Best Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City, Utah

Surrounded by the beautiful Wasatch Mountain Range, Salt Lake City (SLC) offers a myriad of date night options to spend some romantic moments together. From natural to manmade landmarks, there’s something special for everyone in this capital city.

So you want to have the perfect date night at Salt Lake City? Maybe you’ve matched with someone special through the best online dating sites and need to arrange a cool first meet-up. Or, you’ve been dating for a while now and feel like it’s time to make the next occasion more memorable.

The simple truth is that Salt Lake City offers plenty of options to do all of that. It features numerous possibilities to indulge in romantic activities, enjoy idyllic restaurants, and visit fun attractions.

Here are our top picks for fun date night ideas in Salt Lake City, UT, in no particular order:

1. The Salt Lake Temple

Although the temple itself has been closed for renovations since 2019, it still offers an impressive and super romantic sight from the outside. You can grab a coffee and spend a magical date touring Temple Square around this spectacular place of worship. But what if you get hungry? Check this out: the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (right on the corner of South Temple and Main Street) features a magnificent rooftop restaurant.

Needless to say, it’s not exactly the best option for a first date. But the fancy restaurant with a beautiful view over the Salt Lake Temple makes it an ideal location for a married couple’s night out.

2. Go Spend the Night Gazing at the Stars

There’s nothing more romantic than stargazing with a special someone. The sky, the moon, and the stars bring unique magic to every date. But is there a place in Salt Lake City to enjoy watching the skies with some guidance?

To help you spot all the galaxies, clusters, planets, and moons, The South Physics Observatory at the University of Utah is hosting its star parties. A cool event like this is one of the best date ideas for a girlfriend’s birthday. But beware: before going out there, make sure to check the observatory’s status from their website. At the moment, all star parties are canceled because of COVID-19. Let’s hope the restrictions will be removed soon.

3. Natural History Museum of Utah

If you’re in Salt Lake City and type into Google “best date ideas near me,” you’re most likely to get a recommendation to visit the Natural History Museum of Utah. And for a good reason. It’s one of the top attractions in the city, and it offers a detailed introduction to Utah’s wondrous landscape.

While the setting is not exactly romantic, the exhibits and artifacts give you plenty of topics to discuss. And that’s exactly what the best first date ideas should include: relaxed surroundings with lots of opportunities to start conversations and explore.

4. Redwood Drive-In Theatre

What are the best date ideas when you both love movies? Unique one-of-a-kind cinemas, of course. The Redwood Drive-in Theatre in West Valley City is just that. Surrounded by romantic scenery, it’s the perfect place to catch a nice movie for a date night.

What’s more: watching the movie from the comfort of your car offers a more intimate experience than going to the regular cinema. And the best part is that you can bring your own popcorn or any other snacks you’d prefer.

5. An Evening of Romance at the Ballet

Going to see a performance at Ballet West is a great way to build mutual attraction. You can both dress up for the event, which can be a surprisingly elevating experience. Putting on fancier clothes is not only about the event, but looking your best is a great way of showing appreciation for each other.

Choosing the right show really depends on the stories and music you both like. Ballet West’s program features a variety of shows from classics like The Nutcracker to more contemporary ones like Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs. They’re all performed by some of the most talented artists in the United States, and well worth watching. But perhaps the Nine Sinatra Songs presenting seven portraits of couples in romantic relationships is most suitable for a date night.

Regardless of where you are in the relationship, an evening at Ballet West will be a memorable experience for both of you.

Salt Lake City in Utah has so many wonderful places to visit for a memorable date. Give some of the locations from our list a go. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did.