Five Romantic Brisbane Date Ideas for This Week From Budget to Blowout

Tired of the classic movie and dinner date night combo? Us too. That's why we're always on the hunt for new things to do, scouring the city for not-boring Brisbane activities — ones that are guaranteed to take your next date way beyond done-before beers at the pub.

Whether you're taking someone on a second date or doing your 100th with your significant other, we've got some killer (and, yes, cute) ideas for dates to go on this week, no matter how much money you've got to spend.

Just think of us as your cultural wingman. You're welcome.

Free

Get Swept Up in Fairy Tale Films for Free at GOMA

Prepare to be enchanted: until Sunday, April 28, fairy tales are spreading their magic through the Gallery of Modern Art. The South Brisbane venue has filled its walls and halls with entrancing stories, myths, legends and folklore. But GOMA doesn't just boast exhibition spaces — it's also home to its own cinema.

Whatever is gracing the site in art and installation form usually makes it way to the Australian Cinémathèque's big screens, too. That's the case with Fairy Tales. Called Fairy Tales Cinema: Truth, Power and Enchantment, the program runs across the same dates, with sessions during the day on Saturdays and Sundays, plus at night on Fridays and some Wednesdays. Also, heading along is free.

Thanks to more than 40 titles, there's a must-see for everyone — several, in fact, including for you and your other half — on a program that has a daily component as well. In Cinema B, Jim Henson's The StoryTeller television series is showing its episodes every single day.

The film lineup is the kind of treasure trove that you'd expect an adventuring princess to find, including Studio Ghibli's The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, the inimitable Border and Poland's horror-musical The Lure this week.

Under $50

Sip Your Way Through a Riverside Margarita Festival

Like tequila? Lime? Salt? Love all three combined in one of summer's ultimate cocktails: the margarita? Then you and your favourite person will want to be sipping riverside until Sunday, March 3. HSW Margarita Week is back at Howard Smith Wharves, which is your new excuse to hit up the inner-city precinct's venues for drinks.

Mr Percival's, Felons Brewing Co and Felons Barrel Hall, Ciao Papi and Stanley are all serving up 'ritas — or marg-inspired sips — in flavours including watermelon, spicy Thai and mango yuzu. Beer lovers are covered, too, thanks to Felons' margarita sour ale with Madre mezcal.

Food-wise, Stanley Chef Louis Tikaram is hosting a pop-up Margarita Week food stall from Friday, March 1–Sunday, March 3. On the menu Tijuana-style fish tacos, fried churros with dulce de leche, Pacific oysters done 'Baja style' with serrano peppers and cilantro mignonette, lamb barbacoa and guacamole

And, because knocking back 'ritas is an excuse to party, that's what the food stall will be a part of on Howard Smith Wharves' main lawn. Think: music courtesy of a mariachi band, plus piñatas.

Under $100

Party Like You're in Saltburn, 'Murder on the Dancefloor' Sing-Along and All

Maybe you and your special someone jumped on the Saltburn bandwagon early, catching Promising Young Woman filmmaker Emerald Fennell's second feature when it was in cinemas. Perhaps you saw the Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)- and Jacob Elordi (Euphoria)-starring thriller when it hit streaming over Christmas. Either way, once you watched the movie, you were probably as obsessed as Oliver Quick is about Felix Catton — and after you've ordered your Jacob Elordi's bathwater candle, you can hit up a party that's all about paying tribute to the instant cult-favourite flick.

A series of shindigs is touring Australia, including to Brisbane. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 2, when you'll be heading to The Wickham from 8pm.

What does celebrating one of 2023's best movies at a boozy party entail? Dressing like it's Oliver's birthday party, for starters. From there, you'll enjoy a 'Murder on the Dancefloor' sing-along — even though you won't be dancing naked around a mansion — as well as crooning karaoke and hearing 'Mr Brightside', all while sipping Bathtub Brew, Grave Grinding Gulp and Felix's Fangirl Fizz drink specials.

If you're keen to add some sparkle to your look while you're there, there'll be a free glitter bar. And the best-dressed attendee at each shindig will win a prize.

Play Jungle-Themed Mini Golf Over Drinks

Time to get tap-tap-tapping around one of Brisbane's mini-golf courses — without any kids for company. A new addition to Tingalpa's The Jungle Adventure Play in 2023, this jungle-themed putt-putt spot is usually family-friendly; however, for one night a week, it ditches that setup to throw adults-only parties.

From 5–8pm on Saturday nights, the Proprietary Street venue puts its bar to good use, all while you and your significant other get a-hitting. Sip cocktails and beers on tap, and grab a pizza or burger from the onsite restaurant to line your stomach.

Entry costs $20 — for the mini-golf only — and can be booked in advance or you can just walk in on the night. Or, if you opt for the $79 package, you'll get unlimited mini-golf games for two, plus two drinks and a pizza to share.

The leafy mini golf course spans 16 holes, with a setup that includes snakes, vines, caves, ruins and bullet-riddled trucks — all trying to make getting a hole-in-one tricky. That said, there's an easy option for every hole. Putters will find two paths for each, spanning holes both indoors and outside, so you can pick between the simplest way to mini golf glory or challenge yourself.

One Big Blowout:

Be the Beauty and the Beast Musical's Guest