Great teams are composed of people who respect and like each other. Collaboration is an essential component of job satisfaction, and effective leaders do their best to encourage team bonding. Helping your team to get to know each other, socialize, and have a little fun helps not only your team members, but the effectiveness of your company. According to research, a whopping 70% of employees believe that better collaboration has a significant impact on productivity and time savings. 

A work night out is a powerful tactic for improving relationships and ultimately revenue. From wine tasting to potluck dinners, work nights out promote camaraderie and increase team confidence. Here are some of our favorite work night out ideas. Give them a try the next time you want to work hard and play hard with your staff. 

25 Work night out ideas for high-performing teams

1. Happy hour

You can almost never go wrong with a classic happy hour. If your office is near a local watering hole or restaurant, simply arrange a meeting time and have everyone come to kick back after work. Make sure it’s a place that has some food available, as people might like to have snacks after a long day. We also suggest you choose a venue that has a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, for those who don’t partake. Whether you gather at the bar informally, or reserve a few tables in advance, your employees will appreciate a casual and fun-filled atmosphere. Bonus points if you schedule the happy hour to begin at 3 or 4 pm, cutting the work day a bit short to focus on work social events. For more office party or work happy hour ideas, make sure to follow our blog.

2. Beach bonfire

If you’re lucky enough to be by a beach, whether on a lake or ocean, take advantage by arranging an evening bonfire. Bring plenty of smore supplies and also hot dogs and roasting sticks for an evening meal. 

3. Hot springs outing

Few things are better than relaxing in a natural hot spring - except doing so at night. This is a great way for helping your team to relax, and is the perfect activity during stressful times like following an important deadline. Arrange transportation and make sure everyone has what they need to enjoy the spring (swim suit, towel, etc). You may also want to provide snacks or refreshments to make the experience more enjoyable. 

4. Photography walk

If anyone in your group has an interest in photography, then a photography walk can be a unique opportunity for getting out of the office. Do a walking tour around your city or a nature reserve, encouraging everyone to take pictures of what they find interesting. Obviously, everyone will need a camera for this activity, but smart phones work in a pinch. Create a shared folder where everyone can upload their photos and enjoy each other's work. To add a competitive spirit, you can offer prizes for things like the most unique photo or best sunset snap. 

5. Wine education workshop

Many people enjoy wine - not only drinking it, but learning about it. A local vineyard or winery is the perfect place to try some new wines and also participate in a wine-blending or tasting session. Some venues allow people to mix their own blends, which can be really fun. Plus, the wine they create will make for unique souvenirs to help everyone remember a special night out.  

6. Stargazing

For a really simple (and free) activity, just get out and enjoy the stars on a balmy night. This isn’t possible everywhere, as many metro areas have overcast skies. But if you live (or are visiting) in an area that has wide-open skies, get your group out to enjoy. Bring plenty of blankets or camping chairs, and some snacks and beverages. Let everyone sprawl out and take in the beautiful sight. 

7. Ghost tour

Many historic areas offer ghost tours, which are walking tours of older locations that have a reputation for being haunted. This can be a really cool way to see a city, even one that you’re already familiar with. Plus you can learn a lot of historical facts that might be new to you, and explore some older architecture. Research what’s available in your town and set up a tour with a private guide. 

8. Signature dish potluck

A fun blend of food and teamwork is a potluck. For this version, rather than having a theme, you ask everyone to bring their most-loved dish. Many people have a signature dish or favorite recipe, and you can put together an incredible spread by having everyone make their specialty. 

9. Sushi making class

Many sushi restaurants or cooking schools offer sushi making classes, where you learn to make rolls and then enjoy them as a meal. If you don’t have any venues to host one, you can gather the essentials yourself and follow online tutorials to make rolls. Gather supplies like seaweed sheets, fresh fish, bamboo rolling mats, etc. Make sure you have a clean and hygienic kitchen space to do the food preparation in, if you’re not going to be using a separate venue. 

10. Progressive dinner

If your office is in a metro area with lots of restaurants (or if you’re hosting an event in such an area), put together a walking dinner where you visit a few different venues for a pre-dinner drink, then appetizers, then dinner, and finally dessert. This is a fun way to explore different restaurants while socializing with your colleagues and trying new things. 

11. Sunset picnic

Another activity that is simple, inexpensive, and casual is a picnic for all of your colleagues. However, add a little extra fun by holding the picnic in the evening. End your day of hard work or meetings with a simple meal and easy refreshments. Bring plenty of blankets and baskets to pack all the essentials. 

12. Moonlit hike

Similar to the picnic idea, an evening hike is easy, requires little preparation, and is something simple to put together. If you have some nice nature trails by you, get your team geared up with the proper equipment and hit the trails. Keep your team’s overall physical fitness in mind when planning your hike. Not everyone will be up for climbing a serious summit, but most people enjoy getting out and getting active in nature. The chance to see a stunning sunset is just the cherry on top. 

13. Tie-dye party

A great way to leave everyone a special takeaway is to plan a tie-dye evening event. This is a fun and creative experience that allows everyone to flex their artistic muscles and make something they’re proud of. Every participant needs an item to dye, like a light-colored t-shirt or pillowcase. Then set up stations with various tie-dye colors, rubber bands, and gloves. You can also print out instructions for everyone with various tie-dye techniques and instructions. Let everyone try different combinations and techniques and end the evening by showing off their work. 

14. Murder mystery event

Murder mysteries have long been a popular team-building activity, and you might be lucky enough to have a variety to choose from. There are options like train car diners, murder mystery events where participants have a role, or games where a troupe comes to your chosen venue. Do some research to see what’s available in your area, and what would be of the most interest to your team. 

15. Dessert tasting

Who doesn’t love yummy goodies? Tasting new sweets is a great way to facilitate group conversation and socializing. You can host something like this at a restaurant or dessert shop, or create a DIY event by having everyone bring in their favorite treat of choice. It makes a sweet end to any long day! 

16. Evening kayak

If there is a river or body of water near your location, try renting a few kayaks (or paddle boards, or other water vessels) and getting out as a team. Of course, safety needs to come first. If you aren’t very knowledgeable about kayaking, then it’s best to involve a professional guide or company. You also need to outfit everyone with life vests and other essential equipment. We also suggest discussing with your team beforehand to assess everyone’s comfort levels. 

17. Bowling

You can’t get much simpler or classic than old-fashioned bowling. Make a group reservation at your local alley, and include plenty of food and drink to keep everyone happy. Note: many bowling alleys host leagues throughout the week, so it’s a good idea to make your reservation with plenty of advance notice. 

18. Movie night

If your team is in a particularly stressful phase, then they might enjoy just kicking back and relaxing around some mindless entertainment. Arrange a movie night at your local theater, complete with all the snacks and movie-theater popcorn your group can handle! 

19. Comedy show

Does your town have a comedy venue or host open-mic nights? If so, book an evening for your entire team to get some laughs. 

20. Nighttime sailing

If you live near water, take advantage of the opportunity to explore in the evening. Many charters offer night time cruises or sailing excursions, where attendees can enjoy being out on the water, along with beautiful scenery and sunsets (and perhaps a few cocktails). Of course, you need to make sure everyone has taken proper safety precautions and has the correct equipment. These cruises tend to have a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, but some people may not like being on the water, so it’s good to gauge everyone’s comfort level before reserving. 

21. Glow yoga

Turn a traditional yoga session into a more unique and energizing experience. Whether you host the class in a local park or at a studio you’re familiar with, make sure the atmosphere is dark enough that glow-in-the-dark accessories will show up. For this activity, team members will do simple yoga poses and stretches while wearing some fun, colorful accessories. You can even decorate the room or surroundings with things that glow, like lanterns or light strings. This activity is especially fun around the Halloween holiday. Find some spooky, glowing accessories to add extra ambiance. This is a great option for not only having fun, but encouraging a sense of unity as well as physical well-being. If you have any wellness initiatives or challenges going on, this activity is the perfect complement. 

22. Private museum tour

A museum tour can be a fun and educational outing at any time, but it’s especially cool if you can secure a private tour in the evening. For your next retreat or all day meeting, why not finish things off by looking at beautiful art with your team? Call around your local museums and see if any of them offer private tours, and arrange one for your group. 

23. Game night

Bring out your team’s inner child with a few board games. Set up a space in your office or at another venue with classics like card games, Monopoly, Jenga, and more. If you don’t want to do much set up, then you can try charades or other games that don’t involve props. A game day is a great way to cap off an intense day of meetings or a retreat. Games are great team-building activities, and you can find more of them, along with other fun group activities, in our blog. 

24. Escape room

In escape rooms, you and your coworkers have to solve a series of cryptic puzzles or challenges to make their way out of a room within a certain amount of time. Escape rooms are fun ways to team build and problem solve, and more and more of them are popping up in cities. Not only are they fun, but they encourage critical thinking and cooperation, which can benefit your team in many different ways. 

25. Go-kart racing

For those who enjoy getting a thrill, this activity makes for a fun outing. Research the options in your town and see if there are any indoor or outdoor tracks where your team can gear up and practice their fastest driving. Ideally, the venue will offer a few other activities in the event that some of your team members feel a bit nervous about this activity. Make sure there are food and beverages available as well as places to sit and observe the racers. For more team outing ideas, make sure to follow our blog. 

Take your team-building to the next level

Work nights out are an important part of creating a strong culture. However, work nights out alone are not enough to facilitate the bonding that makes teams successful. We suggest planning at least one or two team-building retreats over the course of a year. Pick any of these evening activities as the cap on a productive day. If you aren’t sure where to start, Surf Office can help. We support companies who want to plan effective agendas for their most essential team retreats.