Romantic Restaurant Penn Quarter DC: Boqueria for Two

Every couple has a handful of evenings that matter more than the rest. The anniversary you circled months ago. The birthday where you skip the party and keep it to two. The night you finally have tickets to that play. If you are searching for a romantic restaurant Penn Quarter DC couples can plan a special evening around, Boqueria at 777 9th Street NW puts Spanish tapas, sangría and Ibérico ham a short walk from the galleries and theaters downtown.

Our take on romance is a little different from the hushed, formal kind. Tapas are small plates you share, so the meal turns into a long, easy conversation. One of you spears the last croqueta, the other orders another round of garlic shrimp, and two hours pass without anyone checking a phone.

This guide is for those bigger nights: a gallery afternoon followed by dinner, a meal timed around a show, the right chef’s menu for an anniversary, and a birthday for two.

Key Takeaways

• Boqueria Penn Quarter sits at 777 9th St NW, about a block from the building shared by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
• For anniversaries, the Ibérico Celebration chef’s menu brings Jamón Ibérico de Bellota and Secreto de Ibérico to the table, with a choice of meat, fish or paella.
• Shared tapas such as Gambas al Ajillo, Seared Octopus and Croquetas de Jamón set a relaxed, talkative pace for a night out.
• Crema Catalana, Basque Chocolate Cheesecake and churros make a natural birthday finish, and a Carajillo rounds off the evening.
• Reservations are recommended for special occasions, especially on weekends; bar seating is kept for walk-ins.

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1. Why Boqueria Is a Romantic Restaurant Penn Quarter DC Couples Remember

Romance at the table usually comes down to three things: food worth talking about, a pace that lets you linger, and a room with a little energy in it. Our location page describes Boqueria Penn Quarter as a place that “blends bold Catalan flavors with cosmopolitan flair,” and that mix suits a celebration nicely. It feels lively and grown-up at once.

The tapas format does most of the romantic work for you.

Every plate is shared. You are not sitting across from each other with separate entrées. You are reaching into the same dish, trading bites and deciding together what comes next.

There is no wrong order. On a birthday or anniversary, nobody wants dish envy. With small plates, each of you tastes everything.

The night sets its own rhythm. Dishes arrive as the kitchen finishes them. Order a few, slow down, then add more. A special dinner can stretch out comfortably.

The idea goes back to Barcelona. Boqueria grew out of the city’s energetic tapas bars, and our first restaurant opened in 2006 on 19th Street in New York’s Flatiron district. The motto still holds: “Inspired by Barcelona. Forged in NYC.” In Penn Quarter, that spirit lands in the cultural center of the capital, surrounded by museums, theaters and historic streets.

2. Art First, Dinner After: A Gallery Date on 8th Street

One of the loveliest ways to spend a special day in Penn Quarter is to start it with art. The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery share one historic building at 8th and G Streets NW, just about a block from our door on 9th Street. Visiting does not require tickets, according to the museum’s own visitor information.

The building’s glass-covered interior courtyard is a favorite pause between galleries, with natural light pouring in from above. It is a calm place to sit for a few minutes before you wander back into the collections.

Here is how a gallery date can flow:

• Mid-afternoon: Explore American art upstairs and down, then drift over to the portraits and pick out the faces you each find most interesting.
• Late afternoon: Rest in the covered courtyard and compare notes.
• Early evening: Walk around the corner to 9th Street, where a Fall Gin & Tonic and a plate of Jamón Ibérico de Bellota are waiting.

Before you go, check the museum’s site for current hours and exhibitions, since those change through the year.

Plan	Where you start	Dinner idea at Boqueria
Gallery date	Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery	Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, Seared Octopus, Crema Catalana
Show night	A Penn Quarter theater or Capital One Arena	Tapas before, or dessert and a Carajillo after
Anniversary dinner	Straight to 9th Street	Ibérico Celebration chef’s menu
Birthday for two	Drinks at the bar, then a table	Shared tapas and Basque Chocolate Cheesecake

3. Dinner Before (or After) the Show

Penn Quarter is one of Washington’s liveliest entertainment districts. Theaters, concerts and big events at Capital One Arena bring couples downtown, and a show night often becomes the excuse for an anniversary or birthday dinner.

Eating before curtain. A pre-show meal should feel generous without making you sleepy in your seat. Tapas are made for this. Order a few plates to share and keep an eye on your timing:

• Pan con Tomate: toasted bread rubbed with tomato, garlic and olive oil, a simple Catalan opener.
• Croquetas de Jamón: creamy Serrano ham croquettes served with quince purée.
• Gambas al Ajillo: shrimp in garlic, brandy and lobster reduction, with a little heat from guindilla pepper.
• Patatas Bravas: crispy potatoes with spicy brava sauce, pimentón and garlic allioli (a garlicky, mayonnaise-style sauce).

Let your server know you have tickets when you sit down, and book a table early enough to enjoy the meal without rushing.

Eating after the applause. Some couples prefer to see the show first and celebrate afterward, while the music is still in their heads. That is the perfect moment for dessert and a nightcap: a Classic Churros plate with hot chocolate for dipping, or a Carajillo, the Spanish after-dinner coffee made with espresso and your choice of coffee liqueur, brandy or anise.

4. Anniversary Dinner: Choosing a Chef’s Menu

For an anniversary, the easiest gift is not having to decide. Our three chef’s menus let the kitchen guide the evening while you focus on each other.

Boqueria Essentials is a set introduction to classic and seasonal tapas. It suits couples new to Spanish food, or anyone who wants a tour of the favorites.

The Seasonal Selection is built around what the kitchen is cooking this time of year, then adds one larger dish for the table: a meat, a fish or a paella. Paella, for anyone new to it, is Spain’s famous rice dish, cooked in a wide, shallow pan so the bottom forms a crisp, toasty layer called socarrat.

Ibérico Celebration is the one we would point most anniversary couples toward. As the name suggests, it is built for marking an occasion. It includes Jamón Ibérico de Bellota and Secreto de Ibérico alongside seasonal dishes, plus your choice of meat, fish or paella.

A little background makes the Ibérico even better. Jamón Ibérico de Bellota comes from Spain’s black Iberian pigs, raised on a diet that includes acorns (bellota is Spanish for acorn). Ours is aged 48 months, which gives it deep marbling and a rich, nutty flavor. Secreto de Ibérico is a prized cut from the same breed, seared and served with white romesco, a nutty Catalan sauce, and shoestring potatoes.

Chef’s menu	What it includes	Best for
Boqueria Essentials	An introduction to classic and seasonal tapas	A first visit or a relaxed date
The Seasonal Selection	Seasonal dishes plus one meat, fish or paella	Couples who like to eat with the season
Ibérico Celebration	Jamón Ibérico, Secreto de Ibérico and seasonal dishes, plus one meat, fish or paella	Anniversaries and milestone nights

Prefer to order à la carte? Build your own anniversary spread with the Seared Octopus (with manzanilla olive sauce and olive-oil crushed potatoes), Gambas al Ajillo and Croquetas de Jamón, then finish with something sweet.

5. Birthdays for Two, Toasts and Sweet Endings

A birthday for two is a different kind of celebration than a big party. It is quieter and more personal, and the details matter. Here is how to make it feel special at Boqueria.

Start with a toast. Our drinks list leans Spanish and seasonal. A few current favorites for a birthday toast:

• Fall Gin & Tonic: gin with Earl Grey, jasmine, lime and tonic, fragrant and a little autumnal.
• Tomaquet Martini: toast-infused vodka with tomato water and dry vermouth, a playful nod to Pan con Tomate.
• Negroni Blanco: gin, white vermouth and bitter aperitifs, stirred and elegant.
• Ibérico Washed Old Fashioned: bourbon fat-washed with Jamón Ibérico, with demerara and bitters, a savory sip for the whiskey lover.
• Sangría: house-made Tinta (red), Blanca (white) or Sidra (cider-style), perfect for sharing.

Prefer wine? Ask about our all-Spanish wine list, which focuses on small producers from Spain’s classic regions. Cocktail menus rotate, so check the location page for the latest list.

Save room for dessert. This is where a birthday dinner earns its candle.

• Crema Catalana: Catalonia’s custard, with lemon zest and a crackly caramelized sugar top.
• Basque Chocolate Cheesecake: rich and creamy, with strawberries and Chantilly cream.
• Orange Olive Oil Cake: bright and citrusy, with citrus-honey yogurt.
• Classic Churros: cinnamon-sugar churros with dulce de leche, hot chocolate or Nutella for dipping. One plate, two people, no arguments.

Mention the occasion. When you book, add a note that you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary. It helps our team know the night matters to you.

Planning ahead for something bigger? If the evening is a proposal, a milestone birthday that includes friends, or an anniversary party, our DC events page covers private dining and buyouts. We have also shared more ideas in our earlier post on celebration dinners in Penn Quarter.

6. Visit Us in Penn Quarter

Penn Quarter has a special feel at night. The galleries close, the theater crowds spill onto the sidewalks, and the historic facades along 7th, 8th and 9th Streets glow under the streetlights. It is a walkable neighborhood made for an evening out, and Boqueria sits right in the middle of it at 777 9th St NW.

You can arrive from almost any direction. Couples coming from a gallery afternoon have about a block to walk. Those heading to or from Capital One Arena or a nearby theater have a short walk through the neighborhood. If you are traveling by Metro, Gallery Place-Chinatown station is close by.

Detail	Info
Address	777 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Nearby	Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Capital One Arena
Romantic picks	Ibérico Celebration chef’s menu, Gambas al Ajillo, Crema Catalana
Drinks	Spanish-inspired cocktails, house sangría, all-Spanish wine list
Dietary	Several gluten-free options are marked on the menu
Reservations	Recommended, especially on weekends; bar seating kept for walk-ins
## Conclusion

The most memorable nights for two do not need grand gestures. They need good company, food you want to share and a setting that makes time slow down. As a romantic restaurant Penn Quarter DC couples can lean on, Boqueria brings all three together: a gallery visit around the corner, a show a short walk away, and a table filled with Ibérico ham, sizzling shrimp and Crema Catalana.

Whether you are marking an anniversary, celebrating a birthday for two or turning a show night into an occasion, take a look at the menus on the Boqueria Penn Quarter location page, then reserve your table and tell us what you are celebrating.

Frequently Asked Questions