The work week is solidly underway, and amid all the stress of the daily grind, you start planning your weekend somewhere around Wednesday. Or, maybe the week gets away from you, it's suddenly Friday and you are stressing about what to do and where to go with your new date, significant other, or your treasured "girls night out" or "boys night out".
Want some new ideas on what to do for a date night in Tampa Bay? We've got you covered.
Laugh off the work week...
The couple that laughs together, stays together! Comedy shows are a great date night activities and Tampa Bay has no shortage of comedy clubs to choose from. Tampa Improv Comedy Club in Ybor City takes the cake if you're looking for a club that's just as intimate as the comedians that have graced its stage - from Bill Burr to Margaret Cho, Pauly Shore, Mo'Nique and more. Tickets usually cost anywhere from $15 upwards. Best of all, if you register on tampaimprov.com, you'll get frequent emails about winning tickets to shows in the future, saving you and your date a little cash to spend on their extensive drink and food menus.
Farther north, you'll find Side Splitters Comedy Club, a Tampa comedy institution where you can see professional comics like Heather McDonald of Chelsea Lately and Ben Gleib of Idiotest as well as some bonafide stand-up comedy legends like Andrew Dice Clay, Gilbert Gottfried, Carl LaBove and Dom Irrera. Side Splitters might be the longest-running comedy club in Tampa, making it a must-visit for any stand-up comedy fans in the area. Much like the Improv, signing up for their email list will get you a ton of great discounts and free admission to select upcoming shows.
Team up for an escape room challenge...
The newest entertainment sensation across the country is challenging and interactive escape games. Tampa is lucky to have some great venues with plenty of challenging escape scenarios for parties of 2 to 12 depending on your choice of venue. Just north of Downtown Tampa, Rabbit Hole Escape Games offers a rotating selection of escape scenarios. For instance, Shadows of the Skunk Ape where you and your team play park rangers at the fictitious Cabbage Lake Park. Here, a prized item's been stolen, but with the help of the park's mysterious Skunk Ape, you and your team might just be able to find the stolen item and escape as the heroes of Cabbage Lake.
Over in Brandon, the Time Trapped Escape Room offers guests two escape rooms to choose from. One is a 1920's mobster-themed challenge where you and your team are tasked with gaining access to the fictitious 21 Club. Once you're in, you've got 60 minutes to find evidence that will take down notorious crime boss Lucky Luciano. The other involves a haunted house where your team has an hour to find an elusive spellbook that will free you from the darkness inside.
Get romantic on the rooftops...
The Tampa Bay area has no shortage of rooftop bars to choose from, but there's one sits near and dear to this guy's heart - Edge Social Drinkery. Atop the Epicurean Hotel It was here where I proposed to my now-fiance. The sky was a dusky orange, I was a nervous wreck (but leveled, thanks to their signature Edge "Old Fashioned" cocktail), and my then-girlfriend had no idea. Before my knee it the ground, the tears started flowing as I bumbled through an ode to how much I love her and the future we're going to have together. We followed it up with dinner at the Bern's affiliated Elevage restaurant on the ground floor, and a surprise stay at the actual Epicurean Hotel - where a complimentary bottle of champagne awaited us in our beautifully modern room.
That was a little over-the-top, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you're looking for something a little more casual, The Attic Cafe offers a nice view overlooking the heart of Downtown Tampa while Fly Bar and Restuarant's rooftop bar has a cool backyard vibe, perfect for kicking back after a meal at the restaurant, or just a long day's work - especially when it's happy hour. Stop by anytime between Monday and Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. for $3 drafts, $3.50 premium wells, $5 sangrias, and half-off all bar food.
Rediscover Downtown Tampa on the Riverwalk...
The Tampa Riverwalk is no ordinary sidewalk. It's an all-access pathway to some of the city's newest and most interesting attractions. At 2.4 miles long, the Riverwalk stretches from Ulele and the adjacent Waterworks Park all the way down to Channelside. Take a stroll with your date and you'll discover a variety of new bars and restaurants along the Riverwalk, as well as family-friendly attractions like Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the Glazer Children's Museum, Amalie Arena and so much more. If you don't have anything specific in mind for your next date night in Tampa, the Riverwalk is an excellent option since there are so many things to see and do along this one-of-a-kind walkway.
With all this in mind, we want to know what your favorite date night in Tampa looks like!! Share some of your favorite date night ideas with us and maybe get a little inspiration by leaving a comment below.
If you're looking for more Things to Do, connect with us on 813area for Events, Sports, Shopping and more! Registration is free.
