Whether you’re planning ahead for Valentine’s weekend or just looking to spice up date night, here are our favorite places for romance in the DMV.
For Dinner:
L'Auberge Chez Francois
The way to everyone’s heart is through their stomach, so let chef Jacques Haeringer’s authentic, delectable French food whisk your date away into a food coma. If the twin beef tenderloins with haricot verts, roasted herb potatoes and béarnaise sauce don’t sweep them off their feet, the assorted hot soufflés surely will. Between the elegant, farmhouse decor and mouth-watering plates, it’s no wonder L'Auberge Chez Francois has been voted most romantic restaurant in the DC area by multiple critics. 332 Springvale Road, Great Falls, Va., 703.759.3800, laubergechezfrancois.com
For Drinks:
the Gibson
If you’re a fan of Prohibition-era cocktails and speakeasy-esque lounges, the Gibson is a must for your next date night. Located in Cardozo, the dark wood bar sets the mood with a jazz-influenced playlist, candlelit tables and seasonal sips. Start the evening with a Ran to the Devil cocktail, featuring Old Overholt rye, China-China amer, orange-maple shrub and ginger beer, while nibbling on light bites like the marinated olives. The sleek, low-lit atmosphere is sure to swoon your special someone. 2009 14th St. NW, 202.629.1081, thegibsondc.com
For an Artsy Date:
Artechouse
Immerse yourself and a date in a colorful, large-scale art and technology installation at Artechouse. With rotating exhibitions, there’s always something new to explore. The current experience, Transient: Impermanent Paintings, fuses motorized piano and hyper-real projections of audiovisual paintings to mystify. After winding through the display of digital brushstrokes, which each correspond to notes in the music, grab a cocktail at XR Bar. 1238 Maryland Ave. SW, artechouse.com
For a Stroll:
Rock Creek Park
For nature-loving couples, a snow-covered stroll through Rock Creek Park is just the date to spark a little romance. The babbling streams, stunning trails and historic sites, such as Peirce Mill, make this spot a local gem—and who doesn’t like a little fresh air and break from the city. 5200 Glover Road NW, 202.895.6000, nps.gov/rocr
Photography by: Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash
