23 Indoor Date Night Ideas In Cincinnati Ideas
Break cabin fever by venturing out to try a few of our unique indoor date night ideas in Cincinnati. When the weather turns bad, it is easy to bundle up, turn on the TV and not leave the couch for days. Even though we can appreciate a good Netflix and chill evening, there are times you need to get out of the house.
No budget, no problem. There is plenty to do in the queen city that won’t cost you a dime. Want to peel those three-day-old pajama pants off and slip into something more formal, we have you covered! This list is bound to get you out the door!
23 Indoor Date Night Ideas In Cincinnati
Take a Walking Tour of the Hilton Netherlands Plaza
One of the best places to grab a drink in Cincinnati is the Hilton Netherlands. Downtown Cincinnati has a lively nightlife and food scene but the history and architecture behind the Hilton Netherlands are hard to beat. For example, did you know there was once an ice skating rink in the middle of their main dining room?
Pick up a self-guided walking tour of the hotel at the front desk and go on your own mini adventure. Then pull up a chair at the Bar in Palm Court to listen to live music while sipping on a martini or glass of wine.
The Hilton is only steps away from Fountain Square which hosts a plethora of events throughout the year, weather permitting. For dinner make reservations at Mita’s for a meal of delicious Spanish tapas.
Planning Tip: As much as I love the Hilton Netherlands I found the rooms at the hotel dated and in need of an updating. I would just come for drinks or dinner at the bar and to admire the art deco.
Cincinnati Historical Home Tour
Create your own date night idea by focusing on what interests you as a couple or your date. For the history fanatics, make your own Cincinnati Historical Home Tour. Cincinnati is full of historical homes, of which many offer tours. Make stops at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the Betts House, and the William Howard Taft Historical Site. Complete your historical home tour with a meal at one of Cincinnati’s oldest restaurants, Arnolds.
Planning Tip: Check the website of the sites of the homes you want to visit for tour times or you may have to request a tour.
Rent An Igloo
One of my favorite things to do during the wintertime is to rent an igloo. Many places offer igloos for rent, such as Narrow Path Brewing in Loveland, Lytle Park Hotel, and Newport on the Levee. The View at Shires Garden has greenhouses for two that can be reserved and overlook the Ohio River.
Each Igloo has a different reservation process or spending limit, so be sure to check their websites to know what you are getting into.
Planning Tip: Igloos make a great double or even triple date night idea, as many igloos can accommodate up to eight people.
Grab Korean and see A Show at the Carnegie In Covington
One of the best Korean restaurants in the city is Riverside Korean, located in Covington. Guests can sit on the traditional Korean-style floor tables or in a traditional American booth. I recommend the Dolsot Bimbimbab.
After you get your bellies full, catch a show at the Carnegie. The Carnegie in Covington is not only listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but they offer great shows at a fraction of the cost of a show at the Aronoff.
Catch A Movie At City Base Cinemas In Kenwood
How does catching the latest film in plush reclining chairs that are heated? Movie night has been upgraded at City Base Cinemas. Heated seats and the ability to order drinks and dinner at the push of a button from your chair is a game changers. Gourmet popcorn, delicious pizza, sandwiches, salads, and more are brought to your seat by your server so you don’t have to waste precious date time in line.
When purchasing your movie tickets, you pick your seats, so there is no mad dash to the theater trying to get the best seat in the house.
Axe Throwing and Rhinegeist
Nothing says a unique date than going to throw some axes. Urban Axes is conveniently located next to Rhinegeist, making it a match made in heaven. For those who have never thrown axes, this is an experience for the books. You get a personal coach and endless attempts to score that prized bullseye.
After you get your axe handed to you, head over to Rhinegeist for some local brew. Sign up For A Rhinegeist Tour and look inside this amazing brewery.
Looking for more great date night ideas?! Check out a different set of date night ideas in our 25 Date Night Ideas in Cincinnati.
Hoppin Vines
Located in Maderia, Hoppin Vines is serving up good spirits with a side of duckpin bowling. Delicio has taken up residence, serving tasty pizza and appetizers. With only a few lanes of duckpin bowling, the highlight of a visit here is the wide selection of beers and wines. Plenty of seating makes this a great spot for groups or double dates.
The Cincinnati Art Museum
One of the best free date ideas in Cincinnati is a visit to the Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon going from gallery to gallery, admiring the works of art. With an art collection of more than 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years, many pieces are bound to spark conversation.
Planning Tip: The Cincinnati Art Museum offers Art After Dark, a free event open to adults on the last Friday of the month. Enjoy full access to our galleries after hours, live entertainment, and docent-led tours throughout the night on the last Friday of every month
Take A Tour of Rookwood Pottery
Did you know that Rookwood Pottery offers free tours of their factories? Known for creating the highest quality art pottery and architectural tile in the United States, Cincinnatians are proud to have this gem in their hometown. For a fun date idea sign up for a factory tour to go behind the scenes! After your tour, head over and explore all the tasty options at Findlay Market!
Cincinnati Observatory
Looking for a romantic night out and under the stars? Plan a special date to see what the Cincinnati Observatory is like after hours. You’ll get to use telescopes and view astronomical objects that are not visible until late at night. Do miss out on seeing the oldest telescope for professional use in the United States.
Catch The Performace Series at Contemporary Arts Center
If you haven’t visited the Contemporary Arts Center yet, it is time to start being a tourist in your city. The museum is free and stays open late a few nights a week. The Contemporary Art Center hosts a fun and unique performance series, which makes for an ideal night out. Explore the museum and then noodle across the street to grab a bite at Nada or Sotto.
Planning Tip: You will want to make reservations at Sotto weeks, if not months, in advance if you choose to treat yourself to one of the best restaurants in Cincinnati.
For more fun date night ideas, consider getting tickets to the Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, or the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Full Throttle Indoor Go-Karting
It doesn’t have to be warm outside to get behind the wheel of a go-kart. Full Throttle Indoor Go-Karting offers racers an 8-minute experience at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Two different tracks are available to choose from, which can accommodate ages 4-94. Sorry, if you are over 95, you will have to go and throw axes in their fast axes area. This is a great time for those in the Cincinnati area seeking a little thrill.
The B-Line Bourbon Experience
A great experience date for bourbon fanatics is the B-Line Bourbon Experience. As the gateway to the bourbon trail, Northern Kentucky has created its bourbon experience called the B-Line Bourbon Experience. Five craft bourbon trail distilleries, such as New Riff Distilling, Boone County Distilling Co., and Old Pogue Distillery, make up a portion of the B-Line.
The rest of the B-line consists of six bourbon-centric bars and four restaurants committed to preparing extraordinary bourbon culinary delights. The trail is ever-growing, so check out their website for any new additions. Pick up a passport and get it stamped at all the B-line locations!
Cincinnati Fire Museum and Arnolds
A great little museum worth exploring is the Cincinnati Fire Museum. The museum is listed on the National Historic Registry as it is housed in the old firehouse.
Displays proudly present the city’s fire history and allow you to experience what it was like to work in the busiest Cincinnati firehouse in 1906. Discover some of the oldest firefighting equipment in existence and even slide down a fire pole.
After touring the museum, swing by Cincinnati’s oldest bar Arnolds. Arnolds Bar and Grill is a staple in Cincinnati, serving up pub fare and ice cream sundaes in mini bathtubs!
Brew Bus Tour
A great thing to do when it is crummy outside is to drink beer!! The good news is Cincinnati has a booming craft beer scene just waiting for you to explore. Drink responsibly by hopping on a Craft Connection Brewery Tour! These fun tours take you to local breweries and allow you to sample various beers at each one. You can take one of their scheduled tours or schedule a private tour.
Plan A Street Car Food Tour
A great indoor date night activity in Cincinnati is hopping on the Cincinnati Connector for a city tour. The Cincinnati Connector is a great way to see a big portion of downtown without walking or parking in multiple areas. There is currently no charge to ride the streetcar, which means this is a great way to eat your way around the city! Check out our create-your-own Cincinnati Connector Streetcar tours!
The Escape Game On The Banks
This is a great couples date night idea! Prepare to grow closer as you work together to complete a mission and escape in 60 minutes! These fun adventures are all the rage, and it is clear to see why.
Each room is a differently-themed adventure with new challenges, clues, and puzzles to solve. We did the Gold Rush Adventure at the Escape Game on the Banks, and it was a blast, and we even escaped! Take advantage of being on the Banks and grab dinner at one of the great restaurants located within walking distance from the Escape Game.
Catch A Show at Memorial Hall and Grab a Drink at Queen City Radio
Located right across the street from Washington Park, Memorial Hall is a phenomenal venue that offers a great variety of shows and performances. This historical theater is also home to a remarkable collection of artifacts and artwork from the local civic and military history. After your show, we recommend grabbing a drink at Queen City Radio.
Are you looking for another great place to grab a cocktail? Check out the Best Bars in Cincinnati!
Take A Painting Class
Learn a new skill by signing up for one of the many painting classes offered throughout Cincinnati. Each one is unique, offering guests a chance to take home their own masterpieces. I am by no means a great artist, so I often wrap my awful paintings up for white elephant gifts during the holiday season.
Sushi at Mei followed by a show at Go Bananas Comedy Club
Our favorite sushi restaurant in town is Mei Japanese. It is located in Montogermy, around the corner from Go Bananas Comedy Club. Take your dining experience to another level by reserving one of their tatami rooms. If sushi isn’t for you, try out the Pacific Kitchen next door to Mei! Then catch a comedy show or amateur night at Go Bananas Comedy Club.
Take a Glass blowing class at Neusole Glassworks
Try something new by taking a glass-blowing glass at Neusole Glassworks. They have a variety of different class options available for all levels. Take a class on blowing glass, or come in for a session to make your masterpiece. They even offer special events for the holidays such a creating penguins and pumpkins.
Lucky Cat Museum and then go Karaoke at Toyko Kitty
Many may not have heard of the tiny little Lucky Cat Museum in Essex Studios. This fun museum is jammed pack with more lucky cats than you could imagine. Good fortune is bound to be with you as you take in endless displays of lucky cats from around the world.
The museum is small, but get a fun souvenir on your way out! Then head downtown for some Karaoke at Toyko Kitty! Come in for their Happy Fun Song Time, or book a private room.
Take A Cooking Class At William Sonoma
Learn a new recipe or pick up some new tips for the kitchen by participating in a cooking class. There are various classes and events to choose from, with unique seasonal offerings thrown in the mix. Check out their class schedule, and if you sign up, you get an extra 10% savings on same-day store purchases.
Visit The American Sign Museum
A genuinely unique indoor date night in Cincinnati is the American Sign Museum. Packed full of vintage signs, this museum is a Cincinnati treasure. We recommend taking on of their free tours as it brings the museum to life. They also have a neon repair shop where guests can watch the fine art of neon making and repair. It is a sight to behold.
Are you looking for great date night ideas in Cincinnati that are outdoors?
- Go to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
- Catch a Cincinnati Reds Baseball Game
- Go for a romantic walk in Smale Riverfront Park
- Catch a concert at Riverbend Music Centers
- Go hiking at Ault Park
- Take a picnic Alms Park.
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Indoor Date Night Ideas in Cincinnati
