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The ever-revered "date night" can be one of excitement and wonderment...but coming up with new and fresh ideas can also be quite the task. If you are looking for the perfect spot for your next date night, we’ve got you covered! From artisanal cheeses to the ever-popular Hill Country wineries, we’ve selected some of the best date night venues New Braunfels has to offer.
1. Gourmage
Start date night off right by visiting this delectably unique cheese shop...featuring so much more than just cheese! Experts at cheese platters, the artisans at Gourmage present a wide variety of cheeses from Saint Albray to Saint Andre. Take the time to taste a few cheeses, and make your selection based on where your palate leads you. Plus, this wonderful establishment also carries a fine selection of handmade chocolates. Truffles, almond toffee bars, chocolate bark, chocolate covered almonds, and more. Basically, any chocolate lover is sure to fall head over heels for the options. Finish the order off with a glass of wine or take a bottle to go. Interested in starting sooner? Gourmage offers a light lunch, made from scratch from 11 to 2:30. Either way, this unique spot is one for the date night records.
Picturesque and magical, Dry Comal Creek Vineyards may just be the perfect setting for a Texas Hill Country date night. Set upon an old Indian campground surrounded with majestic oak trees and a dry creek that runs along the site, this vineyard offers the ultimate backyard setting. Adding to the ambiance, a 10-foot fire pit and limestone block tables aid in creating a romantic venue looking out upon the beautiful landscape.
While at the vineyard, taste the wines and tour the facility to learn how wine is made. An award-winning winery, these wine experts produce the continuously well-received Black Spanish Wine, one of their best sellers, right there at the facility. Other popular varieties the vineyard produces include French Colombard, Comal Red, White Black Spanish VI, and Port. Once you have had your fill of wine, head on down the road for dinner. A great spot to go: Oak Valley Vineyard Restaurant!
3. Oak Valley Vineyard Restaurant
Just down FM3009 lies this renowned fine-dining venue. Set amidst lush greenery at the top of a hill, Oak Valley Vineyards Restaurant is a picturesque and romantic destination for a memorable dinner. Boasting three floors on which diners can enjoy their food, this Hill Country restaurant offers both ambiance and class. From the intimate basement wine cellar to the main floor’s glass-enclosed patio (providing panoramic views) to the third level’s spectacular view of the vineyards and gardens, it’s no wonder this spot was named Texas' Most Romantic Winery of 2014 by Official Best of Texas. For dinner, the menu teems with Texan flair, from the Texas-style bruschetta with fire-roasted salsa to the local quail stuffed with sausage and apricots.
Wanting something extra special? Oak Valley also offers romantic dining options. A candlelit table for two, champagne, and flowers are included in the package and make for perfect way to end a romantic evening.
Nestled along the Guadalupe River in a wooded area, Winery on the Gruene is not your average winery. An award-winning, custom boutique winery, Winery on the Gruene sources juices from over a dozen countries from all over the world, then they blend, ferment, age and bottle it on site.
The only winery in Historic Gruene, Winery’s tasting room reflects the image of the historic town. Located in a homey country farm styled building situated back from the road, the tasting room allows visitors to taste and purchase over 30 wines. But it doesn’t stop there. With the ability to make your own wine, this winery gives patrons the option of designing their own wine, leaving it with the venue, sending in a photo to adorn their new bottle of custom-made wine, and then picking it up when its ready. Make your own wine, drink their wine, drink it by the glass, or drink it by the bottle- whatever you choose, there’s no going wrong!
A non-profit theater, considered to be a gem by those who have visited, the Circle Arts Theatre has been around since 1968. Dedicated “to the pursuit of excellence in the performing arts and the affirmation and growth of the human spirit,” this community theater has staged 133 major productions, 10 children’s theater shows and 31 melodramas throughout its nearly 50-year history. For a date night outside of the norm, venture out to this theatre and be "wowed" by the local talent as they perform major productions, which have included musicals like "Fiddler on the Roof" and plays like "The Odd Couple."
6. Lamb's Rest Inn Bed &Breakfast
What could be more romantic than an overnight getaway in one of the cutest bed and breakfasts in Texas? At Lamb’s Rest Inn, experience warm Texas hospitality in a charming and romantic atmosphere, right on the Guadalupe River.
Located less than a mile from the historic Gruene village, this distinctive bed-and-breakfast presents lush gardens and fountains, providing several outdoor settings for sharing a romantic moment with a glass of wine. Furnished with antiques, custom pieces, and interesting collections, six uniquely decorated guest rooms with private baths (some with spa tubs), fireplaces, and charm like no other, this inn captivates the romantic in all of us.
7. Hill Country Craft Beer Trail
Because romance can be described in as many different ways as there are people in New Braunfels, we thought we’d include this craft brew trail as an option for the beer connoisseurs in the audience...especially considering that New Braunfels’ German heritage includes a long history of breweries and beer! Trail options are varied and range from local stops in New Braunfels all the way to Fredericksburg. Whether you drive yourself on the local New Braunfels tour of three breweries or cruise in style on a shuttle bus that takes you to eight breweries throughout the Hill Country, this date is sure to be memorable.
8. Historic Gruene
Nothing says date night in New Braunfels like an evening in Gruene. It has been recognized by the Texas travel industry as a premier attraction for visitors, something that comes as no surprise to New Braunfels locals. Peruse the town on a romantic stroll, venture over to the Gristmill for dinner, and follow it up by an evening at Gruene Hall to culminate a date you won’t soon forget.
Positioned on a bluff overlooking the Guadalupe River, this spectacular restaurant nestled under the shade of towering oak trees has been the perfect getaway for a unique casual dining experience for three decades. The multi-level restaurant features outdoor and indoor dining with sweeping views of the river, special dining rooms with native stone fireplaces, an indoor bar with a waiting area and wood burning stove, and a relaxing beer garden.
With a menu featuring both American favorites such as steaks and hamburgers, as well as popular South Texas fare like chicken fried steak, fried catfish, grilled chicken, fresh fish, and special dishes like tomatillo chicken, Gristmill suits a variety of cravings. Assuming you still have room, the restaurant’s fudge pie, enormous strawberry shortcake, and signature Jack Daniel’s Pecan Pie will beckon you to take a sweet bite to see what all the fuss is about.
10. Gruene Hall
Built in 1878, Gruene Hall is Texas' oldest continually operating dance hall. An internationally recognized destination and major music venue for up-and-coming as well as established artists, the Hall has played host to hundreds of celebrities whose pictures adorn the walls. Relish in the historic atmosphere while you cut a rug to an artist on stage that may just be the next big thing.
11. Faust Brewing Company & The Faust Hotel
Want something truly unique for date night? Enjoy a night at the Faust Brewing Company followed by retiring to a room in the Faust Hotel.
Faust Brewing Company, the only micro-brewery in New Braunfels, offers more than just its own beers. In fact, an extensive selection of beers from all over the world gives you an opportunity to savor virtually any type of brew while you enjoy any of the incredible German-themed menu items the brewery offers. Start with some beer bread or kartoffelchips and follow it up with their signature Faust Wellington or house made corned beef Rueben.
Next, head to The Faust Hotel, a local gem since 1929. This hotel was developed shortly after World War I when New Braunfels' community leaders sought to include a world-class hotel among its attractions to out-of-town visitors. Originally dubbed the "Traveler's Hotel," the hotel was considered one of the best hotels in Texas for the period. Throughout the next decade, the hotel’s name would be changed to Faust, it would survive the Great Depression, and it would come to be known as the "honeymoon capital of Texas."
To this day, The Faust Hotel has remained dedicated to its historic tradition. Giving visitors a chance to step back in time and relive the beauty and essence of this distinguished and unique historical property, the hotel is outfitted with period antiques, yet modernized with flat screen televisions and new heating and air conditioning units. Stay the night and see why this hotel has been so beloved for nearly 90 years.
