Sober Date Ideas: 10 First Date Ideas You’ll Love

Luckily, being sober is fun, dating is fun, and therefore sober dating is fun. Just me? My last serious relationship was the result of a sober first date, actually. Most of the sober date ideas I outline below have been tried and tested by a frequent drinker (hi, past me) and were still deemed fun, so you know you’re in good hands.

If you’re still not convinced then I would urge you to try out some of these fun ideas for sober dates and I think they’ll change your mind.

Disclaimer before we go any further: I can provide the sober date ideas but it will be up to you to provide the fun.

10 Fun Sober Date Ideas

1. Go for a walk

I’ve started this list with a simple suggestion for good reason. A date – especially a first date – does not need to be over-complicated. At the end of the day it’s just about spending time with someone you (hopefully) fancy and that (hopefully) fancies you back to suss out whether you are perfect soulmates who will get married and live happily ever after for the rest of time. Nothing complicated about that.

In actual fact, going for a walk is one of my favourite first date activities. This was true even before I stopped drinking. You can get your daily steps in at the same time as falling in love. What’s not to like?

A simple walk is seriously less pressure than sitting across a dinner table from your date staring into their eyes. But you will still get plenty of chances to take a sneaky side glance at them to admire their perfect side profile.

Another plus point: If you are feeling a bit nervous or are running out of things to talk about, there will be looooads of talking points as you go. Cute animals, weird trees, your fave flower (hint hint) etc.

2. Go for ice cream

I mean, who doesn’t like ice cream, right? Going for ice cream is an ideal way to engineer a cutesy moment where they have to lean over to brush ice cream off the tip of your nose whilst you giggle coquettishly.

It is also an ideal way to gauge whether your date has a psychopathic tendencies. Anyone over the age of 11 ordering bubblegum flavour should have a 24 hour police watch on them.

These important points aside, it’s also a relaxed setting in which to sit and chat to someone. And it gives you something to do with your hands if you’re feeling a bit nervy.

3. Do some exercise together

You may be thinking, at first glance, that this doesn’t sound like the greatest idea for a first date. But you would be wrong. If you’re an active person who loves to exercise, then what better way to showcase the thing you like doing than by doing it?

The form of exercise you choose is up to you – you might want to go for a hike, a bike ride, a run, or do a boxing class together. Whatever you choose, if it’s fun alone it should be fun together. Go get ’em Tiger.

Some other pros to exercising together on a first date:

• If they still fancy you when you’re red faced and puffing then it’s pretty much a done deal.
• You can check out their physical prowess and their hot bod.
• Endorphins. Loads of them. Endorphins make you happy. (Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.)
• Shared hobbies are a strong foundation for a thriving relationship.

4. Go for “drinks”

If you want to stick to the traditional first date idea and “go for a drink” then being sober doesn’t mean you can’t do that. Most bars have great alcohol free options available these days. Go for a drink and have a drink. Nowhere in the T&Cs does it say that it has to be an alcoholic drink.

5. Play mini golf

There’s something about the combination of neon balls, competitive energy, and novelty pirate ships, that is just so sexy. You get to show off a little as you lean over to take your shot, have some friendly competition, and there are ample chances for flirty puns. Did someone say Triple Threat??

Plus, if they’re a sore loser (bad) or an obnoxious winner (worse) then you’ll find out early and there’s no need to waste any more time. Win win!

6. Drive to a scenic spot

In the interest of safety – especially if this is a first date – I’d suggest you drive there separately and don’t go anywhere too remote. Le sigh.

I did this once on a first date and it was really cute. We drove to a scenic look out and sat on the car, well, looking out. It gave us a chance to talk freely, whilst soaking up the stunning city we are lucky enough to call home. We went at sunset (I know, I know, but cliches are cliches for a reason) which automatically amped the romance level up to 100.

7. Have a picnic

Considering it’s just eating food whilst sitting on the floor, there’s something surprisingly lovely about picnics. They’re a wonderful way to eat a meal with someone without the intensity of a restaurant setting, and a perfect sober date idea.

Pack a picnic, head to a pretty outdoor spot, and enjoy. A great chance to show off your culinary skills whilst checking if they chew with their mouth open. Picnics for President!

8. Visit a museum or gallery

Wandering around a museum or gallery on a date will provide you with endless talking points. And it is impossible to get bored when you have the literal history of the World surrounding you.

This is a particularly fun sober date idea if you’re very clever and can provide intelligent commentary on the contents of museums and/or galleries. Play to your strengths – go knock their socks off.

9. Go to the zoo

Not dissimilar to a trip to a museum or a gallery, except you’re looking at giraffes instead of Picassos. Going to the zoo is a famously wholesome day out, so you’d be hard pressed to have anything but a very pleasant time.

Compete for who can do the best elephant impression, and then stroll off into the sunset together.

10. Sober karaoke

This one is not for the faint-hearted. If you want to really throw yourself in the deep end and show your date just how confident you are, suggest a sober karaoke date. You go, Glen Coco.

I’d absolutely love to hear how you got on if you try any of these sober date ideas! Make sure to let me know, and don’t forget my invite to the wedding.

If you loved reading about these fun sober date ideas, then I’m confident you’ll love reading some of my other posts about sober life:

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