Surprise your someone special with a fun, unforgettable and romantic date night!

Melbourne is head-over-heels in love! With long summer days, sizzling weather and exciting events on the horizon, now is the perfect time to plan a special date night. For those tired of dinner and a movie, or wanting to spice things up and try something new, look no further.

We at Hunter and Bligh have compiled a list of the best quirky and unique date night ideas in Melbourne for 2023. Whether it’s your first date or not, make it one you will both remember thanks to our list of fun things to do in Melbourne!

<strong>B. Lucky & Sons</strong>
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B. Lucky & Sons

Part old-school arcade part cocktail bar, B. Lucky and Sons, at the top of Melbourne Central, is one of the best barcades in the city, and one of the best places for a cute date night in Melbourne. What distinguishes B. Lucky and Sons from other barcades is a chill and welcoming atmosphere for any-and-all players. Whether testing your Mario Kart skills or drinking unique cocktails — B. Lucky and Sons is sure to level up your relationship.

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Level 3/211 La Trobe St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
<strong>Holey Moley</strong>
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Holey Moley

Who doesn’t like mini golf? Plotted on Melbourne’s Little Bourke Street, Holey Moley is one of the most fun dates in Melbourne that you’ll have with a golf club. Putt your way through 18 holes of increasingly quirky themes including a Vincent Van Gough painting, a Monopoly game board, and a Forrest Gump inspired course. While the courses may be tiny, you’re sure to have big fun with a special someone. Holey Moley is a hole-in-one for any date night in Melbourne!

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590 Little Bourke St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
<strong>MANIAX</strong>
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MANIAX

The only thing that gets the heart racing like first love is throwing a steel axe half-way across a room. Thankfully, MANIAX promises to impress with this cool date offering in Melbourne. So, get ready for an action-packed date where you’ll feel like a Norse God! And, like any Norse Myth, there’s plenty of alcohol to indulge in. Even if you don’t hit a bullseye, MANIAX is a fantastic way to get the adrenaline going while also getting to know a bit more about your lucky someone. If you’re looking for a unique date night in Melbourne, this is it.

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CBD, Abbotsford
<strong>Bird's Basement</strong>
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Bird's Basement

For any music afficionado, Bird’s Basement will hit the right note for a great date night in Melbourne. Only a short walk from Flagstaff station, enjoy an intimate night out snapping your fingers to some of the world’s best jazz performers. If you’re too square for jazz, Bird’s Basement also offers an eclectic selection of blues, soul and funk musical acts to match anyone’s taste. Be sure to top up your drink with a delicious range of jazz-themed cocktails that will get you both bebopping through the night.

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11 Singers Ln, Melbourne, VIC 3000
<strong>Bounce Inc</strong>
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Bounce Inc

Unleash your inner child at one of the best date destinations in Melbourne. This huge indoor trampoline park, Bounce Inc, will have you and your date playing and laughing like you’re eight years old again. With dodgeball, playgrounds and an obstacle course, there’s plenty to do at this one-of-a-kind unique date destination. You may even bounce into each other’s hearts if you’re not careful!

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Various Locations
<strong>The Butterfly Cabaret</strong>
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The Butterfly Cabaret

If you’ve got butterflies in your stomach, flutter your way on over to the Butterfly Cabaret. Inside this small theatre in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, you never know what to expect: every day promises a new show from up-and-coming talent. Comedy, burlesque, dance, improv and other dramatic odysseys are all welcome at this funny yet equally romantic activity! This unique date idea in Melbourne promises to be an unforgettable night!

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5 Carson Pl, Melbourne, VIC 3000
<strong>The Salsa Foundation</strong>
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The Salsa Foundation

One of the best date destinations in Melbourne, the Salsa Foundation, will have you and your date’s hips grooving like nobody’s business. Right outside Southern Cross Station, this salsa dance studio has offered free beginners lessons since 2008 – the perfect opportunity to get out of your comfort zone with someone special. It takes two to tango, so make sure to bring someone along for a fun date night, even if you both have two left feet. For something romantic to do in Melbourne for couples, The Salsa Foundation is right for you!

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600 Little Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
<strong>KBox</strong>
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KBox

Karaoke is a great way to let loose, sing your heart out and enjoy other’s company. KBox and their private booths are a perfect Melbourne date activity for any occasion between a first date or rekindling an old flame. Right off Carlton Gardens, KBox lets you make a playlist of your favourite tunes –  whether old classics or the latest BTS bop – while enjoying a drink or two. It really is a pitch-perfect way to end the night.

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2 La Trobe St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
<strong>National Gallery of Victoria</strong>
Photographed by Ryan Stefan. Image via Unsplash.

National Gallery of Victoria

Those wanting a more sophisticated night out will be in for a treat at the National Gallery of Victoria (or NGV). With a rotating selection of world-renowned exhibitions, the NGV is a wonderful way to experience breathtaking beauty with someone near and dear. For a romantic and truly unique date in Melbourne, head to the NGV for their Friday Nights that bring together French dining, local DJs, bars and after-hours access to the gallery for a sophisticated evening.

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180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3006
<strong>Tiny Away</strong>
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Tiny Away

As beautiful as Melbourne is, sometimes you have to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to Australia’s gorgeous landscapes. Enter Tiny Away. Offering over 100 unique eco-friendly cabins across Australia, Tiny Away promises an unforgettable romantic staycation. Each tiny house is complete with hot showers, air conditioning, a cosy queen bed and a kitchenette. What makes Tiny Away special, however, is the jaw-dropping scenery: wake up in the hills of the Yarra Valley with the person of your dreams. If you’re looking for romantic, fun and unique things to do, Tiny Away should be at the top of your list!

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For more cool date night ideas in Melbourne, book you and your special someone into one of Melbourne’s 10 Quirky and Unique Dining Experiences of 2023. Or, snuggle up with something romantic to do in Melbourne with our list of The 10 Best Scenic Picnic Spots around the Melbourne CBD.

Feature image: Photographed by Karsten Winegeart. Image via Unsplash.
This article was first published on February 07 2022. It was updated and edited by Hunter and Bligh on February 09 2023.