The best Edmonton date ideas – find your next great date in YEG

Couple looking out over Edmonton

So you’ve met someone fantastic and now it’s time to work out where to take them! It’s a big decision, so we’re here to help. We’ve scoured the city and found the best Edmonton date ideas, from cosy cafes, to bracing winter skating, to tasty eats. Rain, snow or shine, discover a YEG date idea that suits you.

Our favourite Edmonton date ideas: the best of the best

Whether you’re keen on coffee, love to flirt over fine food, or want icy winter adventures, we’ve found Edmonton date ideas to suit you. Read on to discover your next favourite, then scroll to the bottom to see all our ideas on a handy, shareable map!

1. One word: Brunch

Bonding with a date is wonderful. It’s even better when there’s pancakes. Happily, Edmonton is full of fantastic brunch spots: if you want huevos rancheros and a sunny patio, try Local Public Eatery; for bagels and Edmonton’s best eggs benny, try New York Bagel Cafe; and if you want brunch that will please vegetarians and meat eaters alike, try the Blue Plate Diner.

2. Take in a city view

When it comes to city views, every Edmontonian has an opinion on the best spot. From The End of the World to Riverside Drive, this is a city full of arresting vistas. However, one of the best has to be Grant Notley Park Gazebo – for maximum romance, head to one of the park benches, snuggle up to your sweetie and watch the sun go down over the valley.

3. Coffee, coffee, coffee

In a recent EliteSingles study, 83% of our members said meeting for a coffee is the single best option for a first date.1 However, Edmonton has so many great coffee joints that we couldn’t pick just one. In fact, we’ve found five great places for an Edmonton coffee date. There’s the cool-but-quaint Little Brick, the delicious Wild Earth, and the divine Mandolin Books (perfect for comparing your taste in books over a latte). Remedy Cafe is ideal for those who love their chai tea, while if you’re in the mood for whoopie pies, there’s only one place to go: The Woodrack Cafe.

4. Explore the Devonian Botanic Gardens

Open from May – Thanksgiving, the green oasis of the Devonian Botanic Gardens has to be one of the most beautiful Edmonton date ideas. The stunning gardens are a truly replenishing place to walk with a date, offering views of everything from tropical butterflies to headily perfumed roses. Then there are the special events: the likes of Luminaria are best not missed!

5. Get a little crafty

Want a creative, crafty date idea? Try taking your date to Crankpots Ceramic Studio to paint one-of-a-kind date night mementoes, or head to the Art Gallery of Alberta for their Wednesday night art workshops (no experience required!). If art isn’t your thing, try a cooking class with Get Cooking: they offer a range of romantic cooking ideas that are as delicious as they are fun!

6. Travel down-river

Come summer, one of the best active Edmonton date ideas is to grab your date, take a short drive, and tackle some (gentle) rapids with the likes of Pembina River Tubing. Too bumpy for your tastes? Try paddleboating instead: you can rent boats in both Hawrelak and Rundle Parks and while away a sunny afternoon while floating down the North Saskatchewan River.

7. Winter is coming – make the most of it!

Winter is hard to ignore in Alberta. Yet, it just so happens that many of the best Edmonton date ideas are also winter date ideas. Take a date to the Edmonton Freezeway (one of Canada’s most creative skateways!), warm up with coffee and board games at the Tabletop Cafe, or pick one of our other winter favourites below. They’ll keep your romance hot despite the chill!

8. Get retro at the movies

Going to ‘the pictures’ used to be an occasion. You and your date, scrubbed up nice, snuggling in the balcony while a classic movie plays…somehow, the local strip mall cinema doesn’t quite have the same charisma. Yet, in Edmonton you can relive the glory days at The Garneau Theatre – keep an eye on the changing film schedule to discover a fantastic date night.

9. Take your best shot at mini-golf

When you are after a fun Edmonton date idea, mini golf is a classic option. Edmonton has several great courses, but one of the most fun (and most unusual) has to be Monster Mini Golf; a black light course full of artwork, interesting statues, and creative golf holes. Take your partner here and in no time you’ll feel like a pair of gleeful kids again.

10. Venue-hop in Old Strathcona

Old Strathcona offers entertainment, great food and drink, and Canadian history, all in one go. It’s the perfect place for an Edmonton date night that celebrates life in YEG. Make the most of it with a date that hops from venue to venue: start with dinner and drinks at The Almanac; get dessert at Block 1912; then round off the evening with live music at Blues on Whyte.

Ready to try one of our Edmonton date ideas? You can find the locations on this map. Still looking for that single person to share the city with? Let us help. Start by registering today.

Did we get your favourite Edmonton date ideas? Did we miss one out? Let us know below or contact us at [email protected]

About the author: Sophie Watson

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