Dating is hard at the best of times, but it’s even harder when you want to avoid all the same tired spots without eating into next month’s rent. But luckily Glasgow has plenty to offer for a romantic date night, so you won’t have to date déjà vu. From cosy pubs to trendy restaurants, from fascinating museums to picturesque parks, Glasgow is brimming with exciting date ideas that cater to every taste and a student budget. Here’s the low down on the 20 best date ideas in Glasgow that are guaranteed to make your next romantic rendezvous unforgettable. So, if you’re looking to impress your significant other or want to plan a special date, read on for some inspiration!
20 best date ideas in Glasgow
Take your pick from museums and hidden bars to scenic spots in parks, live music venues and other top places for a date in Glasgow. We’ve found 20 date ideas in Glasgow to help keep the romance fresh, or for those who need last-minute inspiration for date night.
1. Immerse yourself in history at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
A trip to the museum is the ideal date idea for anyone who wants to show off their cultural side, and, in Glasgow, there’s no better place to do it than one of the most famous museums in the country. Situated in a spectacular building on the banks of the River Kelvin, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is home to dozens of historical exhibits, scientific wonders, and stand-out art exhibitions that you can spend the whole day exploring. Entry is free, though due to COVID-19 restrictions, you need to book tickets in advance, which you can do on their website.
2. Head to a hidden bar
There are lots of hidden bars in Glasgow that make for a romantic and intimate date idea. The one in the picture is Sloans, which is a cute and cosy vintage pub tucked behind an archway. It’s got a beer garden and several floors, one of which is called the ‘Grand Ballroom’. If you want a fun date idea, why not try their events like Musical Bingo, quiz night or film night.
3. Grab a slice of Paesano Pizza
Nothing says the West End like Paesano: a student favourite, this Neapolitan restaurant brings authenticity without breaking the budget. Prices start from just £6.50 per pizza, and they’re made to order with quality Italian ingredients. The cosy atmosphere on Great Western Road is the perfect place to enjoy a cheap date night in Glasgow – and some quality pizza!
4. Revisit the classics at the Grosvenor Cinema
You might think the cinema is a well-worn date idea, but, as one of our best date ideas in Glasgow, the Grosvenor is not your ordinary cinema. This beautiful independent theatre is at the heart of the West End’s trendy Ashton Lane and shows a regular mix of new releases, cult classics, and seasonal favourites, so there’s no worry about finding something that you’ll both enjoy. The cinema is also connected to a sister café, so why not grab a couple of drinks or a bite to eat before your film?
5. Feed the ducks during golden hour at Kelvingrove Park
An emerald paradise in the summer and an atmospheric wonderland in the winter, Kelvingrove Park is by far the best place for a romantic stroll through the trees and is one of our best date ideas in Glasgow. The classic Victorian Park surrounds the river Kelvin – home to many species of duck, swan, and heron, and the steady ascent up to Park Circus offers stunning views of the city and the University of Glasgow. When the weather’s nice, it’s also the perfect place for a couple’s picnic out in the sun, or during golden hour for added romance. Find more top attractions in Glasgow to explore if you’re looking to get to know the city more on your date.
6. Have the last laugh at The Stand
Next on our list of the best date ideas in Glasgow is The Stand. The Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow offers improv and stand-up comedy nights at affordable prices and is a great alternative to the usual evening spent with a date. Being such a small venue, and often hosting established comics like Kevin Bridges testing out new material, tickets sell out fast – so this is one for a date you can plan in advance! Prices vary by the act, but The Stand commits to providing affordable events to keep comedy accessible, and also offers a student discount.
7. Enjoy the holy trio at A Play, A Pie, and a Pint
Food, drink and entertainment all in one – what more could you ask for for a date night in Glasgow? Based at the Òran Mór in Glasgow’s West End, A Play, A Pie and A Pint has been described as the cultural bedrock of the Scottish theatre industry, providing a platform for the country’s newest writers to make their name. It’s also the perfect afternoon: against the backdrop of the ‘Mór’s converted church building, you can enjoy some of the best new theatres Scotland has to offer, with a drink (beer, wine, or soft drink) and a pie (or veggie quiche, or vegan sausage roll) included in your ticket price. With a valid student card, you can also enjoy discounts Sunday-Friday, and get 2-4-1 deals on student tickets on their weekly Student Tuesdays!
8. Experience the magic of GlasGlow
If you’re out on a date around the end of October until mid-November, GlasGlow is a captivating light show like no other that makes for one of the best date ideas in Glasgow. Hosted yearly in the Botanic Gardens, this immersive experience includes a street food market, laser shows, and plenty of insta-worthy backdrops. Tickets for adults are less than £20, but are even cheaper if you go mid-week.
9. Enjoy drinks by the river at Inn Deep
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Inn Deep is another student favourite venue: with its cheap food and drink, great riverside location, and modern dive-bar-style aesthetic, you’ll never fail to impress when taking your date here. It’s definitely one of the best date ideas in Glasgow that’s also super simple and affordable. The bar is open day and night with indoor and outdoor seating, and entrance either from the Kelvin Walkway by the river or at street level on Great Western Road. As one of our best date ideas in Glasgow, it is also renowned for being dog-friendly, with free water and biscuits on offer, so you could both bring yours along if you really wanted to go full 101 Dalmatians – or just bond over a spot of dog-watching.
10. Get lunch and cocktails on a budget in Bar Soba
With its amazing street-style food and expertly-crafted cocktails, Bar Soba is one of Glasgow’s favourite bars and one of our top date ideas in Glasgow. With not one, but three venues to choose from Merchant City, Mitchell Lane, and Byres Road, they offer a great range of Asian and European cuisines from Thai to Japanese to Scottish. If you’re a student you can enjoy 40% off food and 20% off drinks from Thursday to Sunday with a discount card – which you can order online in the restaurant and have set up in time for your bill!
11. Find your new favourite in Glasgow’s second-hand bookshops
If there’s one thing Glasgow does well, it’s bookshops. Exploring the vintage titles in these quaint little venues is a great way to get to know your date – and pick up some new reading material. Caledonia Books on Great Western Road and Voltaire & Rousseau on Otago Lane have a wide range of fiction, classics, poetry, biography, and more on offer, so there is something for everyone.
12. An evening of tapas and cocktails in Finnieston
Finnieston is Glasgow’s up-and-coming trendy neighbourhood, and a hub of some of the city’s best bars, restaurants, and cafes. With its sultry dim lighting, Rioja on Argyle Street is a popular venue late into the night, offering a fancy but affordable selection of wine and tapas, and a wide range of cocktails to choose from. This authentic Basque restaurant is the perfect one of Finnieston’s gems to take a first date in Glasgow (or second, or third…). Or head to THE Finnieston restaurant and bar for cocktails or bespoke beer!
13. Head to the theatre for a fiver
Who said a theatre date in Glasgow couldn’t be cheap? Now you can go for £5 if you’re aged between 14 and 26. The National Theatre Scotland has special-priced ticket deals for an unusual date idea in Glasgow. They hold performances in random places like a ferry or park, making it that much more special.
14. Head to the funfair at Fayre Play
Recently opened Fayre Play is an adults only fun fair in Glasgow. It’s a great date idea that promises fun and entertainment, so you won’t even have to worry if there’s no banter! You can grab themed cocktails as you play games and go on rides. There’s also lots of great food – including for vegans and veggies too. It’s just £14.50 for 90 minutes play time, which is enough to play their 9 games twice!
15. Curl up in Tchai-Ovna House of Tea
If you’re looking for a more chilled-out date idea in Glasgow, then Tchai-Ovna House of Tea is the perfect best-kept-secret of Otago Lane for you. Scotland’s first speciality tea house offers a wide range of over 80 loose-leaf teas, which you can even buy to make at home, as well as café snacks such as cakes, toast, and sandwiches. The cosy venue also occasionally hosts gigs and poetry readings, so it’s certainly somewhere you could visit more than once with your date.
16. Break the ice in the Baltic ice bar
If you’re looking for somewhere a lot more chilled to have your date, then it doesn’t get much cooler than Baltic: Glasgow’s very own ice bar. Everything in this bar is made from ice – yes, even the glasses! You can choose from various packages to make your date night one to remember, but if you’re looking for an affordable date idea in Glasgow, then you can buy a basic entry ticket for £9 – which includes one ice cocktail each.
17. See behind the scenes with a Tennent’s brewery tour
Tennent’s brewery tour is the perfect date idea in Glasgow for beer fans. But whether you’re big beer drinkers or not, you can’t live in Glasgow and avoid the shadow of that red T. So why not take a date down to the Caledonian brewery site to see where the magic happens? You’ll receive a tour of the heritage site, exploring the beer’s history since 1556, before moving on to the brewery itself and finally ending with a crisp pint of your own! Tours run every day of the week, and ticket prices are fixed at £12.50 per person.
18. Go for a stroll in the Botanics
Next on our list of the best date ideas in Glasgow is the Botanic Gardens. The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are a spectacular collection of flora from all around the world, with winding paths to stroll along with your date, and grassy open spaces perfect for picnics. The gardens are also host to a resident ice cream van if you fancy a sweet treat and two glasshouses with even more tropical wonders to explore, from exotic cacti to towering palms. One of the glasshouses also occasionally hosts a plant sale, where you can pick up some gorgeous succulents for less than £3! The grounds are open year-round from 7 am to dusk (usually around 9 pm in the summer and 7 pm in the winter), and the glasshouses from 10 am to 6 pm in the summer and 4:15 pm in the winter.
19. Say “I could have done that!” at the GoMA
If you or your date are big fans of modern art, then this one of the ideal date night ideas in Glasgow for you to spend your romantic afternoon out. If you’re not such big fans of modern art, it’s still a great way to bond over your mutual confusion and exclamations of “how is that even art!?” – so it’s a win-win either way. Situated right in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre, the Gallery of Modern Art is home to dozens of cutting-edge exhibitions and spectacular sculptures that you can spend the whole day exploring. Entry is free, which is obviously a great date idea for Glasgow students.
20. Flaunt your brains at the Glasgow Science Centre
The Glasgow Science Centre is a great date idea in Glasgow – even if it doesn’t go so well, you can be guaranteed to have learned something by the end of it! The centre hosts loads of exciting events and exhibits year-round, plus an on-site café where you can grab a coffee and a bite during your trip. Tickets are only available in advance, and you can book them via the GSC’s website. Entry is £12 for adults or £10 for students and is valid all day until 5 pm.
21. Cocktails at The Spiritualist
If you’re looking for somewhere fancy to impress your date, then look no further than The Spiritualist for memorable date night ideas in Glasgow. Located in the centre of Glasgow, this enchanting bar and restaurant offers an atmospheric place to linger and chat during the day, or enjoy attractive cocktails in the evening. Its chic but unique décor makes it somewhere neither of you will ever forget – and with spirits and cocktails starting from £3.65 and £8 respectively, you get this extraordinary experience at an affordable price.
Find more inspiration with our top lowkey date ideas that are super chill but super fun.
