Fall Date Ideas in Dallas
New dates for a new season.
Fall is here! Looking for new ways to enjoy the cooler weather and warmer-hued leaves of autumn with your significant other? Dallas has an abundance of seasonal options no matter your interests.
For the fall foodies
Many spend the year looking forward to the warmth of fall flavors. If pumpkin, apple, cinnamon and maple are your go-to, Dallas has plenty to offer. For quick meet-ups or first dates, Window Seat Coffee in Lower Greenville offers seasonal drinks fit for a cozy breakfast for two. Try the sweet potato latte or the fan-favorite apple chai-der for a perfect fall treat. A warm cinnamon roll, slice of pumpkin loaf or croissant will complete a sweet morning together.
For a fall sweet treat, head to Emporium Pies, a Dallas-based modern American pie company devoted to making Fine Pie for Fine Folk. This cute little pie shop sells scrumptious pies all year round, but for fall they added four new variations for the season like the Drop Dead Gourdgeous, A Spiced pumpkin pie with a gingerbread crust. If cheesecake is more your vibe, head to Val's Cheesecake for scrumptious treats that will knock your socks off.
For soup lovers, try the famous tortilla soup from The Mansion Restaurant at The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Try the Lunch Tasting Menu featuring a starter and main course for $44 and choose from seasonal favorites! (If the soup isn't on the menu you can still ask for it) Enjoy the stunning restaurant interiors or sit on the patio and enjoy the peaceful view of Uptown Dallas.
Finish off the night with an innovative, photo-worthy cocktail from The Woolworth. Try the old-fashioned vanilla served with a cinnamon stick to add a hint of spice or the purple rain, a gin-based drink with notes of violet, pomegranate, lemon and rosemary.
Stop into Scardello, a popular shop in Oak Lawn that features more than 150 handmade American, Texas and European cheeses, to grab a slice of brie for a romantic picnic at the Summer Concerts at the Dallas Arboretum or Griggs Park, or sign up for one of their popular cheese classes.
For the kids at heart
For the cowboy experience, head to Wild Bill's Western Store to get your country boots and cowboy hats, or make your own hat at Flea Style. Experience live country music, dance lessons & a mechanical bull at Cowboys Red River Dancehall & Saloon. Scoot your boots at the Round Up Saloon & Dance Hall. Grab your partner and get down with the Saloon's free nightly dance lessons, karaoke and cheap draft beers!
Get inspired together at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. With six floors of exhibits and attractions, there is plenty to explore. View massive dinosaurs on the fourth floor or visit the Sports Hall on the lower level to face your partner in athletic skill competitions like racing an NFL running back or shooting a hockey puck and compare your reaction time.
If you are looking for more recess-like fun and less education, head to the Cidercade, an arcade bar in West Dallas. The more than 140 retro and modern games have a special emphasis on multiplayer games, so you can challenge your date to friendly competition. The bar offers 26 taps of hard ciders, seltzers and kombucha, and if you're hungry, visit the rotating food truck selection outside. Though open to all ages during the day, the location becomes 21+ after 8 p.m. and is open late for maximum fun.
For the elevated traditionalists
You can't go wrong with a classic dinner and movie date, and Dallas offers the perfect way to upgrade the traditional date. First, make a reservation at Yardbird, a James Beard-nominated, award-winning restaurant located just steps from the Dallas Arts District. Try innovative versions of southern classics like deviled eggs with smoked trout roe, chicken and waffles with honey hot sauce, or sweet tea braised short ribs.
Chef for Farmer's Dallas is Nov. Nov 2-5 with the main event on Nov. 5. Prepare to be dazzled by the culinary prowess of Texas’s finest chefs and food artisans as they showcase their talents like never before. This annual food and wine spectacle will sweep you off your feet at the iconic Old City Park, where history meets gastronomy in a breathtaking fusion.
Stroll down the street and around the corner to find yourself in Klyde Warren Park. This oasis of green space among the towering buildings of the city is the perfect place to take a romantic, after-dinner walk together.
To finish off the night, head to Highland Park Village to stroll around the shopping district when the lights go up in the trees around mid-November. Grab dinner at Honor Bar by fireplaces on the front porch and cheers drinks at the top of Mi Cocina at their Monkey Bar.
For the Halloween lovers
If you are looking for the perfect date with your fellow fall lover, start your day at the Dallas Arboretum. The sprawling grounds now feature over 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash for their 16th annual Autumn at the Arboretum exhibit. The pumpkin village makes a perfect fall photo-op until Nov. 5.
The Farmer's Market Pumpkin Patch, from Oct. 16-Oct. 31, is a locally-grown Texas Pumpkin Patch returned to The Shed from the Pumpkin Pyle fields in Floydada, TX. With over 25 pumpkin varieties, you can take your pick or stack em’ up!
Hungry after exploring the 66 acres of pumpkins and gardens? City Hall Bistro is the perfect dining option for those looking to add a little spookiness to an autumn day. Located within the historic Adolphus Hotel, the luxurious lodging has welcomed esteemed guests including presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush and British royalty, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The hotel is also known for having more long-term guests that haunt the halls and rooms of the residence, but don't let the ghosts distract you from the indulgent southern European offerings like fried cauliflower popcorn, braised pork belly and butternut squash mezzaluna.
Looking for something even more haunting? Check out Nightly Spirit's ghost tour pub crawl. This 21+ experience will have you exploring haunted bars and buildings while hearing chilling tales of the ghosts that reside in those very places. You and your boo will enjoy spirits served at local bars and pubs as you learn about the spirits that haunt downtown Dallas.