15 Fun Date Night Ideas In Waco
It’s DATE NIGHT!! And you’re debating which Netflix show to stream… because coming up with creative ideas for couples on the spot is really hard! I’ve totally been there. Which is why I’m going to share a few of my favorite date night ideas in Waco with you to hopefully spark some creativity and get you excited about your next night out!
About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I help millions of readers find the best things to do, restaurants to try, and places to stay in Waco and beyond. Check out my other sites: The Austin Things.com and The San Antonio Things.com!
By the way: I’ve shared a bunch of ideas of things to do in Waco that aren’t necessarily specifically for romantic couples, but they could easily be enjoyed on a date night or a date afternoon.
Check out my guides to the craft breweries in Waco, the best restaurants in Waco, the most impressive coffee shops in Waco, and then of course this guide to everything you need to know about visiting Balcones Distillery - which is an excellent date night idea in Waco.
15 Fun Date Night Ideas In Waco
1. Cocktails at Dichotomy
Dichotomy is one of my go-to coffee shops in Waco, and then it turns into a craft cocktail bar at night! If the evening is pretty, take your drinks up to their rooftop lounge and enjoy views of the Alico building from the second floor deck.
WEBSITE | 508 Austin Ave, Waco, TX, 76701
2. Baylor Theater
I find that a lot of people don’t take advantage of all of the events happening on Baylor University’s campus…but don’t sleep on the Baylor Theater productions! They’re excellent, and tickets are incredibly affordable.
You can pair a dinner at a nearby restaurant (here’s a map of the best restaurants in Waco) with a show at the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center. See what’s showing this season and get your tickets here.
Photo Credits: Baylor Theatre, facebook
WEBSITE | Waco, TX, United States, Texas
3. Pivovar Beer Spa
The beer spa at Pivovar is probably one of the most unique date night experiences in Waco! This legitimate Czech brewery, restaurant, hotel, and spa has a “beer bath” where couples can enjoy side-by-side soaks in giant copper tubs filled with brewers yeast and water.
They say that the brewers yeast has all sorts of healing properties! Whether or not that’s true, it’s a pretty cool experience to say that you took a beer bath. And since you get to enjoy a pint of your choice of Czech lager from the brewery downstairs, you’ll emerge from that bath totally relaxed.
Photo Credits: Krystal C, Yelp
WEBSITE | 320 S 8th St Waco, TX 76701
4. Tour + Tasting At Balcones Distillery
Ok, I know a lot of these ideas are pretty boozy, but I guess Waco just has a lot of fun date night spots in that category! And touring Balcones Distillery is one of the most interesting things you can do in Waco.
Read about my experience taking a tour at Balcones if you’d like, and be sure to book your tour in advance.
WEBSITE | 225 S. 11th St. Waco, TX 76701
5. Get tickets to a Baylor Football Game
Sic ‘em BEARS! If you haven’t been to a game in a while, add “date night at McLane Stadium” to your bucket list with your boo.
And even if you’re not a big Baylor football fan, it’s worth going to a game just to experience the game time energy and the beauty of the stadium! McLane Stadium is a $266 million stadium that opened in 2014, so it’s relatively new in the world of college football.
WEBSITE | 1001 S M.L.K. Jr Blvd. Waco, Texas 76704
6. Live music at Backyard Waco
Backyard Waco is a fun grill and concert venue in downtown Waco. They have a 40-foot concert stage,
VIP rooftop seating, tons of outdoor picnic table seating, cornhole, a bunch of TV screens, and good burgers and beer!
Check out their concert calendar for tickets. Shows start at 6 pm, so it’s easy to pair this date night idea with dinner.
WEBSITE | 511 S 8th St, Waco, TX 76706
7. Topgolf
Topgolf opened their first WACO LOCATION in 2021. Yay! If you love Topgolf, add this to your date night agenda ASAP. And if you’ve never been to Topgolf, you’ll most likely love it. Even if you don’t know how to golf (*raises hand*), it’s just a fun experience!
I mean, you eat, you drink, you try to hit a tiny little white ball across a field…what’s not to love?
Photo Credits: Missy Z, Yelp
WEBSITE | 2301 Creekview Dr Waco, TX 76711
8. Buy A Book Together At Fabled Bookshop
Maybe I’m just a super nerd, but one of my favorite activities to do with my husband when we travel is to stop into the local bookstore and browse the aisles together. I think it’s fun to find a new cookbook to share, or an interesting coffee table book or nonfiction self-help book that interests both of us.
Fabled Bookshop in Waco is the place to go for this date night activity. It’s an independent book shop with a diverse selection of books that have been handpicked by the owners. I love that there’s a small cafe in the heart of the bookshop so you can buy your new book and then sit down together with a couple coffees and a pastry.
WEBSITE | 215 South 4th Street Waco, TX USA 76701
9. Hike Jacob’s Ladder
Hike Jacob’s Ladder, or just generally enjoy Cameron Park together!
WEBSITE | Address
10. Take a River Cruise Tour with Waco Tours
Waco Tours offers this really cool river cruise on the Brazos, which I think would make a very fun date night idea in Waco! While it’s not a private tour, you could turn it into a double date with another couple of friends. Or, just book two tickets and enjoy getting to know some new people on the river cruise!
It’s a 2 hour and 15 minute really peaceful river cruise. Your guide tells your story, shows you wildlife, and just generally entertains you while you get to sit back and enjoy the views. It’s a pretty fun way to see a side of Waco that you maybe haven’t experienced before.
WEBSITE | 215 S University Parks Dr Ste 104 Waco, TX 76701
11. Go Shopping At Homestead Craft Village
Homestead Craft Village is the shop located at Homestead Heritage, which is a 550-acre farming community in Waco. It’s a really incredible destination because there just aren’t many places like this!
You can shop for handmade furniture, pottery, home goods, and other gifts. Or, stop by the gristmill to get some heirloom grains to bring home. There’s a store with grocery items like free-range meat and pasture-raised eggs. You can also take tours and classes.
Cafe Homestead is their on-site restaurant which utilizes a lot of their farm-raised crops and produce. It’s the best farm-to-table dining experience in Waco.
WEBSITE | 608 Dry Creek Rd. • Waco, Texas
12. Listen to Music at Common Grounds
Common Grounds coffee shop might take you back to your college days at Baylor, but that’s all the more reason to cozy up here on date night and enjoy some live music ! I’m continually impressed with the quality of musicians, bands, and singer-songwriters that Common Grounds gets into their tiny backyard concert venue.
WEBSITE | 3401 Franklin Ave., Waco, TX 76710
13. Overnight stay at Hotel Herringbone
If you haven’t been to the newest boutique hotel in Waco yet, GO NOW! It is absolutely gorgeous! It’s made up of a bunch of shipping containers, features three different restaurants, and has a really cool art-deco design.
Rooms are a bit splurge-y, so if you can’t afford to stay overnight there, just stop by their rooftop bar, Lucky Bucks, for some drinks. It has great views of the Silos at Magnolia Market! Or, enjoy a full meal of craft cocktails, raw oysters, and upscale American cuisine at their gorgeous downstairs restaurant, Red Herring. There’s also a live music venue at the hotel called Song Bird where you can enjoy wine, charcuterie, and some tunes.
WEBSITE | 319 4th Street, Waco, TX, United States, Texas
14. Dinner at 135 Prime or Diamondbacks
Ready to splurge on a fancy date night out? Go to 135 Prime or Diamondbacks. They’re both continually ranked as the best two steakhouses in Waco!
Photo Credits: DiamondBack's, Yelp
WEBSITE | 217 Mary Ave Waco, TX 76701
15. Waco Hippodrome
The Waco Hippodrome is an old school theater in downtown Waco that’s been around since 1914! It was originally used for silent films, circus acts, and music performances, and you can still go visit and enjoy live music!
They have all sorts of bands come through here, so take a look at their events calendar to get tickets to the show that looks most interesting to you. Truly, visiting the Hippodrome is an incredible date night experience in Waco!
WEBSITE | 724 Austin Avenue Waco, Texas USA
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