A fun night out in Charm City doesn’t have to break the bank.
Going out on a date in Baltimore could get awfully expensive very quickly. Food, drinks, activities, plus paying for the rideshare if you’re not driving – all of it adds up in the blink of an eye.
According to an article published by The Baltimore Sun in 2018, Maryland is the 7th most expensive state to go on a date. Their data shows that a single date averages $209.33.
With this list, you can get at least fifty different date night ideas for the same amount!
Get your Annie Leibovitz on
Baltimore has some impressive Instagram-worthy spots like a bus stand that’s a huge typographic structure that spells out the word ‘bus’ or the amazing artwork in Graffiti Alley.
If you don’t have a car, grab an all-day bus pass or jump on the free Charm City Circulator and check out these 40 Unique And Amazing Baltimore Instagram-Worthy Spots – almost all of which are free to access!
It’ll be a fun thing to do with your partner and you will have tons of photo memories to mark the occasion. Some spots to hit up are:
- The BUS Stop
- Graffiti Alley
- The George Peabody Library
- Bromo Seltzer Art Tower
- Fells Point Main Street
Check out the National Aquarium
Okay, I know what you’re thinking – adult admission to the National Aquarium is nearly $40 so how does that fit into an inexpensive date night?
The aquarium has half-price admission every Friday evening after 5 pm and I know that’s still $40 per couple. But every once in a while, the National Aquarium has $1 Admission Days and Pay What You Want Days. You have to keep a close eye on their website and social media sites, and you’ll want to get there early, but once you do, you’ll have an awesome date night for super cheap.
Head to DC for more Date nights under $25!
Hit up Happy Hour
If there’s one thing you can depend on Baltimore for, it’s that you’ll find a happy hour to hit up in almost every neighborhood.
With $4 margaritas at Zen West Roadside Cantina (Belvedere Square), $1.50 Natty Bohs at Myth & Moonshine (Canton), and 2-for-1 house wines at Charles Village Pub (Charles Village), you can have a fun night out on the town with drinks and still stay under budget.
Let’s not forget the Five and Dime Ale House in Hampden that has an all-day happy hour and trivia night – perfect for a date night!
Check out this list of sports bars in Baltimore so you can watch a game for date night too. We love:
- Zen West Roadside Cantina
- Myth & Moonshine
- Charles Village Pub
- Tin Roof
- The Owl Bar
- Happy Hour Heaven
Pack a picnic
Food and drink are some of the costliest things about date night with appetizers, entrees, desserts, wine, drinks, etc. Add to that the taxes and service fees and well-deserved tips you need to leave behind and it all gets out of control very quickly.
Don’t leave your date hungry because you’re on a budget – instead, think smart and pack up a picnic. There are lots of places in Baltimore with stunning views that make for perfect picnic spots. A few of my faves are:
- Sherwood Gardens
- Federal Hill Park
- Patterson Park
- Canton Waterfront Park
- West Shore Park (Inner Harbor)
Eat a full meal
Earlier, we talked about how a meal is one of the most expensive aspects of a date. Luckily, there are tons of places in Baltimore that serve a full, delicious meal for a low cost.
Take, for example, the iconic Pete’s Grill. You can have a Jumbo Cheeseburger for only $6.75 or an entire roast beef dinner with a side of veggies and french fries or mashed potatoes for only $9.75. You can feed yourself and your date for under $25! Here are a couple more restaurants that have a wallet-friendly menu:
- Pete’s Grill
- Tortilleria Sinaloa
- Sip & Bite
- 29th Street Tavern
- &pizza
You could also hit up one of Baltimore’s many food halls – check out a list here!
Skip dinner and go straight to dessert
Some of my best dates have been over coffee and dessert – because it’s always the right time for coffee and dessert! It’s a great idea for morning, noon, or night and is the perfect option if you’re looking to have a chat with your date and to get to know them better.
If they’re not from Baltimore, give them a taste of local life with a scoop of Old Bay Caramel ice cream from The Charmery or a slice of the Baltimore Bomb specialty pie from Dangerously Delicious Pies.
Other dessert spots in Baltimore to check out include:
- The Charmery
- Dangerously Delicious Pies
- Waffie
- Charm City Cakes
- Pitango Bakery & Cafe
- Sacre Sucre
- BMore Licks
Full list of Baltimore Dessert Hot Spots
View the works of Picasso and Matisse at the Baltimore Museum of Art
Thanks to private donations and government grants, the Baltimore Museum of Art has kept its admission free to all guests at all times. This unique and creative date idea will cost you nothing and keep you guys busy for hours.
You can walk through rooms and rooms of African art, Asian art, European art, American art, contemporary art, and modern art. There’s often a rotating exhibit of works by local Baltimore artists as well as an outdoor garden with stunning modern sculptures.
Check out this list of museums in Baltimore to find one that will inspire you and your partner on your date.
Attend a local festival or event
Winter, spring, summer, or fall – there’s always something going on in Charm City! Entrance is usually free and there’s often something fun to see or do for little or no cost.
Winter
- Miracle on 34th Street (Hampden)
- Holiday Village (Fells Point)
- Olde Tyme Christmas Festival (Fells Point)
- Christmas Village (Inner Harbor)
Summer
- HONFest (Hampden)
- 4th of July (Inner Harbor)
- Summer Concert Series (Patterson Park)
Spring
- Flower Mart (Mount Vernon)
- Saint Leo’s Ravioli & Spaghetti Dinner (Little Italy)
- Johns Hopkins Spring Fair (Charles Village)
Fall
- HampdenFest (Hampden)
- Fun Festival (Fells Point)
- Halloween in Fells Point
- Wine & Food Festival (Inner Harbor)
- Fleet Week (Inner Harbor)
