Top 5 Date Night Ideas in Louisiana

Find your perfect Louisiana date night:
 

1. For Music Lovers
2. For Foodies
3. For Culture Fiends
4. For Plant-Based Couples
5. For Art Aficionados
    

1. For Music Lovers (Lafayette)

Music more your speed? Consider touring Lafayette, where lilting zydeco riffs and electrifying swamp-pop tunes flood the streets. Plus, its proximity to historical Eunice and Opelousas leaves room for more musical must-do’s, like the Cajun Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

Start the day at Lagniappe Records, whose genre-defying collection includes modern vinyl works and rare collectibles. Head to Rock’n’Bowl, where you can savor tender steak frites or flatbreads drizzled in olive oil, engage in a friendly bowling competition and groove to a concert all in one night. End the evening with libations at the Blue Moon Saloon, a world-famous honky-tonk promising roots music from around the globe. 

Find more things to do in Lafayette.

2. For Foodies (Baton Rouge)

If you and your partner prefer to eat your way through a city, Baton Rouge won’t disappoint. This South Louisiana town blends the tastiest elements of soul food, Cajun food and seafood, and since it’s home to a major university, you can expect fresh concepts and creative menus on tap.

Begin with a stack of pecan and banana pancakes at Louie’s Cafe, an old-school diner that’s served patrons since 1941. For a pick-me-up, sip locally roasted espresso at City Roots. The warehouse-like interior lends an industrial edge to its fresh design. Spend the day touring the city with Red Stick Adventures, where you can learn about the city’s art, culinary and music history in a single afternoon. Don’t miss out on dinner at The Chimes, where you can savor creamy seafood Alfredo with fresh Gulf shrimp or an oyster-stuffed po-boy.

Find more things to do in Baton Rouge.

3. For Culture Fiends (New Orleans)

Love experiencing the culture of a place? New Orleans is a bucket-list trip for good reason. The city, sculpted by a rich Creole history, offers world-class music, art, food and architecture. Not to mention, its palpable joie de vivre leaves folks coming back for more.

You’ll find hundreds of itineraries that highlight classics like Jackson Square and Cafe Du Monde — and for good reason. But don’t forget to see the city in earnest: Galleries like StudioBE and the Ashé Cultural Arts Center celebrate works from Black visionaries and people from across the African diaspora. Get familiar with the city’s heart at The Presbytere, where the Hurricane Katrina exhibit renders despair with hope and resilience. Glimpse public art throughout the city, but especially on Frenchmen Street, best experienced well into the evening.

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4. For Plant-Based Couples (Shreveport)

When conjuring images of Southern cooking, most people think of crispy-fried catfish, mile-high biscuits and stacks of smoky, barbecued ribs. And sure, Louisiana offers that (and more!), but we’re also extra-friendly in the plant-based department. If you or your partner are vegan, vegetarian or somewhere in between, consider a trip to Shreveport. 

This North Louisiana city has several plant-based eateries with menus on the forefront of culinary trends. Start the day with a mushroom cacao latte — a creamy blend of cinnamon, chocolate and chaga — from Glow Alchemy Kitchen. For lunch, visit Vegans on the Run, whose loaded chik’n cornbread bowl blends crunchy bits of plant-based chicken with sweet cornbread and creamy mashed potatoes. Catch a sunset at Red River Wildlife Refuge, a lush, forested sanctuary for the state’s native plants and animals.

Find more things to do in Shreveport.

5. For Art Aficionados (Alexandria)

Art-forward couples will appreciate Central Louisiana’s distinct contemporary vibe. As the state’s epicenter, Alexandria is a hub for fine arts, and its proximity to other major cities like Lafayette or New Orleans makes it the perfect road-trip stop. 

Find River Oaks Square Arts Center in the city’s Cultural Arts District downtown. Marvel at visual works from artists in residence, or take a masterclass on disciplines like ceramics. Later, tour the Alexandria Museum of Art, where you’ll find permanent collections that highlight themes of realism, perspective and embodiment. Love seeing art in its most granular form? Swing by the weekly Alexandria Farmers Market to shop handmade goods from local creatives. 

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Don’t Miss These Date Ideas:

• Plan a romantic trip to New Orleans.
• Enjoy Southern luxury on the Northshore.
• Road-trip throughout Louisiana together.

Find more experiences to share here.