There are over 4.5 million people currently living in the Phoenix metro area. And there’s a solid chance a good number of your fellow Phoenicians are single. If you’re dating right now in Phoenix you’ve certainly got your work cut out. Save yourself, and your dates the struggle, forgo the ol' rigamarole and all-too-familiar routine of dinner and a movie and break the current dating mold. We’ve assembled the best things to do based on what date you’re on, whether you’re on your first Bumble encounter, or you’ve passed the 30-day mark.
Try new flavors of coffee you never have before
Various locations
Learn something new about coffee with an expert-led "cupping" (that's fancy coffee speak for "tasting") session at Press Coffee Roasters. Taking place at various Press Coffee locations weekly on Saturday mornings, these hands-on cupping sessions provide java lovers a chance to sample four distinct coffees while learning about the journey from seed to cup. It's just $10 to register.
Comment on the contemporary art
Old Town Scottsdale
Take your date on a self-guided tour through the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art where you can contemplate the work of current artists on display like Paolo Soleri or a special selection of works by aboriginal women from Australia. Admission is just $10, and afterward, you can make your way to Farm & Craft for brunch.
Find Elvis guitar at the museum
North Phoenix
Packed full of 6,600 instruments from 200 countries and territories across the world, the Musical Instrument Museum is home to instruments played by music icons like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, John Lennon, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Admission to the museum is $20 for adults, and it's worth scanning their events calendar for shows and talks before you snag one.
Discover a peaceful paradise at the Japanese garden
Downtown Phoenix
Explore the downtown oasis that is Ro Ho En, otherwise known as Phoenix's Japanese Friendship Garden. The walkable pathways wind through a lush green landscape peppered with plants native to Japan, koi-filled ponds, and cultural sculptures. Keep in mind that the garden is intended to be a space of harmony. It's $7 admission, and there's a general etiquette list of rules to follow for a reason, but it's also totally worth the quiet.
Sample cuisine from a James Beard-nominated chef
Various locations
Impress your date with a dinner reservation and taste the creativity of some of the most highly-regarded chefs in the Southwest at places like FnB and Barrio Cafe. Reservations at some of our best restaurants may not be cheap and they may not be the go-to first date option, but they will be worth it.
Explore a tranquil Sonoran Desert landscape
Phoenix
Take your date on an excursion through the Desert Botanical Garden and explore one of its five thematic trails or its calendar of events. For a laid-back night, DBG’s evening concert series, happening from February through June, is a very safe bet; tickets are $30.
Learn how beer is made at Four Peaks
Tempe
Go on a behind-the-scenes brewery tour with your date at Four Peaks to see firsthand how the beer you will be drinking later is made. Brewery tours at the flagship location happen each Saturday for free and offer you the opportunity to sample Four Peaks' award-winning brews.
Spend an afternoon with the butterflies
Scottsdale
Step inside the largest butterfly conservatory in the country and immerse yourself amongst 3,000 fluttering butterflies at Butterfly Wonderland. This date is sure to set your partner’s heart-a-flutter. It's open 365 days a year and tickets are $23 for adults.
Sip wine in Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town Scottsdale
Our state is home to dozens of vineyards. And lucky for you, LDV Winery has an outpost right here in Scottsdale. You will probably learn a lot about your date over a few glasses of wine, so visit the tasting room for flights and small bites to really get to know the person you’re dating.
Check out a current exhibition at the art museum
Phoenix
The Phoenix Art Museum is the largest art museum in the Southwest, making it the perfect place to impress a date with even a smattering of art history trivia. The exhibitions are stunning too, with current runs of art tackling topics like border control, American regionalism, and one piece called "You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies." The latter is a light show you just have to see to believe. After, browse the artisan ice cream flavors at Melt.
Tour a working olive mill
Queen Creek
Head out to the East Valley and ramble through the olive groves at Queen Creek Olive Mill. Enjoy your choice of pizza from their lunch menu on the outdoor terrace and take a peek at the olive oil making process while you’re there at one of the daily 45-minute tours.
Dine in the desert
Various locations
Grab two seats at the long table with Cloth & Flame and dine in the desert among cacti and a gang of friendly folk who appreciate good food and the great outdoors. Diners can expect a multi-course meal and drinks prepared by a guest chef. The dinners are pricey, but there's no other experience like it.
Go horseback riding along the lower Salt River
Mesa
Embrace your inner cowboy and romantic side and traverse cactus-dotted desert trails on horseback with your date. The experienced wranglers at Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch provide guided tours and a quick “how-to” before you saddle up. It's not cheap, but at $49/hour, it won't break your wallets either.
Have a drink at Arizona's only ice bar
Scottsdale
Pull on a pair of faux fur coats and make your way into Scottsdale's ice bar, Polar Bar. This Scottsdale drinkery features an ice-carved bar, ice-clad walls, and we can only assume the drinks are cold, too. Hopefully your date will warm up to you, but play it cool with the ice puns just to be on the safe side.
Kayak your way around Lake Kiwanis
Tempe
Delight in a leisurely paddle around Lake Kiwanis with your date in a double kayak rental. Somewhat of a hidden gem, Kiwanis Park is comprised of 125 acres of parkland and is located smack-dab in the heart of Tempe. You can probably spend hours here, so plan accordingly and bring a picnic.
Experience the ultimate trust fall
Scottsdale
When you're ready to give your budding relationship the ultimate trust test, go for an exhilarating trapeze session at I.FLY Trapeze. Located at The Phoenician, it provides classes where you and your date will learn the timing and the technique -- like a backflip dismount -- of all things trapeze.
Catch a magical Arizona sunset from a hot air balloon
Various Locations
What is more romantic than a hot air balloon ride at sunset, after all? Sweep your date literally off their feet with a trip through the sky on Float Balloon Tours. The ballooning outfit even provides a full dinner and glass of sparkling to enjoy after the airborne journey.
Test your trivia skills together
Downtown Phoenix
Every Tuesday DeSoto Central Market hosts Taps & Trivia, a boozy trivia night perfectly suited for vivacious drinkers and thinkers alike. Pitchers are $5, plus there are prizes if your combined genius can prevail.
Learn to cook like a culinary pro
Downtown Phoenix
For the foodies among us, Michelin-starred chef Alex Stratta offers cooking demonstrations at Match Restaurant & Lounge the first Saturday of each month. Couples can learn how to transform regular home-cooked meals into restaurant-quality dishes through a hands-on demo. Upon arrival you and your date will receive a welcome beverage, and once you're done cooking, you’ll get to enjoy what you've made, of course.
Go on a pedal-powered pub crawl
Various locations
Once you've gotten to the point where you want to introduce your date to your friends, it might be time for a lively, active group hangout -- with drinking, of course. Get the crew together and pedal your way around the Scottsdale bar district, making a few stops along the way, via Arizona Party Bike. These mobile pedal pubs are essentially a party on wheels, equipped with a sound system and clutch cup holders.
Swim with dolphins (literally)
Scottsdale
Yes, you and your date can get in the water and swim around with dolphins at Dolphinaris Arizona. It's not feasible for a first date by any stretch, but this is a terrific way for you and your date to say hello to one of the smartest creatures on the planet with a handshake or kiss from the pool deck. During this unforgettable experience, couples can find out what it is like to be a dolphin trainer for a day while learning about sea life and ocean conservation.
Hit up a boozy book club
Phoenix
For the bookish types, there's nothing more invigorating than poring over your latest read together. The First Draft Book Bar's monthly boozy book club is a great place to do that. Each month, there’s a new book and a guided discussion that follows. And you can’t go wrong with happy hour deals plus a discount on the book you'll be reading from Changing Hands bookstore.
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