Alhambra's gilded booth inside the St. Regis hotel. | St. Regis Power lunches with the politically elite may come to mind when considering dining in the nation’s capital, but the D.C. area has a soft spot. From caviar and Champagne at an intimate row house in Georgetown to charming country side inns with noteworthy restaurants to top notch Italian cuisine that lures swoon-worthy celebs like Jon Bernthal, D.C. is full of romantic places to dine. Each of the spots on this map offers pretty dining spaces, excellent service, and food that is noteworthy on its own. For this latest map refresh, we added: Adams Morgan’s chic new wine bar (and James Beard Award semifinalist) Maison Bar à Vins, St. Regis’s resident restaurant Alhambra, and Union Market district’s Michelin-starred Colombian spot El Cielo, which is attached to a hot new cocktail bar from Wilmer Valderrama. Sadly, one-starred standby Tail Up Goat closed in late 2025 (but plans to resurface as something else soon). And for now, we say goodbye to Quill at the Jefferson hotel. Here are 16 fabulous spots to consider for Valentine’s Day dinner, first-date drinks, a special occasion splurge, or something in between. For fireside dining inspiration this winter, go here. ...read more read less