Friday Date Ideas

The work week is over, hooray! When Friday rolls around, it’s time to let your hair down and have some fun. What better way to do that than inviting your Bumble match on a romantic date? If you’re unsure what to plan, don’t worry–we’ve got you covered. We’ve curated a list of Friday date ideas to inspire your next meet-up. Read on to find out what they are. 

Friday is a classic date night for a reason—there’s just something about having the whole weekend stretching ahead of you. Kicking it off with a fun or romantic date sounds pretty good to us, so we’ve rounded up our top picks of evening date ideas for you to peruse. 

A tried-and-tested date night idea is the humble bar date. It requires little effort from you or your match—just pick your favorite haunt and show up on time. When choosing the location, do think carefully about the atmosphere. A sports bar has its merits, but an intimate, low-lit speakeasy is more likely to create an air of romance and allow you and your date to have a flowing conversation, uninterrupted by hoots and cheers. 

After a week of work or studying, you might be looking for a more chilled Friday evening date. That’s where the classic movie theater date holds its power. Whether you choose to go and see the hottest new release or a (slightly on the nose) rom-com, watching a film together is a low-key way to bond over a shared experience. It might be a good idea to reserve a spot for dinner or drinks when the flick ends, that way you can discuss the plot and continue your evening if you’re feeling the sparks fly.

We’d argue that in the early stages of a relationship, there’s nothing quite like sharing some laughs with your date. That’s where the comedy show date idea comes in–you don’t have to wrack your brain for a witty one-liner, the comedian does it all for you. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the show (but maybe try to avoid the front row).

If an activity date is more your thing, why not try your hand on the green? Mini golf doesn’t take as long as the real thing, and you certainly don’t have to be a professional. Friendly competition is a key ingredient, as you each try to conquer the tricky holes and obstacles. By the end of the 18 holes, you’ll be cheering each other on and celebrating small wins.

Dating can be expensive, there’s no denying that. But at Bumble, we believe that everyone should be able to enjoy a happy and healthy dating life, regardless of bank balance. Here are some budget-friendly Friday night date ideas. 

With the days staying lighter for longer, a Friday evening picnic is back on the cards. Grab some blankets and dig through the cupboards for snacks. If you can swing it, head to the store and load up on some cheap but delicious bits: think pretzels, soda, and dips. You don’t have to stray far from home to enjoy a picnic date–if you’re lucky enough to have a yard, set up camp and enjoy this cheap date idea from there. 

Many up-and-coming local bands put on free gigs in their neighborhood to drum up new fans. Whether or not you’re into the same music as your date doesn’t matter–you could pick the best-sounding band name and head along to see what sounds await you. Bonus points for dancing.

New restaurants often quietly open their doors to a small number of people, to test everything out before they officially launch. If you want to eat out for less, searching for soft-launch restaurant deals online is a great way to go. Vendors often discount their prices by up to 50%, saving you and your date a lot of money for plates of delicious food.

Have you heard of alphabet dating? The premise is simple: for each letter in the alphabet, you plan an activity beginning with the same letter. So, for example, B for board game night or S for stargazing. The beauty of alphabet dating is that it can be as inexpensive as you want, and it’s a great way to get creative and plan together with your match. 

Whether you choose to go for something romantic and low-key or a competitive night of fun, our list of Friday date ideas has something for everyone. Looking for someone to take along with you? Sign up to Bumble now to find them.