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: A Cozy Winter Activity: Candle Making in New Jersey

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.

Gaming at Hometown Arcade | 85 Washington Street, Bloomfield

Hometown Arcade is a family-friendly spot in Bloomfield where guests can play all sorts of games, including retro ones like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Asteroids, and Pac-Man. The arcade also partners with local food businesses like Six Points Pizza for patrons to enjoy a bite.

Get a Couple’s Head Massage at Aura Head Spa | 28 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair

Aura Head Spa in Montclair specializes in Japanese-style head massages. At this spa, visitors can choose from multiple massages, all of which can be done with a partner. The Classic Head Spa treatment can be for 50 or 75 minutes and comes with a face cleanse, scalp exfoliation, scalp massage, shampoo cleanse, aura shampoo massage, and more. The Head Spa with Mini Facial + Jelly Mask package comes with face exfoliation, gua sha, scalp exfoliation + massage, neck + shoulder massage, and more.

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.

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.

Mystic Pizza 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 Mystic Pizza, a musical adaptation of the beloved 1988 rom-com that starred Julia Roberts. The show is playing from January 29th to February 23rd. See more information about tickets here.

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.

Play Darts at DartsGood Social House | 293 Glenwood Avenue, Bloomfield

This dart arena in Bloomfield can make for a great date, especially for competitive couples. While guests are welcome to bring their own darts, the business provides them. DartsGood has games such as 501, 301, cricket, Around the Clock, High Score, and more.

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, seven 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, and more, Mud Clay Studio has 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

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.