Best Girls Night Out Approved Restaurants in Fairfax
18 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Bacari W 3rd
Mediterranean-influenced small plates and wines served in a lush 3rd Street patio setting.
Notable Picks
#1
Bacari W 3rd
8.8
Bacari W 3rd is a Venetian-inspired small plates spot where Mediterranean-leaning dishes, craft cocktails, and a leafy patio make lingering over shared plates the default move. Locals treat it as a flexible neighborhood dining room for everything from happy hour to late-evening dates, with a menu that rewards mixing pastas, vegetable plates, and grilled meats.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb hummus with warm pita, Bacari fries with aioli, Seasonal seafood pasta
What Makes it Special: Mediterranean-influenced small plates and wines served in a lush 3rd Street patio setting.
#2
Carmel
8.7
Members pairs a Moroccan-inspired dining room with a members-club sensibility, offering Mediterranean-leaning plates alongside live performances and a curated nightlife program. The kitchen leans into grilled meats, seafood, and mezze that feel more polished than the average club menu. It’s best approached as a full evening out rather than a quick bite.
Must-Try Dishes:
Members’ Signature Mezze, Charcoal-Grilled Lamb Chops, Spiced Seafood Tagine
What Makes it Special: Moroccan palace–style setting that merges Mediterranean dining with club programming.
#3
Next Door
8.7
Next Door is a modern Israeli, Glatt kosher dining room from chefs Adir Cohen and Liad Ichiye, opened in late 2022 with a fine-dining approach to Mediterranean flavors. Plates lean polished and seasonal, with careful cooking, a strong wine and cocktail program, and service that feels closer to a special-occasion restaurant than a neighborhood casual spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charred eggplant with tahini, herbs, and fresh-baked laffa, Grilled lamb kebab with sumac onions and salatim, Whole branzino with herb oil and market vegetables
What Makes it Special: Fine-dining modern Israeli cooking with Glatt kosher certification and polished hospitality.
#4
Ronan
8.7
Ronan is a chef-driven Italian restaurant on Melrose known for wood-fired pizzas and seasonal share plates in a lively, design-forward space. It blends high-level technique with an energetic dining room ideal for date nights. The kitchen delivers consistent execution validated by professional recognition.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, Sweet Cheeks pizza, Seasonal arancini
What Makes it Special: Wood-fired pizzas and share plates executed with high culinary technique.
8.6
At The Grove, Alma Cocina de Mexico brings a polished, Mexico City–leaning menu of tacos, moles, and seafood to a patio overlooking the fountain. Guests come for shareable plates, serious cocktails, and an atmosphere that feels more like a modern dining room than a mall restaurant.
Must-Try Dishes:
Coliflor al Pastor, Quesabirria Tacos, Enchiladas de Mole
What Makes it Special: Upscale Mexico City–style cooking with cocktails and fountain-front patio seating.
#6
ADKT LA
8.5
ADKT LA is a moody French-Japanese spot on Fairfax that leans into cocktails, polished service, and chef-driven plates more than pure sushi. It’s a place for lingering evenings built around wagyu, seafood towers, and shareable small plates rather than a quick roll-and-go meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seafood Tower, Wagyu Chateaubriand, Matcha Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: French-Japanese cooking in a polished cocktail-forward dining room.
#7
Marvin
8.4
Marvin is a low-lit French-style bistro and wine bar where toast, pasta, and steak frites fuel late-night conversations. Regulars treat it as a neighborhood clubhouse for dates, birthday starts, and long, wine-soaked dinners over unfussy but dialed-in bistro plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rigatoni Bolognese, NY steak frites, Truffle fries
What Makes it Special: French-ish neighborhood wine bar where bistro classics meet a buzzy, late-night crowd.
8.4
This family-run room from chef-owner Sandro Oliverio leans into Calabrian-leaning pastas, rich sauces, and a house-baked dessert program in a low-lit Beverly dining room. It’s the kind of place where gnocchi pesto, pear-and-gorgonzola salad, and a serious Amarone by the glass turn a neighborhood dinner into a longer evening.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gnocchi al Pesto, Pear and Gorgonzola Salad, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: Cozy, family-owned Calabrian spot where handmade pastas, rich sauces, and a focused wine list anchor long Beverly dinners.
#9
El Carmen
8.4
El Carmen is a long-running tequila and mezcal bar on 3rd Street where tacos, chips, and guacamole support a serious margarita program. Locals treat it as a lively, dimly lit hangout for shrimp tacos, al pastor, and strong drinks rather than a traditional sit-down taqueria.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp tacos, Carne asada tacos, Al pastor tacos
What Makes it Special: Tequila-focused bar with better-than-expected tacos and lively decor.
8.4
The Benjamin Hollywood is an Art Deco–inflected American bar and restaurant where martinis, a serious bar burger, and crab beignets anchor a menu of updated classics. It feels like a throwback big-city dining room tuned for 2025, with a central oak bar, tight reservations, and a soundtrack that leans into late-night energy.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Benjamin Burger, Crab beignets with lemony aioli, Twice-baked potato with crème fraîche
What Makes it Special: A glam, Art Deco American bar-restaurant built around martinis and a standout burger.
8.2
Robata JINYA on 3rd Street is an izakaya-style spot where skewers, ramen, and sushi rolls share a long, lively menu. Guests build dinners around signature rolls, robata plates, and cocktails, making it a versatile choice for groups who want more than a straight-ahead sushi bar.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Tuna Roll or California Roll, Miyazaki Wagyu or Signature Beef Roll (where offered), Robata Skewers with Roll Combo Bento
What Makes it Special: Izakaya with serious skewers and bento-style sushi roll combos under one roof.
#12
Theía
8.1
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Late Night Legends
Theía is a high-energy Greek-inspired Mediterranean restaurant and lounge on Melrose where mezze, grilled lamb, and cocktails share equal billing with DJs and late-night dancing. Guests come for charred octopus, lamb chops, and Greek salad before the room shifts into a party-forward night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charred octopus, Grilled lamb chops, Greek salad
What Makes it Special: A Greek-inspired supper club that blends mezze, cocktails, and nightlife.
#13
Stir Crazy
8.1
A revived Melrose haunt that shifted from coffee shop to intimate natural-wine bar and dinner spot, with a small patio that suits dog owners well. Plates lean seasonal and snacky-to-composed, built for grazing alongside a deep, curated bottle list. The energy is artsy and low-lit—more neighborhood secret than tourist stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Citrus Crudo, House Gnocchi, Market Vegetables with Aioli
What Makes it Special: A low-key wine-bar restaurant revival with a dog-friendly patio.
8.1
Inside Short Stories Hotel, this terracotta-toned courtyard bar serves a stylish brunch on select days, pairing cocktails with egg dishes, burgers, and pastry. The tree-shaded patio and fountain make it feel more like a resort escape than a Fairfax side street.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Egg Dish, Brunch Burger, Shared Pastry Plate
What Makes it Special: Hotel bar brunch in a lush courtyard steps from The Grove.
8.1
Sogno Toscano’s Grove outpost brings a full-service Tuscan dining room and patio to the heart of the shopping center, pairing antipasti boards, pinsa-style pizzas, and house pastas with a deep lineup of imported products. It feels part Italian market, part wine bar, and part all-day restaurant where visitors linger between shopping runs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fichi Burrata e Crudo, Pinsa Margherita, Beef Meatballs with San Marzano Sauce
What Makes it Special: Tuscan import shop turned full-service restaurant where antipasti, pinsa, and pastas share space with retail shelves and a central Grove patio.
8
Noree Thai on Beverly is a chef-driven Fairfax District restaurant from the team behind Luv2Eat, known for punchy flavors and more composed plates than a typical takeout spot. Specials like pad see ew with beef tongue and crispy pork belly with Chinese broccoli make it a magnet for food-obsessed diners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad See Ew with Beef Tongue, Crispy Pork Belly with Chinese Broccoli, Pumpkin Stir-Fry with Egg
What Makes it Special: Chef-led Thai cooking with bolder dishes and riffs like beef-tongue noodles.
#17
Badmaash Fairfax
8
Badmaash’s Fairfax outpost is a lively modern Indian gastropub from the Mahendro family, blending Punjabi recipes with burgers, poutine, and craft beer. It’s a go-to for loud, energetic dinners where rich flavors, playful mashups, and a tight playlist matter as much as the curries.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spiced Lamb Burger, Chicken Tikka Poutine, Butter Chicken
What Makes it Special: Modern Punjabi cooking meets burgers, poutine, and a buzzing gastropub room.
Worthy Picks
#18
ATTITUDE CAFE
7.7
ATTITUDE CAFE is a poolside-adjacent New American brunch and cocktail spot just off 3rd Street, balancing buttermilk pancakes, Benedicts, and vegan-leaning plates. Guests use it as a casual hangout for mimosas, kimchi fried rice, and California Benedicts in a bright room with indoor and patio seating.
Must-Try Dishes:
California Benedict, Kimchi Fried Rice with Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Pancakes
What Makes it Special: Easygoing brunch cafe with vegan options and pool-adjacent patio.