14 Unique First Date Ideas In Boston To Woo Your Potential Boo (2024)

Going on a first date in Boston? Congratulations! You’re lucky to be living in one of the most interesting cities in the country. You’ll find that our list of first date ideas in Boston offers something interesting to everyone. Whether you’re into beer and games, quiet walks, dining experiences, or something else, Beantown has date ideas to excite even lifelong natives!  

We at Peerspace are all about special events and venues so we’ve put together this list to inspire you. If you want something even more unique and private, have you seen our selection of event venues in Boston? You’ll find screening rooms, kitchens, dance studios, and more options still for a fun first date!

1. Walk around the Charles River Esplanade

Walking dates outdoors can be a great way to get to know someone with no pressure. That makes the Charles River Esplanade a top choice for first date ideas in Boston!

As one South End resident shares: “A walk around the Esplanade is a great option. The scenery is amazing and you can make a big loop or walk back to Boston Common/downtown easily. You can grab coffee or food somewhere close if you want to extend the date. But it’s a good first date/first meetup spot in case you don’t want to be stuck at dinner if it turns out to be a bad date or you don’t click with each other.”

2. Movie night in a private screening room

There are few first date ideas more classic than a movie night. You get time to relax, enjoy a film, and have something to talk about after. If you want a film that’s not playing in the usual theaters you don’t have to rent an Airbnb, however. Not when Peerspace offers hourly screening room rentals like this space in South Boston! A pool table, two 55-inch TVs, a kitchen, and a dining area make this the perfect space for a private screening in Boston.

3. Go paddling along the river

There are few first dates more relaxing than taking paddleboards, canoes, or kayaks along the water. Companies like Paddle Boston have boats to take along the Charles River and Boston Harbor most of the year. You can also book guided river and harbor tours where you can pass the old locks, view the ships docked at Charlestown Navy Yard, and watch herons fish at dusk!

4. Take a food tour of Boston

Did you know that Boston has one of the best food scenes on the East Coast? As one of America’s oldest cities, it has its own distinctive culinary character. Plus you can find everything from Cambodian to Peruvian here if you’re more of an international fine diner. Food tours are fun first dates because they’re not too short or too long – plus you get to eat and learn about Boston at the same time! Bites of Boston explores multiple neighborhood options and offers group and private tours, depending on the first date experience you’re after!

Don’t let a rainy day ruin your big date! Instead, utilize these unique indoor activities in Boston to keep the fun going.

5. Go ice skating

Whether you like outdoor rinks where you can circle under the stars or indoor ones that keep the wind at bay, ice skating is a popular Boston pastime. Top skating destinations include the Boston Common Frog Pond – at least from December to March. The Rink at 401 Park also offers seasonal skating. Indoor rinks are open year-round so take your skate date to Warrior Ice Arena, where the Boston Bruins practice in between games! The practice rink is open to the public most days but sometimes the team is scheduled to train. So you’ll need to sign up in advance to ensure the rink is available for your first date idea in Boston!

6. Play games at a video game arcade

Many arcades are also bars or restaurants; you can enjoy a beer or pizza while you hit the pinball machines. For a competitive first date idea in Boston, check out Versus, an arcade bar and restaurant with fun drink names and the retro 80’s atmosphere we love about video game arcades! Versus simplifies things from the coin-op days by making all of their games free to play after a $5 cover.

7. Break out of an escape room

Escape rooms are sweeping the city by storm as one of the more exciting first date ideas in Boston! An escape room is a 30 to 90-minute experience where you follow a storyline through a venue themed to match the narrative. You’ll search for clues, solve puzzles, and try to break out before time is up. Trapology Boston is one of our favorites! The themes range from comedic to mystery thriller and the puzzles are some of the more technologically advanced in how they’re presented! 

8. Take the ferry to Cape Cod

The beach towns and oceanfront walkways around Cape Cod are a lovely way to enjoy some sunshine while getting to know someone. You can get to Cape Cod easily via the ferry, which is an experience in itself! Ferries run from both Boston and Plymouth to Provincetown and you can go even further to Nantucket Island, which has a distinctive vibe of its own! 

9. Craft pottery at Clayroom

Have you ever dreamed of throwing your own pottery, painting it, and then adding your new vase or bowl to your collection? Now you can at the Clayroom, one of the most unique first date ideas in Boston! You can take a clay-throwing class where you work the wheel under the eye of an expert instructor. Or you can jump straight to painting a pre-fired piece of clay using stencils and color paints. Feel free to bring your own drinks as well for a marvelous first date making clay pottery.

10. Book a private dance lesson

Dance classes are a fun way to share a passion for the movement arts during a first date. It’s easy to find dance classes in Boston but there is a lot of competition for the instructor’s attention. You may also find yourselves bumping elbows with other dancers in a crowded space. So why not make it a private dance lesson instead?

Peerspace, the nation’s leading online marketplace for venue rentals, has hundreds of dance studio venues for an energetic first date! Check out this light-filled wood-accented dance studio in West End! Bluetooth speakers, elevator access, and easy connections to the T lines and the commuter rail make this the perfect place to bring your favorite dance coach!

If you and your date are all about the content creation life, then our list of the best couple photoshoot ideas in Boston are right up your alley!

11. Enjoy a unique dining experience

Boston is one of the East Coast’s top food cities and restaurants are a classic first date experience. But how can we make it a truly memorable one for a promising first date? Check out Dine in the Dark, a dinner experience you’ll be talking about for months later! After choosing between a Green (vegan), Red (meat), or Blue (seafood) unknown menu, guests are brought to their tables and blindfolded! You then rely on all of your other senses while you explore the dish and try to guess what you’re eating. Dine in the Dark gets rave reviews both for the experience and the quality of the meal! 

12. Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a local landmark that’s a beautiful place to explore for a first date. The museum is a replica of a Venetian palazzo and home to one of Boston’s finest art collections. Isabella Stewart Gardner is a fascinating historical figure who collected Italian Renaissance art. Upon her death, the Museum became frozen in time, with everything looking exactly as she left it!

13. Paint and drink at Muse Paintbar

If you’re looking for a creative first date idea in Boston, art classes spring to mind! Instead of first creating and then going for a drink, you can do both at Muse Paintbar. Each location inspires you and your date to relax and create thanks to the painting-covered walls and murals. You’ll find wine and beer along with small bites and desserts. Just the thing to keep your hands free while you paint a masterpiece with your potential new boo. 

14. Visit a Boston tea parlor

Boston has a long history with tea, going back well before the infamous Harbor incident. Most coffee shops carry some tea blends. But if you want a true afternoon tea experience then you simply must check out an actual Boston tea parlor! There are many restaurants, cafes, and hotels with tea parlors but Silver Dove Afternoon Tea gets the nod from us thanks to its status as the only dedicated tea salon in the city! Each afternoon tea comes with a set menu of finger sandwiches, pastries, scones, and savory canapés. Select from over 20 looseleaf teas, along with wine, cocktails, and mocktails. 

First date ideas in Boston: conclusion

From international fine dining to eclectic museums, Boston has first date venues to please everyone! Don’t forget to make the experience even more special with a custom-tailored venue from Peerspace. We have the largest online marketplace for Boston event venue rentals and with a bit of planning, you can pull off an unforgettable first date!

Find unique event spaces in Boston on Peerspace