Local Resources
Best After Hours Place
Bob and Ediths Diner
2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington
Other locations: Arlington
(703) 920-6103
A local stalwart that has been around since 1969, Bob and Ediths still serves classic breakfast selections around the clock.
Best Cheap Date
The United States Botanic Garden
245 1st St. S.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 225-8333
Admission is free and the indoor conservatory is open daily, so you can stroll among flora all year round.
Best Club
Dream
1350 Okie St. N.E., Washington, D.C.
(202) 347-5255
Hip-hop and R&B luminaries come here to play, so Dream pulls double-duty as both a nightclub and music venue with four floors, a deck and pool tables.
Best Creative Date
International Spy Museum
800 F St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 393-7798
Tour the relics of espionage and get a look at the real world of spying, both past and present.
Best Place for a Laugh
Chaos
1603 17th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 232-4141
If you appreciate a good time intertwined with adventure, join the crowd and dance with well-dressed drag queens.
Best Place for Coffee and Dessert
Love Caf
1501 U St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 265-9800
Open until about 11 p.m. most nights, this outpost of the CakeLove bakery has delicious custard-filled treats and comfy seating.
Best Place To Buy a Gift
The Shops at Georgetown Park
3222 M St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 298-5577
This upscale mall blends familiar stores such as H&M and Ann Taylor with smaller boutiques providing a wide selection of gifts to choose from.
Best Restaurant for a Second Dinner Date
Komi
1509 17th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 332-9200
For starters, diners are treated to menu samples before they have to decide from brick-oven pizza, salads and other entrees.
Best Restaurant for First Dinner Date
Eastern Market
7th St. & North Carolina Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
(202) 544-0083
Wander among South Halls food vendors until you get to Market Lunch, a small grill with great barbecue sandwiches and crab cakes.
Rice
1608 14th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 234-2400
This narrow, low-lit modern dining room serves up a fun twist on Asian cuisine and is a good place for people-watching. Try the unusual breadstick-shaped spring rolls.
Best Special Occasion Restaurant
Asia Nora
2213 M St. N.W., Washington, DC
(202) 462-5143
The gold-leafed walls, silken draperies and Asian artifacts fashion an atmosphere thats intimate and exotic, which is enhanced by the very accommodating staff.
TOP FIVE DATES
A Day in Georgetown
Mie N Yu
3125 M St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 333-6122
Mie N Yus is a great place for drinks. Differently themed rooms offer lots of sensory input, comfortable cushioned banquettes, and great people watching. Consider a walk in Georgetown beforehand or stop by the Govinda Gallery, which often features great rock photography. Another good daytime destination is the Dumbarton Oaks garden.
A Landmark Occasion
National Cathedral
Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 537-6200
Take one of the many tours offered at this landmark, or explore on your own. Be sure to climb the central tower and take in Bishops Garden.
Cozy Up
Chi-Cha Lounge
1624 U St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
(202) 234-8400
Chi-Cha has lots of cozy, closely placed couches plus a smaller den off the main room. Its a great place to get a drink and snacks, especially when they have live Latin music. Of course, its not a bad place to snuggle, either; neither is Soussi Lounge on 18th Street (upstairs) or the back room of Spy Lounge, also on 18th next to Felix.
Fresh and Healthy
Dupont Circle Farmers Market
1500 block of 20th St. between Massachusetts Ave. and Q St., Washington, D.C.
(202) 362-8889
This Sunday morning market is year-round, but it only goes from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. (10 a.m. in winter), so dont oversleep. There are several places to pick up fresh and healthy edibles, or even non-edible gifts. After shopping, take your goodies to eat in Dupont Circle, or stop at Teaism or Kramers for brunch.
Steeeee-rike
Strike Bethesda
5353 Westbard Ave., Bethesda
A VIP Room in a bowling alley? Strike is one of the new bowling alleys, where martinis compete with beer and the pins glow fluorescent. Have dinner in the heart of Bethesda at Mon Ami Gabi, Red Tomato or South Beach Caf.
