Spring into These Sydney Date Ideas with Bumble
By Lisa Clark
Hi. Hello. Remember me? Well, here I am out of hibernation, ready and rearing to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE and share with you some awesome date night ideas around our incredible city of Sydney!
I have Netflixed and chilled (e.g. eaten Messina while binge watching every Netflix series known to man), and while in winter this sort of ‘behavioural trend’ was totally cute and acceptable, it is time to put down the Tim Tams, get up, and show up. Because SPRING IS HERE, and it’s literally that time of the year people have finally realised they weren’t in love they were just cold.
That’s right, it’s time to swap scarves for swimmers, tissues for tan line issues, and take the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ setting off your phone to make this Spring the best damn dating time of your life. Let’s throw caution to the wind and get back to making dating great. So if you match with a hottie, make the effort to meet in person and take them on a fab Sydney date night adventure. The beehive is busy, and we want you to get that honey, honey...
Here are my top date ideas for fab singletons just like yourself, now go on and live your best life!
Organise the ultimate pop up picnic
Who doesn’t love wine and cheese? NO ONE ON THIS EARTH, that’s who. And if they’re lactose intolerant or don’t drink do you really want to date them? You don’t need that type of negativity in your life. I’m totally joking, of course, and the team at Pop Up Picnics have thought of it all: there are also vegetarian and gluten free hamper options so you can nail the dietary requirements of your plus-one.
What better way to get to know someone you’re vibing with then with a good old throw down and (I’m talking about the picnic rug here guys). It gives you the chance to get to know each other in the great outdoors instead of yelling over music in a bar or feeling like you’re in an interview at a serious dinner.
Take advantage of the spring sunshine and have the team at Pop Up Picnic plan, prepare and deliver a delicious hamper to you while you bask in the glorious sunshine with your Bumble babe. And if you really want to take your picnic game to the next level, they also offer cute add ons like a giant chess board or ten pin bowling so you can show off your competitive skills and hopefully bowl them over (see what I did there?).
Hmm, maybe leave the dad jokes to me, and I’ll leave the picnic planning to you...
Where: Collect your hampers from our HQ in Annandale or let us deliver them within central Sydney for $20
When: Their hamper range is available Monday to Saturday (and Sunday for bespoke events)
How much: Around $165 (which is pretty much the same price as dinner for two and trust me the thought you’ve out into this date will get you WAY more brownie points then your regular restaurant date)
Get cooking good lookin’
I discovered this incredible authentic Italian restaurant the other week in Paddington in Sydney’s East. It literally teleported me back to my to my last Italian trip as soon as I walked in the door. The best part is they run pasta making workshops, which is the PERFECT idea for a date with bae. You don’t need to have expert cooking skills to take part, they’ll teach you everything you need to know step-by-step. There are 3 different pasta master classes to choose from, and my pick would be the traditional Italian lasagne class. You get to graze on antipasti while you cook and drink a little vino along the way. Even better? You get to take-home a tray of lasagne, as well. It’s a great way to lock in date two straight off the bat, because that mouth-watering Italian treat ain’t gonna eat itself.
Where: Barbetta is located at 2 Elizabeth Street, Paddington
When: The classes run on Thursday nights and Saturdays throughout September and October
How much: Classes are around $110 per person but that includes the recipes, grazing boards, vino, the pasta you’ve made and a take home tray.
Get creative at a boozy art class
We all know that after a few wines we can do anything. Take me for example. After I drink wine, I just get really good at ALL THE THINGS. Cue my wine glass in hand rapping Eminem riffs like I’m in a rap battle. And I know you must be asking yourself, “What is a rap battle without hip hop dance moves?” Well, I’ve also got that covered, because I saw a pop and lock routine on YouTube once and I realise I’ve suddenly mastered the whole routine after a Pinot or two... crazy times, right?
Anyway, my point is that naturally if you pour me a few wines and hand me a paint brush, I can probs paint like Picasso too #justsaying. Cue date night idea number three at Cork and Chroma, whose tagline is ‘Drink. Paint. Just don’t drink the paint.’ It’s also BYO booze, so chances are it’s going to get a little litty in the city. Get your creative juices flowing with a paint and sip art class in Surry Hills or St Leonards, yep it’s a thing.
Delve into the work of acrylics and canvases and create your own masterpiece, which you can hang in your home or give it to your date as memorabilia of the amazing evening you’ve had (please don’t do that, that was a joke, and that would totally be weird). Here’s what you need to know.
Where: Cork and Chroma 55 Holt Street, Surry Hills or 9 Albany Street, St Leonards
When: Classes run Monday –Saturday 7pm –10pm Sundays 10am –10pm
How much: $60+ your UBER because drink driving is not cool (and also super illegal obvs)
Roll up, roll up, and head to the Archie Brothers Arcade Cirque
Sometimes you just have to leave the best things for last, and this, my people, is my ULTIMATE date night pick. This adult-only game arcade is the perfect place to let your hair down and let your inner (competitive) child shine. Among the myriad of arcade games there is also a bowling alley, dodgem cars, laser tag, and a full-service bar with pimped cocktails, monster shakes (which are perfect for sharing, wink, wink, nudge, nudge), and yummy burgers to curb even the largest appetite.
So you can play ALL the games then settle in for a few drinks and laughs with your date plus the huge stuffed bear they won you on the claw skill tester (arghh, we can only dream).
Where: Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq 75 O’Riordan Street, Alexandria
When:
Friday 12pm –12am
Saturday 10am –12pm
Sunday 10am –10pm
Monday –Thursday 12pm –11pm
How much: That’s totally up to you, you just put however much you want on a card and swipe each game. But just as an FYI the dodgems and laser tag are around $12 a game so I usually put $100 on and that’s enough for me plus one for about two hours of games plus all the big ones too!