These local bars, cafés, and restaurants serve sweet treats like cakes, milkshakes, pies, and more that are perfect for your next dessert date night.
Magnolia Dessert Bar & Coffee
This cozy Thai dessert bar, run by the same group as Sisters Thai, is a great place to order a few sweet items to share. There are homemade cakes, waffles smothered in Nutella and bananas, and Thai toast in flavors like Oreo cream and foi-thong cream, which is made of egg yolk and sugar. 431 Maple Ave., Ste. A, Vienna
Carnegie Diner & Café
This Vienna diner, with additional locations in New York City and New Jersey, serves classic sweet treats. It’s a great place to tuck any item from the extensive dessert menu, including a 24-layer chocolate cake. There’s also New York style cheesecake, five different types of pies, cupcakes, and gigantic shareable milkshakes. 501 Maple Ave. W., Vienna
The Conche Chocolate & Cake Studio
The Conche serves dinner and dessert that make for a great date night. The menu features a guava cheesecake and a monkey bread sundae, served warm and made with apple compote, vanilla bean ice cream, salted caramel sauce, and whipped cream. If you’re looking for a more hands-on activity, try one of The Conche’s classes, like the Christmas cake pop workshop or the cookie decorating class. 1605 Village Market Blvd. SE, Leesburg
T.Zone Dessert Bar
This whimsical dessert bar in Sterling has a substantial menu, including 15 different flavors of macarons, crêpes, and croissants stuffed with ice cream. The restaurant is open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, perfect for late-night stops with your love. 45999 Regal Pl., Ste. 110, Sterling
Twisted Sweets & Savory
This Herndon eatery specializes in a popular Eastern European treat called chimney cakes, traditional pastries often served at street fairs. Here, sweet chimney cake flavors include vanilla sugar, coconut, Biscoff, cinnamon sugar, Oreo, and walnut. Enjoy one as-is or try it with a spread like Nutella or marshmallow creme inside. 626 Grant St., Ste. F, Herndon
The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar & Ice Cream Shop
The colorful dessert shop has waffles, ice cream sandwiches, and other desserts. The shop specializes in “outrageous” milkshake creations. That’s not an exaggeration — one holiday shake concoction on the menu includes Christmas cookie–flavored ice cream with a vanilla-frosted rim rolled in Christmas tree sprinkles. It’s topped with a mini Christmas tree cake, green whipped cream, a rock candy stick, and even more sprinkles. Plus, guests can take the mason jars home with them — the perfect dessert date night souvenir! 716 King St., Alexandria
Sweetbites
Spend an afternoon at this welcoming café and bakery. Sweetbites’ menu has cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. Perhaps the most tempting is a slice of layer cakes. There’s a midnight chocolate version with rich chocolate buttercream or a light lemon cloud flavor with fluffy vanilla cake, fresh lemon curd, and cloud frosting. There is also a rotating seasonal flavor. 6845 Elm St., McLean
Feature image of chocolates from The Conche by Michael Butcher
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