DC Date Ideas (A-Z)

(These fun date ideas are in Washington, DC Only. Check out the Maryland and NOVA Date Ideas on a different page).

• Art @ Artecthouse - around $37 pp - https://www.artechouse.com/location/dc/ 

• Beat the Bomb - (Ivy City, DC) - bar, high tech group game rooms - requires minimum of 4 people. Teams are normally 4-6 peach each - around $40 pp -  https://www.beatthebomb.com/locations/dc 

• Botanical Gardens @ US Botanic Gardens on the National Mall - Check out their indoor atrium of plant life from all over the world. - FREE - https://www.usbg.gov/ 

• Bowling and Bocce Ball @ Pinstripes - (Georgetown, DC) - food, drinks, bowling, and Bocce Ball  - https://www.pinstripes.com/georgetown 

• Bubble Planet DC - https://bubble-planet.com/washington-dc/ 

• Concert - All Across DC - My favorite venues are Pearl Street Warehouse (at the District Wharf, DC) and the 9:30 Club (U Street Corridor, DC) - https://www.ticketmaster.com/discover/concerts/washington 

• Dance Class or Dance Show - Many bars and restaurants have free Dance Classes; Like Public Bar has Bachata Brunch on Sundays, However, you can also book a dance or dance workout class at an official dance studio. You can see dance shows and take dance classes all around DC, but I like the Atlas Performing Arts Center/Joy of Motion Dance Center - (H Street Corridor, DC). For their shows since tickets are Free and others require a fee. Tickets for their Dance Classes range around $10-$20  - https://www.atlasarts.org/joy-of-motion/ 

• Dining -  All Across DC - DC has a vibrant restaurant scene with food representing many different cultures. There are so many options to choose from. Pick between budget, location, and cuisine. - https://www.opentable.com/metro/washington-dc-restaurants 

• Dinner  Cruise - At many of the Waterfront Piers across - around $100+ pp - https://www.cityexperiences.com/washington-dc/ 

• Drive-In Movie Theatre @ Union Market - (NoMA, DC) - During the warm months you can catch a drive-in move on certain dates at Union Market. If you didn't bring food, don't worry Union Market has a number of places to order and pick up food. - around $20 per car (rain or shine) - https://unionmarketdc.com/event/drive-in/ 

• Dopamine Land DC - Friendship heights, DC - $22 - $27 - https://dopaminelandexperience.com/washington/ 

• Escape Room DC - (Penn Quarter)

• Escape Room @ Insomnia Escape DC - around $45 pp (min 2 ppl)

• Eastern Market - has many bars and restaurants to shop at. Don't forget to go to their flea market on Sundays. 

• Festival @ Event Brite - https://www.eventbrite.com/d/dc--washington/festivals--this-weekend/ 

• Fine Dining - All Across DC - DC has over 20 Michelin star restaurants. These restaurants represent the pinnacle of culinary excellence. Budget $125+ pp. - https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/district-of-columbia/washington-dc/restaurants?sort=distance 

• Game Night @ Board Room DC - (Dupont Circle) - bring food, they already serve drinks - https://boardroomdc.com/ 

• Game Night @ Boardwalk Bar and Arcade  - (District Wharf, DC ) - https://www.boardwalkwharf.com/ 

• Game Night @ Penn Social - (Downtown, DC) - https://www.pennsocialdc.com/ 

• Go-Kart Racing

• Golf @ Langston Golf Range - (Benning Road, DC) - If you don't want to do a full course, enjoy practicing at their driving range

• Hiking

• Hillwood Estate Museum - https://hillwoodmuseum.org/ 

• Hirshorn Museum - (at the National Mall, DC)

• Ice Cream Date at Ice Cream Jubilee (Navy Yard, DC). Then walk the waterfront. - https://www.icecreamjubilee.com/ 

• Jazz at Blues Alley - https://www.bluesalley.com/ 

• Jet Skiing

• Kayaking

• Laser Tag

• Mini Golf  @ Swingers - (Dupont Circle) - bar, indoor mini golf, eateries - https://www.swingers.club/us/locations/washington-dc 

• Mini Golf @ East Potomac Park - https://www.playdcgolf.com/the-miniature-golf-course-at-east-potomac-golf-links/ 

• Movies @ Alamo Drafthouse DC - https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area/theater/dc-bryant-street 

• Museums - All  Across DC - All of the Smithsonian Museums are Free. - https://www.si.edu/visit/museums 

• Navy Yard picnic - Grab food at District Winery, Agua 301

• Night Club

• Night at the Monuments @ The National Mall. Grab a bite to eat at Old Ebbit after you are done exploring the monuments at night

• Night at the Museum - @ National Gallery of Art - (Downtown, DC) - check their website for their calendar of dates for when they will keep the museum open late for food, drinks, dancing, and art.

• Outdoor Movies during the Summer - All Across DC - I especially like the outdoor movies at the Wharf. 

• Outside Picnic

• Orchestra / Opera Performance at the Kennedy Center. You have to purchase tickets for most of their events, however, they have free performances updated on their website on a regular basis.

• Oyster Bar Date @ Hanks Osters - (Wharf, DC)

• Paint and Sip @ Muse  - (National Harbor) - 

• Paint and Sip @ Sip and Paint DC - https://sipandpaintdc.com/ 

• Planet Word Museum - DC - $15 - https://planetwordmuseum.org/ 

• Pottery Class @ Eastern Market Pottery Class (~$80 pp) - https://easternmarketpottery.com/classes 

• Quest Date - 

• Rock Creek Park - for hiking or visit the Rock Creek Park Horuse Center for Horse Back Riding (~$62 pp)

• Roller Skating @ Kraken DC - https://www.experiencekraken.com/ 

• Rooftop Restaurant - All across DC - My favorites are Ciel (Downtown, DC), Whiskey Charlie (District Wharf, DC), Top of the Yard (Navy Yard, DC), and so many more

• Shooting Range

• Ski

• Smithsonian Museums at the National Mall - https://www.si.edu/visit/museums 

• Spa Day at Balian Springs - (Alexandria, VA) - $130 - $165 - https://baliansprings.com/ 

• Sports Game @ Capitol One Arena (Downtown DC) -  enjoy basketball, hockey, or ev en concerts

• Spy Museum - $40 pp - https://www.spymuseum.org/ 

• Theme Park

• Throw Social - (Ivy City, DC) - Bar, Axe Throwing, Beer Pong, Mega Jenga

• Underground Art Museum - Dupont Circle - https://dupontunderground.org/ 

• Vacation @ Intercontinental at The Wharf 

• Water Canoe - https://boatingindc.com/ 

• Waterfront @ District Wharf. Walk the boardwalk. Explore Many bars and restaurants. Or stay at one of the waterfront hotels. My favorite rooftop bars overlooking the boat marina are Whiskey Charle and 12 Stories. 

• Xbox Game Night

• Yacht - If you got it, spend it! Boat setter has a number of boats that you can rent by the hour for you and a date or you and a couple of friends.  Price is typically advertised from $100 - $300 per hour.  Howevever, most boats have a 2-3 hour minimum and may have additional fees (e.g. captain fee, etc.) - https://www.boatsetter.com/boat-rentals/washington--dc--united-states 

• Yoga @ District Flow - $16 drop in class - https://www.yogadistrict.com/ 

• Zoo @ National Zoo - (Woodley Park, DC) - Free but timed entry tickets are required - https://www.si.edu/museums/national-zoo