Entertainment / Food
Jun 20, 2024
Budget or Bougie: Plan your next date night in Downtown
Whether you and your partner are looking for a night out that won’t break the bank or an excuse to splurge on a fancy date, Downtown Arlington has something to offer for all budgets!
Budget-friendly options are important, so here are some affordable places to visit for a romantic night out!
Cidercade
With over 300 retro and modern arcade games, Cidercade is the perfect spot for a date that can last hours! Admission is $12 per person for unlimited play all day. You and your partner can play skee-ball all night or bounce between different arcade games.
For a more “grown-up” atmosphere, the arcade is strictly 18 or older after 9 p.m. each day.
Enjoy a night at this retro arcade and enjoy dozens of adult beverages on tap, all made by Cidercade, and sodas are available. While the arcade doesn’t serve food, feel free to bring your own! There are tons of local options around.
Sugar Bee Sweets Bakery & The Hive
Looking for a sweet treat or a brunch date spot? Sugar Bee Sweets Bakery has an assortment of pastries, including scones, cookies, cupcakes and muffins.
With many of their treats priced around $4, Sugar Bee Sweets is the place to get a sweet treat with your loved one. The bakery also has a full-service coffee and tea bar.
If you’re looking for more of a dine-in experience, check out the bakery’s next-door restaurant, The Hive Daytime Eatery. The eatery offers unique sandwiches made with fresh bread, gourmet cheeses and smoked meats. Crisp salads, soups, kettle chips and refreshing drinks are also available.
Los Molcas Tacos Bar and Grill
Los Molcas is a delicious lunch or dinner date option! With a great happy hour and daily specials, you won’t break the bank eating good and drinking delicious cocktails.
When first entering, the restaurant has a photo wall perfect for taking cute couple selfies. Enjoy the atmosphere, enchiladas and a daiquiri at the bar! Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. every day with $3 domestic beer, $3 margaritas and $1 off specialty drinks.
At Los Molcas, a nice sit-down meal doesn’t mean hurting your wallet with tacos starting at $2.99 each and plates starting at $12.99 each. The restaurant also serves breakfast tacos if you are planning a morning date!
Self-guided Mural Tour
Sometimes the best way to spend time with your partner is a relaxing, FREE walk around downtown and filling your camera roll with colorful pictures in front of the murals that scale the walls of our community.
As you walk around, be sure to take your time and observe the magic of Downtown Arlington. This can also get you from the restaurant you chose for date night to the activity you’ll do next.
The Downtown Arlington Mural Tour is the perfect opportunity to get connected to the city around you and the one you love. Take a stroll through the sidewalks of Downtown and take pictures with the vibrant walls of your favorite businesses.
Click here to start the self-guided mural tour!
If you just got your paycheck and are ready to celebrate with your significant other, these next places are for you!
Cafe Americana
The new Spanish-inspired concept, which fuses cuisine from many countries with beloved American classics, recently opened and is the epitome of a romantic date. From the elegant decor to the craft cocktails to the decadent dishes, any couple is sure to enjoy a night at Cafe Americana.
We recommend starting with Crispy Pork to share. Then, grab a crafted cocktail or mocktail to drink. You can’t go wrong with any of the entrees, but it is a MUST to order the chef-inspired Empanada del Dia, the special empanada of the day.
For a peaceful meal, reserve a table for lunch. For a busier atmosphere, reserving a table for dinnertime is perfect. Make sure to finish off your meal with the Espresso Chocolate Cake that features candied espresso beans, drunk cherries and a bourbon creme anglaise!
The Sanford House Spa and Restaurant506
The Sanford House offers high-class date ideas, whether you are looking for a luxurious spa treatment or a 5-star meal.
At Restaurant506, you can dine in for brunch, lunch or dinner. The menu includes everything from eggs benedict to salmon to lamb. The menu changes seasonally to highlight the freshest ingredients available throughout the year!
Across the street from The Sanford House Inn and Restaurant506, lies the full-service day spa and salon, offering an extensive menu of services for both men and women. The spa has several treatment rooms for massages, body treatments, and facials, including dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, and waxing services.
Speakeasy inside Taipo
This new Nepalese restaurant has been a hit with locals! But there’s a secret the restaurant holds that some may not know about... Taipo- Behind the Door.
This speakeasy is tucked behind the carved Torana door in Taipo. Perfect for the night owl couple, this hidden gem offers a blend of culture, cuisine and cocktails.
After grabbing a bite in Taipo, head down into the speakeasy for a night to remember!
Arlington Music Hall show
The Arlington Music Hall has a rich history and has always been ‘the place to go’ for entertainment. Opening in 1950 as a movie theatre, today the concert venue provides a place to sit comfortably and enjoy a quality listening experience.
The date nights never have to end with the music hall hosting a performance nearly every weekend this summer! From tribute bands to legendary music icons, there is a show for every couple and tickets range between $20 to over $100.