WASHINGTON — Almost every restaurant in the D.C. area will host you and yours on Valentine’s Day, but why not wow your dearest with more than just dinner?
Here are a few options around town:
Ladurée: A little bit of France in Georgetown (and Union Station), this spot is offering jewel-like boxes filled with gemlike sweets.
Buttercream Bakeshop: This Valentine’s Day, pastry chef Tiffany MacIsaac is making Women Crush Wednesday bars. MacIsaac is featuring six of her favorite leading ladies in politics and culture (think Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chrissy Teigen), perched on top of fudge brownies and topped with whipped coconut pudding buttercream.
Watergate Hotel: This chic hotel is home to a pop-up chocolate chalet experience with a “grab and go” offering of curated gift options. At night, the space transforms into a chocolate bar where guests can order spiked hot chocolate, chocolate-dipped giant marshmallows, hot toasted chocolate pop tarts and more.
Iron Gate: Iron Gate’s “tunnel of love” Valentine’s Day bar is returning. This year, spirits manager Nick Farrell and chef Tony Chittum are drawing on inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe — adding a bit of darkness while celebrating a local romantic author. Expect cocktail and food menus divided into two categories: heart and heartbreak.
Hank’s Cocktail Bar: For a truly unique and intimate cocktail experience, head to Hank’s Cocktail Bar in D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood for a journey to Le Cafe de Nuit. Listen to live music and sip on the l’espresso martini with Grey Goose, Qualia Espresso, Don Ciccio & Figli, and Fleur De Sel. When the night ends, you’ll take away an espresso martini kit to recreate the romantic drink at home.
Of course, several spots throughout the city are celebrating being single on the day of love. Here are a few anti-Valentine’s Day happenings:
The Daily Dish and The Dish & Dram: The Daily Dish and The Dish & Dram are serving the confident singleton an anti-Valentine’s Day menu at the bar. Enjoy a Dark, Stormy & Divorced, Cupid Rhymes with Stupid, Eat Your Heart Out and more.
Bar Rouge: This Kimpton Hotel bar is throwing a “bitter” Valentine’s Day with a special drink menu all evening. Expect various handcrafted cocktails by lead bartender Julia Christie-Robin, inspired by exes everyone loves to hate. As an added bonus, guests are encouraged to bring photos of their exes to shred at the bar, in exchange for one complimentary beer of the bartender’s choosing with purchase of additional food or drink.
City Tap House Penn Quarter: The gastropub pokes fun at “puckering up” on Valentine’s Day with its Sour for Cupid mini tap takeover. The event features 10 sour beers on draft. Decadent dishes, including lobster pappardelle, a charcuterie board for two, and four-layer chocolate cake with red velvet sauce, also join the dinner menu for the evening.
