Image via Complex Original
Valentine's Day it just around the bend, so any dude worth his salt should be on the lookout for that winning date spot now. Living up to its moniker, "the weird city," Austin has a collection of eclectic spots that will get wooing done right. Whether you're an adrenaline junkie looking for a bustling night of uncertainty or seeking a Cabernet-soaked night at five-star restaurant, this list of Austin's coolest date spots will surely save you from the dog house.
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Castle Hill
Address: Baylor St.
Website: N/A
Perfect for: An artsy girl who can appreciate the local talent
Littered with broken beer bottles, spray cans, and an occasional rusty rebars, Castle Hill is an outdoor polymorphic playground. Filled with graffiti art from local artists like Austin's very own TCK crew, the Austin staple is an attraction that is definite must-see. From Banksy and Basquiat-inspired pieces, the graffiti at Castle Hill is an eclectic, colorful experience. Bonus: the only price for admission is a good pair of hiking shoes for making your way to the top.
Green Belt
Address: Varies
Website: N/A
Perfect for: An environmentally-friendly lady who likes being outdoors
Ideal for a summer hiking, mountain biking, swimming, cliff diving, kayaking, or tubing, Green Belt may just be the best recreational spot in Austin. Green Belt may not be for everyone, but for athletic types who enjoy spending time in the sunshine and modern tree-huggers, it doesn't get better.
Peter Pan Mini-Golf
Address: 1207 Barton Springs Rd.
Website: peterpanminigolf.com
Perfect for: A playful couple trying to get tipsy on the first date
Inexpensive, fun and always a good time, Peter Pan's is fantastic for a first date. Not only that, but with its quirky decor and laid-back staff, this place is one of the few throwbacks left of "old" Austin. If Austin is weird, Peter Pan's is peak strangeness. It's also BYOB for adults, so, a word of warning: after downing a few drinks, sinking a hole in one becomes a nearly impossible challenge.
Mozart's Coffee Roasters
Address: 3825 Lake Austin Blvd.
Website: mozartscoffee.com
Perfect for: Discussing the latest novel you read over a double espresso
Perched on the shore of Lake Austin, Mozart's provides an unmatched view of the sunset to end a perfect evening. If you're not up to having a few (more) drinks, head to Mozart's in exchange for iced coffee, a turtle cheesecake, or a scoop of gelato. If a better coffee shop exists, we haven't been there.
Texas Roller Derby
Address: 900 Barton Springs Rd.
Website: txrd.com
Perfect for: Adrenaline junkies looking for a rush
Forget the car lock trick; if she can get into the Texas Roller Derby, she's a keeper. A fun mix of grit and glam, the roller derby gals will redefine your view of femininity, beauty, and girl-on-girl action. You won't spend more than $13 on a ticket, and if the date doesn't go well, you always flirt up a rollergirl for a replacement date.
Oasis
Address: 6550 Comanche Trail.
Website: oasis-austin.com
Perfect for: the fancy couple who want to splurge
Fitted with a beautiful and scenic view of Lake Travis, Oasis is the perfect dinner spot on the first date. The food is a little pricey and the drive is a bit of a-ways, but the date will definitely be one for the books.
Zilker Park
Address: 2201 Barton Springs Rd.
Website: N/A
Perfect for:
Zilker Park is the ultimate place for the holiday date in Austin. Whether you're getting dizzy from spinning under the Zilker Christmas Tree or walking for the first or umpteenth time through the Trail of Lights, there is just no better place in Austin to experience the holidays amidst twinkling lights and hot chocolate food trucks. Off-season diversions like spring picnic dates and weekly concerts with Blues on the Grass are solid first date options, too.
Mount Bonnell
Address: Mt. Bonnell
Website: N/A
Perfect for: Snapping your first Instagram together
If you're looking for a picturesque back drop for getting to know you conversations, look no further than Mount Bonnell. The stunning skyline at Mount Bonnell does all the work for you, turning awkward silences into "sorry I was just staring at this killer sunset."
Alamo Drafthouse
Address: 320 E. 6th St.
Website: alamodrafthouse.com
Perfect for: Movie buffs wanting to catch the latest flick and get their grub on at the same time
After experiencing the Alamo Drafthouse, you'll never want to go to a regular movie theater again. Situated smack-dab on the boisterous 6th St., the quaint ambiance of the Alamo Drafthouse serves as a nice antithesis to the usual rowdy 6th St. clientele. , Special events like sing-alongs, throwback movies, and kid-oriented services during the summer and holiday season are also a refreshing departure from the norm. If you're the traditional type who likes to do a dinner and a movie, try the Alamo Drafthouse instead; you won't be disappointed.
Elephant Room
Address: 315 Congress Ave.
Website: elephantroom.com
Perfect for: Enjoying live jazz
There's never a dull moment at the Elephant Room. One of the best dive jazz bars in Austin, the Elephant Room has live performances every night, often with some of the best musicians in the city sitting in. Sure, it can get crowded, but the dim lights and good beer still make this spot the ideal place to end an intimate night.
The Driskill Grill
Address: 604 Brazos St.
Website: driskillgrill.com
Perfect for: Wooing the hard-to-impress girl
The Driskill Grill has been an Austin staple and a romantic stop for date-goers in this weird city. It may not be great for a first date, but if you're looking to impress then it may be just right. Fitted with antique upholstery and a sprawling staircase, you might just have him or her swooning by the end of the night.
A Walk Down South Congress
Address: South Congress
Website: N/A
Perfect for: When you'd rather grab a snack (or several) together rather than a sit down dinner
A walk down South Congress is a great impromptu plan for the spontaneous among you. Lined with your typical weird Austin shops like Lucy In Disguise With Diamonds, and noshing favorites like Homeslice and Hey Cupcake!, South Congress is filled enough diversions to make a memorable, pit-stop filled night.
Lady Bird Lake
Address: Town Lake.
Website: austintexasgov.com
Perfect for: A memory-making day date
Lady Bird Lake is great pick for the outdoorsy couple who isn't afraid to get a little dirty and wet...literally. This is a great place to hike, kayak, canoe, or take a rowing shell downstream on a nice afternoon. The banks of Lady Bird Lake also have potential for great first dates, particularly during Austin City Limits or Austin Reggae Festival.
Spiderhouse Cafe
Address: 2908 Fruth St.
Website: spiderhousecafe.com
Perfect for: A late-night study session you're hoping is a date
One of Austin's most beloved cafe/bar lounges, Spiderhouse cafe is ideal for passing that awkward "getting to know each other" phase that usually happens on the first few dates. The ambiance screams "Keep Austin Weird," so enjoy a sandwich, an Irish coffee and a white Russian, and chat up your potential new girl up. If you're into poetry or lyrical hip-hop, Spiderhouse holds a slam poetry night and hip-hop open mic exchange every Tuesday from 8p.m. to 1a.m.