15 Best Date Ideas in Naperville, IL (Fun & Romantic)
Naperville, IL, is full of unique and wonderful date spots. This tiny city on the outskirts of Chicago offers plenty of unique experiences couples will love.
Great date ideas in Naperville, IL, usually revolve around art, music, and good food but fun and adventure are also easy to find in this gem of a city!
Date Ideas in Naperville, IL
1. Explore the Riverwalk
Cost: Free-$$
Best for: First Date
Location: Naperville, IL 60540
The Naperville Riverwalk was built in 1981 to honor the 150th anniversary of the city. A stroll along the Riverwalk is the perfect first date in Naperville, IL. Your and your date can get to know one another as you enjoy the nearly 2 miles of bridges, sculptures, artwork, and memorials.
Meeting in a public place is ideal after meeting someone on a Naperville, IL dating app, and the Riverwalk is not only public but full of things to do. Stop halfway through your walk for a bite to eat at the Riverwalk eatery.
2. Wine Tasting
Cost:$$
Best for: Wine Lovers
Location:21 West Jefferson
Tasting deVine Cellars is an Illinois winery that offers wine tastings, wine flights, and specials like Wine Wednesday, where glasses of wine are only $5 each. Wine tasting is a superb Naperville, IL date night idea for a relaxing and casual night out.
Check out their calendar online for a list of full wine-centric events! Sipping luscious wine and sharing a charcuterie board is a recipe for one fantastic date night in Naperville, IL.
3. A Romantic Dinner at Gia Mia
Prices: $$
Best for: Romantic Dinner
Location: 110 S. Washington St.
Gia Mia’s is one of the most romantic restaurants in Naperville, IL. It has vaulted ceilings, a unique cityscape design, and gorgeous light fixtures, all adding to the ambiance and romance.
In addition to a beautiful setting Gia Mia’s has Impeccable service, fantastic food, a comprehensive wine list, and other delicious drink options to round out your romantic date night.
Guests recommend sharing one of their gourmet pizzas alongside a combination of some of their smaller plate options.
4. See a Show at the North Central College of Fine & Performing Arts
Cost: $
Best for: Live Theater
Location: 30 North Brainard Street
The North Central College of Fine & Performing Arts has an award-winning theater program that offers talent-packed shows at a fraction of the price of a professional theater in nearby Chicago. You may even see an up-and-coming star perform on your theater date night in Naperville, IL
The college theater performs year-round and has everything from musicals to plays to dance performances. The college also hosts art exhibits and a lecture and film series annually.
Attending a show at the college is a cheap date idea in Naperville, IL, and a way to support a local institution.
5. Cool Off at Centennial Beach
Cost: $
Best for: A Summer Date
Location: 500 West Jackson ave.
Water lovers will love spending a fun day date in Naperville, IL, at Centennial Beach. Not a pool and not a lake, it is a unique stone quarry turned local swimming hole. Sany beaches and grassy areas provide ample space for relaxing, and for the more adventurous, there are diving boards and water slides!
Centennial Beach is open annually from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, offering nearly four months of sun-in-the-fun dating opportunities! This unique Naperville spot is a one-of-a-kind date attraction in the area.
6. Mini Golf at Wilderness Falls
Cost: $-$$
Best for: Fun and Games
Location: 145 S. Clow International Pkwy
Wilderness Falls is a gorgeous and massive outdoor recreation park just south of Naperville. It has three mini golf courses, an arcade, and batting cages, and it was voted the Best Mini Golf Facility in the Chicago area.
If you’re looking for a casual and fun Naperville, IL, date Wilderness Falls is the place to go. The park is open year-round until dusk as long as the temp is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. The Northcott Liquorette
Prices: $$$
Best for: Speakeasy
Location: 50 West Chicago Ave. Empire
The Chicago area is infamous for its gangsters and role in prohibition-era speakeasies, and the tradition continues atThe Northcott Liquorette. The dark, romantic, and hip vibe is guaranteed to please couples looking for a fun date idea in Naperville, IL.
You and your partner will love the hodge-podge leather seating and wall decor collection. For the authentic prohibition experience, guests recommend ordering the Absinthe Fountain, prepared at your table with sugar cubes and flames!
8. Take a Class through the Naperville Park District
Cost: $
Best for: Learning Something New
Location: Various
Learning something new as a couple is a wonderful way to bond, so take a class together through the Naperville Park District! The Park District offers classes for all ages and interests. Everything from yoga to dance to kickboxing, bridge, and pottery.
Or, instead of a class, enjoy a night of Bingo or a nature walk sponsored by the Parks District. Utilizing the options through parks and rec is an excellent way to try something new and a great date idea in Naperville, IL.
9. Hollywood Palms Cinema
Cost:$$
Best for: Dinner and a Movie.
Location: 352 S. Route 59
Hollywood Palms Cinema is more than just your typical movie theater. It is a theater, bar, and eatery all in one and one of the best date ideas in Naperville, IL. Dinner and a movie is perhaps the most classic date of all time, and at Holly Palms Cinema, you can do both at one location!
This one-of-a-kind movie experience gives each guest an individual recliner and tray for their meal. Bar drinks can be ordered and taken directly into the theater. Guests can order their entire meal in advance, including dessert, and items will be delivered at appropriate intervals throughout the film.
10. Attend a Concert for the Naperville Municipal Band
Cost: Free
Best for: Live Music
Location: 171 E Chicago Ave
The Naperville Municipal Band is a local intuition and a unique Naperville, IL, date idea. All concerts are free and held at Wentz Hall on the campus of North Central College.
The Band performs four main concerts annually: Winter Concert, Spring Concert, Fall Concert, and Holiday Concert. They also perform park concerts all summer long, perfect for a picnic date.
This local band has been performing for 150 years and has an impressive 100+ members.
11. Pinot’s Palette Paint & Sip Class
Cost: $$$
Best for: Art Lovers
Location: 175 W. Jackson Ave., Suite 123
If you enjoy painting or creating art, taking a class at Pinot’s Palette is the perfect date night idea in Naperville, IL. Pinot’s Palette offers several paint and sip classes each week where guests can create one of many different paintings.
If you and your partner prefer to paint from the comfort of your home, they also offer virtual classes. All you have to do is pick up your supplies on the day of your class, then log on when it’s time to start!
12. A Brunch Date at Sweet Toast Cafe
Cost: $$
Best for: Brunch Date
Location: 2035 S. Washington St.
Anyone who says brunch isn’t romantic hasn’t eaten at Sweet Toast Cafe. If you and your partner are early birds or have been up all night and need a good breakfast, head to this delightful cafe.
Cozy booths and delicious food make Sweet Toast Cafe the perfect daytime Naperville, IL, date idea. Enjoy one of their sweet toasts, sweet cakes, or crepes to satisfy your sweet tooth. Or, if you prefer savory, they have carnivore bowls, sandwiches, and salads.
13. Relax at the Naperville Salt Cave
Cost: $$$
Best for: A Spa Day
Location: 1324 E. Ogden Ave.
Treat yourself and your partner to a day of pampering at the Naperville Wellness & Salt Cave. Guests can enjoy relaxing massages, steamy saunas, and relaxing Halo therapy, among other treatments, at this full-service spa.
A spa day at the spa is one of the top romantic date ideas in Naperville, I. Couples can book individual services or one of the spa’s multi-service packages for extra savings. No matter what service you decide on, you’ll leave this date spot in Naperville, IL, refreshed and relaxed.
14. Cantigny Park
Cost: $
Best for: Nature Lovers
Location:1S 151 Winfield Road
A stroll through the gardens at Cantigny Park is one of the most romantic dates in Naperville, IL. Admission is free; simply pay the $5-$10 rate to park your car for the day.
Then stroll the luscious gardens hand in hand. If you need to rest, enjoy lunch in Bertie’s Cafe, located in the visitor’s center.
Open year-round visiting Cantigny Park is one of the best things to do in Naperville, IL
15. Paris Bistro
Prices: $$
Best for: Romantic & Intimate Dinner
Location: 2656 Showplace Dr.
Paris Bistro is a romantic date night restaurant in Naperville, IL. It’s an intimate Parisian-style cafe with two floors and multiple areas of cozy seating. Weather permitting, outdoor dining is also available.
The cafe has an excellent wine list and traditional French dishes. Dinner at the Paris Bistro is a unique Naperville, IL, date night as it’s one of the only traditional French spots in the area.
Whether you come in to sip some wine, enjoy dessert, or an entire meal, dinner at the Paris Bistro is among the best dates in Naperville, IL.
