We tend to stick to our comfort zones, the things that we know we like, and invariably find ourselves in a bit of a rut.
Now this can apply across all areas of our lives, but if you actually read the headline on this thing, you’d have probably guessed that I’m referring to your dating life right now.
We’ve given you lists on restaurants, pubs, ways to relax and more in the past, but today we’re endowing you with a date checklist for this beloved city of ours.
When you and your boo are fresh out of ideas for a couples activity, simply pick one of these at random…
1. The Blind Pig
If you haven’t heard of this place, it’s because they like it that way.
Located somewhere near Grafton Street, The Blind Pig speakeasy doesn’t publicise its address.
Here’s how it works: you make a booking via their website and you’ll be sent details of how to find this bunker-like Italian restaurant and cocktail bar.
We’d tell you more, but we’ve already said too much…
2. Ukulele Tuesday
Every Tuesday evening a ukulele group meet upstairs at The Stag’s Head pub to play brilliant covers of hit songs.
The group perform a wide array of covers, including ‘Creep’ by Radiohead, ‘No Diggitty’ by Blackstreet, ‘Hey Ya!’ by Outkast and about 200 more.
The public is welcome to come and watch the group play and there’s even a few spare ukuleles behind the bar for those eager to join in.
3. Vintage Tea Tours
Perhaps your significant other is the sophisticated type, the kind of person who drinks tea in dainty little cups. If so, they’ll fecking love Vintage Tea Tours.
This adorable company does afternoon tea on board an quaint double-decker bus, giving you a tour of the city while you enjoy your vittles and the ambient ’50s jazz.
So very classy.
4. Tram Café
After spotting an old, worn-out tram in a field in Co. Cavan, one man had a brainwave to transport the wreck to the Big Shmoke and turn it into a café.
Well, he did it! And now the street car can be found in Wolfe Tone Square where it seats about 12 people, with room for another 20 or so outside, and offers a small menu of nice cakes, salads, soups, sandwiches and juices.
5. Open Gate Brewery
This is a bit of a hidden gem and perfect if you’re trying to impress a date with a little insider knowledge.
In order to gain entry to The Open Gate Brewery – it’s still a functional brewery by the way – you’ll need to book in advance, as its capacity is capped at 120 to prevent it getting too full.
In these spacious, chilled out surroundings you don’t need to worry too much about getting a seat, finding a place to put down your drink, or queuing at the bar.
6. Adventure at Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is fantastic because you really can while away a whole day in the place, and it would be a day well spent.
Take a long stroll in the park, stop into The Phoenix Park Tea Rooms for a cuppa, get a good look at the resident deer, maybe even visit Dublin Zoo while you’re nearby.
At the end of a long day, treat yourself to a well deserved dinner and drinks at The Hole In The Wall on Black Horse Avenue, a charming pub and restaurant with 400 years of history and a fantastic tapas menu.
7. The Dublin Ghost Bus
If you want to inject some excitement and adrenaline into your night, this will scare your date right into your arms – Scooby Doo style.
Well, that’s our theory at least.
8. The Dead Zoo
AKA The Natural History Museum, if you wanna be boring about it.
Why not take your beloved to a hall brimming of stuffed animals and the skeletons of exotic beasts?
If that’s not a hot date, we honestly don’t know what is.
9. Buskers On The Ball
Situated on Fleet Street in Temple Bar, this is a haven for sports fans, with pool tables, shuffle board and table tennis where you can pit your skills against the one you love/kinda like.
Probably not the best idea for overly-competitive types though.
10. The Hole In One Challenge
Boasting a custom built 60 square metre green, the Hole In 1 Challenge has got four holes at a distance of just 100 metres, making the chances of landing a hole in one significantly higher.
As an added incentive thousands of euros worth of prizes can be won, like a European getaway for two or an extreme skydiving experience.
You’ll find HI1C at The Kinsealy Grange, Chapel Lane, Portmarnock.
11. Adventure Rooms
At Adventure Rooms, you find yourselves locked in a room and you must work together in order to solve a series of puzzles and win your freedom before the time runs out.
Sure it might end result in arguments that will ultimately ruin your relationship, but at least it’ll give you something to do for the evening.
12. Catch a movie at The Light House
Probably Dublin’s coolest cinema.
The place you turn to for those releases that just aren’t big enough for cinema chains, it comes with a café laden with tasty treats, a well stocked bar, and plenty of comfy couches to lounge around on while you wait for your screening.
Plus, anyplace that lets you drink booze while watching a flick on the big screen is all right by us.
13. Zipit, Tibradden Wood, Dublin
Zipit Forest Adventures is a forest adventure company specialising in adventurous trail courses in the treetops, just 15 minutes from Dundrum Town Centre.
It’s also five minutes from Johnny Fox’s Pub, to toast yet another successful day of outdoor fun.
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.
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