After a long work week, how do you approach your weekend? Do you attempt to travel or spend time with family and friends? How do you prepare for a fun date night?

I compiled six of the best places to “date” in Charlotte for couples or friends who enjoy switching up the scenery every now and again.

1. Studio Movie Grill

You must first complete six simple instructions to enjoy the ultimate Studio Movie Grill experience.

Step 1: Select your movie.

Step 2: purchase your tickets.
Step 3: arrive 20 minutes early.
Step 4: find your seat and place an order.
Step 5: Enjoy the movie and pay your bill.
Step 6: Hangout in the lounge.

If you both are interested in dining in while enjoying a cool flick of your choice, you should visit Studio Movie Grill. This isn’t your ordinary movie experience.

Located in the heart of the Epicentre, the ambiance is a very comfortable setting similar to most movie theaters. The only difference is you can eat and drink while watching the movie with your significant other. The address is Epicentre, 210 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC.

On Fridays and Saturdays all bottles of wine are 25% off, and Margarita Pitchers are $5 off. The lights are dim, and the chairs are more like soft black leather recliners.

The best meal to try depends on each couple individually, however, most couples tend to try the entrees such as the crispy or Coconut Tenders, and Southwestern Salad.

2. Mert's Heart & Soul

If you and your date are looking to try some soul food you should definitely visit Merts Heart & Soul. The atmosphere is that of your grandma’s kitchen it is very homie and the walls are bright earthly colors with paintings and photos of people on the walls.

Merts is a privately owned business by the Bazzelle family and has been thriving for 18 years with returning customers. Merts is located at 214 N. College Street in Charlotte.

Stars like Anthony Hamilton, Common, Cam Newton, Al Roker, Fred Hammond, Deborah Cox, Monica, Quest Love, Trey Songz, Mariah Carey have all dined here.

The Soul Sampler appetizer is the most popular meal amongst couples that come in during the weekends. This meal consists of soul roll, fried chicken wings, salmon cake and corn bread.

If you guys are car racing fanatics, either Mert's or Charlotte's Motor Speedway should surely get you eager for the weekend.

3. Charlotte’s Motor Speedway

“The greatest place to see the race.” Sometimes NASCAR comes to them to race. For the Speedway, most couples have a membership, so they enjoy the restaurants and discounts, and the race. Located at 5555 Concord Pkwy S in Concord, NC, the Speedway experience is quite similar to a regular country club. Speedway club seating gives you the same food.

4. NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum

If couples want a more interactive hands-on experience, then visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum may be the best thing. NASCAR is a four-level museum which includes interactive activities and learning about the history.

NASCAR has a feature movie theater and the Great Hall where they showcase exhibits such as Glory Road. Glory Road is an evolution of how the cars changed from the beginning to the current. It is located at 550 S Caldwell St #2000 in Charlotte and is open from 10:00a.m. - 6:00pm. There are plenty of things for couples to do during the weekends during the day here.

This museum has interactives such as the Simulator Interactive Video Game where you drive in the race car, and you can race up to 14 people at one time. Couples tend to partake in this activity.

Pit Crew Challenge: Two separate cars usually race as teams you change the tires, jack the car, and you fuel the car and put it back down. You have to do it in 15 seconds; you are going up against the clock to try beat the 15 seconds. Couples also participate in this activity as well.

You can track your favorite race team, design your favorite car, learn about inspection, and act like a NASCAR broadcaster.

http://www.nascarhall.com/

5. Charlotte Comedy Theater

If you are looking to enjoy a good laugh and local talent then, why not try the Comedy Theater? Located at 900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd in Charlotte, it is also an interactive experience.

Couples have a chance to interact with those on stage in the improv interactive segment. There is also the Late Nigh Improv on Saturdays. On Saturday nights at 10:00 p.m., the Blind Ten Challenge teaches performers the rules of acting before they act out the scene. This could definitely improve your comedy and theater skills.

http://charlottecomedytheater.com/

If you both like desserts and love to cook or bake this next place may be best for you.

The Cocoa Lab cooking class takes place at the Ritz-Carlton Charlotte hotel.

6. The Cocoa Lab Cooking Class

It takes place at the Ritz-Carlton Charlotte hotel, located at 201 East Trade Street Charlotte, NC. The cooking classes are offered on particular days out of the month, and the standard time of the classes are from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 pm. It’s a little more on the upscale side, costing about $125 per person, but it is well worth it. The class includes valet parking, a free recipe book, a bar cocoa apron, and any product made during the class.

On holidays such as Valentine’s Day, the classes are offered in the evening for couples who tend to work in the morning. Cocoa Lab is a thriving dessert and pastry based business where returning couples and customers attend very often after their first experience. The Ritz-Carlton is a luxury hotel and the cooking class is no different.

The ambience of the hotel is warm and relaxed. The Cocoa Lab is full of high energy and excitement. First time bakers adapt to the high volume environment very well because the culinary cooks personally walk each student through each step of the recipes. Students enjoy the classes very much and even re-register for classes the same day.

There are a lot of couples or sibling pairs that come here. Customers tend to prefer the French macaron class, which is most popular class; it also has a wait list until November. Guests are able to take a lot of products home and couples typically send email reviews about the cooking class and their experience as a whole. Cocoa Lab also offers other edible pastries such as gelato and Norman Love truffles to name a few. This would be quite the experience for a couple who enjoys spending time together in a kitchen setting.

https://www.hipmunk.com/Hotels-in-Charlotte-NC/The...

For more information about Bar Cocoa or The Ritz Carlton Hotel click the following links below:

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/charlotte/din...

http://www.barcocoacharlotte.com/

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/charlotte/din...

If you’re a typical couple or friend group who tends to hang out in the same spots, be a little more spontaneous. There is so much to do and try when it comes to dating.

Hope you’re next date is an absolute blast!