You know that early phase in a relationship where all you wanna do is lie in bed together and eat pizza? We love that for y’all, honestly.
But prioritising your health is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself and your partnership, whether you’re on your first date or your fiftieth. What defines a ‘healthy’ date is up to you, but we’ve collated a list of dates that we think are healthy, wholesome and affordable to inspire your next date night.
Graffiti walk date
Turn a simple walk into something way more interesting by exploring your city’s street art together. Pick a neighbourhood known for murals or graffiti, wander at your own pace, and point out the pieces you love (or absolutely hate – judgement is bonding). It’s movement without feeling like exercise, gives you built-in conversation starters, and makes even a first date feel less awkward. If you want to make it extra cute, grab coffee to-go or turn it into a DIY photo walk – just don’t spend the whole time on your phones.
London: Shoreditch and Brick Lane are the obvious classics, with constantly changing street art across the East End. Leake Street tunnel near Waterloo is also a must — loud, chaotic, and never the same twice.
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Paris: Belleville is packed with murals, tags and tucked-away artistic corners. The 13th arrondissement and Butte-aux-Cailles are also solid bets for a wander that feels creative but relaxed.
New York: Bushwick in Brooklyn (home of the Bushwick Collective) is basically an open-air gallery, with huge murals on almost every block and zero pressure to “do” anything other than walk and chat.
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Los Angeles: The Arts District is your best bet — colourful walls, warehouse murals, and plenty of spots to pause for coffee or snacks mid-walk.
Berlin: The East Side Gallery is iconic for a reason, and the surrounding Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg neighbourhoods are stacked with street art that makes for an easy, culture-heavy stroll.
Hiking date
We lesbians love any excuse to get our hiking boots on, don’t we? Well, lace up and plan a healthy date based around some movement, ideally picking a route you’re familiar with to make the date as relaxing as possible. Walking is a great way to build intimacy as the forward motion and lack of eye contact are known to allow people to open up and have deeper conversations. Make a day of it by cooking up a cute lil packed lunch or stopping off for a pub-grub meal as your reward.
Cooking date
Instead of forking out for restaurant food, set yourselves the task of flicking through your favourite cookbooks and finding a recipe to try together. Hold hands in the supermarket as you pick out the ingredients, and don your aprons in the kitchen as you prep and cook together. Don’t rush this part! Allow plenty of time for mindfully enjoying the experience together, taking care to follow the recipe to ensure you create something spectacular together.
Yoga & coffee date
For an affordable spa-like day, sign up for a yoga class at your local studio. You might even be able to get a free pass if you’ve never been before. Yoga is great for flexibility (wink, wink) but it also releases emotional energy and allows you to be more present in your everyday life, which means the coffee date afterwards will be even more magical as you both bask in the post-yoga mindfulness vibes.
Art class date
Whether you’re an artist or not, creative dates are a fun way to express yourself and try new things. Pottery painting is for literally everyone, requires no drawing skills and can be surprisingly relaxing, similar to the mindful colouring book trend that cropped up a few years ago. You’ll also come away with a (hopefully beautiful) piece of crockery that serves as a reminder of the date. If leaving the house feels like effort, an at-home craft night works just as well — think air-dry clay, painting mugs, or customising photo frames with sparkling accents for craft projects. Alternatively, if you’re feeling brave, find your local queer-friendly life drawing class and doodle some nudes with your bae.
Stargazing date
Find a quiet spot away from city lights and spend an evening stargazing. It’s a romantic way to disconnect from everyday problems and get some perspective on life as a whole. Don’t forget to pack some blankets and a flask of tea/hot chocolate to warm your cockles as you gaze longingly at the universe and, of course, your other half.
Tarot reading date
Book a tarot reading online or in person to find out more about where you’re at as a couple. Whilst you might not be able to predict the future, your tarot reader will be able to help you gain new insights about yourself and your partner through the mystery of the major and minor arcana. Take a notepad to jot down any words or symbols that stand out, and together you might begin to notice them crop up when you least expect them. Alternatively, grab a tarot deck and guidebook to give each other a reading at home.
Bowling alley date
Did someone say cute bowling shirt attire? Make like Carrie and Finley (Generation Q) and take to the bowling alley to let off some steam. If you’re a seasoned bowler, then you’ll get to show off your skills, and if not, it’s the ideal excuse to ask for some hands-on tuition from your date. Play for fun or raise the stakes by making the loser buy the drinks afterwards.
Swim & sauna date
Spa days are great, but sometimes you end up spending so much time in the treatment room that you barely get to hang out with your date. Instead, go to your local pool (hotel pools have a better date vibe than a leisure centre) and have a chilled-out dip. After some light exercise and playful splashing, head to the sauna to sweat it out and chat. Bonus points if you can find somewhere with a jacuzzi!
Tech-free date
Plan a day dedicated to genuine connection with your partner—leave behind phones, laptops, tablets, and TV. Whether it’s time in nature, hitting the gym or simply allowing the conversation to flow over your morning coffee, moments like these not only fortify your relationship but also foster profound connections.
We hope you enjoy,
Nonchalant x
Fiona is a two-time author and freelance writer with words published in the Metro, Grazia, Readers Digest and Happiful Magazine. She runs online writing groups, loves tarot, live music and poetry.
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