A Different Way To Do Date Night, From Martinis to Mind-Bending Fun

Whether you’re on your first date or your 15th, date night can come with a lot of pressure: looking your best, bringing fun anecdotes and remembering to ask all the right questions. And sometimes that pressure can sap the joy out of your evening. So, when you’re keen to loosen up and (hopefully) feel a spark, it might be time to shake up the predictable dinner-and-drinks routine with something unexpected – like a topsy-turvy Aussie pub (trust us, it’s fun).

Here’s how to plan a memorable date night with a difference, from cocktails and illusions to some of Sydney’s hottest establishments.

Meet for happy-hour Martinis or Margs

Set the tone for a fun and carefree night by meeting at one of the CBD’s small-but-mighty cocktail bars. Bar Herbs opens daily at 4pm serving $13 Martinis and $7 beers for the first two hours. The lights are dimmed, the vibes are on and the popcorn is free. Or, make the most of a balmy evening and sit outside at sibling bar Cantina OK. It pumps out world-class Margaritas for $13 every day from 4pm to 5pm. It’s lively yet relaxed, and the mezcal is unmatched.

Get dizzy with it at Museum of Illusions

Let your guard down and share a laugh as you explore the disorienting world of Museum of Illusions. Located on George Street, the museum features around 80 interactive exhibits, including an upside-down Aussie pub where a pool table and stools are suspended from the ceiling, plus gravity-defying rooms designed to mess with your sense of reality. It’s a chance to show you don’t take yourself too seriously, and you might even discover a new side to your partner (or potential partner) too. Be sure to snap plenty of photos as mementos of your cute and goofy selves.

Dial it down for dinner

After all that stimulation, take things down a notch by heading somewhere a little sultry for dinner. Hot Listed Grandfathers in Angel Place – by the team behind Pellegrino 2000 and fellow Hot Lister Clam Bar – is awash in romantic red light. Muted tones keep things intimate, while the menu invites you to linger over steamed dumplings and generous seafood platters late into the night. For something more casual, head to Ho Jiak Town Hall for punchy laksa bombs and comforting Hainanese chicken. Junda Khoo’s Malaysian menu can be as decadent as you like. Or, jump in a car to Darlinghurst and check out the recently opened Claret Club. This Euro-style wine bar has a downstairs area for walk-ins and small plates such as heirloom tomatoes with cheese or gnocco frittos topped with anchovy and sage.

Not quite ready to call it a night?

Conversation is flowing, you’re reliving those warped illusions from earlier, and now you don’t want to say goodnight. Keep the cosy vibes going with a nightcap at Surry Hills cocktail bar Alma’s, where you can lock your phones away in the hidden drawers under the table. Or, slide into the long-running neighbourhood favourite Love, Tilly Devine for a drop of natural wine, a digestivo or a non-alcoholic sparkling made with saltbush and lemongrass. Nab a window seat, ask for two spoons with dessert, and savour a sweet end to the night.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Museum of Illusions.