Isn’t it romantic? Washington DC is such a lovely old city packed with some of the best date night places and spots in the country. Looking to spend some quality with that special someone? You’ll find numerous neighborhood hangouts to explore, each perfect in its own way and designed to help you set the mood for love. Following, you’ll find a guide to ten of the best date night bars, restaurants, and spots in as many neighborhoods, each a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of this thriving metropolis.
Harold Black Barcelona Wine Bar Kramerbooks Twins Jazz Club
| Name | Location | Description |
| Capitol Hill: Harold Black | 212 7th St. SE | You’ll need a reservation for this classic speakeasy. If it’s a late night that you don’t want to end, stop by for a snack of roasted almonds and The Local, a concoction of DC’s Green Hat Gin, lime, rosewater, bitters, cucumber, and mint, not to mention some deep conversation, thanks to the establishment’s no-phone policy. |
| Columbia Heights: Room 11 | 3235 11th St. NW | Brunch is always an easygoing option for a date. After shrimp and grits and a Bloody Mary (made with your choice of vodka, tequila or Maja gin), put your heads together over the Sunday Times crossword and something sweet for your sweetheart. |
| Logan Circle: Barcelona Wine Bar | 1622 14th St. NW | Forget the loaf of bread. How about splitting some tapas, say, jamón and Manchego croquettes in a garlic aioli plus a bottle of Malbec (and Thou, of course)? Once the grapes starts flowing, be prepared for a night to remember. |
| Adams Morgan: Tryst | 2459 18th St. NW | Don’t let the name give you sweaty palms: Tryst is an unpretentious coffee house that boasts fair trade coffees, as well as teas, hot chocolate, smoothies, and cocktails to boot. It’s a fine place to have a relaxed chat, or while a couple hours away one lazy summer afternoon. |
| Downtown: DC Improv | 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW | There’s always fodder for comedy in our nation’s capital. What better way to relax and find out if you and your significant other have a similar sense of humor then by visiting with one of the town’s most celebrated troupes? |
| Dupont Circle: Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe | 1517 Connecticut Ave., NW | For a marriage of true minds, swing by this atmospheric independent bookstore and café to discuss the merits of Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth or have a spirited debate over some fish tacos and a margarita. |
| Georgetown: Crumbs & Whiskers | 3211 O Street, NW | This cat café is also a sanctuary, so you can adopt your own little kitty while sipping on a chai latte and nibbling on a “Nea-paw-litan” macaron. A visit here is also a good test to discover whether your sweetie is, in fact, a dog person. This isn’t a place for a pop-in, though; reservations are required. |
| H Street Corridor: Church and State | 1236 H St. NE | Serving good ol’ American cocktails (sours, rickeys, martinis and more) the two of you can choose from the venue’s rotating menu of libations and pursue happiness in a glass… perhaps as a prelude to happily ever after? |
| Brookland: Nido | 2214 Rhode Island Ave. NE | Looking for a romantic dinner? You can’t go wrong with cucina Italiana (think: the spaghetti-eating scene from Disney’s Lady and the Tramp). While your lips don’t have to meet over an overly long noodle, your eyes can meet over a plate of Parpadelle here. |
| U Street Corridor: Twins Jazz Club | 1344 U St. NW | Get your groove on at the Twins with some live riffs and a libation (hint: be sure to take a cue from Grover Washington’s classic Winelight album). Even though you’ll be in a roomful of fellow music lovers, you’ll hear strains of “Just the Two of Us” lingering in your head. |
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Nancy Oakley cut her teeth as a travel editor and writer for in-flight magazines, including Delta Sky and US Airways Magazine. She currently explores the world as senior editor of a local arts-and-culture monthly and its sister publication, a home-and-garden quarterly.
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