Best Things To Do On A Date In Buffalo (Day & Night)

Best free cheap Buffalo date night ideas things to do

Over the next few minutes we will cover the best things to do on a date in Buffalo with both date night ideas and more fun things to do when the sun is out discussed. Many of the top options for local date nights can be found downtown around the Chippewa Street Entertainment District (AKA Chip Strip) and could also work during the day and vice versa so try and be flexible.

Our first section will be all about the most romantic restaurants in Buffalo for a date night and there are plenty to mention. Up next we will dive into other fun things to do on a date night in your area with a focus on the many live entertainment venues in town before we pivot to the daytime.

Expect to find a list of cool outdoor places to hang out like Canalside, many parks and hiking trails, indoor spots like museums and art galleries, and of course some places to grab drink or a bite to eat like brunch restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops, and sweet shops.

Unique entertainment venues that probably combine alcohol and some sort of game or activity will get a shout out too. There will even be a couple sections on the most expensive and high end options or on how to plan a cheap date near you at night or during the day as well.

If you happen to be a single man reading this be sure to check out our post on meeting women in your area which mostly focuses on the local nightclubs and bars to meet women. Ending your date night at dancing at one of the spots in that post may not be a bad idea either so you may want to check it out even if you are already partnered up.

Romantic Restaurants For A Buffalo Date Night

Best romantic restaurants Buffalo date night things to do
Here are some of the best romantic Buffalo restaurants for a date night:

We have tried our best to order those from most expensive at the top to cheaper date night restaurants or cocktail bars at the bottom. Check out their menus to budget accordingly, Bacchus Wine Bar and the few above it will have mains ranging from $25 to $80 while the ones in the middle should be more in the $20 to $50 range.

Vue and Savoy have limited menus and the food isn’t that expensive but they probably won’t fill her up and the drinks will be expensive. Ballyhoo and lloyd Taco Factory are going to be cheaper and are also quite tasty, they might just not be quite as fancy as some others on the list.

As mentioned before many of the top places to go on a date in Buffalo can be found downtown around the Chippewa Street Entertainment District which many from the area refer to as the Chip Strip. Strolling along Canalside during a sunset or in the evening can also be quite pleasant.

You may also want to try out the Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin Square from 5pm to 8pm when the weather is nice where they often have live music or other entertainment. This is one of the best cheap date ideas in Buffalo and both admission and parking are free.

Live Entertainment On A Local Date Night

See who is performing at these venues before your local date night:

Don’t forget that we linked you to the top nightlife spots in the intro if you want to grab some drinks and dance to round out a date night in your area, somewhere like Rec Room which has live music could be ideal.

Shea’s Performing Arts Center has been open for nearly eight decades with a wide variety of events from Broadway Shows to comedians like Jim Gaffigan, musicians, Dancing With The Stars, and more.

Some of the popular comedians who have performed at Helium Comedy Club over the past few years include Anthony Jeselnik, Mark Normand, Ms Pat, and DL Hughley.

Planning A Date During The Day

These are some of the best outdoor places to go on a date during the day:

  • Buffalo Harbor State Park
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
  • Delaware Park
  • Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens

If the weather is convenient we highly suggest you spend at least some of your time outdoors together, a sunny day is as likely to put them in a good mood as anything. Obviously heading over to Niagara Falls will be one of your best options, particularly if your partner has never been before. While you are out that way why not spend some time on the Niagra Wine Trail?

Canalside is always a good option and will be much easier and quicker to get to as they have the popular Outer Harbor Concert Series when the weather is nice and ice skating in the winter. The Botanical Gardens are also very worth checking out, and the Japanese Gardens in Delaware Park are a can’t miss.

For some more culture and sophistication on a date during the day in Buffalo head to:

  • AKG Art Museum
  • Buffalo Museum of Science
  • The Burchfield Penney Art Center
  • Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center
  • Buffalo History Museum
  • Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park
  • Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

You both may enjoy trying to figure out how to get out of Escape the Mystery Room together. Grabbing a quick meal, drink, or some sweets at one of these spots would also be a good idea:

For a full meal you may want to stick with one of the romantic restaurants near you from the date nights section as most should have a lunch menu and they will often be a little cheaper before dinner. That list we just shared is more like brunch spots, healthy bites, cafes, and bakeries or ice cream parlors.

Betty’s is a very popular brunch spot that is open from 8am to 3pm Tuesday through Friday, 9am to 3pm on Saturday, and from 9am to 2pm on Sunday. You can do some more casual strolling and maybe even buy her something nice at Walden Galleria or the numerous local shops at Elmwood Village.

As things get more serious you may even want to sign up for some cooking classes at the Culinary Arts Center, though that’s probably more of a 3rd or 4th date type of thing.

Cheap Date Ideas In Buffalo

So far we have covered a ton of options, but if you are trying to plan a cheap date in Buffalo this is the section for you. Generally speaking meeting up with your partner during the day will be a little cheaper, you won’t necessarily be expected to buy a full meal at a fancy restaurant and even if you do the lunch menu is often less expensive than the dinner menu.

But you can usually get by with some coffee, ice cream, or some kind of small plate. The Japanese Garden in Delaware Park is a great free thing to do on a date in your area, and then you can stroll along Canalside and stop by somewhere for a quick cheap bite.

Some other things we have previously mentioned that fall into the cheaper category include the Buffalo History Museum, Helium Comedy Club, Ballyhoo or lloyd Taco Factory restaurants, and Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin Square.

Anyone that is looking for some fun cities for a romantic vacation together could look into somewhere big like Toronto or somewhere more low key like Albany.

We Hope You Have A Great Time Together

You and your partner should have a great local date night together if you go to the right places to set the right mood. Anyone that is single and reading this may want to log on to Adult Friend Finder to find someone to take on a date, or maybe to invite straight over to your place because that site is all about easy hook ups. With that said often times what starts as a quick hook up can lead to more serious dating in your area down the line.

Well guys, you just read about the top romantic restaurants near you along with entertainment venues, outdoor places, museums and art galleries, and some cafes, brunch spots, and sweet shops and should be as ready as ever for what comes next. Hopefully this post on the best things to do on a date in Buffalo at night or in the daytime has been helpful.

Planning local date night Buffalo romantic restaurants