Updated October 2026
Looking for date night ideas in Naperville that go beyond the usual dinner-and-a-movie? We spend every day on Water Street, right next to the Riverwalk, so we see a lot of first dates, anniversaries and "we finally got a sitter" nights walk past our door. These are the spots we send couples to, and the ones we go to ourselves.
The list covers indoor ideas for cold or rainy nights, cheap dates that cost next to nothing, and splurges for a birthday or anniversary. Most are within a few minutes' walk of downtown. For the rest, we've noted the drive time from Water Street.
The 12 Best Date Night Ideas in Naperville
1. Make a custom candle together at Sea Love
Most dates have you sitting across a table from each other. A candle making date night has you side by side creating something together. Even on a first date, there's always something to talk about. You get to see what smells your date likes (Old Books or Sugar Cookie? Sangria or Earth?). You'll learn more about each other in five minutes at the scent wall than you would in an hour of small talk.
And unlike dinner, you go home with something to show for it. Every time you light that candle, you'll remember the night you made it.
How it works:
- Explore the fragrance wall. Smell your way through more than 100 scents and pick up to three to blend. Make one scent together or one each. The possibilities are endless.
- Choose your vessel. Pick a size and style that suits your home. Prefer no flame? Make a reed diffuser instead.
- Blend and pour. Our team walks you through measuring, mixing and pouring step by step. No experience needed.
Candles need about two hours to set before they go home. Most couples pour, head across the street for dinner or a Riverwalk stroll, and pick their candle up on the way back to the car. Reed diffusers can be taken home right away.
Book your date night
- Time: 45 to 60 minutes
- Cost: $94 to $130 for two
- Where: 120 Water St, Suite 104, Naperville, IL 60540 (Water Street District, next to the Riverwalk)
- Parking: Free in the Water Street parking garage, same address
★★★★★
"My boyfriend and I visited Sea Love Candle Bar for a fun date night activity and loved every second of the experience. The staff members were very friendly and the overall atmosphere at Sea Love is super relaxing and cozy. We loved picking out our own scents and vessels, naming our candles, and drawing illustrations on the labels. Also, we enjoyed delicious pre-dinner drinks from the bar. I definitely would recommend this establishment for date nights as well as any kind of girls night out events and for group functions in general. We both can’t wait to return soon with our empty vessels for $5 off our next candle making experiences. 20/10 recommend visiting this place ASAP!"
Colleen Danaher
5-star Google review
2. Walk the Naperville Riverwalk
Naperville's best date costs nothing. The Riverwalk has 1.75 miles of brick paths along the DuPage River, with covered bridges, fountains and sculptures. It was built in 1981 for the city's 150th birthday, and it's still the place locals take visitors first. Go at sunset, or after dark when the paths are lit. The covered bridges are the most photographed spot downtown, so bring your phone. From Water Street you're on the path within a minute. If you park in the Water Street garage, the elevator drops you right next to it.
Cost: Free · Distance: 1-minute walk · Good for: cheap dates, first dates, after-dinner walks
3. Rooftop dinner at Santo Cielo
Across the street from us, on the fifth floor of Hotel Indigo, Santo Cielo serves Latin food and craft cocktails with a view over the river and downtown. In warm weather the glass walls drop down and it becomes an open-air rooftop. In winter they stay closed, so you keep the view without the cold. That makes it one of the few rooftop dates that works year-round. The skirt steak gets raving reviews. If you'd rather keep it lighter, cocktails and a couple of starters make a great date too.
Where: 123 Water St, Suite 509 · Cost: $$–$$$ · Distance: 1-minute walk · Note: closed Mondays, book ahead on weekends
4. Couples massage at Solaia
For an anniversary or a "we both need this" night, Solaia Spa is in our own building. Their couples massage starts at $330 and comes with champagne and chocolates. To make a day of it, the Spa Date package ($658) adds a couples manicure and pedicure plus time in the infrared sauna. Go straight from the spa to Sea Love to pour a candle, and you'll leave with something that smells like the day felt.
Where: 120 Water St, Suite 126 · Cost: from $330 per couple · Distance: same building · Note: open Tuesday through Sunday
5. Drinks and dessert at The George
The George opened on Washington Street in late 2025 and quickly became a downtown favorite for a nightcap. Ask for the fireplace room or sink into the couches in the lounge. In cooler months, try the covered patio with its fire pit. Then order the Cigar Box Churros, which come out in a cigar box that releases a puff of smoke when you open it. The sticky toffee pudding is the cozier choice. They don't take reservations, so come early or come late.
Where: 245 S Washington St · Cost: $$ · Distance: about a 7-minute walk
6. A show at the Paramount Theatre
The Paramount in Aurora puts on Broadway-quality musicals in a restored 1930s theater, and it's worth the short drive. This season, A Christmas Carol runs November 11 through January 3, and Sunday in the Park with George opens February 10, just in time for Valentine's Day. Get dinner in Naperville first, or make a night of downtown Aurora.
Where: 23 E Galena Blvd, Aurora · Cost: varies by show and seat · Distance: about a 20-minute drive
7. Dinner and a movie at Hollywood Palms
Hollywood Palms gives the classic dinner-and-a-movie date an upgrade. You get recliners with tables, and servers bring food and drinks right to your seat during the film. Each auditorium has its own theme, and there are two bars in the lobby if you get there early. In winter, the Block 59 ice rink is close by, so you can skate before the show.
Where: 352 S Route 59 · Cost: $14 per ticket ($12 before 5pm), plus food · Distance: about a 15-minute drive
8. Get competitive at Topgolf or WhirlyBall
If you're the kind of couple who keeps score, head to Odyssey Court on the north side of town. Topgolf and WhirlyBall are next door to each other there. Topgolf is half-price Monday through Thursday when you book online, and it's open late on weekends. WhirlyBall has bumper-car basketball, laser tag (about $25 an hour) and bowling, all with a bar. Either one is a fun choice for a double date.
Where: Topgolf, 3211 Odyssey Ct; WhirlyBall, 3103 Odyssey Ct · Cost: $–$$ per person · Distance: about a 15-minute drive
9. Go indoor skydiving at iFLY
Want a date you'll talk about for years? iFLY Naperville's wind tunnel lets you fly with no plane and no jump. First-timers fly one at a time with an instructor, so you take turns and cheer each other on from the viewing area. It's a strong rainy-day pick, and the photos are great. Plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early for training.
Where: 1752 Freedom Dr · Cost: around $120 per person for a two-flight first-timer package · Distance: about a 12-minute drive
10. Spend a daytime date at Naper Settlement
Not every date has to be at night. Naper Settlement is an outdoor history museum a short walk from downtown, with historic homes and buildings spread over the grounds. It's easy to spend a relaxed afternoon there. The Millennium Carillon's Moser Tower is next door, and its tours run through late October. Watch for evening events too, like the 21+ Howlin' at the Moon party in late October. In summer, swap this for an afternoon at Centennial Beach.
Where: 523 S Webster St · Cost: $6–$12 per adult (free for Naperville residents) · Distance: about a 10-minute walk · Note: open Tuesday through Friday
11. Holiday lights and seasonal dates
Winter is the coziest time for a date night in downtown Naperville. NaperLights takes over Water Street from Thanksgiving with more than 250,000 lights synced to music. It's free and runs nightly from 4 to 10pm, right outside our door. For more holiday spirit, the Christkindlmarket runs Thursday through Sunday, November 20 to December 24, at RiverEdge Park in Aurora. Or go ice skating at the Block 59 rink. Then come in out of the cold and pour a winter-scented candle together.
Cost: mostly free · Distance: NaperLights is on Water Street; the Christkindlmarket is about a 20-minute drive
12. Coffee or brunch on a slow morning
Some of the best dates happen before noon. Sparrow Coffee shares our building and was voted Best Coffeehouse in the 2026 Best of the West awards. Get a latte and a Liège waffle, then walk the Riverwalk while it's quiet. For a proper brunch, Santo Cielo won Best Sunday Brunch in 2026, and Quiubo, downstairs at 120 Water St, serves brunch on weekends too. Ramsay's Kitchen on Jefferson Avenue is a short walk away and known for its cast-iron cinnamon rolls.
Cost: $–$$ · Distance: 1 to 10 minutes on foot
Sample Date Night Plans in Naperville
Not sure how to put it together? Here are four dates we'd plan for ourselves.
The Water Street date (our favorite)
- Pour your candle at Sea Love. Use the two hours it needs to set to enjoy the rest of the night.
- Walk across the street for dinner and cocktails at Santo Cielo.
- Take a slow walk along the Riverwalk.
- Pick up your candle on the way back to the car. Parking is free in the same building.
The rainy day date
- Start with lattes at Sparrow Coffee, inside 120 Water St.
- Make your candles at Sea Love, down the hall.
- Finish with churros by the fireplace at The George.
The anniversary date
- Couples massage at Solaia, upstairs from us.
- Pour a large triple-wick candle together at Sea Love, one scent you both choose.
- Dinner at Santo Cielo while your candle sets.
The date on a budget
- Pour a small candle each at Sea Love.
- Walk the Riverwalk for free. Free garage parking keeps the whole night around $94.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good date night ideas in Naperville?
Good date night ideas in Naperville include making a custom candle together at Sea Love on Water Street, walking the Riverwalk, a rooftop dinner at Santo Cielo, a couples massage at Solaia and a show at the Paramount Theatre.
What are some indoor date ideas in Naperville?
For a cold or rainy night, try candle making at Sea Love, indoor skydiving at iFLY, a dine-in movie at Hollywood Palms, WhirlyBall or a show at the Paramount. Candle making is also one of the more unique date ideas in the Chicago suburbs, and it's worth the drive from neighboring towns.
What's a cheap date night in Naperville?
The Riverwalk and NaperLights (in winter) are both free, and downtown garage parking is free too. Co-creating one candle at Sea Love is another great option to stay true to your budget!
What is there to do in Naperville at night for adults?
Downtown, you can have cocktails at Santo Cielo, a nightcap at The George (open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays) or a candle making session at Sea Love. Topgolf stays open late on weekends, and Naper Settlement holds 21+ evening events in the fall.
Is candle making a good date idea?
Yes. You're working side by side rather than sitting across a table, so conversation comes easily. Choosing scents tells you a lot about each other, and you leave with something you made together. It takes 45 to 60 minutes and no experience is needed.
How much does a candle making date cost for two?
At Sea Love Naperville, a candle making date costs $94 to $130 for two. Each person makes their own candle, and you pay for the vessel you each choose: $47 for a small candle, $52 for a large, or $65 for a triple-wick. For example, two large candles come to $104. You can also make a reed diffuser instead for $54. You choose your vessel during the experience, so you don’t need to decide when you book.
Do you need to book Sea Love ahead of time?
Booking ahead isn’t required, but reservations are strongly recommended, especially during weekends and busy seasons. All guided fragrance experiences begin promptly on the hour, so reserving ahead helps secure your spot at the fragrance bar.
Walk-ins are always welcome based on availability. During especially busy times, walk-in guests may experience a wait or may be encouraged to reserve a later experience time. While waiting, guests are invited to explore the fragrance wall and browse our boutique.
If you have a reservation, we kindly ask that you arrive at least 10 minutes early for check-in. Guests arriving late may need to be rescheduled, so we recommend planning ahead for parking and travel.
Where should we park in downtown Naperville?
Park in the Water Street District parking garage at 120 Water St, which is the same building as Sea Love. It's free, with 3-hour parking on levels 1 to 3 and all-day parking on levels 3 to 5. Overnight parking isn't allowed. If it's full, the Central Parking Facility at 75 E Chicago Ave is a short walk away.
Plan Your Date Night at Sea Love
Whichever ideas you pick, start your night on Water Street. Pick your scents, pour a candle together, and take home something to remember the night by.
Book Your Date Night Give a Gift Card
Sea Love Naperville · 120 Water St, Suite 104, Naperville, IL 60540 · (630) 995-3018
Hours:
Friday 11 am–8 pm
Saturday 11 am–8 pm
Sunday 11 am–6 pm
Monday Closed
Tuesday 11 am–7 pm
Wednesday 11 am–7 pm
Thursday 11 am–8 pm
Free parking in the Water Street garage, same building