Date night in Arlington: a show at Signature Theatre, comedy on Columbia Pike, wine flights near Clarendon, dinner on Wilson Boulevard, river views.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Hours and details come from each venue’s own website and the National Park Service. They change; check before you go. We do not rank venues. For more evening ideas, see our live music and nightlife guide.

A night out in Arlington usually means Shirlington, Clarendon or the river. Signature Theatre is in the Village at Shirlington, Clarendon and Courthouse have wine bars and dinner spots a short walk from the Metro, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway has the best views of the Washington skyline. For questions on parking or towing, call police non-emergency at 703-558-2222.

Plan the evening

  • Show: Signature Theatre box office, 703-820-9771. Doors open 90 minutes before curtain.
  • Wine: Screwtop Wine Bar is open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
  • After dark: Theodore Roosevelt Island and the Mount Vernon Trail close at 10 p.m.

Shows and comedy

Venue Address What it is
Signature Theatre 4200 Campbell Ave., Shirlington Musicals, plays and cabaret
Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse 2903 Columbia Pike Live comedy club and movie theater

Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., in the Village at Shirlington, runs a seven-show season of musicals and plays plus cabaret performances. The theater opens 90 minutes before each performance, and seating starts about 30 minutes before curtain; it recommends arriving at least 15 minutes early. Signature charges a $7 fee per single ticket bought online or by phone and no fee for tickets bought in person at the box office, 703-820-9771.

The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, at South Walter Reed Drive, combines a live comedy club with a movie theater. Its calendar lists the shows and age rules.

Wine, art and dinner

Screwtop Wine Bar, 1025 N. Fillmore St., Suite L, 703-888-0845, is a wine bar, cheese shop and full-service restaurant with 12 bar seats and a patio. Hours: Monday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It serves wine flights and holds weekly wine tastings and classes.

MoCA Arlington, the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd., 703-248-6800, is open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, a good start to an afternoon date in Virginia Square.

Dinner along Wilson Boulevard, from each restaurant’s own site:

  • The Liberty Tavern, 3195 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon, 703-465-9360: dinner 4 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, with a cozy upstairs dining room and a downstairs bar.
  • Circa at Clarendon, 3010 Clarendon Blvd., 703-522-3010: open from 11 a.m. daily, with a wine list, seasonal cocktails and a corner patio.
  • Barley Mac, 1600 Wilson Blvd., Rosslyn, 571-800-3070: American comfort food and a long whiskey and bourbon list a few blocks from the Rosslyn Metro station, with late-night reservations.
  • Bronson Bierhall, 4100 Fairfax Drive, Ballston, 703-528-1110: a German-American beer hall open until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Views and walks

The National Park Service runs the riverfront parkland on Arlington’s edge:

  • Theodore Roosevelt Island, in the Potomac off Rosslyn, is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with miles of trails through woods and marsh built as a memorial to the 26th president. NPS page.
  • Gravelly Point, next to Reagan National Airport, is popular with plane spotters watching arriving and departing aircraft.
  • Mount Vernon Trail, 18 paved miles along the Potomac from Theodore Roosevelt Island to Mount Vernon, with views of the Washington skyline. It is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Netherlands Carillon, a 49-bell tower given by the people of the Netherlands and dedicated in 1960, stands beside the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial near Rosslyn. NPS page.

Special dates

Related guides: free things to do, walking and biking trails and getting around Arlington.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good date night in Arlington, Virginia?

Popular choices include a musical at Signature Theatre in Shirlington, a comedy show at the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse on Columbia Pike, or wine flights at Screwtop Wine Bar near Clarendon followed by dinner on Wilson Boulevard.

Is there a wine bar in Arlington open late?

Screwtop Wine Bar, 1025 N. Fillmore St., is open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and until 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday.

Where can you watch planes land in Arlington?

Gravelly Point, on the George Washington Memorial Parkway next to Reagan National Airport, is a National Park Service site popular with plane spotters.

How late is Theodore Roosevelt Island open?

The National Park Service opens the island every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.