Cozy Winter Date Night Ideas in Virginia Beach

While the weather outside isn’t too frightful (thanks to our mild year-round temperatures), these winter date night ideas are still so delightful. Whether you’re here for a winter weekend getaway or just a night out on the town, check out our favorite warm, fun and delicious spots to snuggle up with that special someone.

Artsy Expeditions

Love browsing art or prefer to make your own? At the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), you can do both. Stroll the gallery for inspiration and take in exhibitions from local artists celebrating history, community and culture. Then, craft your own masterpiece during one of their art classes, which have included paper collages, DIY sketchbooks and handmade Christmas cards. 

If you like your art with a side of wine and cheese, book a Paint & Sip at Muse Paintbar. The experience begins with delicious drinks and light bites from the kitchen, then couples will create their own paintings side by side or a cohesive piece meant to hang together.

Jars of Dust offers a respite from the (slight) winter chill in their invitingly sun-drenched studio. Embrace your inner ceramicist and make bowls, mugs, planters and even Christmas ornaments, and browse the handmade ceramic tableware, including adorable butter dishes and spoon rests.

Foodie Hot Spots

Orion’s Roof Garden & Dining is a classic for a reason. With panoramic views of the beach, expertly crafted Asian-style dishes and strong specialty sips, it’s the perfect choice for an upscale date night. Grab a dinner reservation to enjoy seafood dishes like miso-glazed black cod and wok specialties like Singapore rice noodles, or end the evening with cocktails around the fire in the rooftop garden.

Head to Catch 31 at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk for ocean-filled sights and ocean-inspired tastes. The dinner menu is great, with entrées like lobster carbonara and honey-soy tuna, but the raw bar is the main attraction, serving fresh snow crab legs, peel-and-eat shrimp, shucked oysters and clams.

Quemar Wood-Fired Cocina radiates cozy winter vibes, with warmly lit wood, soft leather couches and gently beachy touches for a flawless balance of relaxed and refined. Start with fried yuca loaded with aji amarillo aioli, queso fresco and chimichurri, then dive into chicken tinga, Argentinian grilled fish or bone-in pork ribeye. Plus, the adjacent Tranquilo Lounge hosts rotating local DJs and house musicians, if you’re into post-dinner dancing.

Want to get hands-on? Untamed Chef hosts a variety of date-night cooking classes, from festive holiday-themed evenings to intimate French and Italian experiences. Sparkling wine and hors d’oeuvres are included, and you’ll learn how to whip up a gourmet 3-course meal. Couples can also explore Chef Matthew May’s private classes, including the indulgent pasta-making workshop and relaxed bourbon tastings for two. For something extra special, select the dinner and dancing package, with a private one-hour dance lesson followed by a four-course cooking class.

For the Animal Lovers

Check snuggling with a miniature Highland cow off your bucket list at Hunt Club Farm. This working farm includes a charming petting area with pigs, goats, donkeys and parakeets. Book the Miniature Highland Cow Cuddling Experience for all the warm fuzzies, then peruse the farm market for locally grown Fraser fir trees and holiday gifts. In addition, from September to May, Virginia Beach Horseback offers views of the Oceanfront from the saddle. You’ll meet your horse, get a quick riding lesson and embark on a guided tour along the beach and through the surf.

Did you know you can see whales during the winter in Virginia Beach? While these majestic marine mammals aren’t the most predictable, January and February hold the most consistent opportunities to see humpback whales off the coast. Rudee Tours operates from December through February, with tours narrated by expert naturalists and researchers. Plus, your boat has a full bar and heated indoor cabin for the comfiest aquatic experience. Virginia Beach Aquarium Boat Trips takes you along the shoreline in search of humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins, with a portion of all ticket sales supporting the aquarium’s research, education and conservation efforts.

Pure Relaxation

Need a getaway from the stress of the holidays? Founded by the father of holistic health, A.R.E. Health Center & Spa is a go-to for bodywork and hydrotherapies — think acupressure, massages, Epsom salt baths, facials and even energy healing and reiki. Pamper yourself and your partner with couples massages, foot reflexology and more with coastal scenery.

The Flowering Almond Spa at Founders Inn and Spa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, provides massages, facial treatments, manicures and pedicures. Indulge in hot salt lavender or brown sugar exfoliating scrubs, or unwind with deep tissue, Himalayan salt stone or Signature Almond Swedish massages. Your treatment also gives you access to the fitness center and indoor pool for the ultimate one-day escape.

The SeaHill Spa at the Cavalier Resort Historic Cavalier Hotel hosts spa retreats for two. The Time Together package starts with an exfoliating body scrub, then a dip in warm, healing mineral water with aromatherapy and ends with a side-by-side massage. After your self-care session, take a moment to explore the resort’s adjacent distillery. Schedule a tour and tasting at Tarnished Truth Distilling Company to try bourbon whiskey, vodka and even moonshine.

About Our Writer

Born in Florida but raised in Virginia, writer Eve Thompson can appreciate beaches of every kind. A lifelong reader and wanna-be coffee snob, Eve can often be found in a local café sipping an iced coffee and trying to make a dent in her ever-growing TBR.