The Best Ideas for a Fun Date Night in Atlanta
From intimate cocktail lounges to romantic rooftops, these experiences make for perfect date night during the warmer months.
Spring is the best time of year. The weather isn’t too hot—or too cold—providing the perfect opportunity to do what you want, when you want. Anything is possible, but there’s nothing like a great date night to take advantage of the warmer months in Atlanta.
The city has a strikingly beautiful skyline, so dinner or drinks at a rooftop hot spot make an obviously romantic outing. But beyond great restaurants and bars, Atlanta has fun activities like the BeltLine’s Illuminarium or Botanical Gardens that can create unforgettable memories for you and that special someone. Love is in the air and spring is only here for a limited time, so check out our ideas for a fun date night in Atlanta and don’t let this beautiful season pass you by.
Midtown
With several locations throughout Atlanta, there’s something about South City Kitchen’s Midtown spot that brings an intimate energy. Nestled amidst a string of reputable establishments, South City Kitchen has a menu filled with items such as She-Crab soup to the exquisitely cut New York Strip, but the wine list is where this spot really shines. The nationally known wine list features a bevy of selections, so the bar is a go-to for singles looking to mingle and couples that want to get just a little bit closer.
Old Fourth Ward
This dimly lit cocktail lounge located just off the BeltLine is perfect for a sexy date night. The intimate space can easily set the mood for you and your plus one, and it also features one of the best cocktail selections in Atlanta. In addition to the carefully curated mixes of pop, hip hop, R&B, and soul music, it also provides its clientele with live performances, making the experience even more real.
Inman Park
They say that oysters are a natural aphrodisiac, so there’s no better place to bring that special someone than BeetleCat in Inman Park. The outside patio is a popular, prime location for people watching, providing the perfect opportunity for laughter during a romantic outing. The restaurant has an oceanfront vibe, and a menu that boasts seafood items like branzino, flounder, swordfish, and the like, so the spring weather makes for a fitting backdrop for the occasion.
Westside
This spring will undoubtedly belong to Rooftop L.O.A.—aka Atlanta’s jaw-dropping rooftop oasis that sits atop The Interlock. The sprawling space has so many areas that would make for the perfect date night—from the dark and moody coastal European eatery that’s simply called The Restaurant to the warm fire pits that overlook the city below. Since its opening two years ago, Rooftop L.O.A. has established itself as a staple, so get ready to be your date’s favorite suitor this spring.
Old Fourth Ward
The Illuminarium is one of Atlanta’s most visually stunning attractions, and is a unique date idea for those who want to do something different than the typical dinner and a movie. Here, visitors can experience the popular African safari-themed WILD exhibition and the exhibitions Space and Waking Wonderland. If you and your date get hungry, you won’t even have to leave the attraction. The Illuminarium Cafe—which boasts a small but impressive menu consisting of House-Smoked Brisket Mac ‘n Cheese, melts, burgers, and more—is what brings it all together and makes The Illuminarium the perfect place for a romantic date night. You and your boo can grab dinner, see an incredible multi-sensory presentation, and enjoy cocktails in one location.
Midtown
For a serene date that puts you face to face with some of the most beautiful plantlife in the city, head over to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. In the coming months, visit for Cocktails in the Garden, a weekly event that features live music and crafted cocktails, all while having the opportunity to explore the current exhibition Trolls: Save the Humans. While plenty of the ABG’s fan-favorite features return, guests can expect new twists, including the romantic Atlanta Rose Show, located in the Day Hall on May 13, and three massive sculptures from the spring/summer exhibition, Origami in the Garden.
West Midtown
One of the coolest additions to Atlanta over the last couple of years has been Puttshack. Playing mini-golf has always been fun, and with Puttshack’s engaging new technology, the entire experience has been elevated for adults. Without having to manually keep track of the score, you and your date will be able to focus a lot more on how great Puttshack’s signature cocktails are, from the Hennessy Islands to the Peach Tea on Peachtree.
Austell
Six Flags Over Georgia is back in season, and although you may think that amusement parks are just for teenagers, here’s why you should definitely consider it for your next date: In addition to all of the thrills, fun attractions, and chances to win your date an oversized stuffed animal, you two will almost certainly be forced to spend a significant amount of time together in food and ride lines, so use that time to get more familiar with each other.
Ponce City Market
When the spring time arrives, we all want to get out of the house, right? One of the coolest places in Ponce City Market is City Winery, a place with a vast selection of wine (and an amazing Tasting Room), a restaurant with a great menu, and a stage where you can hear some of the best live music in Atlanta. Along with its regular jazz concerts throughout the month, there’s also a wide range of performances from R&B and country artists as well. The ambiance inside is intimate, and on those beautiful evenings, you and your significant other can sip on the establishment's refreshing Palomas.
Old Fourth Ward
There’s no outdoor date that’s more romantic than a sunset dinner overlooking the city at Nine Mile Station. The breathtaking open-air date offers a beautiful rooftop view of Buckhead, Downtown, and Midtown, and the food—we’re talking mouth-watering menu options like Scottish Salmon, Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio, Smoked Trout Croquettes, Sesame Crusted Tuna, and more—is just as impressive as the view. Physically elevate your next dinner date by bringing your SO to an on-point meal on top of Ponce City Market, and afterward, go enjoy all of the fun rides and games that Skyline Park has to offer.
Downtown
Love is not only in the air—it’s in the water too. During the warmer months, the Georgia Aquarium regularly hosts 20,000 Beers Under The Sea, one of its most popular yearly events. You and your acquaintance can enjoy unlimited beer, hard seltzer and cider samples; feast on a seasonally inspired buffet dinner; listen to live music; and check out more than 500 aquatic species. For a more laid-back experience, check out the exhibit, A Breath of Sage, to learn more about your person by collaborating in a meditative art and taking in the ocean views that include whale sharks, manta rays, and so much more.
Downtown
Although you probably drive by it all of the time, a solid year-round date idea is the enormous SkyView Ferris wheel Downtown. For just $14.75 (and $12.75 for seniors, military, and students), SkyView riders can enjoy a nice private ride on one of Atlanta’s tallest attractions, and since it stays open pretty late—till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays—the massive in-town Ferris wheel can be the perfect way for you and your date to end the night.
Locations vary
If your date was born and raised in Atlanta, you can still show them a different side of the city by taking them on a scenic helicopter ride over the city skyline. Prestige Helicopters offers several aerial tours to choose from, including a 10-minute nighttime tour of the King & Queen buildings in Buckhead, a 30-minute tour throughout Downtown and Buckhead, and the 70-minute Ultimate Tour of the Chattahoochee River, Lake Lanier, Buckhead, Downtown, Decatur, and Stone Mountain. Whether you’re aiming to make an unforgettable impression for your first date or looking for a romantic anniversary celebration, a helicopter ride makes for a great experience for both of you.
Midtown
You can’t go wrong with a date at the High Museum of Art. To make your trip to the High a little easier on the pockets, visit on the second Sunday of the month when tickets are on the house. You’ll be able to show your date exhibitions like Joseph Stella: Visionary Nature, Bruce Onobrakpeya: The Mask and the Cross, and the works of George Voronovsky—all without opening up your wallet. The establishment also hosts High Frequency Friday, a happy hour and house party, once a month. It has become one of the most attended events of the spring, and regularly sells out weeks in advance—so get your tickets as early as possible and get ready for one of the coolest free dates in the city.
Moreland Avenue
The dinner-and-a-movie formula is pretty hard to screw up, but don’t take our word for it. Skip the chains and opt for a movie going experience that will transport you and your date back in time: the legendary Starlight Drive-In. For what’s arguably the best date-night deal in Atlanta, you can bring your own food and drink and watch a double feature from the sanctuary of your car all for $10.