The DMV's Best First-Date Spots 2027
Where should a first date happen in the DC area? Nominate the bar, café, restaurant or spot you'd send your best friend to. The community picks the finalists, every winner is checked against our Trusted Spot safety standards, and winners are announced February 10, 2027, just in time for Valentine's Day.
- Now – Jan 15NominateName your favorite first-date spot and tell us why.
- Jan 20 – Feb 5VoteFinalists in each area go to a community vote, one vote per person.
- Feb 10, 2027WinnersAnnounced before Valentine's Day, with a winner's decal for each spot.
Nominate a first-date spot
DC, Northern Virginia or suburban Maryland. Bars, cafés, restaurants, museums, parks: if it's a great place to meet someone new, it counts.
On the board so far
The most-nominated first-date spots in each area, updated live.
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What makes a great first-date spot
- Public and well lit. Busy enough to feel comfortable, never isolated.
- Easy to talk. You can hear each other without shouting.
- Easy there, easy home. Close to Metro, a bus line or a simple rideshare pickup.
- Staff that look out for you. The kind of place that would help a guest who feels unsafe.
Own or run a venue?
Become a free DateDish Trusted Spot. Finalists that meet our standards get the winner's decal, a badge for your site and socials, and a feature across DateDish. Placement is never for sale.
The rules
- Open to nominators 18 and older. Spots must be in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax County) or suburban Maryland (Montgomery and Prince George's counties).
- Nominate as many different spots as you like, once per spot. Nominations are reviewed and may be removed if they break the house rules, look like spam or are a venue promoting itself.
- Finalists are the most-nominated spots in each area. Voting runs January 20 to February 5, 2027, one vote per person.
- Every winner must meet the Trusted Spot standards above. DateDish has the final say if a spot doesn't.
- This is an honor, not a sweepstakes: no purchase, entry fee or prize. Venues can't pay for placement. Dates may change if needed, and we'll post any change here.
Questions
What is The DMV's Best First-Date Spots?
A community award from DateDish, the dating safety and transparency app founded in Arlington, Virginia. Daters nominate the bars, cafés, restaurants and spots they'd recommend for a first date anywhere in DC, Northern Virginia or suburban Maryland. Finalists are checked against DateDish's Trusted Spot safety standards, and winners are announced February 10, 2027.
How do I nominate a first-date spot?
Fill in the nomination form on this page: the spot's name, its area and why it's a great first date (vibe, noise level, price, how easy it is to get there and home). You must be 18 or older. Nominations are free and also appear in Dish Stories under Date spots.
How are winners chosen?
Nominations decide the finalists in each area. From January 20 to February 5, 2027, the community votes on finalists, one vote per person. Every winner must also meet DateDish's Trusted Spot standards: public, well lit, easy to reach, and staff ready to help a guest who feels unsafe.
Can a venue pay to win or be featured?
No. Placement is never for sale. Venues can apply free to become DateDish Trusted Spots, but that doesn't affect votes or results.
Is there a prize?
It's an honor, not a sweepstakes: there's no purchase, entry fee or prize for nominating or voting. Winning venues get a winner's window decal, a badge for their website and social media, and a feature across DateDish.