Cheap Dates & Nights Out in Brisbane

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What makes a good night out or a date is mostly the company that you go with. You can't always afford an expensive night out, and certainly not every night. So here are some ideas and suggestions for a good, romantic or fun date in the Brisbane area.



A Picnic in the park

Let's start with the most obvious one, having a picnic in the park. With more and more people living in apartments or sharing houses with other people who work a range of different hours, if you want to just hang out, you need to head to a park.



One of the most popular picnic locations is South Bank, I find it too crowded, and I much prefer the Roma Street Parklands. The lakeside barbecues there have a lot of tables, several barbecues and a great sports field nearby. If that area is too crowded then there are other places around the parkland.



There are also lots of small parks around Brisbane, though they are better during the day because they often lack lighting at night. But my favourite park overall for a picnic during the day has to be the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha. You can spread a rug by the lagoon or walk up to the viewing platform or Australian flower garden. Or just walk around until you find a place that you both love.

Pub Meal Deals

One of the best cheap dates or nights out is a pub meal. Though of course these days there is a wide range of different pubs, some offering great dining options with an associated high price. But if you look around and choose the right place on the right night you can get some excellent deals. For an evening with friends, you want the right atmosphere while for a date you want that special ambience.



Only a few years ago you could find a beer and meal combination for as little as $10, but given the poor quality of those meals, it is not surprising that they can't be found anymore. Instead, expect a nice meal of around $10 to $15 plus a drink.



But generally, you are looking at going out on Sundays through to Thursday nights. Always look at your favourite pub's website because usually they change the deals for each day, and sometimes it is just cheap and nasty pizza and other nights something interesting.

Latin Dancing

A night out dancing is actually pretty cheap. In particular, if you head out to one of the Latin dance nights being hosted in various pubs and clubs around Brisbane. These are usually free on Weeknights while if they are on Friday or Saturday nights there is a cover charge. When there is no cover charge all you have is the cost of a drink or two, unless you go in and don't order anything. There are usually dance classes followed by Latin rhythms for the rest of the night.



For a free night of dancing, then check out the Latin Dance events. I think they still have one at the base of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs on the first Sunday of every month, and other events come and go around Brisbane.

Mini-golf

One of the things people don't really think about that much any more is mini-golf or putt putt. The most fun option is Holey Moley, a combination cocktail bar and putt putt course with locations in Fortitude Valley, The City and Chermside. It is around $17 here for 9 holes. Combine that with a drink and it is $30.



There are some more outdoor mini-golf courses around Brisbane. Many stay open at night, but it can also be a fun afternoon date.

Night Markets & Food Truck Events

Markets are always fun places to visit. You have some shopping, usually some entertainment as well as a fine selection of food which you can sample. Brisbane is a little bit weak on night markets at the moment, but there is a growing number of regular food truck events as well.



Eat Street Markets is by far the biggest. Some people feel it is a little expensive, but most meals are between $10 and $15 per person. There are 3 live music stages, multiple bars, some shops and even movies.



There are some regular food trucks and night market events around Brisbane. These are often cool but are always changing. Keep a lookout on the Weekend Notes site for the next event worth taking your date.

Fish & Chips on the Beach

Science has found what people have known for a long time, seafood tastes better when you can smell the ocean. There is no better way to get the ocean scent than to be actually sitting on the beach.



Fish & chips sort of has a long-held reputation as something cheap and nasty. But head to most beachside suburbs in the greater Brisbane area and you will find wonderful fish & chip shops near the beach. The better places include a good selection of salads to go with the fish and chips.

But unfortunately, they usually lie on the other side of the road. So of course I would rather grab the seafood and head across the road where the sea breeze drives the petrol and diesel fumes away. Personally, I think if your date doesn't prefer this to sitting in a cafe or restaurant, find a different date.

Fun & Games

The holy Buddha said that you should maintain your inner child. Nothing brings out your inner child like cafes and bars that provide games. Remember of course to match your drinks to the games. Scrabble should be played with wine, Jenga with cocktails and battleships with shots of rum(naval style). Chess is a thinking person's game and that means whiskey. I am not sure which game goes best with beer, but to be honest I am thinking perhaps my whole drinks and game matching system is flawed.



Whatever game you play with whatever drink, you can find several places around Brisbane for games. These include Sasquatch Bar in Chermside and Saccharomyces in Fish Lane in South Brisbane (don't mention that the bar is named after a fungus, even if it is the brewer's yeast used to make beer). There are plenty more around, but it is hard to find them.



Ultimately games prove that you are a fun person. Though don't choose anything too hard and don't cheat when playing scrabble. Or at least don't argue over all the rules if you want it to be romantic.



Walks

Going for a walk with someone can be very romantic, and there are lots of walks in the Brisbane area you can go on. Some general rules of a romantic walk include


Find somewhere scenic to walk, with walks along the Sandgate or Manly foreshore a couple of great locations.
Walks with points of interest are cool too, such as sculptor or historic sites walks.
Have a good destination in mind. For fit people, a walk up Mt Coot-tha to the views from the summit is a great option.
Have a plan for coffee, cake or food after or during the walk.
Don't forget to bring snacks or drinks to make the experience more enjoyable.
Timing does help. You know, catch that sunset or moonrise.
Being caught in rainstorms are romantic in the movies, but please check the weather so it is not too cold, too rainy, too windy or too hot.

Here are some of my favourite romantic walks in the Brisbane area.


You can walk from South Bank along the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and across the bridge to the Howard Smith Wharves.
A walk around the lakes at the University of Queensland, especially during jacaranda season can be followed by coffee, cake or a meal at one of the cafes there.
Manly to Wynnum is a lovely walk, with the better cafes being at Manly.
Sandgate down to Shorncliffe is fun. The better cafes are at Sandgate, so put Sandgate at the end of the walk.
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens has flowers, the exotic, 3 lakes, views and you can head on through the gardens and up Mt Coot-tha if you want by the Spotted Gum Track .
New Farm Park down to Newstead is a favourite walk. You can visit the historic Newstead House at the end, and go for steaks at the Breakfast Creek Hotel.


Bowling

When was the last time you went bowling? For most people, this is only a rare occasion but it can actually be a great night out for a group of friends. In fact, it is better value for money with friends than as a date.



So you pay for a game that consists of 10 frames. So if you have a big group it takes a while for everyone to have a bowl. Meanwhile, you can sit around drinking and eating. So going with several couples together makes a lot more sense.



The real value comes from the special deals most bowling alleys around Brisbane offer. You can find these at any bowling alley. These deals are usually on weeknights or for late-night bowling sessions. But the best I think is Strike Bowling at Winter Garden in the city. While they can be one of the more expensive bowling alleys in Brisbane, they have a range of deals available here including beer and bowling deals, as well as a combination of bowling, laser tag and karaoke.

Get Creative

A great date is not about the restaurant, the place, the food or the entertainment. It is about the shared feeling. Having a cup of coffee at the Cafe on Mt Coot-tha while looking down at the lights of Brisbane, picnicking on Mt Gravatt as the sun sets, or walking through a park are very romantic things, and all very cheap.



I am not saying that you shouldn't spend a lot of money, but all my best memories are the little things done with the person I love, more than anything else. Get creative and find something special to share together.

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