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. And, in honour of celebrating the long weekend, they're all at festivals.

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

Under $20

Drink Beers by the River Surrounded by Cute Canines

Eager to take your dog for a drink? Keen to help support an organisation that assists animals in need? Fancy adding some canine cuteness to you and your other half's Sunday-afternoon sipping session? Then look no further than Pups and Pints, which is returning for winter to deliver exactly what it sounds like — including adorable fluffballs to pat if you don't have your own to bring along.

Taking place from 2–6pm on Sunday, July 28, this iteration of the event sees Brewdog DogTap Brisbane and Safe Haven Animal Rescue Inc join forces — bringing four-legged friends to the Murarrie watering hole to support Safe Haven and raise funds. Just by drinking from the karma keg, you'll be doing your part.

Entry is free, but you'll obviously need your wallet for the brews. And for your barking bestie, there'll be barkuterie boards, dog beers and mini sessions with a professional pet photographer.

Of course, there's another way that you can lend a hand: not just cuddling Safe Haven's pups, but adopting one.

Under $50

Hit Up the Swiss Alps-Inspired Pop-Up Bar at a Twilight Winter Market

This winter, Carseldine's markets aren't celebrating Christmas in July — but they are still celebrating. And, they're popping up later in the day, too. There mightn't be an overt emphasis on festive cheer at this stint of browsing, buying and eating, but winter is well and truly in the spotlight instead. So, you and your special someone can expect to feel merry while revelling in all things frosty when the weekly northside market makes a one-off move to twilight from 4–10pm on Saturday, July 27.

Dubbed Carseldine Wintertide Wonderland Twilight Markets, this event is putting food firmly in the spotlight, with culinary stalls and trucks serving up everything from barbecue fare to churros. Taking cues from Europe, there'll be a Swiss Alps-inspired pop-up bar serving glühwein and schnapps, plus twilight bonfires to keep everyone warm.

Shopping is still on the agenda, of course — and, if you want to go home with all your present-buying taken care of well in advance of Christmas, that's an option. Attendees can look forward to a sizeable array of handmade wares to peruse, including Carseldine's usual array of vendors. In total, there'll be more than 250 stalls to check out.

Entry costs $3, and you'll also score a soundtrack to your eating, drinking and shopping thanks to two stages filled with live music.

Under $100

Watch Musos Take on Journos at a Charity Aussie Rules Match with Live Tunes and Drinks

Ever wanted to see your favourite bands kick a few goals, and help support a good cause at the same time? For more than three decades, the Reclink Community Cup has been turning musos into footy players for an annual charity Aussie rules match. It's back again in Brisbane for another round for 2024. Come Sunday, July 28, the city's music community will descend upon Enoggera Memorial Park to put their sporting prowess to the test. Two teams will take to the field: The Rocking Horses, featuring players from an array of Brissie acts; and the Brisbane Lines, filled with a crew of journos, industry staff general music-related folks.

Playing for the musos: members of  Powderfinger, The Church, Birds of Tokyo, Tape/Off, Nice Biscuit, First Beige, Whalehouse, Flamingo Blonde, Shag Rock, Mitch, Please and more. Staff from 4ZZZ, ABC Sport, Rebel FM, Dew Process, Gyrostream, QMusic,
The Princess Theatre and Incremental Records — among others — make up the opposition team.

The Community Cup isn't just about getting another dose of the live AFL action, though (as ace as the prospect of more footy always is). Given that rock stars are involved, live music is part of the proceedings as well, with Full Flower Moon Band, Betty Taylor and S.A.B on the bill. And, food-wise, expect food trucks ready to fill your ravenous stomachs, plus bars to quench you and your significant other's thirst. Watching bands play both music and footy is hungry work, after all — and goes down well with a cold one.

Every dollar raised from ticketing goes towards Reclink's efforts to improve the lives of Queenslanders suffering from disability, homelessness, substance abuse and economic hardship through participation in sport and the arts. Yep, whoever emerges victorious from the game, a heap of deserving folks will be the real winners.

Enjoy Omurice Made at Your Table by an Osaka Chef

Maybe you and your favourite person discovered omurice on a holiday to Japan. Perhaps you saw it in a Japanese film or TV show, instantly tempting your tastebuds. The dish's viral fame might've started your stomach rumbling. Whichever fits, the combination of omelette and rice is up there with sushi and ramen as a beloved Japanese staple — and Brisbane just keeps scoring new excuses to tuck in.

Alongside conjuring up pavlova bao and air cheesecakes with a Mont Blanc spin, Harajuku Gyoza has been championing omurice in a big way in Brisbane. Already in 2024, it has hosted an omurice pop-up at its Albert Lane store and welcomed in chef Motokichi Yukimura from Kyoto's Kichi Kichi. The latter is also returning in July. So news that Harajuku Gyoza's South Bank store is next dedicating six weeks to omurice isn't at all surprising. It is delicious, though.

Some dishes are as straightforward as they sound, and omurice — aka omelette rice — is one of them. It's an omelette made with fried rice, then typically topped with sauce. Yes, it's an easy concept to get around. From Saturday, July 27, Brisbanites will be treated to three versions from Osaka Omurice's Chef Tadamichi, who is coming to the Queensland capital to prepare and serve up the popular meal at diners' tables.

Starting at his family's market stall, Tadamichi has been cooking up omurice since he was 14. In Brisbane, he'll be making the classic version, one with ketchup and an Osaka okonomiyaki-style take, his signature. It features okonomi sauce on top, as well as mayonnaise and katsuobushi flakes. Whichever you choose, you'll be paying $28 a dish from 4–8pm Wednesday–Thursday and from 5–8pm Friday–Sunday, as well as for lunch from 11.30am–3pm Friday–Sunday.

One Big Blowout

Get Feasting and Sipping in the Street on James Street

Whatever you and your date already have planned for this weekend, we recommend rejigging your schedule to fit in a trip or two to James Street. Once a year, this patch of Fortitude Valley throws a big food and wine party. Venues spanning the roadway not only take part, but get folks eating and drinking along the road. And for one day of it, the street itself shuts down to traffic from Arthur Street down to McLachlan Street, turning into a dining space instead.

The event: the James Street Food and Wine Trail, which is returning across Saturday, July 27–Sunday, July 28. 2024's run is a shorter affair than in recent years — 2023's trail took place across four days, starting on Thursday — but it'll still be jam-packed with venues and stalls. In fact, this year's Market Day on the Sunday will feature 39 stalls, the most in James Street Food and Wine Trail's 12-year history. Prepare to have company, too, with more than 25,000 people anticipated to attend Market Day alone, filling out a 7500-square-metre space. As always, nothing says classic Brisbane like spending winter days feasting your way up and down this patch of the River City.

The festivities start on the Saturday with a four-course set-menu champagne lunch at ESSA, bubbles at the freshly renovated Cru Bar and newcomers ēmmē hosting a Middle Eastern-inspired dinner, plus an aperitivo hour at The Calile's Lobby Bar. On the Sunday, Jocelyn's Provisions will have special sweet treats — and Gelato Messina will serve up limited-edition desserts across the entire weekend.

The free-entry Market Day is the main attraction, of course, given that the picnic-style event turns James Street into a 300-metre-long outdoor dining room while also hosting live performances and live music. Get excited about ēmmē, Agnes Bakery, James & Antler and Sushi Room joining the lineup for the first time, the latter with live tuna carving. Arrive hungry, but don't expect to leave that way.