Films Under the Stars

Houston’s Best Outdoor Theaters and Drive-Ins for Movie Night

Grab some popcorn and your lawn chairs: You no longer have to choose between enjoying the weather and enjoying a film.

03/11/2025 By Rosemary Akpan and Meredith Nudo

Ah, L'amore

Romantic Ideas for the Perfect Date in Houston, Day or Night

Need something to do on Valentine's Day? Or a random Friday night? We're here to help you get started on where to take a date.

01/30/2025 By Meredith Nudo and Emma Balter

Love Is in the Air

The Best Houston Restaurants for a Romantic Dinner

Valentine's Day is around the corner, but these restaurants are ready year-round to give you and your partner a romantic date night.

01/21/2025 By Daniel Renfrow and Sofia Gonzalez

NO WORK, ALL CLAY

Take These Houston Pottery Studios for a Spin

Have an artsy weekend with the fam or some friends, or spin the wheel on date night…you can even reenact that scene from Ghost.

09/11/2024 By Claire Anderson and Meredith Nudo

Free Love

Free Date Ideas in Houston for Valentine's Day (or Any Day)

Taking a walk in one of the city's beautiful parks is just as nice as spending a month's rent at a fancy restaurant.

02/06/2024 By Stephanie Bartels

DATE NIGHT

7 Local First Dates Perfect For Keeping It Casual

From guided painting to boba tea, here’s our list of top date spots for all things easygoing.

10/10/2022 By Anna Rajagopal

THINGS TO DO

Sunsets, Salsa, and Ceramics: 6 Artsy Dates in Houston

It's cuffing season and we're making it easy to keep the love alive.

10/05/2022 By Amarie Gipson

Date night just got better

Picnic All Summer Long at the Houston Arboretum

The nature center is offering Saturday evening picnic baskets through August.

07/01/2021 By Catherine Wendlandt

Cherry on top

Our Favorite Date-Night Desserts

What’s a night out without giving your sweetie some sugar? These end-of-meal delights may be entirely cold-hearted—frigid to the core—but at the end of the day, it’s just dessert.

06/01/2021 By Timothy Malcolm, Gwendolyn Knapp, and Joanna O'Leary

Date night

10 Ways to Have a Romantic, Social-Distanced Valentine’s Day

Pull off a grand romantic gesture without getting sick.

02/03/2021 By Gwendolyn Knapp and Catherine Wendlandt

LOWKEY VDAY

55 Romantic Movies to Stream at Home This Valentine’s Day

We’ve got rom coms, fairy tales, and your favorite Nicholas Sparks movie.

01/27/2021 By Lauren Hitzhusen

Bae Day

6 Valentine's Day Dates That Don't Involve a Table for Two

Skip the reservations this year.

02/05/2019 By Abby Ledoux

Date Night

Merlion Offers a Taste of Thailand in Seabrook

Adulting is hard sometimes. Take a night off and enjoy yourself at Merlion.

02/08/2017 By Emily Juhasz

Cheap Eats

Date Night for Cheap—Hear Us Out!

No one likes a cheap date, except for these—all of which promise an elegant evening of ambience and legitimately fine dining.

05/31/2016 By Katharine Shilcutt

Healthy State

Healthy Houston: Date Night at State of Grace

The River Oaks restaurant is a dietitian's dream for a night of romance.

04/14/2016 By Marla Murphy

11 Date Night Ideas Across Town

Avoid the crowds in the city and try a romantic spot off the beaten path.

02/09/2016 By Katharine Shilcutt

Meatless Monday

How to Do Date Night Vegetarian-Style

Don’t settle for just pasta or salad.

11/02/2015 By Marianella Orlando

Special Occasion Restaurants

Celebrate Out of the Box at Holley's and Weights + Measures

This week: our picks for a coffee date, a special-occasion seafood dinner and a birthday breakfast

04/08/2015 By Megha Tejpal

Best Bars 2014

Houston’s 5 Most Romantic Bars

Get a little bit closer at these flirty favorites.

11/30/2014 Edited by Katharine Shilcutt By Dan Derozier, Catherine Matusow, Chris Abshire, and Sarah Rufca Nielsen

What to Wear

Date Night 101

Save practicality for the office and find just the right dose of sexy.

11/05/2014 By Nadia Michel