Looking for Something Different on Date Night? Here’s Where to Go.
In every great love story, it’s when the couple ditches their routine for something unexpected when the magic happens. So, skip the tired dinner-and-a-movie date night and opt for a change of scenery.
From award-winning chefs to playful food halls, Greater Wilmington’s dining scene is on the rise. And just beyond the table, you’ll find world-class gardens, museums, and performance venues that make pairing dinner with a little culture easier than ever. Think of it less as a single evening out and more as a choose-your-own adventure: wander a garden or gallery by day, savor a chef-driven dinner at night, then cap things off with live music or a show.
For Old-World Glamour
Start with an early dinner at one of Wilmington’s buzziest restaurants Bardea Food & Drink. Helmed by James Beard–nominated chef, Antimo DiMeo, its modern Italian food is equal parts delicious and beautiful. Afterward, take a short stroll to The Grand Opera House for salsa dancing (Fridays), or to catch a performance from Opera Delaware, First State Ballet Theatre, or the Delaware Symphony Orchestra.
Stay the night at Hotel du Pont, where the vibe is Gilded Age glam and brunch is next-level amazing. The hotel’s restaurant Le Cavalier at the Green Room serves French Brasserie-style dishes that make it easy to imagine you’re dining on the Left Bank. Keep the Parisian fantasy alive with a stroll through the sculpture garden at the Delaware Art Museum before returning to reality.
For a Storybook Adventure
If your idea of romance is whimsical, try an afternoon in Winterthur’s Enchanted Woods, a three-acre fairy tale garden complete with stone towers, winding roads, and giant oak trees. As the sun sets, take a short drive to Hockessin for a candlelit dinner at farmhouse-turned-restaurant The House of William & Merry.
Make it an overnight with a stay at The Inn at Montchanin Village, a restored 19th-century village with cozy cottages and gardens. The next morning, brunch at Bar Reverie before heading to Alapocas Run State Park where blue granite cliffs rise above the trails.
For a City-Meets-Country Escape
Hockessin embodies farm-to-table dining with colorful landscapes and cozy-yet-elevated dishes. Arrive just before sunset to wander through the lush gardens at Mt. Cuba Center, a botanical garden dedicated to native plants. From there, follow the Red Clay Scenic Byway to nearby Centreville for dinner at Buckley’s Tavern, a local favorite that serves elevated classics with an English pub feel.
Shift gears from country cozy to cap the night with drinks and live music at The Queen in Wilmington. With the Riverfront steps away, you can stay overnight at the Hyatt Place for waterfront views and easy access to it all—lunch at Banks’ Seafood Kitchen, a stroll along the scenic riverfront path, or art via The Delaware Contemporary.
For Austen-Inspired Romance
Just outside Wilmington, the food, art, and rolling countryside feel straight out of a Regency romance. Spend the afternoon exploring the Nemours Estate, a sprawling 200-acre, French-inspired chateau with gilded interiors and sweeping formal gardens. Afterward, head a little further south for rooftop cocktails at The Quoin, where you can dine and stay in the former 19th century bank.
The next morning, stroll to the Wilmington Riverfront for brunch at Del Pez Mexican Gastropub, where lively plates and a round of margaritas set a bright finish to your getaway. Finish your trip with a leisurely stroll hand-in-hand through Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, a scenic stretch that follows the Christina River. It’s as relaxing as it is romantic.
From rooftop cocktails in Wilmington to woodland walks in Winterthur, each corner of Greater Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley offers its own mood for romance. Pick the vibe that speaks to you, mix and match along the way, and discover just how easy it is to make a night (or weekend) out feel extraordinary.
Ready to plan your perfect pairing of dining, culture, and entertainment? Start your Brandywine Valley date night (or weekend escape) at visitwilmingtonde.com.
This is a paid partnership between Visit Wilmington and Philadelphia Magazine
