City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri and producer Abby Fritz helped compile ideas for this segment.
Take it from a lover of cheesy romance and good deals: Date night doesn’t have to be pricey!
Whether you’re getting to know someone new or looking for a romantic time out with your longtime partner, Philadelphia is full of inexpensive opportunities to enjoy each other’s company.
Read on for some date ideas that go beyond the traditional (or tired) dinner and drinks — and also happen to cost around $10 or less per person. Win-win!
📽️ Catch a Monday Night Movie
Tickets to showings at the Philadelphia Film Society’s two Old City theaters cost just $6 each on Mondays (plus a $1.50 processing fee if you buy online).
🧑🎨 Admire Sculptures
Going out with an art appreciator? Buy some pay-what-you-wish tickets to the collection of masterpieces at the Rodin Museum, then stroll down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to check out the various sculptures surrounding the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
💃 Go Dancing!
Brasil’s Nightclub near Penn’s Landing has a $7 cover on Wednesdays and no cover on Friday nights. Both nights feature a salsa lesson at 9:30 p.m.
🎨 Attend a Queer Clay Event Together
Admission is on a $10-$15 sliding scale for Queer Clay PHL’s monthly Monday-evening events in Society Hill, where you can get your hands messy and embrace your creativity in a LGBTQ+-friendly space.
🌳 Explore Nature and Picnic
A walk in the park is a classic date with lots of potential for romance and quality one-on-one time, and Philly has plenty of parks to pick from.
Hey Philly reader Roxanne G. recommends walking or biking together through the Wissahickon, packing a blanket and picnic, and finding a nice spot by the creek to eat together.
🌮 Go on an Impromptu Dollar Taco Outing
Keep your eye on Loco Pez’s Instagram page for its periodic $1 taco announcements (which generally happen the day of the special), and then pick up your partner for an evening excursion to the Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, or West Philly location.
🎳 Show Off Your Bowling Skills (or Lack Thereof)
You and your date can head to North Bowl in Northern Liberties on Wednesday nights for $3 bowling, $3 shoe rentals, and $3 drink specials after 9 p.m.
🛋️ Window Shop for Furniture
It’s not exactly first-date material, but I love a leisurely stroll through the South Philly IKEA showroom. This can be great when you’re in it for the long haul and dreaming about what your future together might look like.
All the furniture browsing will probably make you hungry, so try going on a Tuesday this summer for $3.99 adult entrees at the restaurant, or on a Friday for 50% off entrees.
🍻 Become a Beer Expert
Sip samples and hold hands as you learn about the inner workings of Yards Brewing Co. on Spring Garden Street. A 45-minute tour of the facility costs $10 per person (and includes a full beer).
🛶 Spend Some Time on the Water
Drop by one of the beginner-friendly weekend boating events at FDR Park or Bartram’s Garden during the warm weather months. They’re free!
