Here’s a little list of all of my favorite date night spots for all my couples <3 Why not make your engagement shoot a little more fun and make it a whole date night! Fair warning, not all of these are night time activities and they don’t even have to be ideas for dates, you can just do this stuff with friends too! Most of these are East Side or Downtown centric because I am a College Hill girlie for life and you could not catch me dead on the West Side (just kidding but not really). A lot of these are also a little more alcohol centered (not all of them) because I am a twenty-something so that’s just kind of what going out on the town looks like for me lol.

Central Standard Brewing

Central Standard Brewing has one of my favorite patios and my favorite craft beer in Wichita. Their sours are almost always on point, and I love to pair them with their chips and salsa (which probably comes out of jar but it’s so fire). Sometimes they have food trucks and live music and a crispy autumn afternoon there just can’t be beat.

Sedgwick County Zoo

I grew up going to the Sedgwick County Zoo aaallll the time and it’s still one of my favorite places. It’s honestly pretty big and you could probably spend a few hours there if you wanted. They also do a fantastic job of prioritizing education and conservation which is super important (I did a term paper in college on the ethics of animals captivity so I’m very passionate about this subject). SCZ is a great place to soak up some sun and get your steps in. This is more of a daytime activity because they do close at 5 every day. This is kind of an expensive activity, because it does cost $30 per adult to get in. You can, however, get a membership for $125 that includes yourself and one guest every time you go, so if you see yourself going on a few zoo dates, it’s definitely worth it to get the membership.

Mort’s Martini Bar

Mort’s holds a special place in my heart because it’s where my boyfriend and I went on our first date (cue the aaawww’s). Martinis are half price all day on Mondays so it’s an economical way to get a little drunkie and try some fun drinks. There’s usually a $2 cover in the evenings, but it’s well worth it because they have live music every night. Mort’s is not a place to go if you’re looking for a quiet place to chat, unless you go before 5 PM.

Local Theater Production

I am a biiiiig theatre girlie, and Wichita is very privileged to have an excellent theatre scene. Not only do we get some really big name touring productions, but we also have several local theatre companies. Music Theatre Wichita is probably the most well known and they usually do around five musicals in the summer. I’ve grown up going to MTW shows and even did their backstage apprentice program in high school, and honestly, their productions are absolutely on par with Broadway. MTW shows and touring productions are held at Century II which is centrally located to go have pre-show dinner and/or post-show drinks. They also have a concession stand in the theater so you can keep the buzz rolling during the show. Roxy’s is another fun theater downtown that actually offers a full dinner and drink menu with full service during the show. They have shows sporadically throughout the year, and while their tickets sometimes feel a little pricey for the level of production, it’s always a great time (and they almost always sell out so plan ahead).

Delano

I put Delano as general area because there’s so much to do down there and every year, it continues to grow. There’s several food options, my favorites being Monarch and Picasso’s, but Wichita Brewing Company just opened a third location there with a rooftop patio and ya girl loves a patio, especially if it’s elevated. If you’re looking for a yummy drink, head over to Good Company (or coffee if you’re there during the day) or up to Odd Fellow hall if they have an event. There’s also a couple fun little gift shops if you want something to do before dinner – check out Bungalow 26 and Vortex Souvenir. You can even walk over to the Windsurge Stadium and catch a baseball game in the summertime.

Belmont

The Belmont is hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Wichita, and I usually don’t even eat a full meal there. The atmosphere is fantastic, the cocktail menu is to die for, and their truffle fries can’t be beat. I love to go and grab an all day happy hour drink on Sundays and sit at the bar or on the patio with my kindle. The moody and romantic atmosphere at night is perfect if you’re wanting a cute little date night.

Starlite Drive In

Starlite Drive In is so iconic and while I feel like it’s in danger of closing like every year, it’s such a fun spot for a nostalgic experience.

Bradley Fair

Bradley Fair is another area in Wichita that has endless options for date night ideas. Go grab some drinks on the patio at Newport, go shopping, get dinner at Redrock, walk off dinner around the pond, and then maybe finish up with a night cap and dessert at Yaya’s.

Homegrown

Okay here’s the perfect Sunday morning routine – wake up at 9 AM, log on to Yelp, put your name on the waitlist at Homegrown Naftzger Park, and go back to sleep for like 45 minutes because the wait is probably one to two hours long. Homegrown has some of the yummiest brunch in town with a fun atmosphere and great service. After you finish having brunch, you can go catch some rays in the park, or walk over to the Work Room in the Eaton Place and go look at all the fun stuff they have in stock or even sit down at their champagne bar for a mimosa.

Nifty Nut House & Antinque-ing

This suggestion might be a little more niche, but it has become a regular Saturday afternoon activity for my boyfriend and I to go to Nifty Nut House (he has the biggest sweet tooth of all time) and grab some candy, and then head over the the antique mall that’s just around the corner. Once we finish up there, we’ll head East and go to Paramount Marketplace and do some more antique-ing there if we’re feeling crazy.

George’s French Bistro

George’s probably has the reputation for being one of the most romantic, if not the most romantic, restaurant in town. It’s gorgeous interior and moody setting is perfect for a little more dressy, romantic evening. I’m not a big seafood person, but their Grand Mere Chicken never fails and their espresso martini is the best in town. Definitely on the pricier side, but it’s fun for special occasion (Valentines Day however is a nightmare).

White Crow Cider Company

White Crow Cider Company is close to downtown, a little off the beaten path. Their cider is super yummy and it’s a super fun place to grab a drink and play a board game or some cards (they even have a board game shelf you can choose from).

Clifton Square

Clifton Square is a fan favorite for sure. Go check out what Clifton Collective has on its shelves, get some burgers at Dempsey’s, grab a Summer Brew in the Hideout at Ziggy’s, and then hop on the Q Line to go downtown for a concert or event. 10/10 night.

Picnic!

Sometimes packing lunch and laying on a blanket in the sun makes for the best date. A few of my favorite places to go for a picnic include College Hill Park, Great Plains Nature Center, or Botanica.