The Resy Guide to Planning a Perfect Date Night in D.C.

FOR A TRENDY DATE NIGHT …

Everything in Blagden Alley is a scene, and this is especially true of Amazonia, with its sleek looks and award-winning food and drinks. Pair your patacones and ceviche with one of the dozens of piscos (Peru’s famous brandy made from local grapes) on the menu. Or let the bar staff make you a perfect pisco sour — either the 1941 classic or Amazonia’s modern take.

This “little sister” to Maydan has taken Rose Previte’s mastery of vibes and brought it to a great bar format on Florida Ave. House-created efforts show quintessential Maydanesque touches; think urfa-lime Tajin on the Spice Runner, a banana-fueled mezcal drink. Martinis include garnishes like sumac-pickled onions.  And while bites lean to bar food — small plates of merguez, beets with tahini and other mezze — a trio of substantial tagines here are the thing to share with your dining partner.

Speaking of Previte, if you happen to find yourself across the river, she and Maydan co-owner Mike Schuster also opened this Fairfax spot. As with Medina, the cuisine is Middle Eastern, but with a more extensive food menu: small sharing plates including dips, spreads, sauces, kebabs and more. The wine list focuses on wines from Lebanon, and the cocktail menu includes a za’atini, made with za’atar-infused gin.

It’s modern, loud, and crowded; the perfect place to see and be seen. The food is spectacular, with a huge variety of antipasti and pasta dishes, and the venue serves the best espresso martini in town with Belvedere vodka, amaro, and a shot of espresso.

Stephen Starr’s temple to Mexican food is as big and multifaceted as its decor is kaleidoscopic. The party here is nonstop, so if your date’s idea of a good time is more communal than a romantic sidebar for two, we suggest a pitcher of margaritas, the michelada service, and an extra helping of the special guacamole with Maryland blue crab.

FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION …

As D.C.’s most famous Indian restaurant, with its opulent décor and intimate booths for two,  Rasika West End is the ultimate date night spot. Order multiple dishes to share to sample the most flavorful Indian food in town; all the curries are decadent and dreamy, and you can never go wrong with their world-famous palak chaat, garlic naan, or biryani, which is traditionally baked under a bread crust.

Chef Aaron Silverman pretty much defined the state of D.C. fine dining with Rose’s, and the extravagant, choose-your-own adventure menu continues to dazzle. If you’re in luck, the poached lobster, a dish that’s modeled off a recipe created for heads of state at Versailles, will be on offer. And save room for dessert: The baklava sundae and coconut tres leches cake cap a perfect date.

This Georgetown restaurant proudly wears the Parisian moniker “néobistro” — and chef Matt Conroy, executive pastry chef Isabel Coss, and GM Elizabeth Parker have a clear sense of what it actually means. Lutèce’s situation in the old Café Bonaparte space is not only historic in terms of D.C. dining, but also decidedly romantic. Go for the chef’s tasting menu (four courses for $95), make sure not to miss Coss’ desserts, and remember why French food is still its own love language.

The views alone at this northern Virginia restaurant–lush gardens, koi ponds, and waterfalls, all visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows–are reason enough to visit this upscale date night spot, but the tasting menu also happens to be one of the best in the area. Changed regularly, envision dishes like oyster gratinee, butternut squash ravolini with black truffles, a cheese course, and almond gelato on the seasonal menu.

Call (703) 270-1500 for more info.

FOR WHEN YOU LOVE A WINE LOVER …

St. Vincent offers cozy indoor couch seating, high-top tables, and a charming wine garden for outdoor seating, so you have your pick of the vibe you are looking for. The wine list is long and varied, and cocktails are available in case you need a break from the wine. Don’t skip the cheese plate to pair with your wine.

There is loud music and a lot of bar stools, but it’s the wine that makes this spot the dream venue for a date night for anyone who loves wine. With monthly wine themes, and an extensive (26 page!) wine list featuring options by the glass and the bottle from all over the world, there is no wino who won’t be impressed.

Natural-minded wine, great cocktails, and Filipino-accented bar snacks like pork adobo hummus? (Plus tinned fish, because, wine bar in 2024.) We feel like not only does Barkada have something for everyone; it has something for everyone’s date, too. (Including trivia night the first Monday of the month, if you want to bring out your date’s nerdy side.)

As the menu at Bottles says, “every great adventure starts with a sip.” This sweet spot, with loads of bubbly available for a great date night, is centered around a captivating garden, but indoor seating is available as well in case of inclement weather. Insider tip: Impress an environmentally friendly date by coming here; the wine list has all bottles marked with tags like “biodynamic,” “organic,” and “sustainable wine production” depending on their origins.

FOR WHEN CHOCOLATE CALLS …

With a French theme and cacao in the name, you know the desserts at Bistro Cacao have to be a dream. This magical bistro has all the makings of a perfect date night: tasty French fare; French wine; and desserts like the moelleux au chocolat, better known as a molten chocolate cake. Topped with raspberry coulis and vanilla ice cream, this dessert will have you and your date in chocolate heaven.

Chocolate lover or not, no one will be able to resist the Nutella cannolis at Caruso’s Grocery. This old-world Italian restaurant is great for a date in general; you will love their classic Italian décor, cheesy garlic bread and heady pastas. But save room for these cannolis, which feature a crunchy shell, stuffed with a decadent chocolate-hazelnut filling, and dipped in chocolate chips and roasted hazelnuts.

Call (202) 661 0148 for more info.

FOR A FIRST-DATE NIGHT …

The name here was inspired by the immigrant owners, and Residents always has a special sense of welcome. Come for the show-stopping cocktails, especially the espresso martini. There’s also a raft of bottled and seasonal cocktails and, if you’re so inclined, non-alcoholic versions of the espresso martini and ginger cocktails, too — and a menu with items like a mini-gyro and chicken schnitzel that feels just adventurous enough.

Drinks are the highlight here; treat yourself to concoctions like the amaro mule with cara cara orange and ginger beer, or the seite seis, with tequila, rose and raspberry. The food menu includes a raw bar with items like New England oysters, as well as heartier treats like Manifest’s famous sourdough bread with La Tur butter.

That sense that love is in the air? It’s literally right in the name of this yakiniku spot, part of the Love, Makoto collection of restaurants from chef Makoto Okuwa. If cooking meat over an in-table grill doesn’t help break the ice, nothing will — and if your date is especially carnivorous, the beef omakase, which includes A5 wagyu, will more than impress.

Finding the right lane for a first date is, admittedly, a challenge. But let’s face it: Who doesn’t love great Southern cooking? And Hitching Post has brought that to the District for more than half a century. The fried chicken and blackened catfish are iconic for good reason, and if you want to show your date you know the ropes here, we’ll suggest the whiting, either as a sandwich or plate. Pro tip, or maybe a pro move: Order the fried pickles to share.

BECAUSE BRUNCH IS THE BEST DATE …

Kick off your brunch at Opal with an espresso martini and apple cider donut. From there, move on to seasonal toasts and breakfast sandwiches. For those with a sweet tooth, the PB&J pancakes, are stuffed with jelly and topped with peanut butter cream and smoked maple syrup. End your brunch with another espresso martini—there’s a non-alcoholic variety, too—and apple cider donut.

For a delicious and super flavorful brunch, head to Pappe. Grab a seat for you and your date in one of their comfy booths, and sample classic dishes from all over India, like eggs kejriwal, which is an Indian version of egg-and-cheese toast with green chilies and cilantro, or chole bahtura, a chickpea curry served with fluffy fried bread. Brunch thalis are also available, both for carnivores and vegetarians who can’t just choose one dish.

Not all dates are meant to take place in the evening. Treat your date (and yourself!) to brunch at Blue Duck Tavern, which features the famous BDT omelet, with mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese, and the fluffiest pancakes you will ever have. Be sure to order one of their sorbet mimosas. Pastry chef Colleen Murphy whips up seasonal sorbets all year round, and at brunch you can have a glass of crémant with a scoop of that day’s flavors for the coolest mimosa in town.

Call 202-419-6755 for more info.