Summer swims and jazz clubs: 3 cheap Austin date ideas from $15 to $50

Alright, singletons of Austin, listen up. The summer heat is officially on. The days are long and your social calendar should be sizzling. But who says you need to break the bank to find that special spark? This July, we're diving back into our Dating on a Dime series, your guide to navigating Austin's dating scene without emptying your wallet. From July's cinematic delights to sun-drenched swims and perfectly brewed pick-me-ups, we're serving up date ideas that hit all the right notes – and keep your budget firmly in the sweet spot of $15 to $50.

$15: Stroll on Boggy Creek Greenbelt and Desnudo Coffee

Sometimes, the most intoxicating dates aren't about grand gestures, but the quiet intimacy of a perfect morning. Imagine this: the soft light of dawn just beginning to paint the East Austin sky as you embark on a stroll along Boggy Creek. It’s a whisper of wilderness nestled within the city. You walk — perhaps hand-in-hand — the air crisp with the scent of damp earth and blooming native plants.

Your steps, now light with the fresh air, lead you to Desnudo Coffee. Tucked away in an East Austin food court, Desnudo is a pilgrimage for anyone who truly appreciates the art of the bean. The aroma alone is enough to awaken your soul. Perhaps it's their signature brown sugar miso latte, or a single-origin pour-over. It’s about savoring the small, beautiful things.

Boggy Creek Greenbelt: 1114 Nile St. (512) 974-6700.

Desnudo Coffee: 2505 Webberville Rd. (424) 400-1857. desnudocoffee.com.

$35: Deep Eddy Pool swim and Pool Burger

A swim at Deep Eddy Pool, fed by a natural spring that keeps things just cool enough to be refreshing, even in the fiercest summer heat: It’s less about doing laps and more about just being – floating, laughing and maybe splashing a little too much. Entrance fees to Deep Eddy start at $5 for Austin residents.

After you’re refreshed, it’s a mere hop, skip and a jump to Pool Burger. Happy hour deals include half off frozen hurricanes, sparkling rosé, and Red Stripes. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. The vibe is about letting your hair and your guard down. It’s the kind of date that reminds you that sometimes, the best pleasures are the simplest ones – a cool dip, a snack and the company of someone who makes the whole experience shine just a little bit brighter.

Deep Eddy Pool: 401 Deep Eddy Ave. (512) 472-8546. austintexas.gov/department/deep-eddy-pool.

Pool Burger: 2315 Lake Austin Blvd. (512) 334-9747. poolburger.com.

$50: Paramount Summer Classics movie and Elephant Room

You pull up, the marquee glows, a beacon for cinephiles and romantics alike. The historic theater's Summer Classic Series is serving up cinematic masterpieces. Regular admission tickets for screenings start at $15. July brings hits like “Phantom Thread” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.” You sit there, maybe a hand brushes yours in the dark, the orchestral swells wash over you and suddenly, the mundane becomes magnificent.

Afterwards, when the credits roll and the magic of the silver screen lingers, you slip into the sultry embrace of the Elephant Room. Downstairs, away from the bustling Congress Avenue, the air thickens with the low thrum of a stand-up bass and the smooth serenade of a saxophone. Cocktails clink, conversations murmur, and you realize, over a perfectly crafted martini, that sometimes, the best love stories aren't written on screen, but unfold in the dimly lit corners of a true Austin night.

Elephant Room: Swift Building, 315 Congress Ave. (512) 575-2925. elephantroom.com.

Paramount Theatre: 713 Congress Ave. (512) 472-5470. austintheatre.org.