelphia for a number of different interests and budgets. From raucous nights out to fun nights in, painting experiments to rich local history, you can find the perfect outing for you and your love any time of year.

Foodie Date Ideas in Philadelphia

1. Take a Cooking Class

Whatever the stage of your relationship, cooking classes are a fun and educational date idea in Philadelphia. Learn new kitchen skills to impress a new partner or amp up your shared kitchen game. Learn to make everything from homemade pasta to Vietnamese cuisine.

You can find cooking classes in Philadelphia offering various learning and tasting opportunities. But what are some good online date ideas? Well, you can also take online cooking classes wherever you are, which a perfect option for a night in.

cooking classes date idea in Philadelphia — *via Classpop!*

2. Philly Food Tours

The best way to explore your own city is to sample some of its native cuisines. This includes everything from the city’s best luxury restaurants to local and street fare.

Try the Philly Secret Food Tour, which will have you sampling a variety of local favorites, including a Pretzel Cheesesteak. You can also discover new places for future great date nights in Philadelphia restaurants.

3. Sneak Into a Speakeasy

If you're looking for a date idea in Philadelphia that has both tasty cocktails and ambiance to the nines, visit one of the local speakeasy bars tucked away among the city’s enclaves.

Down alleys and through secret doors, these lounges offer intimate and romantic spots for conversation long into the night. Favorites include The Hop Sing Laundromat and The Blind Barber.

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4. Visit a Distillery

Another great Philadelphia date idea for cocktail lovers is to visit one of the city’s distilleries, which offer an array of events and tours regularly.

Great options include Philadelphia Distillery and Red Brick Craft Distillery. Learn how spirits are made, learn new bartending skills and taste a variety of offerings and accompanying hors d'oeuvres.

5. Shop a Farmers' Market

Farmers' markets are a great option for a summer date idea in Philadelphia. Spend the morning choosing amongst local produce and dairy, baked goods and handmade items.

You can also haul your ingredients home to cook a feast afterward, making a perfect all-day date, great for romances both new and old.

woman shopping for vegetables at the farmers market — *via Canva*

Creative Date Ideas in Philadelphia

6. Take an Art or Craft Class

Art and craft classes are a great way to express your creativity together while learning new skills. From watercolor workshops to pottery classes, you can find something for all tastes and skill levels.

7. Join a Paint and Sip Session

Another perfect date idea in Philadelphia for budding artists is attending a paint and sip, which offers a chance to create a masterpiece and kick back some wine and cocktails with your date.

The shared endeavor will bring the two of you closer, while the cocktails will relax and loosen tongues, making it perfect for a first date idea.

8. Try a Dance Class

An active and fun way to both impress your date with your steps and learn new ones is to take a dance class. From jazz and salsa dancing sessions to longer lessons in ballet and ballroom.

Dance classes offer a chance to get closer, both literally and emotionally. While fun for beginning relationships, learning some new moves also makes a perfect date idea for married couples.

9. Make Candles

Wondering where you should take a girl on a date in Philly? Philadephia is home to some excellent candle bars and cafes, including Wax & Wine, Lumen Labs and Paddywax Candle Bar & Café, which all offer the chance to make a cozy candle while enjoying cocktails and coffee.

The end result will be a great keepsake to enjoy at home and remember your outing. This is also a fun birthday date idea.

candle making date idea in Philadelphia — *via Canva*

10. Take in an Art Exhibit

A perfect date idea in Philadelphia is to check out some of the best local art galleries, museums and exhibits. From old masters at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to local graffiti art and mural projects, there is something for every aesthetic.

Check out the fun interactive Wonderspace, the Philadelphia Graffiti Pier or the Philadelphia Magic Gardens sculpture and folk art garden.

Unique Date Ideas in Philadelphia

11. Explore Philadelphia’s Oddities

A perfect way to spend a fun date night is to keep things a little weird by checking out some of the city’s stranger attractions, including the world-famous Mutter Museum of Human and Medical Oddities.

Other great options include visiting the home of famous horror author Edgar Allen Poe or touring some of the city's historic cemeteries for some spooky fun.

12. Spicy Shopping Trip

For a perfect fun idea for adults planning a date night, check out some of the city's luxe adult shops for all manner of grown-up games, toys and entertainment.

Local favorites include The Pink Pussycat Boutique and the Passional Boutique and Sexploratorium. For older relationships, a slightly scandalous, sex-positive trip to an adult fun shop can be a great anniversary date idea.

13. Set a Private Bookstore Date

Philly is home to a number of great bookstores even in the digital age. Browse some local faves like The Head and the Hand, which offers a chance to book your own private book-browsing date in an empty store.

The experience will definitely fulfill every book lover's dreams for a unique date night idea in Philadelphia. A bookstore date also makes a perfect winter date idea.

couple shopping in bookstore together — *via Canva*

Indoor Date Ideas in Philadelphia

14. Visit the Philadelphia Historic District

One of the U.S.’s most historically rich cities, Philly is home to a number of attractions, including the famous Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’ home, Independence Hall and the Benjamin Franklin Museum.

Learn about the city’s role in the early days of America while exploring its oldest structures for a perfect indoor date idea in Philadelphia.

15. Go to a Comedy Club

How do you have a fun double date? Group dates? Humor is always one of the best medicines, which means a visit to one of Philly’s great comedy venues is a relaxing and therapeutic way to spend date night with your love and others.

Spend some time at Punch Line Philly, the Helium Comedy Club or the Philly Improv Club.

16. Visit a Board Game Café

Board games can be one of the best ways to get to know a new partner and engage in a little competitive fun. A perfect Philadelphia date idea is an afternoon challenging your opponent at one of the city’s many board game cafes, including Queen and Rook Game Café, Thirsty Dice or The Board and Brew.

Board game cafés make a perfect first date spot in Philadelphia. They also are a suitably fun double date idea!

Outdoor Date Ideas in Philadelphia

17. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Not for the faint-hearted with a fear of heights, a great idea for an outdoor date idea in Philadelphia is to experience a bird’s eye view from a hot air balloon.

Rise silently above the city with Chester County Hot Air Balloon Rides or Philadelphia Balloon Rides for a perfect scenic and romantic day date idea in Philadelphia.

hot air balloons in a field — *via Canva*

18. See a Drive-In Movie

Once a staple of classic Americana, drive-in movies have had a rise in popularity in recent years. Catch the latest double features from the comfort of your car with a giant bucket of popcorn.

The Philly area is host to a number of drive-ins and parking lot theater options, including the PFS Drive-In and the Live-In Drive-In. Drive-ins are one of the most fun things for couples at night to take advantage of.

19. Visit a Victorian Arboretum

One of Philly’s most notable and beautiful attractions is the Morris Arboretum, a Victorian-style conservatory and sculpture garden.

With plenty to offer both indoors and outdoors, the arboretum is perfect for a casual afternoon date idea. For some more fun, bring a picnic lunch and pretend you’re back in the 19th century.

20. Go Hiking

The city and the surrounding area are full of places that are perfect for walking or hiking, with gorgeous scenic views and local wildlife.

Local favorites include the Forbidden Drive Trail and the mysterious Ringing Rocks Park, which contains stone that sings when struck with a blow from a hammer.

Free & Cheap Date Ideas in Philadelphia

21. Visit the LOVE Statue

One of Philly’s most familiar landmarks, the LOVE statue in Love Park, is smack dab in the middle of downtown. Is a perfect spot for romantic Instagram shots and romantic wedding or engagement sessions.

LOVE statue date idea in Philadelphia — *via Canva*

22. Take a Fall Foliage Drive

A perfect fall date idea in Philadelphia is to drive outside the city’s enclaves to see some of the most beautiful fall colors in the country along certain routes and locations. Admire the landscape from the car or stop for an impromptu picnic lunch at a number of scenic overlooks.

You can also visit some of the surrounding area's best coffee shops, antique stores and watering holes. With little planning needed, a car ride to check out the leaves makes a great last-minute date idea.

23. Have a Soda Fountain Date

Like drive-in theaters, soda fountains evolve in bygone times. A perfect date idea is to spend some time listening to classic rock and roll and enjoying a variety of sweet treats and beverages like classic egg creams or root beer floats.

Philly has some great soda shops, including the Franklin Fountain, The Pop Shop and Nifty Fifties. A soda fountain makes a perfect inexpensive and casual date spot in Philadelphia.

With a wealth of things to do, perfect for relationships old or new, Philadelphia offers all the amenities of a great historic city. Whether you are looking for a casual date night, meeting up with a new prospect or looking to foster chemistry and creative energy with your partner, you are sure to find a fun date idea in Philadelphia for you.

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