Bars

A plate of lasagna.
Restaurants
Deals for date night in Northern Virginia
Whether you’re taking advantage of date-night specials or indulging in a prix fixe menu, there are plenty of smart ways to enjoy a great meal on date night for less.
December 16, 2025 12:48 PM
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The Historic Del Ray mural in Del Ray.
City
Wander through the Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria
Newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski toured the Del Ray neighborhood to discover its best spots.
December 9, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A GIF saying "2025 Wrapped."
City
Your 2025 NOVAtoday Wrapped: The top news stories of the year
Spotify isn’t the only one having fun — dive into your 2025 NOVAtoday Wrapped.
December 4, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The Panes con Pavo sandwich from Your Only Friend, made with Salvadoran braised turkey, cortido, salted cucumber, Crystal Hot Sauce fried chili oil, Duke’s Mayo, served cold on a soft roll.
Restaurants
Sandwiches, pho, and more: Newly acclaimed restaurants near NOVA
From restaurants to chefs, see which three DC eateries and one culinary talent recently received top accolades.
November 19, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A beer being poured at Courhaus Social.
Live
NOVA happy hour deals to quench your thirst
Hit the town and enjoy a discounted drink at one of these cheers-worthy NOVA happy hours.
November 18, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
Brunch at SER in Arlington.
Restaurants
NOVAtoday readers’ favorite restaurants
Here are over 25 restaurants that you, our readers, said were your go-to spots around Northern Virginia.
November 14, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A brunch dish from Ruthie's All-Day.
Restaurants
9 restaurants to try in NOVA, according to a food critic
Explore the top NOVA restaurants recommended by Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema.
October 10, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The inside of the restaurant, Surreal Global Kitchen.
Bars
Seven eccentric bars to try in NOVA
Sick and tired of your usual bar? Check out these spots with a fun vibe to switch up your regular Friday night.
July 22, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
Buildings on King Street in Old Town Alexandria.
City
Let’s explore Old Town Alexandria
Join Editor Ava as she spends a day in Old Town Alexandria.
July 8, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
Grapes in a vineyard.
Bars
Grape escapes: Six wineries to check out around NOVA
Kick back and relax with a glass of wine at one of these wineries with your friends and family this summer.
June 30, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
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More from NOVAtoday
The outside of Nettie's Tavern in Arlington's Clarendon neighborhood.
Food
Local food and drinks for less than NOVA’s current gas prices
Gas prices may be high, but here are different food and beverages around NOVA that are $4 or less.
April 13, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The main area of Reston Town Center.
Take a stroll around Reston Town Center
Join Editor Ava for a stroll through Reston Town Center — and discover upcoming events you won’t want to miss.
April 8, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
NOVA-landing-bg.jpg
Culture
One year of NOVAtoday
NOVAtoday has been coming to your inbox for a full 365 days — here’s a breakdown of some stats.
April 6, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
Victorian-style homes in the Occoquan Historic District.
Real Estate
Victorian-style architecture in Northern Virginia
Have you noticed all of the architectural styles around NOVA? Learn about the Victorian-style and where you can see it in the area.
April 1, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A view of a green gold course with spectators lining the opposite side of a pond in its middle.
Sports
Bring Augusta National to Northern Virginia
You don’t need to travel to Georgia to experience the beauty of Augusta. We rounded up some ways to replicate the Masters experience in NOVA.
April 1, 2026
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
Plants outside for the Spring Garden Market with the American Horticultural Society.
Travel and Outdoors
A gardener’s guide to Northern Virginia
Are you an expert gardener or hoping to get into it? Here’s your guide on how to garden in NOVA, from local plant sales to gardening clubs.
March 31, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
Tulips at the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington with DC in the background.
Events
Plan Ahead: Don’t miss these events happening in Northern Virginia
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
March 30, 2026
 · 
Staff
The inside of Union Station in Washington, DC.
Airports and Transportation
Inside Newsletter Editor Ava’s Amtrak journey to New York
Planning a trip to New York or somewhere along the East Coast? Here’s what my firsthand Amtrak experience was really like.
March 23, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
An aerial shot of the coastline that lines Lima Peru. A vast number of buildings line the land atop cliffs, with a deep blue ocean on the right of the image, running alongside a road beneath the cliffs.
Travel and Outdoors
Which cities share NOVA’s latitude and longitude?
Directly north, east, south, and west of Northern Virginia, cities across the world await.
March 19, 2026
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
A bracket of sports bars in Northern Virginia.
Business
What’s the best sports bar in Northern Virginia?
Cast your vote in the bracket and help decide the best sports bar in the area.
March 18, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski