While sipping on a gin and tonic in a sun drenched rooftop bar, or nursing your third mug of coffee in a cozy cafe are without a doubt fun ways to connect and strengthen bonds with friends - trying out new, exciting things can make your time together even more enjoyable.
Luckily for you, we’ve shortlisted the undisputed, unrivalled (just trust us on this one, okay?) top 10 things to do with your pals when a sense for adventure strikes (or you simply wish to deviate from your usual coffee shop) so you don’t need to wrack your brains.
1- Host a Potluck Night
Nothing says party like a dinner party, and nothing says dinner party like a potluck. If you’re looking to chow down on some delicious food with your friends at a reasonable price and going out to eat at a fancy restaurant is for this reason off the table (pun intended) - getting your friends over for a fully fledged three course meal at home makes for a pretty decent second option.
Potlucks are great because they’re communal; ask each friend to bring a dish, and if you think you’ll end up with enough food to feed a small army, put someone on drink duty instead. This way, the gracious host isn’t put through a stress induced meltdown when attempting to cook up a storm, and you all get to try a little bit of everyone’s favourite home cooked meal (plus- you can all wash up at the end together). We recommend lighting candle sticks, putting on some fancy dinner party music (jazz is our personal favourite for such an occasion) and opening a bottle of red if you are so inclined.
At a loss for what to cook? Check out some awesome potluck recipes (sure to be a crowd pleaser) here.
Potlucks make for a great thing to do with friends.
2- Enjoy a Mystery Picnic
Picnics with friends are fun, this is simply a well known scientific fact. What’s even more fun however, is a Mystery Picnic (yes, you heard that right).
But what is a Mystery Picnic and what makes it so mysterious, we hear you ask inquisitively? Well, the experience is brought to you by the kind folks at AmazingCo, and consists of you and your friends strengthening your bonds by solving a number of clues and riddles together that help you collect food items for your picnic (found in the finest boutique food stores in your area nonetheless). Only after you’ve solved all the clues and picked up your delicious food items will you be led to your secret and very picturesque picnic location.
For something unique to do with your friends, check out AmazingCo’s Mystery Picnics here!
Mystery Picnics are a great way to spend time with friends.
3- Go to a Jazz Bar
There’s something classic and old timey about a jazz bar, be it the warm, dimly lit glow the venues typically exude, or the live jazz band’s ability to somehow transport the listener - usually slumped comfortably in a soft armchair, cocktail in hand - to 1950’s New York.
The whole experience makes for a unique and fun and alternative night out if you and your pals are looking to deviate from your usual wine bar or pub.
Inhabited by both jazz fanatics and people simply wanting something a little more unique from their usual night out, these cosy oases are often found at the end of a steep staircase, in a basement bar subdued far below the bustling street above.
4- Go On a Wine Tour
If you and your pals have a whole day to spare, why not make the most of it by visiting a picturesque countryside region and tasting some decadent wines?
AmazingCo makes this epic day out possible with their stress free, pre planned Wine Tours, in which you and your friends get driven to a beautiful wine region of your choice, tasting your way through several varieties before being driven back home by your experienced driver (so you can all indulge without having to worry about a designated driver).
Even better, a delicious lunch is also provided to pair nicely with your tastings.
Check out AmazingCo’s Wine Tours here!
AmazingCo’s Wine Tours are great for friends.
5- Enjoy a Mystery Food Walk
Ever been stuck on deciding where to eat out with your friends? Bid farewell to wandering the streets aimlessly in desperate search for the perfect mutually decided eatery, and go on an adventurous food walk -kind of like a bar crawl but far tastier- instead.
The food walk in question (brought to you by AmazingCo) lets you and your pals discover a whole food quarter instead of just a restaurant, so you get to try pre planned tastings from the best establishments your area has to offer.
Better yet, the whole experience intertwines an element of mystery - you and your friends will need to solve a number of clues and riddles that will lead you to your next delicious location - making it like a giant food scavenger hunt (which when you come to think of it is a dream come true, really).
Check out the Mystery Food Walk here for something great to do with friends!
6- Go Gallery Visiting at Night
Up for a bit of culture? Gather your friends, skip the bar and head to your local art gallery or museum instead. While gallery hopping makes for an excellent day time activity (is there anything more perfect then wandering aimlessly through a cosy art gallery on a rainy Sunday? We think not.), many galleries and museums also host after hour cultural nights and launch events for new exhibitions.
As well as being able to sneak a peek at the new installations before the general public, these events are often licensed and have live music- so you and your pals can sip on some pinot at the bar while listening to jazz before immersing yourself in the art.
7- Host a Backyard Movie Night
Got the gang over for Netflix? It’s time to step it up a notch with AmazingCo’s Backyard Movie Night.
You’ll get everything you need to host your own movie night delivered right to your door, including a projector, huge outdoor screen (so you can watch your favourite movie under the stars) and high quality speakers.
Cold out? Fret not- you and your pals will be lazing under the stars snug as a bug with comfy bean bags and blankets to make the night extra cosy and keep you warm. And what’s a movie without snacks? We’ll also supply plenty of movie style popcorn and a popcorn machine for you to munch on and to complete your cinema experience.
Movie Nights are a great way to spend time with friends.
8- Indulge In a Wine and Cheese Night
If you’re wanting to save some money but still want to enjoy the finer things in life with your friends, get them over to your place (or whoever has the fanciest living room) for a wine and cheese night.
Ask each friend to bring either their favourite cheese, biscuits, dried fruit or bottle of wine (just make sure you have enough wine and food for everyone) and lay all the goodies out on a platter (check out some food inspo here).
And if you’ve got a competitive streak, consider turning the hangout into a board game night by asking everyone to bring a game along (our favourites are Pictionary, Cluedo and Scrabble).
9- Go On a Drink Discovery Walk
While it’s fun becoming a local, if you’re beginning to grow tired of frequenting the same five bars (as good as they may be) with your friends each weekend, it might be time to switch up your nights out and discover some new places.
Luckily for you, we’ve got just the thing; an AmazingCo Drink Discovery Walk (and it’s every bit as awesome as it sounds).
The experience (which is perfect for groups of friends in search for new local watering holes) takes you and your pals on an epic adventure through the best bars your city has to offer, where you’ll be indulging in a number of pre planned drink tastings. There is, however, a twist. You and your friends will need to band together to solve a number of riddles and clues, which will lead you from bar to bar (adults only scavenger hunt, anyone?).
10- Take Up a Class Together
So it’s been two months since you properly caught up with a friend, and when you do finally see each other over brunch you promise to hang out more regularly before doing it all over again. If this sounds like you - we get it. Life can sometimes get busy, making it hard to find the time to slow down and spend time with friends, however much we may want to.
Enrolling in a weekly class together can help tackle this issue. While your life won’t necessarily be any less busy, the pre planned and scheduled nature of the class (as well as the added bonus of learning something new) makes it easier to organise your calendar around it, and you’ll get to see your friends every single week. Plus, there are a heap of fun classes to suit any interest, be it cooking, yoga and mindfulness, or artsy classes like ceramics or graphic design.
