16 Hartford Date Spots ⋆ Hartford Has It

16 Hartford Date Spots

We polled our incredibly smart fans and the people have spoken. Here are the fan-faves from nature to sporting events, bars to restaurants, and theater to improv.

February 1, 2024

Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Salute

Salute has, hands down, the best garlic bread in the entire world. THE ENTIRE WORLD. Please read that in not just all-caps, but quintuple all-caps. Other house faves are the sweet potato ravioli in a sage cream sauce, their house-made ricotta gnocchi with chicken, and a salad with a big ol’ meatball on top.

Social Republic

Go eat super delicious gastro pub fare in their gorgeously decorated dining room with glittering chandeliers hanging from tin ceilings, exposed brick, and small dining nooks. Or sit on the (seasonally enclosed) patio. Breezy in the summer, central fireplace in the winter.

Parkville Market

19 delish restaurants, pop-up shops, weekly entertainment, indoor and outdoor dining all living in harmonious bliss in the coolest historic building once home to the Capitol City Lumber Co.

Max Downtown

“With its contemporary design, extensive array of martinis and wines, and sophisticated cuisine, Max Downtown is a favorite with the city’s well-heeled and a popular after-work spot.” – Fodor’s Review

Trumbull Kitchen

Trumbull Kitchen describes itself as “contemporary, cool and inventive.” It’s true. If you have a hard time deciding what to order go with the Grilled Filet Mignon appetizer, served with truffled tater-tots, because TRUFFLED TATER TOTS.

Fire By Forge

This Pan-American inspired, chef-driven concept includes a café, full-service restaurant, bar, and catering operation. Seasonal menus feature fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients whenever possible. Just LOOK at those photos.

Little River Restoratives

As they like to put it, Little River Restoratives is elevating the low road. With their unique array of cocktails, punches, possets, and grogs, Little River is serving up a new twist to the local neighborhood bar scene. One super instagrammable cocktail at a time.

Sunberry Restaurant & Bar

This is your spot for Ramen and Udon, Korean BBQ and Bimbipap. But wait – they also serve paninis, and burritos, and the list goes on. It seems impossible that one place would make so many different things, and have them all be great, but they can, and they do.

Get Out

Bushnell Park

Take a romantic stroll through the oldest publicly funded park in the United States. Today the park boasts 50 acres of green space, a carousel, and plays host to tons of festivals and events. Make sure you say hi to Horace the Heron who lives in the pond.

Riverfront

Explore the Riverfront and gaze out onto the Connecticut River. Your date will think you’re philosophical and wise. Then, you can tell the tale of Connie, the 100-foot long sea serpent which is rumored to live there.

Hartford Yard Goats

Voted best Double-A ballpark in 2017 and 2018. This crown jewel of minor league stadiums houses the Colorado Rockies affiliate, Hartford Yard Goats. AND they have baby goat races, which is adorable.

Hartford Wolf Pack

You can get hot dogs and beer for an extremely reasonable price, watch a fight break out on the ice, and have the perfect excuse to huddle closer for warmth.

See A Show

The Bushnell

Get your Broadway fix – the big touring shows make regular stops here. You can also see comedy shows, opera, and all sorts of musical performances.

Hartford Stage

There are no bad seats in this theater. Seriously. You can see Broadway-caliber performances, musicals, and dramas in an intimate setting.

Theaterworks

Hartford’s version of Off-Broadway located at City Arts on Pearl. This roughly 200-seat theater presents terrific shows with awesome actors.

Sea Tea Improv

You may not find a funnier night out if you tried. You also may be lucky enough to be brought on stage and told to use one of the cast members like a puppet.

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