The Best Washington Date Ideas

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Washington Date Ideas

Compared to some of the other US cities on our website, Washington always gives of the impression of being super serious. Likely that is because of all of the politics and history! Despite this, there are so many incredible date ideas to be found in this incredible city.

Date Scene History

The dating scene history in Washington is as old as the city itself. For even with all of the politics and seriousness, people still need to cut loose! One of the first bars opened up during colonial times and while dating was different back then, people still knew how to have a good time! These days, date ideas generally revolve around work, with cocktail bars on nearly every corner in the business district.

Best Times And Days To Go Out In Washington

Hookupcloud discovered that like many other major cities, nearly every night is a great night to go out in Washington. The reason for this is actually a bit interesting: because people are generally so busy that they will go out on whatever day they are available. Yes, even if it's a Tuesday! That's why these Washington date ideas have been some of the more unique date ideas we've seen.

Washington Date Ideas: Directory

We went and picked out all of our favorite date ideas in Washington. It wasn't easy because there are a lot of great things to do in the city! Once you make it through the list below, check out this website for even more date spots Washington.

Washington Bars

OFF THE RECORD

Type

Cocktail Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Young and Mature Adults

Address

One Lafayette Square, 16th and H Streets NW, Washington DC

Website

OFF THE RECORD

Any Notes

Limited parking available; part of a hotel

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Off The Record is an intimate, upscale cocktail bar located in the award-winning The Hay-Adams Hotel. Decorated in sumptuous reds with dark wood panelling, Off The Record will quickly become one of your top date ideas. They are known for their cocktail menu, especially their Pear Martini and Pisco Blossom. The food menu is also great! Nibble on a fancy cheese board while cozying up to your date in one of the intimate booths in the bar. Off The Record is open seven days a week but hours vary. We have a feeling after you visit once, you'll see why this is one of the very best bars in all of Washington.

THE GIN JOINT

Type

Gin Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

2317 Calvert St NW, Washington DC, DC 20008-2622

Website

THE GIN JOINT

Any Notes

Part of the New Heights Restaurant; all major credit cards accepted

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Gin Joint is one of our top date ideas in all of the United States because we really love gin! And you should too! This bar actually has an entirely different name but it has become so well known for its gin selection and fancy gin cocktails that it was nicknamed The Gin Joint and the name stuck so now it is official! The Gin Joint features gins of the month and the bartenders are very knowledgeable with all things gin. You can also find rare gins behind the bar and enjoy a gin flight. You'll be surprised at how extensive the gin selection is!

FADO IRISH PUB.

Type

Traditional Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Mature Adults

Address

808 7th St NW, Washington DC, DC 20001-3718

Website

FADO IRISH PUB.

Any Notes

Limited parking; all major credit cards accepted

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Nearly every city has their own version of an Irish Pub but like all Washington date ideas, Washington DC's version of an Irish Pub is pretty special and goes the extra mile. The pub itself looks unassuming from the outside but one you and your date go in, it'll be like you were transported straight to Ireland. There's a great drinks menu at Fado Irish Pub including, of course, pints of Guinness. You can also try some of the great Irish-style food. We highly recommend the shepherd's pie! On weekend evenings guests are treated to live music from, you guessed it, Irish folk performers! We know this unassuming pub will soon be one of your favorite bars.

EIGHTEENTH STREET LOUNGE

Type

Cocktail Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

1212 18th St NW, Washington DC, DC 20036-2536

Website

EIGHTEENTH STREET LOUNGE

Any Notes

No parking; all major credit cards accepted

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Eighteenth Street Lounge is more than just a bar - it's a lifestyle! The bar includes five main areas to check out on your date: the main room, the gold room, the jazz bar, the studio bar, and the deck bar. Seriously, that's a lot of bar to check out in one night so we wouldn't blame you for taking a few visits for a cocktail bar like this one. Eighteenth Street Lounge is subdued and sophisticated, designed like the cool speakeasies of yesteryear. The bar features all of the usuals, plus some unique cocktails. It is definitely one of the best Washington date ideas!

THE COLUMBIA ROOM

Type

Cocktail Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

1021 7th St NW, Washington DC, DC 20001-3607

Website

THE COLUMBIA ROOM

Any Notes

All major credit cards accepted; not accessible

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This bar is modelled after a speakeasy, making it an easy pick for one of the top date ideas in Washington DC! Tucked away and easy to miss, many locals call The Columbia Room an oasis in the city. Once you sit on the gorgeous rooftop patio, you'll totally agree. And you and your date will never want to leave! The drinks veer more toward experimental but you can still order classic cocktails as well. But if you are willing to experiment more with your drinks, the friendly and knowledgeable staff will be right there telling you all about the ingredients, making it a super fun experience!

Washington Clubs

TWINS JAZZ

Type

Jazz Club

Space

Bar and Lounge and Performance Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

1344 U St NW, Washington DC, DC 20009-7559

Website

TWINS JAZZ

Any Notes

All major credit cards accepted; book ahead on popular nights

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

It's not a complete Washington date ideas list without an excellent jazz club! And Twins Jazz is one of the best jazz clubs in the Washington DC area. Founded by twin sisters in the 80s, Twins Jazz has been welcoming world renowned jazz acts to their stage and wowing audiences. And to go along with the iconic sounds, you and your date will have to check out the iconic menu. You'll find some unique Ethiopian favourites on the menu, a shout out to the founders' heritage. There is also a fantastic wine list to go along with the delicious food. See, jazz bars always make for the best date spots!

THE 930 CLUB

Type

Nightclub

Space

Bar and Lounge and Dance Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adult

Address

815 V St NW, Washington DC, DC 20001-3020

Website

THE 930 CLUB

Any Notes

Limited parking; book ahead for special events

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The 930 Club is a lot of awesome date ideas rolled into one: there is your typical bar and dance club area, plus a concert area that has featured acts like The Dresden Doll and The Strumbellas. If you're planning on seeing any sort of show in Washington DC, you might as well make it at the iconic 930 Club. Along with a great drinks menu there is a great food menu as well. We highly recommend trying the Taco Salad or Macho Nachos. However, if there is a fab band playing, you and your date might be too distracted to eat! If that's the case, grab a beer from their extensive beer menu and head to the stage area to rock out.

FREDDIE'S BEACH BAR

Type

Gay Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Area

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

555 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202-2517

Website

FREDDIE'S BEACH BAR

Any Notes

All major credit cards accepted; parking available

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Freddie's Beach Bar is one of the most underrated gay bars in all of Washington DC which means that it's always on our best date ideas list. Obviously! Known for it's great vibe and drag and karaoke nights, no matter what night you head to Freddie's Beach Bar, you will always have a great time. If you're looking for something to eat, the locals swear by their pesto (they say it is the besto!). The other great thing about Freddie's Beach Bar is the incredibly welcoming atmosphere. Literally everyone is welcome at Freddie's, no matter what your orientation or background might be! We also love the fact that they have a Saturday breakfast buffet. Yum!

ECHOSTAGE

Type

Nightclub

Space

Bar and Dance Space

Crowd

Young Adults

Address

2135 Queens Chapel Rd NE, Washington DC, DC 20018-3605

Website

ECHOSTAGE

Any Notes

Limited parking available; purchase tickets via the website

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Echostage is one of North America's best EDM music venues. And even if you aren't a big fan of EDM, you'll want to put Echostage at the top of your date ideas list for the incredible venue alone. It is worth a visit! The stage is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment designed to blow your mind. Acts who have graced the Echotage stage include: Hardwell, Alison Wonderland, SS Adam, A$AP Mob, Rezz, RL Grime, and many many more! And to make you and your date's evening super special, why not try out Echostage's luxury Table Service? It'll make your night that much more epic!

MADAM'S ORGAN BLUES BAR

Type

Blues Club

Space

Bar and Lounge and Performance Space

Crowd

Mature Adults

Address

2461 18th St NW, Washington DC, DC 20009-2003

Website

MADAM'S ORGAN BLUES BAR

Any Notes

Limited parking; all major credit cards accepted and ATM on site

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Madam's Organ Blues Bar has been entertaining patrons for over 20 years. It is considered one of the best blues bars in the Washington DC area which means that you know it's one of the best date ideas in town as well! Madam's Organ is open seven days a week and features live music every night of the week! They also have a great Drunkeoke night which is exactly like it sounds: drunk karaoke. Madam's Organ features a full menu with appetizers, salads, mains, and desserts. There are also daily food specials to take advantage of. And like any of the best Washington DC clubs, Madam's Organ also has an incredible cocktail list. We highly recommend the Old Man Brown!

Washington Date Spots

WASHINGTON MONUMENT

Type

National Monument

Space

Outdoors

Crowd

All Ages

Address

2 15th St. NW, Near 15th St. & Madison Dr. NW, Washington DC, DC 20560

Website

WASHINGTON MONUMENT

Any Notes

Free to walk up to; ticket required to enter

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

If your date ideas in Washington DC don't include a national monument or two, did those dates even happen? It's hard to not walk past a national monument by accident in Washington DC so you might as well officially check one out with your date. There are a lot of great monuments worth visiting in Washington DC along with the Washington Monument, like the Jefferson Memorial, The Abraham Lincoln statue, and the entire Mall. You and your date can take in some of Washington's incredible history before heading off to a local bar or restaurant!

ART JAMZ

Type

Activity

Space

Art an Studio Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

1728 Conneticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

Website

ART JAMZ

Any Notes

Pay in advance on the website

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Another US city, another wine and paint night! But we're going to keep shouting these date ideas from the rooftops because they are seriously the most fun! Art Jamz has been around for years and has numerous locations in the DC area. This paint studio also offers a cool "freestyle" session, where you aren't following an instructor and looking at an example. Instead you are painting whatever you want! And with a glass of wine in one hand, maybe you and your date could feel fearless enough to enjoy a freestyle paint session. At the very least it would be entertaining!

NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

Type

Museum

Space

Multipurpose Space

Crowd

All Ages

Address

6th and Independence Ave., SW, Washington DC, DC 20560

Website

NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

Any Notes

Fully accessible and parking available

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

There are a ton of great museum in Washington to date a date to but one of the best, and maybe one of the best museums in the entire country, is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. At this museum you can explore the wonders and science of aviation and space. There are thousands of artifacts to see, from the original moon landing rocker to one of the very first airplanes. So much of American scientific discovery can be found in this museum. You and your date will have such a great time exploring this museum. It's big enough that you can spend hours in it! That way you can work up a great appetite for drinks and dinner afterward. We love educational date ideas!

WASHINGTON DC DUCK TOURS

Type

Tour

Space

On a Boat

Crowd

All Ages

Address

50 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

Website

WASHINGTON DC DUCK TOURS

Any Notes

Purchase tickets in advance

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

If you're wondering why it's called a "duck tour" it's because the boats also have wheels so they can drive on dry land as well - just like a duck! The DC Duck Tours is always one of the top date ideas in Washington DC because it offers you a fun and unique tour of the city. You start at Union Station and work your way through the city, passing many great monuments and museums. Eventually you make your way to the Potomac river for a dip and swim around! From the river, you'll have an entirely different and new view of the city. And the DC Duck Tour ends in a super trendy part of the city where there are plenty of bars and restaurants to hit up after the tour is over.

NEWSEUM

Type

Museum

Space

Multipurpose Space

Crowd

All Ages

Address

555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC, DC 20001-2114

Website

NEWSEUM

Any Notes

Walk-up tickets available; fully accessible building

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Like we mentioned above, there are a lot of great museums in Washington DC, meaning you have a lot of great educational date ideas to choose from! We wanted to add Newseum to the list because it's a bit different than the iconic Smithsonian museums. The focus of Newseum is hands-on activities so nearly everything in the museum is interactive! There are seven levels to the museum so you and your date could spend hours exploring. The museum also offers a lot of different VR exhibits, which are always great fun to try out!

Enjoy Even More Date Spots Across The United States

We hope this list, whether you're a visitor to Washington DC or a local, has inspired you to see Washington in a new light with so many date ideas available. And not too far from Washington is another great US worth exploring, Hoboken!!