Well, well, well – look at you go hot stuff! You’ve managed to get double tapped, super liked, successfully slid into their DM’s or maybe just gathered the confidence to ask for their number and aptly migrated that chat away from the horror that is Grindr {Grindr Premium if you’re boujee}. Whatever the 21st century tactic you used, congrats pal, you’re now one step closer to finding the love of your life and deleting Grindr forever – yay!
Let’s face it, dating is hard, trying to showcase the very best of yourself in a 3-4 hour window with a borderline complete stranger is a struggle to say the absolute least. Add on top of that the pressure of trying to decide on a decent date idea, and look at that, you’re now aggressively poppin’ the Xanax and trying to avoid a mental breakdown – how cute.
We’re assuming you’ve had the awkward first date, probably went to a dive bar somewhere, sank far too many drinks to mask your nerves, decided there was some chemistry, some kind of spark, and now it’s time to ramp it up a notch, and actually hangout and do something fun.
If you’re like us, indecisive AF, or just cannot fathom where to go, then boy are you in the right place. Your pals at a Modern Gay’s Guide have road tested some of Sydney’s best date ideas and pulled together our absolute top 5 fun date ideas. You’re welcome…and yes we’re expecting an invite to your wedding.
1. B. Lucky & Sons
Number one for a reason, B. Lucky & Sons is a bit of a new kid on the block, but already one of our absolute faves. Combining some of our favourite things, this boozy arcade is an ideal date spot for any stage of your dating journey – first date? Perfect. Second date? Incredible. Date night 40 years into your marriage because you’re both sick of settling in for yet another night of watching ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ repeats? Ideal.
Although your crush might quite literally crush you at more games of air-hockey than you’d like to admit, you’ll have games aplenty to keep you both entertained on this fun-filled date night. What’s more, this boozy arcade isn’t serving up just your basic ‘vodka, lime, sodas’, the seriously incred bar staff will have you sorted with some of the best cocktails we’ve ever come across.
We’re talking Bubble Cup cocktails like the Purple Haze or the Ocean Blue. If Bubble Cups aren’t exactly your vibe, stress not, the stress-free mixologists behind the bar will have you covered with more standard cocktails, still with an amaze B. Lucky spin, like the Kaffir Lime Margarita or their incred Don Billy cocktail, just to name a couple.
Once you’ve demolished your date across the entire arcade floor (or possibly vice versa #SadReactsOnly), you can retire back to the bar and grab yourselves a bite to eat – trust us, you’ll work up an appetite. Going so much further than traditionally tragic bar snacks, you and your hopefully equally as delicious date, can immerse yourself in a well deserved pizza party, grabbing one of their surely world-famous B. Lucky speciality pizzas, or even grab one of their delectable share items.
Our recommendations? We’re so glad you asked. Go the peking duck spring rolls or the roulette wheel pizza – you won’t be disappointed. Oh, and try literally every single one of their cocktails, they’re actually life changing.
The team are absolutely incredible, and to say ‘LGBTI+ friendly’, well that truly would be an understatement. With half of the team also being friends of Dorothy, you’ll struggle to find anywhere else so fitting for your cute LGBTI+ date night.
2. Tree Tops Adventure Park
Okay Sporty Spices, this date idea is one for you. If you’ve done the boozy nights out, or maybe scheduling conflicts mean that you’re only both free in the day, well look no further than Tree Tops Adventure Park. Exactly as the name suggests, Tree Tops is an outdoor high-ropes adventure course suitable for all ages, with no prior knowledge needed…thank Christ.
Designed for big kids at heart, you and your date will go full Tarzan as you climb, weave and fly through the tree tops on this super fun, self-guided ropes course. You’ll have a flex moment without even trying as you impress your date by conquering over 100 elevated obstacles, including rope ladders, wobbly bridges, tunnels, cargo-nets and zip lines.
This is a date idea that will truly highlight which one of you is reaching, and who is pulling. Swinging in the trees also provides the perfect scene to have your own Mary-Jane x Sprider-Man moment, as you go for a sneaky kiss high in the tree tops – cute!
PRO TIP: It gets windy up in those trees, so dress for the elements…don’t try to ditch the jacket, you’ll probably need it.
3. Holey Moley Golf Club
We’re not sure if you’ve yet picked up, but the Gay’s Guide team love a drink or two, so a date night that includes boozy mini-golf, is a date night that we’d be quick to endorse. With two Sydney based clubs in Newtown and Darlinghurst, you and your (hopefully) above par date won’t struggle to find a round of the boozy mini-golf whichever side of the city you’re on.
This self proclaimed cocktail bar, mini-golf course, work of art and all-out cool hub, will see you and your date attempting to go full Happy Gilmore as you try your luck at up to 27 themed holes, over three insanely fun courses.
Once you’ve kicked your date’s putt, you can kick back in ‘The Caddyshack’, with surreal cocktails like The Sugar Caddy (The club house favourite with a blend of Smirnoff Vodka, lychee liqueur, cranberry and lime juice shaken with blueberry puree and served with the almighty Holey Moley candy kebab) or the Ginners R Winners (Tanqueray Gin, elderflower liqueur mixed with lemon juice, fresh cucumber and topped with soda).
Holey Moley’s fully-equipped bar truly has you covered, and their kitchen will take care of even the pickiest taste buds – perfect for those difficult to please dates.
The team behind Holey Moley are incredibly fun, super LGBTI+ friendly, and an all-round good time, certainly leaving you and your date feeling both comfortable and cool as a cucumber as you instead battle your first-date nerves.
4. Drag ‘n’ Dine @ The Imperial Hotel Erskinville
Right, so maybe you read our second suggestion and thought ‘F*ck no, an upper-body workout on a date? It’s a no from me’. Well simmer down Simon Cowell, this one’s probably more for you. Drag ‘n’ Dine at the Imperial is an oldie, but certainly a goldy.
Operating Wednesday to Sunday in the hotel’s recently renovated ‘Priscillas’ restaurant, Drag ‘n’ Dine truly is the dinner experience fit for a #YahsQween.
This plant-focused, forward-thinking dinner menu, comes complete with a complimentary side dish of drag, offering performances every hour from 7.30pm, by some of Australia’s most dazzling and dynamic queens – including resident queens such as Farren Heit, YazQween, Ruby Slippers and Dammit Janet, just to name a few.
This perfect date idea gives you enough time to chat amongst yourselves between performances, though also gives you a well deserved distraction if you’re unfortunately stuck on a dull date.
Read more about the Imperial’s Drag ‘n’ Dine dinners here.
5. Strike Bowling
Let’s face it, asking your date to go bowling could sound a little naff, but trust us, when you add the Strike spin (pardon the pun) on bowling, which combines great tunes, an incredible atmosphere and several rounds of drinks, your date will get real fun, real fast. A little friendly competition is great for an early stage date…after all you’re probably already both playing games as it is when it comes to your texting ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Offering so much more than just bowling, Stike is your one-stop shop when it comes to a fun date night. Start with a cocktail and round of 10-pin bowling, then throw in another cocktail mid-game (durr), lose said game of 10-pin and repeat until you win. Simple.
…Okay, if losing 30 rounds of bowling doesn’t sound like your ideal date night, Strike still has you covered, also offering laser tag, karaoke and even escape rooms – there really is something for everyone. Once you’re all games’d out, the Strike team have you covered with a top team of chefs, who have whipped up a mouthwatering menu to keep you and your date truly satisfied….because everyone knows you can’t have fun, or more importantly, show your best self, on an empty stomach.
[su_dropcap style=”simple” size=”5″]W[/su_dropcap]ell there you have it kids, five Gay’s Guide approved fun date ideas in Sydney. Remember even if the date’s a total bust, or a second date never eventuates, time well spent, is never time wasted, so for better or for worse, make the most of your date and have fun – good luck pals!
