Time Travel With Your Love: Setting Up An 80s Style Date Night  

By Jane Duncan, freelance writer

Aug 18 2022

Did you know that some of the most romantic ballads were written in the 80s? From the Bangles’ "Eternal Flame" to Lionel Richie’s "Hello", these noteworthy tunes that are still popular today, date back to this bold and colorful era. The same goes for movies; just a couple of gems include Dirty Dancing and Flashdance. But whether you’re a 90s kid, younger or older, this is an era worth (re)embracing with your love, so why not do it through an 80s style date night.

80s Food To Eat

Many of the foods that gained popularity in the 80s are still around. Some of the most popular ones include sloppy joes, meatloaf cups, chili mac and cheese. And how could one forget about Cracker Jack, fruit stripes, ring pops, and Cheez Balls. These are all goodies that have been around since the 80s. To many, these are all reminders of their childhood, and for some, their very first date. So why not go back in time, and re-live the excitement of that era?
You can, of course, make it romantic by setting all of this up by candle light and flowers, and even a surprise gift for your love - something that you know they’d appreciate from the 80s - like a cassette tape with their favorite tunes and a walkman. It’s sure to bring a smile to both of your faces. 
Tin of Planters Cheez Balls from the 1980s

80s Tunes To PLay

Even though cassette tapes are no longer in use, the magic of 80s music still lives on. "Take My Breath Away", "Just The Two Of Us" and "Up Where We Belong" are just a few song titles that girls in the 80s used to go crazy over. Needless to say, the lyrics are filled with romance and the tunes are drastically different from what today’s youth listen to - it’s sure to transport you to a different, more relaxed time. 

Rent An 80s Car

If you’re into cars, cruise around with your love in a classic 80s car. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. It could be a Vauxhall Cavalier or something more on the sporty side, like a 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO. But if you do want to go a little fancy, go with the 1982 Porsche. It’ll make for an adventurous night with your love. 
Red 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO with no background

1985 Ferrari 288 GTO - image released to the public domain by Simply Eighties (reuse allowed)

Movies To Watch

If you and your love are movie buffs and are looking for 80s classics, you have to watch When Harry Met Sally, Steel Magnolias, Coming to America, and Mystic Pizza. These are all movies that became extremely popular in the 80s and are re-watched by today’s teens simply because they’re fun, meaningful, full of drama, and in some cases, they’re even educational.

Life has changed so much since then, but even today’s young people can relate to the zeal many of these movies portray so vividly. One can’t help but get lost in the charm of the 80s while watching them.

Many would say the 80s were a magical time, full of excitement and romance; recapturing that atmosphere shouldn’t be too hard as many of the elements from that time are still around.