There are a lot of great options for date night in and around Madison, WI — both indoor and outdoor options. We would love to hear if you have a favorite that we missed!
Indoor Date Ideas
- Visit an Escape Room together!
- Seven Acres Dairy Company in Paoli for dinner & drinks.
- Take a couples cooking class at Sur La Table.
- Compete in arcade games or Dance Dance Revolution at Dave & Buster’s!
- Climb together at Boulders Climbing Gym.
- Take in a show at the Overture Center.
- Have dinner at Cento and then go listen to the sounds of the Madison Symphony Orchestra.
- Attend a UW Badgers Basketball, Hockey or Volleyball game at the Kohl Center.
- Go Bowling together.
- Check out some live music at one of the many venues in Madison, like the new Sylvee, The Majestic, High Noon Saloon, The Barrymore, The Stoughton Opera House, etc.
- Check out Cocktails in the Conservatory at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Taste some wine at a local winery (Wollersheim Winery and Drumlin Ridge are not far from Madison)!
- Drive to Fort Atkinson for dinner and a show at The Fireside Theater.
- Head to the Wisconsin Brewing Company.
- Laugh it up at the Comedy Club on State Street.
- Tour New Glarus Brewing Company in New Glarus or Tyranena in Lake Mills.
- Visit the tasting rooms of Old Sugar Distillery, Yahara Bay or State Line Distillery
- Order some drinks and whip out the board games at The Weary Traveler or head to I’m Board for a game night out.
- Get creative together at a workshop offered through Board & Brush; or Paint Nite.
- Stargaze at the Planetarium at Memorial High School.
- Stay overnight at a Bed & Breakfast in Madison or the surrounding area, or book a room at the Madison Concourse Hotel (Choose one of the top three floors so you have access to the Governor’s Club!).
- Rent an igloo globe or dome for the night.
Outdoor Date Ideas
- Grab a blanket (and a bottle of wine) and head to Concerts on the Square on the Capital lawn! (June/July).
- Enjoy an evening concert together at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
- Grab a pitcher of beer and take in the view of the lake at the Olbrich Park Biergarten.
- Pull up some Adirondack chairs and sip a tropical drink at the Tiki Bar at The East Side Club on Lake Monona.
- Attend one of the many east side festivals offered over the summer, like the Marquette Waterfront Festival, Fete de Marquette, Atwood Fest, Orton Park Festival or the Willy St. Fair.
- Stroll the Dane County Farmer’s Market or new Madison Night Market together.
- Grab a beer and a brat and hang out at Memorial Union Terrace. Their Terrace After Dark series (May-September) features free live music and movies every weekend!
- Roast some s’mores and play a game by the fire pit at Camp Tripalindee on the rooftop of the Graduate Hotel.
- Play mini golf or hit up the batting cages at Vitense Golfland.
- Purchase a daily or annual permit and go disc-golfing together at a Madison or Dane County course.
- Rent a bike through Madison B-Cycle and check out the bike paths of our beautiful city together.
- Take in the Dane County Fair at night with all of the twinkling lights… riding the Ferris Wheel, playing a few carnival games, eating cotton candy or funnel cakes, etc.
- Watch a movie outdoors with Movies with Madison Parks.
- Head to the Highway 18 Drive-In movie theater and take in a double-feature.
- Take a cruise on Lake Mendota or Lake Monona aboard a Betty Lou Cruise.
- Rent a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board through Madison Boats.
- Pack a picnic and head to American Players Theater in Spring Green for an outdoor show.
- Picnic at the beach – or better yet, hit the newly renovated aquatic park at Troll Beach together!
- Go ice skating together!
- Reserve a fire circle, build a campfire & roast some s’mores at Picnic Point.
- Take a candlelit snowshoe hike or go ice skating at The Edgewater or through Madison Parks.
- Go hiking at one of the many state or county parks in the area.
- Attend an athletic event | Madison Mallards, Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, UW Badgers Football, etc.
A few places to find a sitter
- UW-Madison Student Job Center
- baby-sitting co-ops
- neighbors
- care.com
