Date night in Short Pump: steak and rooftop margaritas at the town center, the Funny Bone, The Tin Pan's seated shows and Lewis Ginter's adults-only nights.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Every venue is linked to its own website or to Short Pump Town Center’s directory; hours come from those pages. We list places; we do not rank them or quote prices. Holiday hours differ, so check before you book.

Short Pump’s date nights center on Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W. Broad St., with a steakhouse, a rooftop bar and a comedy club, plus seated music in Tuckahoe and garden evenings at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden a short drive east. The town center’s main line is 804-364-9500.

Date night ideas

  • Dinner and comedy: Perry’s or Casa del Barco, then the Funny Bone (21 and up)
  • Music: The Tin Pan’s seated shows, or Innsbrook Pavilion concerts in summer
  • Garden evening: Lewis Ginter’s Flowers After 5 in summer, GardenFest for Grownups in December
  • Play: an escape room or game show at the town center

Dinner

  • Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille, 11788 W. Broad St.: opens at 4 p.m. daily, with valet parking and a posted dinner dress code. Its Bar 79 is open until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and runs a social hour from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays and 4 to 9 p.m. Sundays. 804-816-2160.
  • Casa del Barco, 11800 W. Broad St., Suite 2516: Mexican food, a tequila list and a rooftop bar. Open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, last seating 30 minutes before close. 804-729-5088.
  • Tazza Kitchen, 3332 Pump Road: brick-oven pizza, tacos and seafood, landscaped patios with heated outdoor dining in cooler months; dinner from 4:30 p.m. nightly, until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 804-716-6448.
  • The Daily Kitchen and Bar, 12201 W. Broad St.: dinner 4 to 9 p.m. daily, inside or on the patio when the weather allows. 804-360-3800.

Short Pump Town Center’s directory also lists Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Lehja, Maggiano’s Little Italy, The Cheesecake Factory, Texas de Brazil and The Boathouse among its sit-down restaurants. The center says Lehja, Casa del Barco, Firebirds, Maggiano’s and The Cheesecake Factory are among those with outdoor dining.

Comedy and games

  • Funny Bone, Short Pump Town Center, Suite 1090: stand-up comedy, ages 21 and up; some nights have two shows. 804-521-8900.
  • Red Door Escape Room and Great Big Game Show, both at the town center.
  • Draftcade, Sandbox VR and Zero Latency, also listed in the town center’s directory.

There is no movie theater at Short Pump Town Center, the center says.

Live music

  • The Tin Pan, 8982 Quioccasin Road: seated live music year-round. Box office Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., 804-447-8189; ask at least 24 hours ahead to sit with another party.
  • After Hours Concerts at the Innsbrook Pavilion, 4901 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen: outdoor national acts from late May into the fall.

More in our live music and nightlife guide.

Garden evenings at Lewis Ginter

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. in Henrico, about 8 miles east of Short Pump, runs evening programs through the year:

  • GardenFest for Grownups, adults-only nights of the holiday lights: Dec. 2, 3 and 30, 2026. The garden pitches them as a date night. Timed tickets are sold online.
  • Holiday Dining Experience, a seated meal before or after GardenFest, on Dec. 14-15, 21-22 and 31, 2026.
  • Flowers After 5, Thursday evenings with live bands from June into September. Leashed dogs are welcome on Fidos nights, the second and fourth Thursdays.
  • Vine to Glass wine programs; the 2026 series included an end-of-summer tasting on Sept. 1.

The garden is open 4 to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve during GardenFest; see our New Year’s Eve guide. 804-262-9887.

Getting there

Parking at Short Pump Town Center is free; Perry’s offers valet. Plan a sober ride home; GRTC Route 19 runs along West Broad Street. Our getting around guide has the details.

Related guides: brunch, Valentine’s Day, Short Pump Town Center and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

Where should we go for date night in Short Pump?

Short Pump Town Center has Perry’s Steakhouse, Casa del Barco’s rooftop bar, Cooper’s Hawk and the Funny Bone comedy club. The Tin Pan on Quioccasin Road books seated live music.

Is there a movie theater at Short Pump Town Center?

No. The center says it has no movie theater. Its evening entertainment includes the Funny Bone comedy club, Draftcade and escape and virtual reality games.

What is GardenFest for Grownups?

An adults-only night of Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. In 2026 it is Dec. 2, 3 and 30; tickets are timed and sold online.

Which Short Pump restaurants are open late?

Casa del Barco at Short Pump Town Center is open until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Perry’s Bar 79 is open until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, according to their own sites.