The best date ideas in Orem include dinner at Pizzeria Seven Twelve, a show at the SCERA Center for the Arts, roller skating and laser tag at Classic Skating, free UVU Wolverines games, and a short walk to Bridal Veil Falls in nearby Provo Canyon. Most options cost little or nothing, and many are reachable by UVX or a short drive from campus.
Promenade Place sits just off Geneva Road near University Parkway, about a 10-minute walk from Orem Central Station and a quick trip to UVU. That location makes it easy to head out for a date and just as easy to come home to a fully furnished apartment afterward.
Promenade Place Date Night Guide to Orem, UT
Orem gives college students a mix of affordable, low-pressure date options, from classic dinner-and-a-show nights to mountain views that are only minutes away. Because Utah Valley is packed with students, local venues are used to hosting dates on a budget, and plenty of the best ideas are free with a UVU ID. Here’s how the options break down by the kind of date you’re planning.
Where Can I Go for a Dinner-and-a-Show Date in Orem?
A dinner-and-a-show date is a reliable pick for a first date or a special occasion, and Orem has a strong lineup of both within a few blocks of State Street. Pair any of the spots below for a full evening out.
Pizzeria Seven Twelve Serves Wood-Fired Pizza in an Art-Filled Space
Pizzeria Seven Twelve, at 320 S State St, has been an Orem date-night staple since opening in 2009. The restaurant serves Neapolitan-style pizzas made with seasonal ingredients, and its open kitchen, original local artwork, and small patio give it a warmer atmosphere than a typical pizza place. Weekend evenings can get busy, so it’s smart to plan ahead.
SCERA Center for the Arts Offers Live Theater Year-Round
The SCERA Center for the Arts, at 745 S State St, opened as a movie theater in 1941 and now hosts an indoor season of live theater and concerts from September through May in its 450-seat theater. In summer, the action moves outdoors to the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre in SCERA Park, where you can bring a blanket for musicals, concerts, and outdoor movies on a grassy hillside. SCERA has even been voted Best Date Place in Utah Valley.
If you’re searching for the Hale Center Theater Orem, it has moved. The company operated in Orem from 1990 to 2024 and now performs as The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater in Pleasant Grove, a short drive north.
Cinemark University Mall Makes Movie Night More Comfortable
Cinemark University Mall, at 1010 S 800 E near University Place, features luxury lounger seating and a SCREENX auditorium for a more immersive movie. It’s an easy go-to for a low-key date, especially when paired with dinner at one of the restaurants around University Place.
Between a local favorite for dinner, a historic theater, and a comfortable movie spot, Orem makes it easy to plan a classic night out without leaving town.
Where Can I Go for an Active Date in Orem?
For a date with more energy and less pressure to keep the conversation going, Classic Skating at 250 S State St is one of Orem’s longtime hangouts. Along with its roller rink, the venue has arcade games and laser tag, so there’s something to do even if one of you spends more time on the wall than on the floor. Skating is a naturally good icebreaker, since a few wobbly laps tend to get both people laughing quickly.
What Are the Best Outdoor Date Spots Near Orem?
Orem’s location at the mouth of Provo Canyon puts mountain scenery closer than most college towns can offer. Fall is an especially good time to go, when the canyon’s leaves turn and the weather is still mild.
Bridal Veil Falls Is a Short, Scenic Walk in Provo Canyon
Bridal Veil Falls is a 607-foot double cascade along the Provo River Parkway, just a short drive up Provo Canyon from Orem. The falls are visible from the parking area, and an easy paved path leads closer to the base, making it a great spot for a picnic, photos, or a walk that doesn’t require hiking gear. Weekends get crowded, so an early morning or weekday evening visit will feel more relaxed.
Sundance Mountain Resort Is Worth the Drive for a Special Occasion
Farther up the canyon, Sundance Mountain Resort offers scenic lift rides to Ray’s Summit, where you’ll get panoramic views of Mount Timpanogos and the Wasatch Mountains. For something hands-on, the resort’s Art Studio hosts two-hour workshops, and couples looking to splurge can book dinner at the candlelit Tree Room or the more casual Foundry Grill. It’s a bigger-ticket option, but it’s hard to beat for an anniversary or a memorable first impression.
From a free waterfall walk to a mountaintop view, the canyon covers both budget and splurge-worthy outdoor dates.
What Are Some Cheap or Free Date Ideas for UVU Students?
A great date doesn’t have to cost much, and UVU students have more free options than they might realize. Here are a few ideas that keep the focus on spending time together rather than spending money:
- Reserve free tickets to a UVU game. UVU students can get complimentary tickets to regular-season home games in The Den student section, and tickets are reserved through the UVU Student app. Fall brings soccer and volleyball, with basketball at the UCCU Center later in the year.
- Catch a performance at the Noorda Center. UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts offers discounted tickets for students, and academic productions are especially budget-friendly.
- Walk or bike the Provo River Parkway. This paved trail runs through Provo Canyon and Provo toward Utah Lake, making it an easy, free way to spend an afternoon outside together.
- Watch the sunset over Utah Lake. Utah Lake State Park is only about 12 minutes from Promenade Place, and the view of the sun dropping behind the western mountains costs nothing.
- Stroll SCERA Park before a show. Pair an evening walk through SCERA Park with a summer performance at the Shell for a simple, affordable night out.
Stacking a couple of these together, like a game followed by a sunset, can make for a full date without much of a bill at the end.
How Can I Get to Date Spots in Orem Without a Car?
Not having a car doesn’t have to limit your date options in Orem. Promenade Place is about a 10-minute walk from Orem Central Station, where you can catch the UVX bus rapid transit line toward UVU, University Place, BYU, and downtown Provo.
UVX is fare-free for UVU students with a valid student ID, so a movie at Cinemark University Mall or dinner around University Place doesn’t require a ride or a parking spot. Just keep in mind that UVX doesn’t run on Sundays, so plan weekend dates accordingly.
Orem Date Nights Start Close to Home
Between dinner and a show on State Street, roller skating and laser tag, waterfall walks in Provo Canyon, and free UVU games, Orem gives college students plenty of ways to plan a date on almost any budget. Most of it is a short drive or UVX ride from Promenade Place.
When you’d rather keep things low-key, Promenade Place has date-night options of its own, including a hot tub, BBQ grills for a cookout, a game room with a pool table, and clubhouse lounges for a movie night in. Choose from studio, 4×2, and 4×4 fully furnished layouts designed to fit however you and your roommates want to live.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best date ideas in Orem, UT?
Popular date ideas in Orem include dinner at Pizzeria Seven Twelve, live theater at the SCERA Center for the Arts, roller skating at Classic Skating, UVU Wolverines games, and a visit to Bridal Veil Falls in nearby Provo Canyon.
What are some cheap date ideas near UVU?
UVU students can reserve free tickets to regular-season home games in The Den, catch discounted student performances at the Noorda Center, or walk the free Provo River Parkway trail.
Is the Hale Center Theater still in Orem?
No. The Hale Center Theater Orem closed its Orem location in 2024 and reopened in January 2025 as The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater on the doTERRA campus in Pleasant Grove.
Where can you go roller skating in Orem?
Classic Skating, at 250 S State St in Orem, has a roller rink along with arcade games and laser tag.
Can UVU students get free tickets to Wolverines games?
Yes. UVU students can reserve complimentary tickets to regular-season home games in The Den student section through the UVU Student app.
Can you get to Orem date spots without a car from Promenade Place?
Yes. Promenade Place is about a 10-minute walk from Orem Central Station, where the fare-free UVX line for UVU students connects to UVU, University Place, BYU, and downtown Provo.
