Date Night Dinner Ideas

Dinner is a classic, tried-and-tested date night idea for a reason. Now before you roll your eyes and think, “I was hoping for something more inventive,” we beg you to stay with us. Whether it’s your first date or your 50th, sharing a meal with someone can be a way of trying something new, honoring passed-down traditions, or simply spending quality time together. It’s always much more than just a plate of food. So leave your preconceived notions at the door as we take you through our extensive guide of dinner date night ideas. 

Is there anything more romantic than having someone cook for you? Having another person plan, prep, and put together an entire meal for you is undeniably thoughtful, even if you’ve been together for years. 

When you feel comfortable enough to invite your Bumble match to your place, or go over to theirs, an at home dinner date can make for a super cozy and intimate evening. If cooking isn’t exactly your forte, don’t worry. You can order takeout or buy pre-prepared food but still arrange the music, the lighting, the table setting, and, of course, the post-meal entertainment. 

Hosting someone at your home for dinner is a really great way to give them insight into who you are as a person. Everyone likes to eat, of course, but the real point is letting somebody see more of your life and your personality. 

Dinner as a first date idea can feel intimidating to some people, and it’s understandable why. Eating in front of somebody you’re trying to seduce can be tricky, especially since the most delicious kinds of foods tend to be the messiest (burgers, ramen, barbecue…do we need to continue?). 

If you’re concerned with making a good first impression, then why not keep things casual? A dinner date doesn’t have to be a formal, stuffy affair like it’s so often depicted in movies and on TV. Opt for street food or stop by a food truck, so you can easily eat finger food while strolling through a cool neighborhood. This makes a first date dinner have a totally different, more chilled out vibe that will enable both of you to relax and feel at ease. 

Alternatively, a cooking class can make for a great first date idea. You have an activity to focus on, so it takes the pressure off while sparking plenty of conversation, plus you can work together to create something that you can eat afterwards (or not, depending on your culinary skills!). After you’ve cooked together, eating in front of someone won’t seem like such a big deal.

Dinner doesn’t have to be the start, middle, and end of a date. It can simply serve as an entree for more time together. The dinner-and-a-movie date formula is a classic for a reason, but there are plenty of other duos that work just as well. 

If you’re hosting dinner at your place, why not follow the meal with some board games? If you’re eating out on the town at a buzzy new restaurant, continue the fun with a nightcap at a cool cocktail bar. And if you’re grabbing something quick, think of the food you eat as fuel for the rest of your night—dancing, late night art show, comedy club, theater performance, house party…honestly pretty much anything works as an after dinner date idea. Tailor it to suit you and your date’s interests. 

Clearly, all of our dinner date ideas are fun. But if you want to double down on this element, then listen up. 

A kitchen competition between you and your date can certainly dial up the fun factor. You can choose the same or different dishes to make, and have a taste test at the end. Involving some friends or other couples in a group date scenario can make the competition more interesting—you could even do blind scoring. Loser has to do the washing up… 

Another fun idea would be to host a themed dinner party. Again, this might work better in a double or group date so more people can bring the theme to life, but there’s nothing to say you can’t do it just the two of you. Decorate and plan the menu around a favorite movie, culture, era, animal…anything that floats your boat. And remember to dress accordingly—more on that later. 

Dinner dates don’t have to be expensive. After all, there’s nothing personal about going to the fanciest restaurant and ordering the priciest thing on the menu. It’s important to remember that food, especially home-cooked food, symbolizes love and care. Sharing food with someone is really about getting to spend time with them. 

Don’t let keeping costs low dampen the mood. Continuing the idea of a cooking competition, you and your date could set a budget and see what each other can come up with without going over it. It’s a way to show off your creativity and see what tricks your date has up their sleeve.  

Another wallet-friendly dinner date idea is to have a picnic. You can either make sandwiches using ingredients you already have in the fridge or pick up finger food and snacks at the store. Find an idyllic location and, boom, you’ve got yourself a romantic dinner date (you could even pack candles). 

Ah, the all important question: what to wear on a dinner date? Obviously, this largely depends on what kind of dinner date you’re going on. If you’re heading to an upmarket restaurant, it’s going to be quite a different vibe than if you’re hosting a themed dinner party at home. Think about the scenario before you choose your outfit (best to check with any restaurant if there’s a dress code), and remember that regardless of what you’re doing or where you’re going, it’s always important to be yourself. 

One thing is for sure: you will be eating. Avoid wearing anything white or delicate if you’re a messy eater (and especially if you’ll be cooking). You don’t want to spend the evening worrying about your clothes instead of focusing on your date and the food! Opting for comfort is always best in our opinion, but it’s probably best to take it a level up from sweatpants or athleisure wear—you want your date to think you’ve made a bit of an effort, right?

We hope we’ve reminded you why dinner is a quintessential date idea. There’s a dinner date night idea to suit everyone, regardless of what you’re into, so have fun getting to know a new person while trying some delicious food.