A nice meal can really do a whole lot of good for your love life. The right place will set the mood while crafting an experience you will treasure for years to come. Whether this is your first date together or your five hundredth, you need the perfect spot that combines decadent food with immaculate vibes. Don’t worry, we have plenty of options right here in DC, and I am going to help you find the best of the best! As a DC boudoir photographer, I love working with people all across the city to turn up their love life a notch or two. Here are the romantic restaurants in DC to keep on your radar!
Step Up Your Next Date Night With These Fabulous Romantic Restaurants In DC
La Grande Boucherie
699 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
La Grande Boucherie gives you a wonderfully light and airy romantic restaurant where you can enjoy some of the best food in DC. As you feast, you can check out the Art Nouveau movement building, complete with soaring ceilings, hand-carved wood paneling, and a 20-foot-long zinc bar. This is the type of architecture that makes you think about how they just don’t make them like this anymore! The actual menu itself is divine with French-inspired dishes like steak, escargot, and oysters. They offer lunch and dinner as well as a fabulous brunch menu each weekend.
Fiola Mare
3050 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007
If you would prefer a spot that gets you up close and personal with the waterfront, be sure to put Fiola Mare on your list! This spot is located right on the cusp of Georgetown, marrying the views of the Potomac with some of the freshest seafood around. Their menu takes inspiration from Italian coastal cuisine, with high-quality meat served alongside pasta made in-house. They also change out their menu regularly, taking full advantage of seasonal ingredients. While you are there, be sure to check out the beverage menu, complete with a curated wine list as well as specialty cocktails and mocktails.
ilili
100 District Square, SW, Washington, DC 20004
Located inside The Wharf, ilili gives you the chance to experiment with food from all across the globe. This vibrant DC restaurant is truly romantic with a color scheme that embraces all shades of the rainbow. Meanwhile, the countless indoor plants breathe life into the space all year long. The menu blends together cuisines from Lebanon, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East for a meal I don’t think you’ll ever forget. You can try out dishes like roasted arnabeet, duck fat roasted carrots, fresh branzino, or a whole roasted lamb shoulder. As you sample their cuisine, you can choose from one of the most robust wine menus in the city!
Tail Up Goat
1827 Adams Mill Rd, NW, Washington, DC 20009
I don’t know if you can find a better atmosphere in the entire district than that of Tail Up Goat. This is a restaurant created by deeply passionate chefs, and it shows through every single meal they serve. This Mediterranean restaurant has earned a Michelin Star and continues to be extremely highly rated. In addition to their fabulous menu, they offer several events that let you dine in and experience the food in a brand new way. With their drink menu, they can work with you to find the perfect pairing for your dish of choice!
Chloe
1331 4th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Chloe gives you the chance to explore the entire world without booking a single plane ticket! This intimate romantic restaurant was created by Chef Haidar Kaaroum to give DC a taste of his worldwide travels. The menu is rooted in the Mid-Atlantic with inspiration from Western Europe and Southeast Asia. You can order fresh options like spiced cornmeal-crusted oysters, sauteed broccolini with marinated tofu, and lemongrass flat-iron minute steak. Their drink menu has been carefully crafted by experts, giving you experimental wines, craft beers, and cocktails guaranteed to make your night so much happier.
Olio e Più
699 145th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005
If you are in the mood for some Italian, throw Olio e Più on your list! This restaurant is all about giving you the authentic experience of eating along the coast of Italy with the waves of the Mediterranean just feet away. The interior is cozy yet refined with rustic features, floor-to-ceiling windows, and intimate lighting. Meanwhile, the menu transports you across the globe with Faroe Island salmon, freshly-made gnocchi, and wild boar ragu. In addition to their standard menu, this spot has an on-site pastry chef to give you a decadent dessert you’ll be thinking about for years to come!
La Vie
88 District Square SW, 4.6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024
La Vie is another romantic waterfront restaurant located in The Wharf of DC. This spot gives you waterfront views alongside an award-winning menu full of options you are going to love. You can choose from Mediterranean dishes like halloumi frites, lamb lasagna, and New York strip kebabs. While all this was already a recipe for an unforgettable evening, the restaurant gives you the ability to really level up your experience. If you would like, you can rent out an igloo where you can dine on the rooftop in a climate-controlled igloo. Take in the best views of the city all year long while enjoying one of the finest feasts around!
Iron Gate Restaurant
1734 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036
For the true foodies out there, Iron Gate Restaurant is an absolute must! This restaurant is the creation of one of the most well-respected chefs working on the scene today. Chef Anthony Chittum has spent his career focusing on modern American cuisine, with his work getting featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. When you stop in for dinner, you can choose from a daily menu with options like roasted eggplant, Atlantic yellowfin tuna crudo, and locally raised beef short rib. The restaurant has also used this same level of detail to create a drinks list to complement your meal.
Your Love Deserves Some Spice From These Romantic Restaurants In DC
If you are looking for the very best way to elevate your evening, these romantic restaurants in DC have you covered. Now you just need a way to spice up everything that comes next. I can help with that! I am a DC boudoir photographer, and I adore working with women to plan empowering sessions that help them unleash their inner goddess. While this might be a fun surprise for your partner, think of it more as a gift to yourself! If you want to find out if boudoir is right for you, I would love to tell you all about it! Send me a message today to find out more!
