Only-in-Miami date ideas to keep your relationship fresh and fun

You can’t go wrong with a tried and true movie date – but why not mix things up a bit by sprinkling in some city views, the wind in your hair, and an outdoor movie with your better half? Whether you’re looking to watch your favorite throwback or dying to see that hyped up new release, Rooftop Cinema Club has a little somethin’ for everyone. Get ready to sit back, nosh on some popcorn and snacks, and let the sparks fly.

Alright, so maybe a weekend getaway is out of your budget. With Resort Pass, you can enjoy all of the poolside amenities at Miami’s best resorts and still make it home to Netflix and chill. Day passes start at $25 and generally include a pool chair, but why not go big by cuddling up on a daybed or in a cabana?

For the couples who run, swim and do just about every other sporty thing together, there’s probably one outdoorsy activity you haven’t attempted yet: moonlit kayaking. Once a month, BG Oleta River Outdoor Center organizes a fun full moon ride through Florida’s largest urban park. You’ll get set up with a kayak, and a guide who will lead you through mangroves and across the serene waters of Biscayne Bay until you dock on a small island to enjoy a bonfire with s’mores. It’s the perfect setting for a smooch under the stars.

Prepare for your date’s face to light up when you suggest this one…nothing screams romance like a room full of candles, and you’re going to have the chance to make your own and get your hands dirty together. Candle Land Miami not only offers candle making experiences, but if you really want to up the ante, you can opt for the candle making PLUS a floral arrangement workshop. Um…swoon?! With locations in Wynwood, Coral Gables and Fort Lauderdale, it’s never been more convenient to wow that special someone.

Make that hair appointment, shave that beard, wear your Saturday night best—do whatever you need to do to look snatched for each other because nothing ups the ante like a night at Faena Theater. Currently playing is Allura, a contemporary cabaret with a futuristic vibe, which you can enjoy over ornate cocktails and high-end bites. Faena Theater is also offering its sixth annual jazz series. Through June, some of the world’s most talented musicians will take to the stage to swoon you with sound. Tickets for the Cabaret start at $100 while the jazz series starts at $65.

What says “I love you” more than a fresh, delicious pie? Mister-01’s Wynwood location also doubles as a Pizza School, where you and your S.O. can sign up to learn the ins and outs of pizza making with Master Pizza Chef Renato Viola. Lessons are offered weekly and include complimentary beer and wine, which means you’ll head home with your head buzzing and your heart and belly full. $350 per couple

Name a more iconic way to spend the day in Miami than strolling or skating down the Miami Beach Beachwalk. This seven-mile paved pathway connects South Point to Indian Beach Park on 46th St., perfect for a leisurely stroll along the beach or a full-on active adventure. We suggest ending it near South Point Park, where you can make a quick stop at Joe’s Take Away before settling down on the lawn to watch the sunset. 

What makes for a foolproof date, you ask? A little frivolity, physicality and nostalgia all wrapped up in one. SAY WHAT?! Brace yourselves, Miamians, because your favorite old school skating rink is back on the scene. Anyone who attended a birthday party (or ten) at the former Hot Wheels and Super Wheels will be giddy to learn that the latest iteration of Miami’s OG skating rink recently opened its doors as Miami Roller Rink. So get ready to lace up, grab your date’s hand, and let the good times roll.

Couldn’t make it to Venice this year? Fort Lauderdale’s canals can suffice. One of Fort Lauderdale’s best restaurants, Casa Sensei, has partnered with Riverfront Gondola Tours to bring you a private dinner cruise that’s anything but cheesy. Set sail aboard this charming, open-aired boat and enjoy Pan Asian-inspired fare and sushi as you peek into the backyards of the hyper-wealthy and daydream together. 

If you and your beau like a little friendly competition to keep things going, Puttshack is where it’s at. This neon-filled indoor mini-golf experience also has stations for beer pong and ring of fire, and you can sip craft cocktails as you make your way through this nine-hole course. The balls track your score, so up the stakes and make the loser buy dinner onsite. 

Knaus’ irresistible cinnamon rolls work for apologies, first impressions and creating general goodwill, but a pastry run does not a date make. Strawberry-picking at this bucolic Redland compound, however, does. Think of all of the romantic ways you can enjoy your harvest! Dipped in chocolate, chopped and layered for breakfast in bed, hand fed beneath fanning palms. After filling your baskets with berries to your delight, you’ll want to beeline for the milkshake stand. It’s as quintessential to the Knaus Berry Farm experience as those chewy, doughy rolls. Mon–Sat, 8–5:30pm; U-Pick until 4pm, Nov–April

Related: A Summer Guide to Fruit and Flower Picking in Florida

Relationship need a little shakeup? Grab your pareja by the waist and das la vuelta to Ball & Chain, where live Latin music plays from noon to night. Sip on mojitos before spinning into each other’s arms in this historic Miami haunt, and if you’ve got two left feet, don’t stress it. Ball & Chain offers free dance lessons almost nightly at 9pm: There’s Mambo on Mondays, Bachata on Tuesdays and salsa on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

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Dust off that convertible (or maybe borrow a friend’s) and head to Miami’s Arts and Entertainment District for the Nite Owl Drive-In. It’s a mixed bag of movies but almost all showings thus far have been new premiers. There’s been Avatar: The Way of the Water, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio and Animé fan faves like Evangelíne. But also, we have drive-in classics like Grease. Keep abreast of what’s playing via Instagram and don’t forget to order concessions in advance. 1400 NE 1st Ave

Alright, so we don’t have rolling hills and commanding mountains, but we do have a slow-moving river of grass, and that, love birds, is what South Florida is really made of. When the weather gets cool, hike it out of Miami and into the Everglades to connect with both nature and your beau. From Miami, the closest entrance is through Shark Valley, which boasts both a great bike path and a two-hour tram ride. Or, take the Homestead entrance for a more immersive journey into the Everglades.

Is there anything more immersive than the feeling of being in love? Mmm, maybe Superblue Miami. There’s no need to have a background in art history here; take your partner and wander through immersive art experiences by some of today’s most visionary artists like Es Devlin, TeamLab and James Turrell. Let yourself melt into their floor-to-ceiling installations and, hopefully, into each other's arms. Been there done that? Check out our guide to Miami's best immersive experiences. 

Bowl, skate and get down on the dance floor well into the morning hours at Basement Miami, the Miami Beach Edition’s ground-level nightclub. It’s the only place where you can simultaneously knock down pins and disco punch, navigate a neon-hued ice skating rink in a mini skirt, and bump into a celeb or two at its Studio 54-inspired “micro-club.” If you’re looking to pump up your love life, we promise this place will help you hit the perfect strike.

When you can’t find the time (or money) to get away, spending the day on Española Way is the next best thing to a European getaway. Right now, the alleyway is going through a sort of renaissance, with new bars, restaurants and hotels breathing life into this once sleepy pedestrian street. Start with craft cocktails at El Salón, the Esmé Hotel’s impossibly chic and snug bar. Explore the rest of the property, and then drift over to The Drexel (Mediterranean), Tropezón (Spanish tapas) or A La Folie (French) for meals that will leave you with the aftertaste of wanderlust.

Brunch dates are tricky—hit the Bloody Mary bar too hard and it could mean the end of your relationship. Or, suggest a daytime meal early on and it could mean failure to launch. East, Miami found a way around this for couples who love to brunch. Every Wednesday through Sunday, its secret Tea Room (yep, we’re spilling) hosts a five-course Asian Night Brunch, featuring two hours of bottomless drinks, a selection of specialty brunch items and DJ-spun tunes. She gets her flowing champagne and you stay the hell out of the friend zone. Everyone wins. 

Despite its location off the train tracks near Wynwood, a night at Lagniappe feels like an intimate backyard bash: mismatched patio furniture, strung-up bistro lights and lush foliage all lend to a more private, romantic vibe. Whether you’re enjoying the live jazz music inside or the ambiance outdoors, Lagniappe keeps things cool and casual. Walk in, select your bottle from the cooler (generally stocked from small-production wineries) and head to the register, where it’s uncorked to enjoy with a selection of charcuterie and other yummy shareable snacks.

A picnic and a free movie? Sounds like a dream date to us! From October through May, pack a blanket and beach chairs to cozy up on the New World Symphony’s lawn for their Cinema Series. Keep things PG on the lawn with free movies every Wednesday at 8 PM. Ready to impress your date? It’s showtime, baby!