St. John’s Date Ideas

Dating in St. John’s can be hard.  The pool of people is quite small and typically it’s much less than 6 degrees of separation between you and a potential mate.  

One of the bigger issues though, is coming up with novel date ideas in the St. John’s area.  While I sympathize with readers in more rural communities who are probably thinking that St. John’s has a million date possibilities, it can sometimes be challenging coming up with a unique idea.

Fortunately we’re here to help.

We’ve brainstormed, researched and gone back through our memories to come up with a list of 35 date ideas for the St. John’s area.

The list isn’t exhaustive, but we’ve come up with a broad range of ideas that should suit anyone’s interests.  We understand that some of these ideas might be obvious (go for a coffee might be the best example of this), but we’ve tried to spruce up these ideas to give you some options.

It should be noted that these aren’t strictly first date ideas.  Couples married for 20 years will certainly find value in this list as well.  But where we think it’s appropriate, we’ll identify the ideas that we think would make for good first dates.

1. Clay Cafe (Mt. Pearl)

If you want to put your creative side on display then the Clay Cafe might be the perfect setting.  You and your date can pick out a couple of pre-made pieces of pottery and spend the evening painting them.

Be sure to be on the lookout for their Cork-n-Canvas nights where you can bring a bottle of wine to drink while you do a painting class!

Price: $$-$$$
Season: All year
First date: Yes
Website: Clay Cafe

2. Ferryland Lighthouse Picnic

This date idea has a lot to love. The drive to Ferryland alone will take you along the Southern Shore which provides some amazing views.  The hike to the lighthouse is along a narrow piece of land leading out of the harbour with amazing views (you can park closer to the lighthouse if you like, but the walk from the visitor centre isn’t too strenuous). And the food that is prepared in the actual lighthouse is amazing. They even give you a picnic basket and blanket that you can use to sit on the cliff overlooking the ocean.  Be sure to book in advance of going though!

Price: $$ (factoring in gas it may be $$$)
Season: Summer
First date: No
Website: Ferryland Picnic

3. Admirals Green – Mini Golf

A fun and cheap date idea is a round of mini golf at the Admiral’s Green Mini Golf Course on Macdonald Drive.  You can get your competitive juices flowing and make a deal that the loser of the round has to buy the ice cream after (and why not head to Moo Moos for the ice cream).

Price: $
Season: Late spring – early fall
First date: Yes
Website: Admiral’s Green Mini Golf

4. Drink at Blue on Water

There are so many places in downtown St. John’s to meet for a drink, but the recently renovated bar side of Blue on Water tends to be my favorite for a date.  If you plan the date for a weeknight evening you should have no trouble getting a table.  The ambiance at Blue is great and it’s quiet enough that you can have a conversation with each other without having to yell.

Price: $
Season: Year round
First date: Yes
Website: Blue on Water

5. Coffee at Coffee Matters

The coffee date is a date that everyone is familiar with and no list of date ideas would be complete without it.  Coffee Matters serves as a great location for this type of date as it has a nice atmosphere but isn’t typically so busy that you aren’t sure ahead of time whether or not you’ll get a table (which is often the case at Starbucks).  They have a number of locations around the city as well, so you’re not limited to just the downtown location.

Price: $
Season: Year round
First date: Yes
Website: Coffee Matters

6. ECT Trail Hike

We are lucky to have some great hiking trails accessible to us in the St. John’s area courtesy of the East Coast Trail (ECT).  There are various trails you can hop on right in the St. John’s area or even just outside the city that provide some breathtaking views.  If you and your date are up for some fresh air and some exercise, you can find a trail nearby that suits your needs.  The ECT website provides tons of information about trail locations and difficulty that you can use to plan your date.  While summer is most likely the most comfortable time to hike the trail, you can make use of the trails year-round by bringing along a set of snowshoes during the winter months.

Price: FREE
Season: Year round
First date: No (unless you share a love of hiking)
Website: East Coast Trail

7. Dog park

If you are both dog lovers and one of you (or both) have a dog, take them down to the Quidi Vidi dog park.  You both can get to know each other while Fido meets some new friends of his own.  As any good dog owner should know, you should exercise them first before going to the dog park, so take a lap around Quidi Vidi Lake first.

Caution: If you know your dog isn’t the best behaved and may cause a scene, you should probably avoid this date idea!

Price: Free
Season: Year round – but I would suggest waiting until the snow is gone
First date: Yes
Website: N/A

8. Cross country skiing/snowshoeing at Pippy Park

You’ll definitely want to make sure your partner/date is comfortable on a set of cross country skis first, but the trails around Pippy Park can make for a fun afternoon.  There are groomed trails and some not so groomed trails for the more adventurous.  If cross country skiing isn’t your thing, there are also snowshoeing trails around the park that you can make use of.

If you don’t happen to have skis or snowshoes, then no worries.  You can rent both by the hour at the park.

Price: $
Season: Winter
First date: Maybe – depends on activity level
Website: Pippy Park – Winter Fun

9. St. John’s Haunted Hike

The St. John’s Haunted Hike makes for a great date activity on a nice summer night.  It’s a great activity to get outside, find out about some of the areas in the downtown area and hear a scary tale or two from master storyteller Dale Jarvis.

Price: $
Season: Summer
First date: Yes
Website: St. John’s Haunted Hike

10. Johnson Geo Centre – Special nights

While the Johnson Geo Centre is a pretty cool spot to check out on it’s own, be on the lookout for their ‘Geo After Dark’ series.  In the past they’ve had events like ‘Volcanoes of the World’ and ‘Science of Wine.’  These events can provide for an entertaining evening with a bit of science fun mixed in.

Price: $
Season: Year-round (follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on their events)
First date: Yes (Depending on the event)
Website: The Johnson Geo Centre Facebook page

11. Zip Lining in Petty Harbour

This idea definitely calls for an adventurous partner, but if both of you are up for it North Atlantic Ziplines based in Petty Harbour offers a chance for some great thrills as you zip line down from the hill over-looking the scenic community of Petty Harbour.

Price: $$$$
Season: Late spring-early fall?
First date: Yes – if you’re the adventurous type
Website: North Atlantic Ziplines

12. St. John’s Ice Caps Game

The original incarnation of the St. John’s Ice Caps may have moved on, but professional hockey continues to be played in St. John’s this year with the arrival of the Montreal Canadiens farm team at Mile One Stadium.  If you’re both into hockey, this is the best show in town.  And the atmosphere this year is sure to be electric with the number of Habs fans in the province.  Grab some arena fries and your favorite beverage and enjoy the game.

Price: $$
Season: Early fall to early spring
First date: No
Website: St. John’s Ice Caps – Upcoming schedule

13. Breakout St. John’s

Breakout St. John’s is a unique experience that locks you into a room where you must look for clues in the room itself to try to escape.  That description sounds terrifying, but it’s actually a fun experience where you essentially try to solve a puzzle in an effort to crack the secret to escape the room.  While you can certainly have fun with this experience with two people, it makes for a great chance to have a double (or even triple date).  

Price: $$
Season: Year round
First date: No
Website: Breakout NL

14. Farmers Market

If you’re up for a cute little Sunday morning outing, head down to the St. John’s Farmers Market at the Lions Club property on Mayor Ave.  It’s not a huge farmers market but why not set a budget and do some friendly haggling to see who can get the best deal.  And be sure to pick up some food for lunch from one of the vendors for lunch.  There’s a number of culturally diverse options that different from the typical St. John’s restaurant fare.

Price: $
Season: June – December
First date: No
Website: St. John’s Farmers’ Market

15. Folks festivals

The summer events calendar in the St. John’s area is filled with folks festivals. Some are larger than others, but all of them can provide some fun.  Whether it’s the Kelligrews Soiree or Puffin Fest, scope out a festival a few weeks in advance and make some plans to attend for a portion of the day.  Take in some live music and enjoy a day in the sun!

Price: $$
Season: Summer
First date: Maybe
Website: NL Tourism – Festival & Events

16. Skate at the Loop

Located right in the heart of the city in Bannerman Park is “The Loop.”  The Loop is an outdoor skating trail through the park that launched with great success in 2015.  On a nice winter day this could make for a fantastic setting for a date and give you and your date a great excuse to go for some hot chocolate afterwards to warm up.

Price: FREE
Season: Winter
First date: Yes
Website: The Loop

17. Supper at Mallard Cottage

Supper at Mallard Cottage restaurant provides a great atmosphere with a locally sourced menu unique enough to give you lots to discuss with your date.  The menu can be a little adventurous for some, so make sure your date isn’t too picky of an eater prior to heading there.  The menu at the restaurant does change from day to day, so make sure you check out their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/themallardcottage) to get an idea of what will be served.  In addition to the great food, the location of Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vidi Village allows you take advantage of a post-supper walk through the quaint community in warmer months.

Price: $$-$$$
Season: Year round (Tuesday to Saturday)
First date: No
Website: http://www.mallardcottage.ca/

18. Brewery tour (Quidi vidi)

Another date idea in the Quidi Vidi area is a tour of Quidi Vidi Brewing’s brewery.  Located right in the heart of Quidi Vidi Village, the brewery offers 45 minute tours of their facility.  The tour provides for some laughs thanks to the guide’s knowledge of the brewery and an opportunity to sample some of the beers brewed on site.  If you’re not too tipsy after the tour, you and your date can take a stroll through the historic community.

Price: $
Season: Summer
First date: No
Website: Quidi Vidi – Beer Tastings and Tours

19. Piatto

Piatto is a restaurant on Duckworth Street that specializes in an “authentic neopolitan experience,” but I’m afraid that this description doesn’t really do it justice.  Their menu is filled with white and red sauce pizzas with toppings that you won’t find at your typical pizza joint and their prices are very reasonable compared to other restaurants in the downtown area.  They also don’t take reservation on most nights, so it’s an ideal plan for a last minute date idea.

Price: $$
Season: Year round
First date: Yes
Website: Piatto Pizzeria

BONUS: Subscribe to their mailing list to stay up to date on their “wine tasting evenings.”  These nights are very popular and fill up fast, but they make for a fun evening and give you lots to talk about as you sample a course of various wines and pizza.

20. Go for a drive (where?)

Dates don’t always have to be elaborate!  If you’re looking for an inexpensive idea for a date, why not hop in your car and go explore an area of the Avalon you haven’t visited before.  There are some great drives along the coast, whether it’s down the Southern Shore or up the Marine Drive.  Don’t set a specific destination, just get in your car and drive.  If you happen to come across a shop you would like to check out or an area you would like to explore a little more on foot, be open to exploring.

Price: FREE (well…gas)
Season: Year round
First date: Yes – if you’ve known each other prior to this first date.  Otherwise, it’s probably not a good idea.
Website: Scenic Drives

21. The Rooms

For a more cultured date, check out The Rooms.  Aside from housing the provincial archives, The Rooms also serves as a museum and art gallery representing the history of the province.  Keep an eye on their website for special exhibits that may be being shown or possibly one of their “Culture and Cocktails” evenings that have seemed to become popular.

Price: $
Season: Year Round
First date: Yes
Website: The Rooms

22. Reel Downtown Movies

Gone are the days of the drive in movie theatre off Brookfield Road, but there is still a way to take in a movie outside in St. John’s.  Reel Downtown is a weekly event in the summer held in downtown St. John’s where a movie is shown on the side of a building in Solomon’s Lane off Water Street.  The show is free, but be sure to bring a some foldable chairs to make yourself comfortable.

It typically takes place every Monday night in July at dusk.  Try to get there early as well as it has become a very popular event!

Price: FREE
Season: Summer (July)
First date: Yes
Website: Reel Downtown Movies – Facebook page

23. Ballroom dancing (Old Mill)

For a something a little different, you and your date can take some ballroom dancing lessons.  The Old Mill on Brookfield Road offers a class on Sunday nights from 8-9pm.  So if you want to show off your graceful moves (or possibly try to fix your two left feet problem), check out the Old Mill website for more information.

Season: Year round
Price: ?
Website: Old Mill Ballroom Dancing

24. Yuk Yuks

Note: After writing this article it appears as though Yuk Yuks in St. John’s has shut down.  Unfortunately you’ll have to get your laughs somewhere else.

If you’re in the mood to share a laugh with your date, then Yuk Yuks Comedy Club could be the perfect venue. The only comedy club in the city is open from Wednesday night to Saturday night and features a variety Canadian and international comedians.  You can check out their website to see a listing of the comedians scheduled to appear.  You can also have a meal at Yuk Yuk’s as they also have a full food and drink menu.

Price: $$
Season: Year round
First date: Yes
Website: Yuk Yuks – St. John’s

25. Cooking class (Sobey’s)

Cooking dinner for your date is always an idea, but for a twist on an old concept, check out a cooking class at Sobey’s.  You and your date can take a lesson on how to make a meal that you get to eat at the end of class (can’t let that food go to waste obviously!).  Even if you don’t have the culinary chops, the instructor will guide you and your date through the whole process.  All Sobeys locations may not offer this, but the locations on Merrymeeting Road definitely offer these classes from time to time.  Check out their store for more information on upcoming classes.

Price: $$
Season: Year round
First date: Yes
Website: Sobeys – Merrymeeting Road

26. Thomas Amusements

If you grew up in Newfoundland, Thomas Amusements really does not need an introduction.  From late-spring to early-fall, when Thomas Amusements rolled through your town it was a must attend event.  For people not from Newoundland or are somehow not familiar with Thomas Amusements, it’s a small amusement park that travels to various communities in Newfoundland.  They frequently setup in arena or shopping mall parking lots and offers rides and carnival contests where you can win prizes.

While it isn’t quite Disney World, it’s still a fun way to relieve a bit of your childhood while having a fun night out.

Price: $
Season: Late spring to early fall
First date: Yes
Website: Thomas Amusements

27. Tourists in Your Own town (disposable cameras)

Tourists come to St. John’s in droves every year to see what the city has to offer.  The downtown area has a rich history with colourful houses, historic buildings, quirky shops, and interesting monuments.  So why not play tourist in your own town for an afternoon.  Pickup a couple of disposable cameras and snap away at the sights the city has to offer.  At the end of the date, drop the camera off to get the film developed and you’ll have a nice keepsake from the date.

Price: $ (if buying disposable cameras, FREE otherwise)
Season: Year round
First date: Yes
Website: N/A

28. Lesters Farm

Lesters Farm on Brookfield Road has a little something for everyone.  It’s a combination between a farmers market, petting zoo, ice cream parlour and food truck stop. Lesters could serve as a great afternoon date where you could have lunch from the Harvest Hut food truck, share an after lunch walk to see some of the animals on site and finish the trip with some ice cream or desserts from their market.

Price: $$
Season: Spring to Fall
First date: Yes
Website: Lesters’ Farm

29. Berry picking

Berry picking can be a fun way to spend a nice afternoon.  You and your partner can get some fresh air while picking some fresh newfoundland berries (blueberries, bakeapples, raspberries – can’t you pick these here?).  While I can’t reveal my favorite spots for berry picking (I don’t want you stealing my good spots), I’m sure you know a friend or relative who frequently picks some berries and can recommend a spot.  If all else fails, just head out on the highway and look for cars on the side of the road.  If they’re not close to a pond (i.e. people who are fishing), then there is likely a good berry picking spot nearby.

If you want to take the date up a notch, go home, wash the berries and make a sweet treat for you both to enjoy as a reward for your hard work. <tk>Include recipes for muffins/pie here</tk>

Season: Summer
Price: FREE
First date: Possibly
Website: For berry picking? You don’t need one.

30. Glow Bowling

Most people haven’t been bowling since their youth.  Unfortunately they’re missing out on a fun date night activity.  You can let your competitive side show while having some fun at Plaza Bowl on Ropewalk Lane on a Saturday night under black lights for some glow bowling.  The bowling and beer is cheap and the level of fun is high.  Bring some friends for a group date to make the night even more enjoyable.

Season: Year round
Price: $
First date: Yes
Website: Plaza Bowl – Facebook page

31. Wallnuts

If you and your date are relatively fit, the Walnuts climbing centre could provide some good fun.  Even if you’ve never been wall climbing before, the staff at Walnuts can provide enough instruction for you to have a fun and safe time.  There are walls with various levels of difficulty so don’t be intimidated into thinking it will be too hard.  It can provide some good fun and a little bit of excitement too – as long as you’re not too afraid of heights!

Season: Year round
Price: $-$$
First date: No
Website: Wallnuts

32. Sliding at Bowring Park

If you’re looking for a fun idea in the winter, get in touch with your inner child and go sliding at Bowring or Pippy Park.  Head to Walmart or Canadian Tire and pickup some crazy carpets or flying saucers and head to the park and have some fun.  It may be chilly, but you can always head to a coffee shop afterwards to laugh about your spills on the hill and warm up.

Price: $$
Season: Winter
First date: No
Website: N/A

33. Iceberg hunting

Tourists come to Newfoundland and Labrador in droves to see icebergs (thanks Titanic!) but residents of the province sometimes take them for granted.  For an inexpensive date, check out Iceberg Finder during the spring to scope out where the icebergs are in the area, hop in your car with your date, pickup your favorite hot beverage and go take a first hand look at the bergs.

Season: Spring to early summer
Price: FREE (or pocket change if you pick-up a beverage on the way)
First date: No
Website: Iceberg Finder

34. Chocolate making class (Newfoundland Chocolate Company)

The Newfoundland Chocolate Company offers a “Chocolate 101” workshop where their chocolatetiers teach you how to make chocolate.  The workshop itself is 2 to 3 hours and is a hands on experience where you actually make your own box of chocolates to take home.  You and your date will also get to sample some “rare single origin” chocolates. The workshop is a little pricey ($90/per person), but it is a unique event that you won’t experience very often.

Season: Year round
Price $$-$$$
First date: No – pricey for a first date
Website: Newfoundland Chocolate Company

35. Fire at Middle Cove Beach

Located just a few minutes outside of the St. John’s city limits is Middle Cove Beach.  This beach is the perfect spot for a late evening outdoor fire.  Pickup some firewood from a gas station in town, bring a blanket and something to nibble on and setup on the beach and watch the sun go down watch the waves roll in.  It makes for a romantic setting for a date and something a little out of the ordinary.

Season: Summer
Price: Free (or possibly the cost of firewood)
First date: Probably not
Website: N/A