Some days, you’re restless, scrolling through the same three apps, wondering if life has more to offer than your bed and your phone. And then there are days when you just want to get dressed, smell good, and step into the world — no date, no agenda, just you. That’s where a solo date comes in.
A solo date isn’t running errands. It isn’t “I had to eat anyway, so I grabbed food.” And it definitely isn’t a sad Plan B for when your friends cancel. A solo date is intentional. It’s time carved out with the same effort you’d put into seeing someone you’re wildly in love with. The twist? That someone is you.
Think of it as romance without the performance. A solo date is a chance to play, indulge, or simply sit with yourself.
If you’ve been craving main-character energy or a treat, this is your sign. Here are 20 solo date ideas that are stylish, simple, and proof that dating yourself can be just as exciting, funny, awkward, and rewarding as dating someone else.
1. The Candlelit Dinner for One
There’s something quietly rebellious, and surprisingly exciting, about walking into a restaurant and asking for a table for one. At first, it might feel awkward. The stares, the empty seat across from you. But once the food arrives, the silence shifts. It’s no longer about who isn’t there; it’s about you and the meal in front of you. Order exactly what you want, no compromises, no half-offered bites just to be polite. Sip slowly, savour the candlelight, and take your time. Dining alone becomes more than a meal. It’s a love letter to yourself, and a treat you fully deserve.
2. Museum or Art Gallery Date
A museum alone feels like slipping into another world: the hush, the echo of footsteps, the quiet thrill of being surrounded by beauty. But going alone is a different kind of thrill. There’s no rush, no one tugging you along, no whispered “let’s skip this part.” You can linger in front of one painting until it feels like it’s staring back, or breeze past the exhibits that don’t call to you. Take notes like a critic if you want, or simply wander and let the silence hold you. Dress elegantly, and remember you’re not just looking at art. You are art.
3. The Bookstore Date
There’s something quietly magical about wandering through shelves with no one waiting on you. A solo bookstore date means you can get lost in the aisles, running your fingers along spines until the right one pulls you in. Sit on the floor if you like, read the first chapter, or carry a stack to a corner chair without anyone rushing you. Pair it with a pastry and coffee, and suddenly it’s more than shopping. It’s a small ritual of choosing stories for yourself.
4. A Solo Movie Night
The cinema is even better when it’s just you. Pull on your comfiest outfit, grab the biggest tub of popcorn, and sink into your seat with zero pressure to share. Make it a full day if you like — buy tickets for every movie you want to see and wander in and out at your own pace. And if a couple sits in front of you, go ahead and toss a few kernels at their heads for the fun of it (just don’t get caught). If leaving home feels like too much, recreate the cinema indoors. Light candles, dim the lights, and wrap yourself in a blanket as you binge your favourite series. Either way, it’s your cinema, your rules.
5. Wine or Cocktail Tasting
Book a wine tasting and turn it into a complete experience. Dress up, step into the room, and suddenly you’re swirling glasses of varying wines while someone explains flavours you never knew you could taste. It feels luxurious, a little dramatic, and, honestly, a true treat. You learn, you laugh, you may meet a few interesting people, and you leave with a new favourite bottle and a new story.
Not a wine girl? Switch it up. Find a bar with unlimited cocktails, or, if you’re feeling bold, sit right in front of the bartender. Tell them to keep the drinks coming or to share their signature drinks. They’ll love the challenge of impressing you, and you’ll end up trying cocktails you never would have ordered yourself. Just remember to book your Uber, because stumbling home after your own solo tasting menu isn’t what we want for you.
6. The Hotel Staycation
Book yourself into a hotel, even if it’s just a few streets away. There’s something thrilling about checking in, tossing your bag on a neatly made bed, and slipping into a robe that isn’t yours. Order room service without guilt, flip through the TV channels like you’re on holiday, and take long showers simply because the bathroom feels bigger than yours. For one night, you get to live like the main character, being waited on hand and foot, and delight in the joy of breaking out of routine.
7. The Street Food Adventure
Take yourself on a food adventure, but skip the fine dining. Head to the streets, find a food truck park, and treat it like your own playground. Enjoy the thrill of vendors calling out for you to try what they’re cooking. Order whatever catches your eye — suya here, shawarma there, something you can’t even pronounce but smells too good to ignore. Try something you’ve never eaten before, haggle with a vendor just for fun, or grab extra to take home. It’s messy, it’s delicious, and it reminds you that a solo date doesn’t always have to be polished. Sometimes joy tastes better on a paper plate.
8. The Solo Picnic
Pack up your favourite snacks, a bottle of something cold, and a blanket, then head to the nearest park or even your own backyard. A solo picnic is about slowing down. You get to stretch out in the sun, read a book, or just watch the world move around you. Bring a journal, take cute photos of your setup, and make it feel like an occasion. No rush, no pressure, just you enjoying fresh air and good food. It’s simple, but it feels like the kind of date you’d say yes to in a heartbeat, so why not give it to yourself?
9. The Spa Day
Book yourself a spa day and make it the event. Think pedicure, massage, facials — the full works. Don’t just squeeze it in as an errand; stretch it out into hours of pampering. Turn your regular beauty maintenance into a solo date: let someone scrub, polish, and massage while you sip tea and scroll guilt-free. Wear your cutest lounge set, lean into the calm, and enjoy the quiet luxury of being taken care of from head to toe. By the time you walk out glowing, you’ll wonder why you ever treated it as routine instead of ritual.
10. The Thrift or Window Shopping Spree
Hit up a thrift store, or even the luxury boutiques you usually only walk past. The point isn’t how much you spend, it’s the thrill of the hunt. Try on pieces you’d never normally pick, imagine the stories behind vintage finds, or walk through designer aisles just to soak in the artistry. Take photos, play dress-up, and let yourself enjoy fashion without pressure. Whether you leave with a bag full of treasures or nothing at all, the joy is in the adventure and in remembering that sometimes the best date is just you, your imagination, and a mirror.
Read also: My First Solo Date: Just Me, Myself, and Awkward Silence
11. The Art or Pottery Class
Sign up for a class that lets you get your hands messy — pottery, painting, even a sip-and-paint night. There’s something freeing about creating without worrying if it’s perfect. Roll the clay, splash colours on canvas, or laugh at your own attempts while you learn. It’s not about talent, it’s about the joy of trying something new and walking away with a piece that’s yours.
12. The Perfumery Visit
Head to a perfumery and give yourself permission to play. Sample oils, layer different notes, and see how they change once they hit your skin. Ask to mix and build your own scent — something that feels like you and no one else. It’s intimate, luxurious, and a little bit magical. You walk out not just smelling incredible, but carrying a signature scent that says main character energy every time you wear it.
13. The Solo Concert or Live Show
Take yourself to a live band, a concert, or even a silent disco. The whole point is to lose yourself in the music. Dance if you want, sing along, scream like a fangirl, or just sit back and soak up the vibe. Being alone means you don’t have to match anyone else’s energy. You can stand at the front, melt into the crowd, or drift to the back when you’ve had enough. It’s pure freedom, and it reminds you that sometimes the best company at a show is just the music and you.
14. The City Tour
Most of us live in a city without really knowing it. You go from home to work to the same few spots, and half the landmarks are places you’ve only seen on Instagram. A solo city tour is your excuse to play tourist. Book a guided tour or map out your own route — even the so-called cliché spots are worth seeing when you actually stop to enjoy them. Visit the museums, take photos like you’re on holiday, and let someone explain things you’ve probably passed a hundred times. It’s fun, it’s eye-opening, breaks you out of your routine, and it’s an opportunity to learn something new about where you live.
15. Sign up for a random class
Sign up for a class you’d never normally think of. Fencing, karate, pilates, and even a little heel dancing if you’re bold enough. Or skip the studio and head to a games spot where you can try archery, throw axes, or learn how to shoot for the first time. The point isn’t being good, it’s having fun — laughing at yourself, trying something new, and enjoying a new experience. You don’t have to do it after that day if you’re not interested. And the best part? You never know what you’ll discover. Maybe a hidden skill, maybe a new obsession, or maybe friends you make while trying out something totally random.
16. The Zoo or Aquarium Visit
Spend a day at the zoo or wander through an aquarium and let yourself be a kid again. There’s something calming about watching animals move in their own worlds — the lazy stretch of a lion, the hypnotic drift of fish behind glass. Take your time, read the signs, enjoy the tour, snap photos, and enjoy the wonder of it all without anyone rushing you along. It’s grounding, it’s fun, and it’s the kind of solo date that reminds you how big and beautiful the world is, even when you’re exploring it on your own.
17. The Open Mic or Comedy Night
Take yourself out to an open mic, a poetry slam, or a comedy night and enjoy the unpredictability of it all. Some performances will blow you away, others might be a little cringe — and that’s half the fun. Order a drink, clap loudly, maybe even cheer for the most awkward set of the night. You get to soak in the energy without the pressure of being on stage yourself. It’s light, it’s playful, and it’s the kind of solo date that has you laughing to yourself all the way home.
18. The Cooking or Baking Experiment
Turn cooking into a whole experience. Book a class, pasta-making is trending right now, and let a chef guide you through the fun, flour-dusted chaos. Or do it at home. Pick a recipe you spotted online, gather the ingredients, pour yourself a glass of wine, and follow along with a YouTube video. You’ll probably make mistakes, you’ll definitely laugh at yourself, and you might just discover a new favourite meal in the process. The best part? You get to enjoy the results, snap a few photos, and maybe even brag a little when you share it with friends.
19. Attend a Fun Festival/ Carnival
Check out a festival and turn it into a whole adventure. It could be a film festival, a beauty fair, a fashion event, a food and wine event, or even a cultural day, such as a Korean festival. Dress up, walk through the stalls, and try everything that catches your eye – food, beauty samples, workshops, performances. Festivals are buzzing with energy, and the best part of going solo is that you get to move at your own pace. Stay as long as you like at the fun parts, skip what doesn’t interest you, and maybe even meet new people along the way. You’ll leave with a head full of new experiences and probably a few unexpected favourites.
20. The Sunset (or Sunrise) Walk
Make time for something simple yet unforgettable: a walk as the sun sets, or an early morning stroll as it rises. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the beach, down your own street, or through a neighbourhood you’ve never really noticed. Bring a glass of wine in a tumbler, if you like, and play some music, or simply listen to the world waking up or winding down. Watch the sky shift colours, take photos, and let yourself breathe. And hey, you might finally hit those 10k steps while you’re at it.
And there you have it, 20 solid solo date ideas we’re excited for you to try. Whether you’re in the mood to splurge or keep it simple, there’s something here with your name on it. The point isn’t to tick every box; it’s to treat yourself, have fun, and enjoy your own company without waiting on anyone else. So go ahead, pick one, and make a date out of it. You deserve it.