If you’re looking for fun date ideas in the Dallas Fort Worth area, but don’t want to bust your budget, you’ve come to the right place. DFW Living on the Cheap has the best, most romantic (but also budget friendly) ways that a couple can enjoy a date in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. Some are cheap, others are completely free, but they’ll all leave money in your pocket!
Date Ideas in Dallas – Fort Worth
For the Coffee Lovers
If date night and coffee sound like a great combination, then you have no shortage of options in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas.
Depending on what you order, espresso drinks typically range from $3 to $5. Steep for a coffee? Maybe. But $10 for a date night? Not so bad.
With a coffee shop, atmosphere matters a lot. There are some excellent coffee shops in DFW, with warm and inviting atmospheres making it the perfect place to sit back and relax with good company.
Avoca Coffee, on Magnolia in the Southside area of Fort Worth, has a great atmosphere with beautiful lattes. Warm and inviting, there’s lots of places to sit and enjoy your evening.
Buon Giorno Coffee, off Florence St. near Downtown Fort Worth is a great spot for unique lattes without the hustle and bustle of downtown.
Drip Coffee Co in Dallas, off Lovers Lane in Dallas has a bright interior, cool decor and a great location.
In between Lake Highlands and Lochwood is White Rock Coffee. And it has just about everything you want in a coffee shop – coffee, espresso drinks, hot chocolate and food. Great combination.
And if you’re in Sundance Square in Fort Worth, you can’t go wrong with Starbucks Coffee. The location is perfect – grab a coffee and go for a stroll.
Something Active
Credit: Katy Trail
In the mood for something that gets you and your date up and moving? Check out these ideas that will give you both a great experience to remember. And don’t forget about the area nature centers – most are free and are great places to go for a hike.
The Katy Trail in Dallas definitely tops our list for free things to do in Dallas. Make it a date day and ride this beautiful trail as a couple.
Geocaching is an adventurous idea for something different to do. Not familiar with it? Check out the website and sign up to start hunting.
Head out to a Shooting Range and practice your skills as a couple. There is no shortage of ranges to check out in DFW – they’ll often have ‘happy hour’ discounted rates.
Romantic Strolls
If you’d like to take a romantic walk, but not sure where to go, we’ve got some really beautiful places for you to check out. They would definitely be for a daytime date, but with so much contained in one place – you could spend hours just wandering around. Plus, they’re both cheap AND free! These are a few of our favorite spots…
Fort Worth Botanic Gardens is an incredibly romantic place to enjoy your date. Enjoy a beautiful day outdoors in one of the prettiest backdrops in Fort Worth.
The nearby Fort Worth Water Gardens is a water feature unlike any other. With waterfalls and plenty of benches and ledges to relax, you’ll find a vast place to explore and relax at the same time.
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is the perfect place to enjoy a daytime date with your significant other. Plus there’s $5 admission the entire month of January.
Stop for Beer or Wine
In the mood for an adult beverage? Sometimes going out for a drink with your significant other is the way to go. Most bars and bars within restaurants offer some great deals on happy hour beverages. In fact, hit any one of the up at 5 pm and you’ll either get a discount on wells or a special on beer and wine. But we’ve pulled a few places that fly under the radar for date ideas, but are worth checking out.
The Fort Worth Ale Trail is a fun and entertaining way to check out local, Fort Worth breweries while on a mission to collect stamps for your Ale Trail passport. Fill up your passport and get a prize.
In Dallas, check out Veritas Wine Room – half price glasses on Mondays.
Deep Ellum Brewing Company opens its doors every Saturday afternoon for brewery tours. Cost is $12 if you register online – includes 3 drinks and a pint glass to take home.
Delicious Desserts
A dessert date is just the thing to make anyone’s heart melt. Pies, ice cream and bakery treats are made for sharing. A great big slice of pie calls for 2 forks anyway right?
Milk & Cream in Lower Greenville is a must-stop for desserts. Ice cream, donuts and cereal – what’s not to love?!
Emporium Pies in Deep Ellum and Bishop Arts is a pie lovers dream. With all the classics and unique cream pies, you’ll find your favorite!
Melt Ice Creams has a great atmosphere and a selection of ice creams that will knock your socks off. There’s always new stuff to try and DFW Living on the Cheap may or may not have tried a few at one time 🙂
Cakes, cookies, brownies – get them all at SusieCakes. Located in the TCU area, this bakery has the most amazing baked goods – it’s hard to choose just one.
Attractions Not to Miss
Credit: Kimball Art Museum
The thing that’s so enticing about these attractions is that they’re always free. And they’re really nice places to check out. Not a place you’d say ‘I wouldn’t pay to see that.’ In contrast, they are worth even paying $5 or $10 for it.
The Dallas Museum of Art is always free, but on the third Friday of the month, they stay open till midnight, making this a popular date night destination. It’s free for members, but there’s a $10 fee for non-members. Or, have your date night on the second Thursday of the month when it’s also open late, but admission is only $5.
In Fort Worth, head over to the Kimball Art Museum and Amon Carter Museum. They’re both free and provide a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy each other’s company.
Sporting Events
Credit: Visit Dallas
Going to sporting events can be an expensive date – but that’s not how we roll. Cheap seats and discounts days are the way to go. Sign up for our email list to be the first to know when we get the scoop on ticket deals and discounts. (It’s on the right hand side >>)
Minor league sporting events are your go-to events when you want to check out a game and not pay major league prices.
Head to a Dallas Mavericks game – tickets start at $10, which makes seeing your Dallas Mavericks a surprisingly affordable date night.
Movies and Shows
Credit: UTA Planetarium
The Metroplex has some amazing theatres – reclining seats, wait staff, the whole 9 yards. But they are also $10 a ticket. Or more. When you want to treat your date to an incredible movie watching experience, and not spend $20 just walking through the door, consider going during the week. Tuesdays are a good day for several theatres – or, if you go often enough, consider signing up for MoviePass. And go whenever you want.
The Planetarium at UTA is one the largest in Texas and at $6 for an adult ticket, you can’t beat the price. Experience everything this amazing space has to offer.
Movies can be cheap if you go on the right day. Several DFW locations of Cinemark Movie Theatres offers discount movie tickets. Days vary, but a quick look will get you a great deal.
Regal Theatres offers discounts on Tuesdays at several of their locations. Check the website for the details.
If you’re a Stubs member at AMC Theatres, Tuesdays are great date night – movie tickets are $2 off on Tuesdays.
Not-so-pricey Food Ideas
Credit: Mama’s Pizza
It’s no secret that eating at home definitely saves money. But let’s face it, sometimes you just want to go to a restaurant to relax, unwind and enjoy great company. But if the thought of spending $50 on dinner and drinks for two leaves you thinking ‘no thanks, I’m full,’ then not to worry, we’ve got you covered.
Some of DFW Living on the Cheap’s favorite ways of saving money at restaurants are:
- Appetizers – make a meal out of the specials
- Happy Hours – $2 drinks, um, yes please
- Chips and salsa – it’s free at most Mexican food places
- Sharing meals – because the portions are big enough anyway
- Local mom-and-pop restaurants – some of the best food at the most reasonable prices
Also check out:
Texas Truck Yard in Dallas on Lower Greenville is like a backyard playground for adults. With a relaxed, casual atmosphere and easy on the wallet prices, this is a great spot for enjoying a night out.
Mama’s Pizza is delicious, local and best of all, super easy on the budget. At about $8 for a 10” pizza, you can’t beat the price. Mama’s has locations in Arlington, Fort Worth, Mansfield and North Richland Hills.
Don’t miss out on free or cheap date ideas – sign up for the DFW Living on the Cheap newsletter for exclusive deals, special offer and discount codes! (It’s on the top right hand side >>)
