After the indulgence of the holiday season, many people choose to participate in Dry January as a way to start the year on a cleaner note. Luckily, cutting out alcohol doesn’t mean sacrificing your dating life, as there are plenty of great date activities in the Montclair area that can be enjoyed booze-free. Whether you’re participating in Dry January or are just looking to spice up date night sans alcohol, we have you covered with options that are unique, fun and either get you moving or get your creative juices flowing! Read on for our list of date night ideas in Northern New Jersey for Dry January + beyond.
Candle + Fragrance Making at Alchemy Scent Bar | 30 Church Street, Montclair
Playing with scent is one way to cozy up, and Alchemy Scent Bar is the perfect place to do it. This scent shop provides the unique experience of creating custom candles and fragrances. Guests start by choosing their favorite scents from the candle wall, then head to the fragrance bar where one of the alchemists will help craft a custom-scented creation. In addition to being a great bonding activity, guests also get to take a memento home with them — to be burned or spritzed later in remembrance of the shared experience.
Read More: Romantic Restaurants for Date Night in the Montclair Area
Coffee + Browsing the Montclair Art Museum | 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair
The Montclair Art Museum is an amazing piece of history and culture, and with the opening of its Cornerstone Café, this is an all-in-one date option for a Friday afternoon. Open only on Fridays, the cafe serves coffee from Java Love Roasting Co along with other drinks and snacks. The museum itself features rotating exhibitions in addition to its permanent collection, which keeps things fresh for frequent museum-goers. For those who are feeling extra artsy, the museum has classes and workshops for adults such as collaging, painting, and pottery.
Indoor Rock Climbing at Gravity Vault | 8 Seymour Street, Montclair
A climbing gym is the perfect backdrop for mixing up your dating game, especially for the sporty types. Gravity Vault Montclair is a bouldering-only climbing gym (a form of rock climbing that is done on shorter walls that are scaled without ropes or harnesses) that caters to all abilities and experience levels. Navigate through countless climbing patterns (clearly labeled with the difficulty level) for a fun and challenging experience (plus a killer workout). Day passes are $28 for adults.
After Midnight at Paper Mill Playhouse | 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn
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Paper Mill Playhouse is one of the leading theater destinations of the tri-state area, and is widely recognized for its showings of world-class musical theater. The production that we’re eying for January is a musical that transports the audience to the Harlem Renaissance. The show is set to run from January 31st to February 25th at Paper Mill Playhouse.
Partake in a Craft Class at The Eclectic Chic Boutique | 547 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
The Eclectic Chic Boutique is a collective of different local artists, makers, and small businesses. Guests can shop for handmade, original products — and there is even a chance to make some yourself. The Eclectic Chic Boutique hosts different craft classes and workshops like crocheting, candle making, or creating a collage. The boutique updates its events frequently on its website here.
Live Music Shows at Cedar Bean’s Coffee Joint | 575 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
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It’s all about community at Cedar Bean’s, giving the patrons of Essex County a taste of small-town charm that feels reminiscent of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls. This quaint local coffee shop welcomes patrons in for live music performances. Cedar Bean’s has an extensive menu of both caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages (even non-alcoholic beer), with many seasonal options.
Play a Round at Montclair Indoor Golf Club | 369 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced golf connoisseur, Montclair Indoor Golf Club is home to two virtual golf bays for members to use. The courses are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. This indoor golf simulator brings the outdoor setting of an actual golf course indoors — without having to bear with the January weather.
Pottery Class at Mud Clay Studio | 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, 409 Main Street, Boonton + 6 Main Street, Madison
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Look no further than Mud Clay Studio if you want to make your date a “claydate”. With locations in Montclair, Boonton, and Madison, and a robust programming schedule of Creative Clay Nights, Couples Nights, + more, Mud Clay Studio offers an array of options for taking your date to the wheel. Classes begin with a quick introduction to hand-building with clay, then move to the potter’s wheel for the creation phase, and end with folks picking their glaze colors for the final product.
See More: Alcohol-Free Activities in Hoboken + Jersey City
Test Your Skills at Amazing Escape Room | 281 Liberty Street, Bloomfield
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The Amazing Escape Room is home to several themed rooms that each have interactive puzzles and riddles to solve. Couples can make it a group date-night kind of situation, to make the escape room experience more lively. Adrenaline will be at an all-time high but once customers complete the escape room, photo ops with signs are available to show off your win.
