Ogden, Utah. It's a Date!

You can’t go wrong with the time-honored date night tradition of going out for dinner to share delicious food and make memories together. The key to the perfect romantic dining experience is choosing a restaurant that will deliver a great meal no matter what you order. Luckily, Ogden is home to incredible dining options that can satisfy your every craving. In downtown Ogden, you’ll find eateries offering casual pizza and brews, award-winning sushi, upscale modern fare, bold and flavorful Mexican cuisine, and more!

Slackwater Pizzeria!
For high energy and an endless beer selection, head to Slackwater Pizzeria! This lively joint crafts artisan pizzas, specialty sandwiches, soups, and salads, giving you and your date plenty of options that are sure to hit the spot. Slackwater also creates new monthly specials, with seasonal beer pairings to match. And you’ll even get live music on the weekends!

Tona Sushi Bar & Grill
While you might not expect to find award-winning sushi in a landlocked city like Ogden, a visit to Tona Sushi Bar & Grill will take your next sushi date to a whole new level. This intimate sushi restaurant has earned accolades such as the best restaurant in Utah by Salt Lake Magazine, highlighting their artfully-crafted dishes made with the freshest ingredients. Tona’s menu offers a mix of the classics like tempura, teriyaki, and bento boxes, as well as some of the most unique takes on sushi anywhere.

Table 25
If you’re looking for a more intimate option, check out Table 25. Table 25 serves up unique seasonal dishes with fresh, local produce and agriculture in mind. The entire menu is nothing short of spectacular. Be sure to check out their high-quality craft cocktails, freshly made artisan focaccia, and fresh beignets for brunch on the weekends.

Sonora Grill
If you’re in search of some of the most farm to table dining in Ogden, look no further than Sonora Grill. Owned and operated by the founder of Ogden Produce Company, a small container farm located a few blocks from the restaurant, Sonora offers bold Mexican cuisine prepared with some of the freshest ingredients you can get. Try a signature salad made with the hydroponically grown lettuce, pair it with any of their amazing plates (the carnitas nortenas is out of this world!), and finish it off with a Sonora Sunrise margarita or a fresh aqua fresca.

Lucky Slice
While a fancy night out is great, maybe you and your date would prefer a casual, budget-friendly option. If that’s the case, head to Lucky Slice! This local gem puts a creative spin on the standard slice, serving up unexpected flavors that include Dill Pickle, Cajun Gumbo, and Nashville Hot Chicken. They’ve also got the standard classics, like pepperoni, as well as a lineup of fresh salads, wings and breadsticks. The best part? You and your date can grab a slice combo each for under $15, leaving you plenty of room in the budget for some fun after dinner.

A few more tasty options in downtown Ogden include:

Roosters on 25th - An iconic staple and a must-visit
Weller's Bistro - Classic German fare in a modern setting
Hearth on 25th - An upscale dining experience you’ll never forget
Warren Craft Burger - You can’t go wrong with a good burger and fries

Now that you’ve done dinner downtown, it’s time to catch a show at one of Ogden’s local entertainment venues. Take a stroll after your meal to enjoy live music, theater, and even comedy!

For starters, always check the schedule at the historic Peery’s Egyptian Theater when planning a date night. Throughout the year, the theater is host to a myriad of productions including some of the community’s best concerts, films, dance performances, chamber orchestras and more. Ogden Musical Theater also calls Peery’s Egyptian home, bringing a full season of exciting musical shows to downtown Ogden each year.

If you’re in the market for something that will tickle your funny bone, head to Wiseguys Comedy Club for a night of stand-up comedy right on Historic 25th Street. Owner and comedian Keith Stubbs started Wiseguys in Ogden in 2003, and it has been a staple in the area ever since. With the intimate size of the venue, Wiseguys is the perfect place to catch an up-and-comer just starting out on the comedy circuit.

Another host to exceptional performances is Onstage Ogden, an organization that partners with local venues to bring world-class ballets, symphony concerts, renowned singers and musicians, and more to Ogden. Their yearly calendar includes events at the Ogden Amphitheater, Peery’s Egyptian Theater, The Monarch, and Weber State’s Browning Center.

Lastly, you can’t go wrong with a classic movie on the big screen, so don’t forget about the Megaplex in the Junction, as well as the Cinemark Theater at Newgate Mall. But, we highly suggest you step out of your comfort zone and give a local show a shot first!

For those more interested in a high-adrenaline date, Ogden offers plenty of opportunities for the more adventurous to get their blood pumping while keeping the romantic stoke high.

If the outdoors are your thing, head to the mountains any time of year for a date that’s sure to give you plenty of adrenaline and memories:

• Book a ski date to Snowbasin Resort, Powder Mountain, or Nordic Valley, then head to downtown Ogden for an Après Ski evening.
• Take a ride up the gondola at Snowbasin and experience a mountaintop brunch.
• Explore the hiking trails and art around Powder Mountain, then grab a fresh, nutritious lunch at Peddler’s Cafe.
• Pack a picnic and your paddleboards for an afternoon at Pineview or Causey Reservoir.
• Spend a slow morning tubing down the Ogden or Weber rivers followed by lunch in downtown Ogden.

If indoor adventure is more your style, Ogden’s got you covered:

• Plan a day at the Salomon Center to get your heart rate up with some indoor surfing, rock climbing or skydiving - all offered year round.
• Flex your muscles with a date to Social Axe.
• Challenge your date to a night of arcade games and skee ball at Lit Arcade Bar.
• Experience a retro-style night out with roller skating at Neptune Skating.

If you’re looking for an inspiring way to connect with your sweetheart or get to know someone without the pressures of candlelight and wine, plan a date exploring Ogden’s thriving art scene.

Best of all, you can even make the planning easy by joining the First Friday Art Stroll. This monthly event features venues and shops throughout downtown Ogden hosting special exhibits, street performers, pop-up installations, and extended gallery/studio hours.

If you can’t make it to First Friday, you can still plan a leisurely stroll around Ogden’s growing public art displays, including the Dumke Arts Plaza. Or pop into a few of our galleries, including The Monarch, Ogden Contemporary Arts, Gallery 25, and more. For a fun souvenir of your date, don’t forget to visit one of our local shops, such as the Local Artisan Collective, Beehive Naturals, or Queen Bee Giftery.

For those who may need a little more structure to their date, Ogden is home to several speciality shops hosting art classes and unique crafting experiences.

Make a special memory with your love that you can take home with a visit to Color Me Mine, a ceramics studio that offers visitors the opportunity to paint their own unique piece of pottery. You can paint everything imaginable, from simple flower to dragons.

Another date idea that’s sure to help “light the fire” is a night of creating your own custom candles. The Art Box, an interactive studio and gift shop, offers candlemaking experiences that allow you to craft the perfect candle for yourself or your date.

For the truly artistic, or those wanting to inspire their inner artist, a visit to the Local Artisan Collective or 9th Muse is a must. These two art shops offer classes that will spark the creativity of even the most shy artist. Check out their calendars to find the perfect art class for you and a special someone, with offerings that include painting classes, jewelry making, drawing, and more.

For some, a date means a time to step outside of the box and experience something new with someone special. Additionally, you might be looking to enjoy a date without breaking the bank! If that’s more your vibe, we’ve got some unique ideas to help you plan a date that will stand out and create lasting memories - all under $50 or FREE!

First up, in the warmer months, from about May through early October, try planning a weekend outing to Snowbasin for either Blues & Brews or SnowWeisn. You can take a scenic ride up the gondola, grab some local brews at the Lodge, and then lounge in the grass to enjoy the lineup of epic bands.

If you don’t want to drive quite all the way to the mountains, try doing brunch downtown somewhere like The Mercantile (the perfect date spot day AND night), and then head to the Ogden Farmers Market for a stroll down Historic 25th Street. To make it even more special, grab some local produce and other goodies and make lunch together afterward!

For a slightly more adventurous date while still keeping it fairly leisurely, rent a GREENBike at any of the convenient locations downtown and ride along the Ogden River. You can see the iconic Sandlot swimming pool at Lorin Farr Park, smell the roses at the Ogden Botanical Garden, and grab a cute local gift at the Rainbow Gardens.

Want to really impress your date with something unexpected? Plan an afternoon at the Ogden Nature Center. Located on 12th Street, the 152-acre preserve gives visitors the opportunity to escape into nature without leaving the city. Grab your sweetie and head out for a chance to spot wildlife, take in the scenery, and connect with nature.

When your day of dining, entertainment, and adventure begins to wind down, make sure to end the date on the right note with the perfect nightcap. Ogden is home to several local breweries and unique bars serving up craft-cocktails to fit every vibe.

If classic Brews are your thing, head to Roosters or UTOG where you’ll find an epic selection of locally crafted beers. Don’t skip the food though! Ogden’s brewpubs offer incredible menus that pair perfectly with a tall pint.

For the dive bar lovers, Redlight Bar, Funk n’ Dive, and Brewskis will hit the perfect note. And if you want something with a vibe more elevated than dive bars but still with a laidback energy, Harp & Hound and Angry Goat are the places to go.

If the date has gone really well and you’re hoping for some quiet conversation over a perfectly crafted beverage, look to Hearth on 25th, Unspoken or Sidebar at Ogden’s Own Distillery. You’ll find elevated atmospheres with top-notch cocktails, giving your night the perfect end.

Bonus: If you’ve made it this far, check out one of the most unique bars in Ogden - The City Club. You and your date will find a hole-in-the-wall bar located right on 25th Street decked out in Beatles paraphernalia, complete with a drink menu themed for the occasion.