Top 12 Date Night Ideas In Indianapolis, Indiana

1. Share the moment on a gondola ride at Indy Canal

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

For a picture-perfect date night in downtown Indianapolis, why not savor the Venice-like experience of riding a gondola along the Indy Canal? Spend precious moments with a private gondola ride for two from Old World Gondoliers. Paired with breathtaking views of the Canal Walk and its marvelous buildings as you pass by a river, be swooned as you’re serenaded by experienced gondoliers with impressive vocal chops.

These gondolas have seen many proposals and birthday dates in previous years. You can even get married on board the gondola - literally! If you’re ready to say yes, you can negotiate with the company before your trip to make it happen.

Gondola Rides: Old World Gondoliers

Address: Downtown, 340 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202

Website: Old World Gondoliers

Opening hours: Mon, Wed - Sat: 12pm - 9pm; Tue, Sun: 12pm - 8:30pm

Price: From 189 USD (30-minute private gondola ride)

2. Savor fantastic dishes and drinks at Spoke & Steele

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Dress to the nines for an intimate date night at this restaurant in one of Indianapolis’ upscale hotels. Handpicked as one of the best new bars in the city, Spoke & Steele aims to deliver diners with a delightful menu of dishes and drinks for any time of the day, including dinner. With elegant interiors and stellar service, you’re guaranteed to leave your tastebuds rejuvenated.

Be amazed by delicious appetizers, entrees, and desserts, from the curated charcuterie board to a macaron medley of assorted flavors, all specially prepared by seasoned chefs. By the end of the hearty meal, spend the rest of the night away with a wonderful offering of wines and cocktails.

Spoke & Steele

Address: Le Méridien Indianapolis, 123 South Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Website: Spoke & Steele

Opening hours: 6:30am - 12am (daily)

3. Relish the blues at Slippery Noodle Inn

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The oldest bar in Indiana is one of the tops blues bars in America, according to Rolling Stone Magazine. Slippery Noodle Inn (est. 1850) has had its share of visiting luminaries. They go all the way to Indy not only for the filling and tasty spread. Most people choose to stay for live blues music. The Slippery Noodle Inn is already 170 years old and has been expanded four times in recent history. If your date can’t get enough of blues guitar, then this is the perfect place for a nightcap. The music is always good so expect an extended stay. Since 1982, the bar has been hosting the longest-running blues jam in America. Trust us when we say those local bands know their stuff.

Slippery Noodle Inn

Address: 372 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Website: Slippery Noodle Inn

Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 11am - 12am; Wed - Thu: 11am - 1am; Fri: 11am - 3am; Sat: 12pm - 3am; Sun: 4pm - 12am

4. Enjoy an Indy burlesque at White Rabbit Cabaret

White Rabbit Cabaret is chic yet affordable. The musical acts that play are some of the best in town. You must check out the schedule of performances. They offer movie screenings and stand-up comedy shows. If your date is a fan of improv then White Rabbit on Prospect Street is an attractive option for a night out in Indianapolis. They have an in-house burlesque troupe that is the pride of the city. Something called burlesque bingo is the talk of the town, so you’d better check it out. There’s no need to call for a reservation so you need to secure a table for two by heading out early.

White Rabbit Cabaret

Address: 1116 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN 46203

Website: White Rabbit Cabaret

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 7pm - 12am; Fri - Sat: 8pm - 1am (closed on Sun & Mon)

5. Tune up to each other at Jazz Kitchen

Jazz Kitchen is the prime spot for Indianapolis jazz musicians and the perfect destination for a romantic night out. According to Downbeat Magazine, the venue is one of “Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the World”. That’s a distinction they do not take lightly. Every night, a performance from a memorable jazz artist wows a crowd that hails from different parts of the state. Since 1994, Jazz Kitchen has been nurturing not only America’s best entertainers but also budding romances. You won’t just be sitting back and holding hands with your beloved at Jazz Kitchen. Instead, you’d be dancing to the rhythm while looking into each other’s eyes.

Jazz Kitchen

Address: 5377 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220

Website: Jazz Kitchen

Opening hours: Sun, Tue - Wed: 5pm - 10pm; Mon: 5pm - 11pm; Thu: 5pm - 2am; Fri - Sat: 5pm - 2am

6. Split your sides at Crackers Comedy Club

A comedy bar with open mic nights is all you need for a fun date night. An Indy original, Crackers Comedy Club features some of the best acts in America. If the performers look familiar, then perhaps you’ve seen them in Comedy Central or Last Comic Standing. It’s a 39 year-old club with an impressive roster of regional and national comics. Shows on Friday and Saturday start at 7pm and on Tuesdays, the fun begins at 8pm. Tuesdays Open Mic nights start at 8:30pm and you’d better get preferred seating tickets for maximum enjoyment.

Crackers Comedy Club

Address: 207 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Website: Crackers Comedy Club

Opening hours: Tue - Thu, Fri - Sat: 10am - 12am (closed on Sun, Mon & Wed)

7. See a billion stars at Holcomb Observatory

During the weekend, you might want to consider finding a romantic date idea in Indianapolis that’s less than ordinary. Instead of seeing Indy celebrities perform, how about seeing real stars? Public nights at the Butler University Holcomb Observatory is all about free feature shows and telescope viewing.

Learn something new about planets and stars, and see the Universe in a new light. The observatory houses the biggest telescope in the state–a 38-inch Cassegrain reflector. The newly upgraded facility is proud of the capabilities of its eye to the sky, and the full-dome theater of Holcomb Observatory is simply awe-inspiring.

Holcomb Observatory

Address: 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46208

Website: Holcomb Observatory

Opening hours: Wed, Fri & Sat: 8am - 10.30pm (closed on Mon, Tue, Thu & Sun)

8. Create harmony together at Wine & Canvas

Wine & Canvas Indianapolis North offers an interesting alternative to a regular date in a bar. It’s a paint and sip venue, which should be perfect for a couple that likes to create and drink at the same time. Talk about painting the town. You can paint the town red, or go for orange, green, and blue. You and your partner will have an entire palette to work with. Wine & Canvas promises artsy fun. If that is your idea of a great date then go for the painting class with cocktails! FYI, Wine and Canvas Indianapolis South offers the same unique experience.

Wine & Canvas Indianapolis North

Address: 5151 E. 82nd Street Suite 700 (13,647.39 km), 46250 Indianapolis, Indiana

Website: Wine & Canvas

Opening hours: Thu - Fri: 3pm - 9pm; Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed from Mon - Wed)

9. Swing and dance at Fountain Square Theatre

Centuries-old buildings still stand at Fountain Square, which is part of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. In the daytime, you can ride bicycles along the downtown trail or walk the pedestrian-friendly paths. When the sun goes down you must return to the historic district for an experience of a lifetime.

Get dressed for a night in the town, set your sights to Fountain Square Theatre, and swing the night away! Good things happen on swing night when you are dancing with your beloved. For a fun date idea in Indianapolis, this is something worth looking forward to.

Fountain Square Theatre

Address: 1111 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN 46203

Website: Fountain Square Theatre

Price: 12 - 14 USD

10. Catch a show at Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is on a mission to engage audiences with high caliber musicianship. They’re a talented bunch so you’re in luck if your date is passionate about classical music. A new concertmaster was just appointed in January. His name is Kevin Lin and we hear is an excellent violinist. Weekend shows at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indy’s Monument Circle are diverse and collaborative. Catch a show of the ISO for a symphonic night in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Address: Hilbert Circle Theatre 45 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Website: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

11. Spend quality time at Punch Bowl Social

Fritters, tacos, chicken and waffles are on the menu of the gastropub in Punch Bowl Social. The place is legendary and dinner won’t disappoint. We heard good things about the Five Cheese Mac and Short Ribs & Polenta, so you may start with those for a promising dinner date. Order cocktails and exhaust the wine list at any of the three bars in the venue. They have a spacious arcade with epic games. There are bowling areas and karaoke rooms to keep you busy. You might be surprised to find out that the Indy facility can accommodate more than 900 people at any one time. For variety and entertainment, Punch Bowl Social is the Indy place to be.

Punch Bowl Social (dinner date)

Address: 120 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225,

Website: Punch Bowl Social

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 12am; Fri: 11am - 3am; Sat: 9am - 3am; Sun: 9am - 12am

12. Walk the extra mile at Mass Ave (from USD 73.0)

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A stroll along Mass Ave (Massachusetts Avenue) could be the perfect date for you. The street is in the heart of Indy’s cultural district and lined with casual and upscale restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops. You might find yourselves in front of a theater, or a gallery that is still open to visitors. Do not hesitate to step in. If you come across a special event on the street then you’re in luck. There’s no better way to experience the raw energy of Indianapolis than spending an exciting night on its landmark avenue.

Massachusetts Avenue Food Tour

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

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Nurture romance in Indianapolis

Romance needs nurturing, but it’s not as complicated as you think. Great date night could simply be good food, great drinks, and quality time together. Keeping romance alive is not such a difficult proposition when you are in Indianapolis.