Date night in Virginia Beach: dinner at Zoës, Tautog's or the Cavalier, shows at the Sandler Center and The Dome, cocktails and after-dark Aquarium nights.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Every listing comes from the venue’s own website, linked below; hours change with the season, so book or call first. This list is not a ranking.

A Virginia Beach date night tends to happen in one of two places: the Oceanfront, where the old hotels and the 19th and 23rd street restaurants are a short walk from the Boardwalk, or Town Center, where the theaters, classes and bars sit around free garages. Here is where to eat, what to see and what stays open late.

Before you go

  • Town Center parking is free; Resort Area meters and city lots are mostly free Nov. 1 to March 31.
  • Zoës and Tautog’s each close two nights a week; check the days below.

Dinner

Restaurant Address Dinner hours (from its site) Phone
Zoës Steak & Seafood 713 19th St. Tuesday to Saturday, seating 5 to 9:30 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday 757-437-3636
Tautog’s 205 23rd St. Thursday to Monday, 5 to 10 p.m.; closed Tuesday and Wednesday 757-422-0081
Becca Restaurant & Garden, Historic Cavalier Hotel 4200 Atlantic Ave. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch 757-425-8555
Orion’s Roof, Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront 4201 Atlantic Ave. Lunch, dinner, late night and weekend brunch 757-937-4200
Croc’s 19th Street Bistro 620 19th St. See its site for current hours; reservations through OpenTable 757-428-5444

Zoës recommends reservations but takes walk-ins until 9 p.m. Tautog’s, a seafood restaurant on 23rd Street, recommends reservations. Becca offers the sunroom, the formal dining room or the patio. Orion’s Roof sits 183 feet above the ocean.

Cocktails and a nightcap

  • The Hunt Room, Historic Cavalier Hotel: dinner and late night in the hotel’s original tavern room, with hand-crafted cocktails.
  • The Raleigh Room, Historic Cavalier Hotel: a lounge for cocktails, afternoon tea and evenings with live music.
  • Twist Martini Bar, Town Center: themed nights, including speakeasy and burger-and-bourbon nights with music, according to Town Center’s event guides.

A show

  • Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St., Town Center. Box office 757-385-2787, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; more than 3,000 free parking spaces nearby. sandlercenter.org
  • Zeiders American Dream Theater, 4509 Commerce St., Town Center.
  • The Dome by Rutter Mills, 400 20th St., near the Oceanfront: concerts, comedy and dance. thedomebyruttermills.com
  • More venues, including the amphitheater and Elevation 27, are in our live music and nightlife guide.

Something different

  • Sharks After Dark, Virginia Aquarium, 717 General Booth Blvd.: the first Thursday of each month, 6 to 9 p.m., for ages 21 and up, with a DJ, drinks and the exhibits after hours; $38, or $19 for members, per the Aquarium.
  • Paint and sip at Muse Paintbar or a pastry class at Macaron Tart, both at Town Center.
  • Sanctuary at Mount Trashmore: a free light and kinetic-flower art installation, open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 16, 2026.
  • Holiday Trail of Lights, Virginia Aquarium, Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, with timed tickets; see our holiday lights page.
  • ValenTide’s, the Aquarium’s adults-only Valentine’s evening; see our Valentine’s Day page.
  • A walk on the Boardwalk after dinner on 19th or 23rd Street; see our Oceanfront and Boardwalk guide.

What this means for you

  • Book Zoës or Tautog’s ahead on weekends, and check which nights they close.
  • Pair a Sandler Center show with dinner in Town Center and park free.
  • For something besides dinner, the Aquarium’s first-Thursday night is adults only.

Related: brunch in Virginia Beach and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I go for a date night dinner in Virginia Beach?

Options with their own published hours include Zoës Steak & Seafood, 713 19th St. (Tuesday to Saturday, 5 to 9:30 p.m.), Tautog’s, 205 23rd St. (Thursday to Monday, 5 to 10 p.m.), and Becca Restaurant & Garden or the Hunt Room at the Historic Cavalier Hotel. This is a list, not a ranking.

What is open late for a date in Virginia Beach?

At the Cavalier Resort, the Hunt Room and Orion’s Roof serve late night. The Virginia Aquarium’s Sharks After Dark runs 6 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month for ages 21 and up.

Where can we see a show in Virginia Beach?

The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St. in Town Center, the Zeiders American Dream Theater, 4509 Commerce St., The Dome by Rutter Mills, 400 20th St., and the amphitheater on Cellar Door Way for big summer concerts.

Are there date ideas in Virginia Beach that are not dinner?

Paint-and-sip sessions at Muse Paintbar and baking classes at Macaron Tart in Town Center, the Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium in winter, and the Sanctuary light installation at Mount Trashmore, open until 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 16, 2026.