Key Takeaways

The dating industry wants to know what makes the modern dater tick — and not romantically. Dating coaches, event planners, influencers, and even the AI dating assistants in popular relationship apps want to recommend unique and reliable date ideas that will not only spark meaningful conversations, but authentic emotional connections. 

Now, thanks to a recent YouGov survey, we know that modern daters are seeking out new ways to reimagine classic date nights. 

The YouGov survey revealed that go-to date ideas, like dinner dates and movie nights, have not yet fallen out of style with the average American dater. 

This doesn’t mean that daters wouldn’t welcome a unique activity or change of scene, however. YouGov’s survey reveals that people want to go on dates in comfortable, low-key places where conversation can flow without interruption. 

Adventurous dates that involve outdoor activities will always be popular with certain people, but the majority currently prefer to keep things cool, casual, and comfortable, without sacrificing intimacy. 

This emphasis on conversations and emotional connection is exactly what most dating coaches want for their clients. 

“One of the things I teach the couples in my program is to bring more mindfulness and creativity to their date planning — whether it’s your first date or the 51st,” psychologist and sex therapist Cheryl Fraser wrote for The Gottmann Institute. 

The same goes for the people who organize date nights for other couples. YouGov’s survey clearly shows that today’s daters want to go on dates to places that engage both people’s interests and needs. 

Don’t Mess With The Classics 

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the most classic date spot is also the most well-liked.

Seventy-nine percent of YouGov respondents said that dinner at a restaurant is their preferred date activity. Seventy-five percent of respondents prefer sharing lunch with a date, while 72% would rather take in a movie with their date from the comfort of home. 

Most people consider “dinner and a movie” to be a dating go-to, but movie theaters were only in fifth place in terms of popularity. In fact, home base is one of the most popular dating destinations; 69% of respondents would rather skip the restaurant and have a dinner date on their own turf. 

One of the least common activities that many respondents are interested in trying out? Stargazing. Only 31% of respondents reported ever going on a stargazing date, making it the fifth least common date activity. But 40% of respondents said they were interested in going stargazing on a date, the highest percentage in that specific category. 

The appeal is obvious: There’s nothing more romantic than a cozy night under the stars, and the low-key location makes it easy for conversation to flow. Other uncommon dating activities that people are interested in trying out include comedy shows, art classes, boat rides, and watching the sunrise or sunset.

Some of these date locations fall under the category of what Fraser calls a “curiosity date” — an ideal setting for a couple to ask questions and learn more about each other. 

Sometimes the location can be low-key and cozy, like a quiet restaurant booth or a picnic in the park. Other times the location can be a good conversation starter, like at a classy cocktail bar or the beach. 

Dates that take place in nature are also gaining in popularity, even if YouGov’s respondents haven’t tried them out yet. After all, 64% of respondents said that going to a park is a common date activity for them, and it was the 6th most popular response. 

More than half of respondents said that they like going on dates to the beach, and nearly half suggested picnics. 

The Least Common Dates Reveal An Interesting Pattern 

According to the survey, people want to be able to get to know each other without too many distractions or interruptions. Case in point? Only 6% of respondents have reportedly tried speed dating. 

Shrewd speed dating planners may see this statistic as a sign that they should make speed dating more flexible to modern daters who prefer a slower, softer approach. 

As YouGov’s study shows, the least common dating spots — art classes, haunted houses, fishing excursions, and wine tastings — all have one of two qualities in common: They’re either activities that require intense concentration, or that are full of distractions. 

Forty-seven percent of respondents said that they have never gone to a haunted house for a date and never plan to. Forty-six percent said the same about art classes, although 29% are willing to give art classes a try. 

Of the date locations people have tried out but have no desire to do again, a familiar pattern emerges. The highest percentage of people (24%) in this category said that going to a bar/club on a date, while a popular idea, isn’t something they want to do again. 

Twelve percent — the second highest percentage in this category — said they wouldn’t want to go on a date in an amusement park again, and the same percentage had similar feelings about movie theater dates. 

Bowling, hiking, and carnivals may appeal to some couples, but 10-11% of respondents said they have no desire to make them dating destinations ever again. 

That goes for bars, clubs, movie theaters, amusement parks, bowling, and carnivals — all places where distractions are everywhere, and loud noises are impossible to escape. 

This data suggests that couples prefer dating locations where they can talk freely and comfortably, without having to deal with loud music, screaming kids, and constant distractions. Strenuous outdoor activities, like hiking, are divisive because they, too, involve frequent distractions, and require individual concentration. 

Fraser was right when she suggested that “curiosity dates” are an effective way for couples to bond. It’s no wonder daters tend to gravitate toward restaurants, home-cooked meals, and low-key outdoor excursions; each location provides a low-pressure atmosphere that’s conducive to deep conversations and growing intimacy.