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GUIDE

Free & Cheap Date Ideas in NYC

Date ideas that cost little or nothing

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Free and cheap date ideas in NYC: gallery nights, free concerts, walking tours, tastings and markets worth wandering. Pair any of these with a walk and you’ve got a night out. For paid ideas, see Date night.

503 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
Daily · 12 AM–11:59 PM
57°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Triangular pedestrian island, Broadway between 45th & 46th S, Manhattan · official listing on diaart.org · checked Nov 8
Arts & culture

Max Neuhaus — Times Square Sound Installation (Dia)

📍 Triangular pedestrian island, Broadway between 45th & 46th Streets · Times Square, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Daily · 12 AM–11:59 PM
57°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at West 22nd Street between 10th & 11th Avenues, Manhattan · official listing on diaart.org · checked Nov 8
Arts & culture

Joseph Beuys — 7000 Oaks (Dia Art Foundation)

📍 West 22nd Street between 10th & 11th Avenues · Chelsea, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Daily · 6 AM–11:59 PM
57°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Manhattan · official listing on publicartfund.org · checked Nov 11
Arts & culture

Camille Henrot: Dogs at Doris C. Freedman Plaza

📍 Doris C. Freedman Plaza · Midtown, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
Every Wed · 10 AM–9 PM
57°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Museum of the City of New York, Manhattan · official listing on mcny.org · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Free Wednesdays at the Museum of the City of New York

📍 Museum of the City of New York · East Harlem, Manhattan
Free at the listed days and hours · Free for everyone on Wednesdays (tickets at the counter only; not for groups of 10+).
Happening now
Daily · 12 PM–11:59 PM
57°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Rudy's Bar & Grill, Manhattan · official listing on rudysbarnyc.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Rudy's Bar & Grill: free hot dog with a drink

📍 Rudy's Bar & Grill · Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Free to enter · purchases optional · Free hot dog with every drink or any purchase (the drink is paid).
Happening now
Daily · 12 PM–11:59 PM
58°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Skinny Dennis, Brooklyn · official listing on skinnydennisbrooklyn.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Skinny Dennis: no-cover country nights (check calendar)

📍 Skinny Dennis · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Paid; No cover on many nights. Check the official calendar. Drinks are paid.
Happening now
Daily · 12 PM–11:59 PM
58°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Levee, Brooklyn · official listing on theleveenyc.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

The Levee: complimentary cheeseballs (Williamsburg)

📍 The Levee · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Free to enter · purchases optional · Complimentary cheeseballs. Drinks and other food (chili dogs, Frito pies) are paid.
Happening now
Daily · 3 PM–11:59 PM
58°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · limited spots · repeats, so you can go another time · at Alligator Lounge, Brooklyn · official listing on alligatorloungebrooklyn.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Alligator Lounge: free pizza with a drink (21+)

📍 Alligator Lounge · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Free to enter; purchases optional. Dine-in and same day only; no to-go. · 21+
Happening now
Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Sat · 3:30 PM–9:30 PM
58°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Pete's Candy Store, Brooklyn · official listing on petescandystore.com · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Free live shows at Pete's Candy Store (check calendar)

📍 Pete's Candy Store · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Free
Happening now
WED, NOV 11 · 5 PM–9 PM
57°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · at Museum of the City of New York, Manhattan · official listing on mcny.org · checked Nov 5
Arts & culture

Free Late-Night Wednesday at the Museum of the City of New York

📍 Museum of the City of New York · East Harlem, Manhattan
Free to enter · purchases optional · Free museum entry until 9 PM; pop-up bar drinks optional
Happening now
Daily · 5:30 PM–11:59 PM
58°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 10, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at Kissa Kissa, Brooklyn · official listing on kissakissa.us · checked Nov 10
Music & nightlife

Kissa Kissa: first bowl of popcorn is free

📍 Kissa Kissa · Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Free to enter · purchases optional · First bowl of house-spiced popcorn is complimentary (on the house). Extra bowls and other food and drinks are paid.
Happening now
WED, NOV 11 · FROM 5:30 PM
57°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Juilliard Station, Manhattan · official listing on juilliard.edu · checked Nov 11
Music & nightlife

Rush Hour at Juilliard Station: Classics on Classics

📍 Juilliard Station · Lincoln Square, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
WED, NOV 11 · FROM 6 PM
57°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Paul Hall, Manhattan · official listing on juilliard.edu · checked Nov 11
Music & nightlife

Sonatenabend at Juilliard’s Paul Hall

📍 Paul Hall · Lincoln Square, Manhattan
Free
Happening now
WED, NOV 11 · 7 PM–2 AM (NEXT DAY)
58°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 2, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at SILO Brooklyn, Brooklyn · official listing on dice.fm · checked Nov 2
Music & nightlife

Open Decks w/ Steen, MZ3 and Spam at SILO (21+)

📍 SILO Brooklyn · Bushwick, Brooklyn
Free · registration required · Free with advance RSVP on DICE; 21+ · 21+
Happening now
WED, NOV 11 · 7:30 PM–9 PM
58°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Bushwick Comedy Club, Brooklyn · official listing on bushwickcomedy.com · checked Nov 5
Music & nightlife

Bushwick Comedy Club Wednesday Night Open Mic

📍 Bushwick Comedy Club · Bushwick, Brooklyn
Free
Starts in 1h 4m
WED, NOV 11 · 10 PM–2 AM (NEXT DAY)
56°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · at Mood Ring, Brooklyn · official listing on moodringnyc.club · checked Nov 7
Music & nightlife

Hand to Phone free DJ night at Mood Ring (21+)

📍 Mood Ring · Bushwick, Brooklyn
Free to enter · purchases optional · Free entry; full bar. 21+ with ID · 21+
Starts in 1h 4m
WED, NOV 11 · 10 PM–2 AM (NEXT DAY)
56°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · at Talon, Brooklyn · official listing on talonbar.com · checked Nov 7
Music & nightlife

Free Wednesday karaoke at Talon (21+)

📍 Talon · Bushwick, Brooklyn
Free to enter · purchases optional · FREE Karaoke every Wednesday 10 PM–2 AM; drinks sold at the bar. 21+ · 21+

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

503 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

How are these listings checked?

Every listing links to the organizer's own page: the venue, the city agency or park, or the official ticket or RSVP page. We don't copy listings from other event sites.

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