Whether you’re going on a first date or celebrating years of marriage, Baton Rouge offers many date options. You don’t need a special occasion to plan a date night in Baton Rouge. You can celebrate a milestone anniversary or go out just because it’s a random Tuesday and you want to enjoy some company.
Choosing the perfect ideas for a date comes down to finding the activities that fit your style. From romantic restaurants in Baton Rouge to activities that make you feel like a kid again, the city has something for everyone if you know what to look for.
Need help choosing romantic things to do in Baton Rouge? Check out some of the best dates you can enjoy in the area:
If you’re not sure where you should take your date, ask yourself the following questions.
Switch up the typical dinner out with cooking classes at the Red Stick Spice Company. It’s a fun way to learn something new while getting to know your date a little better. Plus, it may inspire you to try new recipes at home for future date nights. Choose between hands-on classes and demos to spice up your date night.
If you’re planning a group date, consider the private classes. You pick the three-course menu for the class to customize the experience. Private cooking classes at the Red Stick Spice Company are for six to 12 people.
Switch up the typical dinner out with cooking classes at the Red Stick Spice Company. It’s a fun way to learn something new while getting to know your date a little better. Plus, it may inspire you to try new recipes at home in the future. Choose between hands-on classes and demos to spice up your date night.
If you’re planning a group date, consider the private classes. You pick the three-course menu for the class to customize the experience. The private cooking classes are for six to 12 people.
Baton Rouge has no shortage of gaming options. Climb aboard the Belle of Baton Rouge for an evening of gaming with your sweetheart. The riverboat casino sits docked on the Mississippi with three levels of entertainment. Gaming options include video poker, slot machines and assorted table games, such as blackjack, roulette and craps.
Queen Baton Rouge is another casino option overlooking the Mississippi River. Gaming options include slot machines, craps, video poker, roulette and blackjack. On weekends, you can enjoy listening to live music while you play. If you get hungry between hands of blackjack, you can choose a feast fit for royalty with food including steaks, blackened salmon or Mediterranean chicken.
If you want a truly Southern experience, head to L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles. Inside the hotel and casino, you’ll find yourself immersed in decor that embraces Louisiana. The upscale feel makes this an ideal date spot in Baton Rouge.
Whether it’s the prelude to a dinner at your favorite restaurant or the crescendo of your evening, a performance of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra is a wonderful date idea in Baton Rouge. Dress up in your finest attire for the evening. You’ll find yourself swept up in the beautiful melodies that serve as the soundtrack for your night out.
The symphony hosts a number of different musical events to enjoy with your date, including renditions of Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and more from the Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Chorus and Louisiana Youth Orchestra Concerts. This date idea pairs well with a stop at a restaurant. Since you’re already dressed up for the performance, choose an upscale setting with a stricter dress code than you might normally visit.
The Louisiana Art and Science Museum works well as a date night spot in Baton Rouge. It offers a variety of exhibits covering topics ranging from ancient Egypt to space discovery. You’ll also find several traveling exhibits that change periodically, so regular visits mean you’ll discover something new.
The museum features a planetarium where you can watch several different shows to learn more about space. Cuddling under a sky full of stars tops the list of romantic things to do. When you can’t enjoy the stars outside, the planetarium gives you the next best thing — a perfectly clear canopy of stars.
Wander the Hilltop Arboretum to enjoy a touch of nature in Baton Rouge. The arboretum is part of the Louisiana State University College of Art and Design and includes 14 acres of Southern species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers along with open areas, a pond and nature trails dotting the grounds. An elevated wooden boardwalk gives you an ideal view of the scenery. It’s a beautiful setting for a stroll with your date.
The arboretum is free to visit, and it’s open seven days a week during daylight hours. Start here before heading to a dinner reservation as a way to kick off your date.
Another outdoor option is the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, a facility featuring 103 acres of natural areas with cypress-tupelo swamp. Walk along the boardwalks and gravel paths hand in hand. Pack a meal before heading out, as the nature center offers picnic areas. This date idea is a great option for active couples who enjoy being out in nature.
You can’t go wrong with starting your date at a romantic restaurant in Baton Rouge. When you visit a fine restaurant, you have a chance to enjoy amazing food and have great conversations to get to know one another better. Linger at the restaurant, or head out for other adventures after you finish your meal.
We may be biased, but we think The Gregory in the Watermark hotel is one of the best restaurants Baton Rouge has to offer. Not only is the historic downtown location appealing, but our upscale menu and stunning ambiance set the stage for the perfect date.
Our location near the Mississippi River means you can take your date for a stroll along the river after dinner, too. Check out our upcoming events that are perfect for a date as well!
If you’re looking for date ideas for you and your spouse, enjoy an overnight stay at an upscale hotel. The Watermark hotel suites offer truly distinct accommodations, with carved marble walls, staircases and hand-painted murals on the ceilings.
The building was once the headquarters for the Louisiana Trust and Savings Bank, and you can still see evidence of the building’s history in the old bank vaults. Reserve a room at the Watermark for a weekend getaway, and don’t forget your reservations at The Gregory. It’s the perfect way to pamper yourselves in upscale accommodations.
Challenge your skills with a trip to an escape room. This option is also a good way to see how well your date is able to stay calm under pressure and how well you work together as a team.
How does an escape room challenge work? You get locked in a room and must work together with the others in your group to get out. You solve puzzles, figure out codes, find secret passages and more to get your group out of the room.
Try 13th Gate Escape or Sequestered Escape Room Adventures if you’re up for the challenge.
A couple’s massage with your date offers a relaxing way to spend the day. Try The Retreat Spa, The Massage Emporium, and Woodhouse Spa in Baton Rogue.
These day spas typically offer couples massages, where you and your date can enjoy massages at the same time in the same room. The ambiance is naturally soothing withsoft lighting and possibly candles.
The addition of lovely aromas adds to the mood. If you’re not sure about having a massage in the same room, consider each choosing your own spa treatment. You can still share the relaxation of the spa day even if you’re not in the same room.
Keep in mind a massage often leaves you feeling very relaxed and possibly a little sleepy. Don’t plan anything too active after the massage. Keep the relaxation going by planning low-key activities for the rest of the day.
Who says you need to act like an adult on date night? Sometimes it’s fun to let down your hair and relive your youth. These types of activities offer a way to let loose and have fun.
One option is DEFY Extreme Air Sports Trampoline Park. There, you can show off all your best aerial tricks as you fly through the air on the trapeze, aerial silks, slackline and more — all with foam cubes below to cushion your fall should you lose your balance. Add some friendly competition by going head-to-head at extreme dodgeball or on the battle beams.
The Skate Galaxy roller skating rink is another fun option for a youth-inspired date. You can roller skate like you did in junior high, this time holding hands with your date during the slow songs. While you’re there, challenge your date to a game of laser tag, or see who can reach the top of the rock climbing wall first.
If you want a more relaxed way to relive your youth, head to the BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo for a daytime date. Stroll through the zoo hand in hand and enjoy marveling at the animals, which include elephants, zebras, otters and giraffes. You can even take a train ride, interact with animals at the petting zoo and snag a stuffed animal for your sweetie at the zoo gift shop.
Instead of keeping your feet planted firmly on the ground, soar high with your love on a hot air balloon ride. This date gives you a different view of Baton Rouge. You also can’t beat the romance you get in a hot air balloon. Try Really Hot Air Balloons, based in Zachary, LA, just north of Baton Rouge, as a local option for your flight over the area.
Keep in mind balloon flights are highly dependent on the weather. If it is too windy or rainy, the balloon won’t take off. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan so you aren’t left without an activity.
You also need to keep in mind the dress code for the flight. You won’t want to dress up in your date night best. Check with the company ahead of time to make sure you dress appropriately.
Check out The Myrtles property for a combination of beautiful history and heart-racing excitement. This mansion was built in 1796 and is called one of the most haunted homes in America. It’s the perfect way to get your date to cuddle up a little closer as you explore the potentially haunted beauty of the site.
Beyond the claims of the home being haunted, it is a beautiful place to visit. The 20-room mansion makes you feel like you’re traveling back in time. You get a glimpse of the past with your visit.
The mansion hosts daily 45-minute mystery tours exploring the history of the plantation. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can take an evening mystery tour, which lasts one hour.
The Myrtles Plantation is also a bed and breakfast, so you can turn your date into an overnight event if desired. Sixteen different room options, each with different decor, give you your choice of accommodations.
Baton Rouge has many hotspots for your date night, and you’ll also find many locally created gifts and treats that make the perfect gift for your sweetheart. Showing up with a local gift wows your date and turns the entire evening into a local masterpiece.
Here are some local brands and gift ideas for your date :
Anyone can pick out a random piece of jewelry. Make your date feel special with Mignon Faget jewelry. The designer was born in New Orleans and has lived in Louisiana all her life.
She embraces that background by creating her jewelry based on natural and architectural elements of New Orleans. The collection includes bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and pins, so you can find a piece no matter what type of jewelry your date prefers.
Another locally-made jewelry option is Laura Teague Jewelry. All of the jewelry from this brand is made of pure sterling silver wire, which Laura twists into amazing designs. Choose from earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings for your special someone.
If your date has sweet tooth, head to the locally-owned Ambrosia Bakery for delicious treats. Show up with a selection of your date’s favorite pastries such as specially made cookies or cakes.
Check out From My Kiln for a unique piece of pottery to gift to someone special. The pottery is handmade by local artists, so each piece is a little different. You’ll find everything from pitchers and mugs to garden décor and business card holders.
Treat your sweetie to the sweet aromas of a gift from the Kismet Cosmetics store. The company is known for its bath bombs, which are made from natural, organic ingredients.
If your date loves to cook, go shopping at the Red Stick Spice Shop for flavorful ingredients. Choose from a wide selection of oils, spice blends, extracts, sea salts and more to give your date. You could plan a special evening cooking together.
The best date ideas in Baton Rouge come in all different forms, depending on your personal preference. Mix and match your favorite activities and locally-made gifts to sweep your date off their feet.
Stop by The Gregory restaurant, which is great for a Valentine’s Day occasion, whether you make the meal the main event or pair it with another local activity. Better yet, make reservations so you know your perfect table is waiting when you arrive with your date.
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