Looking for a few legendary guys’ night out ideas? To say the information out there is limited is a massive understatement! While there are millions of articles for girls’ night out, the fellas are lacking in number and creativity. Let’s see if we can do better. Here are our votes for the best guys’ night out options.
50+ Ideas in One Adventure Book
When is the next guys’ night out? If you’re thinking about cooking up some fun, bring us with you! Did you know that Adventures From Scratch has created a friend version of our popular adventure book? Our edition for friends is loaded with more than 50 on-the-go challenges and in-home ideas, so whether you want a weekend away with the guys or a Friday night at home, we got ya covered. Have fun getting to know the bros!
The Best Guys’ Night Out Ideas
Seriously, the options for guys’ night out articles are slim, and the ones out there aren’t very creative. This is partly due to the nature of most guys. In general, less thought and planning goes into the typical guys’ event when compared to their female counterparts. We’re all busy people here—work, family, marriages, and community responsibilities—they all add up! We know you don’t have much time to go out with the guys and certainly don’t have tons of time for planning. With these facts in mind, we’ve collected a list of ideas that is varied and unique, but no event on the list should take an inordinate amount of planning. Here we go!
1. Let’s Roam Bar Crawl
For a fun GNO that requires no planning, download our Let’s Roam scavenger hunt app and check out the options in your city. Our bar crawls are easy and fun. Buy a ticket for each guy in your group and follow along. We’ll take you to several of the best bars in your area and test your crew to a few hilarious challenges along the way.
2. Night Museum Tour
If your crew loves a little art from time to time, check out an interesting museum at night. Night tours are great because there are no groups of schoolchildren. There are fewer people, and there are often special events featuring artists or guest speakers. A museum followed by a few drinks in a chill whiskey bar makes for the perfect Friday night cap to a busy week.
3. Axe-Throwing Expedition
Axe-throwing venues have popped up all over the country in recent years, and they’re awesome. Throwing a sharp object at a target is the perfect way to blow off some steam after a stressful work week. It takes no planning. It’s pretty budget-friendly, and you get to throw axes. What more do you want?
If you want to go even more budget-friendly and reproducible, go to your local home improvement store and buy a few cheap hatchets of your own. This only works if you have a safe outdoor space in which to throw hatchets. Otherwise, your neighbors probably won’t approve of your guys’ night endeavor.
4. At-Home Bonfire
Some nights, you just want to stay home. Invite the guys. Build a fire in the backyard or just use a firepit. Have somebody bring hot dogs; someone else gets the stuff for s’mores. Crack open some beers. Put on a great playlist. Done and done.
Make sure you comply with the fire regulations in your neighborhood. In some places, you must notify the fire department ahead of time. In others, you’ll have to stick to the firepit, as burning would be illegal. Don’t let your fun guys’ night turn into a night in jail or a big fine.
5. Urban Art Walk
If you live in a city with a walkable night scene and great street art, take some time to truly appreciate it. Our art walks take you to the best spots in the city and give interesting background information on the works. It’s a unique way to re-see the city you walk through daily. Check out all our art walk options!
6. Local Ale Trail
If your area is famous for craft beer, chances are you have an organized ale trail in the region. Pick up your passport, choose your stops and your designated driver, and hit the trail. You’ll stop at breweries and bars along the route, try out the designated ale trail flight, get your stamp, and then move on to the next stop. Not only is it a good time, but you might find a new favorite brew or hangout spot that you can incorporate into your next guys’ night out. Some ale trails even have a shuttle service between breweries, so check the details before you leave.
7. Virtual Whiskey Tasting
If you have a fine whiskey bar in your area, set up a tasting event. They’ll handle all the details. If not, the online cuisine company Cozymeals offers a virtual whiskey-tasting event. Just hop on the website and sign up. In your confirmation email, they’ll send you a recipe list, so you can grab any items you need beforehand. Invite the dudes over and enjoy!
8. Cabaret Show
Cabaret is one of those things that you forget exists but is kinda perfect. The shows are typically budget-friendly, sexy, and sometimes super funny. If you and the guys are looking for something different this weekend, skip the video games and sip drinks in a cabaret lounge instead.
9. Connecting at a Comedy Club
Don’t know about you, but on Friday night, we often just need a good laugh. While comedy nights are not a sure thing, given that it all depends on who takes the stage that night, there’s a good chance that you will at least chuckle a few times. We find they get funnier the more whiskey you have, so let loose. Have a few and get some good laughs in with the guys.
10. Live Music Night
How long has it been since you saw a good concert? You could score tickets to a big show, but if massive event spaces stress you out, gather the guys at a local restaurant or bar with a good band. Grab a burger and spend the evening in a comfy booth with good tunes.
11. Ping-Pong Tournament
Anybody got a ping-pong table? If not, you can actually rent them at a party/event store. Set it up in the basement or backyard and let the trash talk begin. It’s a fun idea for a boys’ night out, and it’s easy to pull off. Just beware: This game is really addictive, and you might end up buying a ping-pong table.
12. Arcade Night
Does your crew love video games? Well, branch out with your gameplay this week. Get off the headphones and actually go out for games. Head to the nearest arcade. Challenge the guys to an old-school Pac-Man game, air hockey, or shooting hoops. The only downside is you might be surrounded by teens or kiddos, but you’re bigger than them.
13. Games on the Lawn
If the arcade sounds too stressful, trade in electronic games for yard games. Horseshoes, ladder ball, bocce ball, cornhole… all great options. Most of these are available, albeit in cheap versions, at your local big box store. If you find one that you and the guys really love, you can invest in a more sturdy set later. Order some pizza. Have the guys bring beer, and you’re good to go.
14. Traditional Cookout
If you have a little more time for planning, set up a traditional cookout. Either provide the food yourself or have everyone bring their own meat. Fire up the barbecue grill. Fill up the ice chests. Put out some lawn chairs and spend an evening outside. You can also include the lawn games from the last idea or fire up the hot tub!
15. Tacos and Tequila
Winter weather got ya down? Trade in steaks on the grill for tacos and tequila inside the warmth of the house. Everyone loves tacos. They’re easy to make and affordable when it comes to feeding lots of people. You make the meat (or make a stop at your favorite restaurant) and have everyone else bring toppings. You can also choose to just buy it all and have the guys bring some cash to pitch in. Beware of the strong side effects of tequila! You might end up with half-naked dudes doing karaoke in sombreros. There are no guarantees here.
16. Nostalgic Night
Head for the nearest fun park and let out your inner children. Challenge the guys to laser tag. Slam into each other with go-karts. Bust out that old homerun swing in the batting cages. Gorge yourself on corndogs and soda. You probably have fond memories of a place like this from your childhood. It’s time to revisit! This would also be a great last night out for a simple bachelor who doesn’t really do the whole party scene.
17. Lending a Hand
For some guys, taking time out of the weekend to just hang out feels like a waste of precious time. We get it; houses don’t repair themselves, and grass certainly doesn’t mow itself. If you need to get some work done but also haven’t seen your best friends in months, invite them over to lend a helping hand. Roofs get repaired faster with an extra set of hands.
Whether you have something to build, something big to move, or a repair to make, more muscle makes the job faster. It may not sound fun, but it’s kind of a win-win situation. You get time with your friend, and you still get stuff done. Just make sure you volunteer to go to their place next week!
18. Podcast Production
If you and the guys are feeling creative, spend some time creating a podcast about a subject you love. You really don’t need much, just a good camera and microphone. You could even do it on your phone. If you love the outcome, schedule to do it regularly and find a platform for your creation! Alternative creations could be a how-to YouTube video, music video, or any creative endeavor you’re all passionate about.
19. Dive Bar Quest
Forego the normal sports bar this week and go looking for the grungiest dive bars in your city. You know the ones where the burgers are dripping with grease and as big as your head? The decorations are probably covered in dust, and there are tons of truckers at the bar. It might not be your normal vibe, but that’s the fun of it!
If the dive bar is your typical vibe, change it up. Put on a jacket and head for a nice rooftop cocktail bar instead. The point is to get a change of venue and experience the other side of a guys’ night out.
20. Late Night B-Ball
If you and your crew are the athletic bunch, a fun idea for a free night is to head to the local city park and challenge the guys to a few pickup games. You get good exercise. You get to trash-talk your friends, and it’s good stress relief. Plus, it’s totally free. You’ll definitely work up an appetite, so plan on burgers afterward. Just choose a restaurant with an outdoor space please and spare the rest of us your post-game stench.
21. Mixology Night
Grab a good mixology book and invite the guys over to test your skills. Put on some jazz. Have each guy create a cocktail from the book or invent their own, and have a little contest. Loser buys the booze for next week. Alternatively, you could do an online cocktail-making class with a professional mixologist. Rockoly provides professional happy hour classes, and they will even send you a drink kit in advance; all the ingredients arrive at your door like magic!
22. Culture Night
Whether you cook yourself or hit up a great international restaurant, set a theme for your GNO. Explore the food, music, and customs of a different culture. Learn the history with a YouTube video or set up your own trivia game and test your knowledge about your own heritage.
23. Food Tour Friday
Rediscover your own city with an organized food tour. You’ll get a knowledgeable guide, try tons of great foods, and maybe even find a new favorite restaurant. Food tours are generally pretty budget-friendly, available in most larger cities, and a really good way to try new things without having to spend money on an entire meal you might not like.
24. Vintage Video Game Extravaganza
Donkey Kong, Mario, and Duck Hunt… if you’re looking for nostalgia, you got it! These games (or whatever games were the jam when you were in your childhood) bring back fond memories and an intense spirit of competition. Set up the gaming system. Make a playlist of songs from the era and invite the guys. Hopefully, you’ll still be friends by the end of the night.
25. Brazilian BBQ
There’s no place on earth that produces the meat sweats like a Brazilian BBQ restaurant. Giant, heaping trays of roasted meat that just keep coming… it’s heavenly! Hopefully, your city has a great Brazilian steakhouse, but if it doesn’t, you could always throw a DIY meat-fest!
26. City Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a fun way to spend an evening in your own city. You’ll compete with other crews for the top spot in your city on a journey through town filled with trivia tests and hilarious photo challenges. With the right group of guys, these hunts are a riot, and you will definitely see a new side of your city.
We even have custom hunts for birthdays. We’ll work with you to create a hunt that honors the birthday boy with personalized photo challenges and trivia!
27. Poker and Cigars
Go old-school with a night of Texas Hold’em, Cuban cigars, and a good Scotch. Load up on finger foods like sandwiches, chips, and snack cakes and let the bids begin!
28. Shooting Range Romp
Another great stress reliever for you and the guys is a night at the shooting range. Load up your pistols or rent one from the facility. Make it a challenge or just work on your form; either way, this guys’ night out provides a little adrenaline and might give you the chance to learn a new skill.
29. Fight Night
If you have a boxing arena or UFC league near you, spend the evening watching a live fight. If you don’t have that option, you could host a pay-per-view event or join the guys at the local sports bar to watch the fight. Place some bets. Loser buys rounds.
30. Disc Golf Picnic
Head to your local disk golf course. They’re often located in city parks. Challenge the guys to a game or two, then when darkness hits, head for the provided bbq grills and bust out the coolers. Grill up some meat. Throw out the lawn chairs, have a few beers, and get in some good conversation while stargazing.
Getting the Guys Together
The hardest part about planning a guy’s night is not thinking of what to do. It’s just finding the determination to make it happen. We’ve provided you with 30 great guys’ night out ideas. Choose one of ours or come up with your own plan, but do it this weekend. Connecting with friends and having a strong social circle is a key aspect of stable mental and physical health. So, quit slacking on the guys’ night!
Let us know which night out you chose in the comments! Was it fun?
Planning on having a game night? Check out “40 Fun Board Games to Play With Friends.”
If you struggle to make friends and you can’t say you really have a strong circle, take a look at “How to Make Friends as an Adult (And Why You Should).”
Frequently Asked Questions
Popular guys’ night out activities include poker nights, comedy clubs, and ale trails. But honestly, as long as you’re all having fun together, you can’t go wrong.
Guys’ night out should be catered to the interest of your crew. Try your hand at disc golf, mix it up with a mixology night, or take an app-guided scavenger hunt of your city!
If you’re looking for something a little different for guys’ night, how about gathering the guys at the shooting range, joining a fight night, or seeing a cabaret show?
Planning a guys’ night doesn’t have to be hard. Consider activities with little to no planning, like an organized bar crawl, food tour, or a night tour of a museum or art gallery.
For a budget-friendly guys’ night out, bust out the lawn games! You can host a taco and tequila night and have fun making the food yourselves, or go on an urban art tour.