Date night in Greensboro: dinner at Machete, White and Wood or Green Valley Grill, a show at the Carolina Theatre or Tanger Center, and late spots.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Hours are from each restaurant’s or venue’s own website, linked below; check before you go. This is a list, not a ranking.

A Greensboro date night usually means dinner downtown or near Friendly Center, then a show, a rooftop drink or a game of something. Downtown parking is free after 5 p.m. on weekdays, and the free Hopper Trolley runs late Thursday to Saturday in season.

What this means for you

  • Book ahead: Machete takes reservations through Tock; Pangaea recommends booking.
  • Free extras: Thursday nights at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, no-cover music at Lucky 32’s bar.
  • Show nights: check the Tanger Center and Carolina Theatre calendars before booking dinner.

Dinner

Restaurant Where Dinner hours (from its site)
Machete 600C Battleground Ave. 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
White and Wood 215 S. Elm St. 5 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; limited Sunday hours on Tanger Center Broadway nights
Undercurrent 327 Battleground Ave. 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Green Valley Grill 622 Green Valley Road Dinner from 3:30 p.m.; open until 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen 7307 Tryon Road Dinner Tuesday to Sunday after lunch or brunch; closed Mondays
Pangaea Bistro & Bar 230 S. Elm St. Reservations recommended
  • Machete serves a seasonal small-plates menu with Southern roots and global influences, and takes reservations through Tock. The restaurant says it was a 2022 James Beard Awards semifinalist for best new restaurant.
  • Green Valley Grill, beside the O.Henry Hotel, cooks European and Mediterranean dishes from a wood-fired rotisserie and grill and lists more than 500 wines; it says it holds Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence.”
  • Undercurrent cooks farm-to-table with local and regional products.

Downtown restaurants and bars are listed in Downtown Greensboro Inc.’s dining and drinks directory.

A show

  • Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, One Abe Brenner Place, 300 N. Elm St.: Broadway tours, concerts and the Greensboro Symphony; events.
  • Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St.: films, concerts and shows in the main hall and the standing-room Crown; box office 336-333-2605, noon to 3 p.m. weekdays; calendar.
  • Community Theatre of Greensboro: the oldest arts organization in Guilford County, with casts announced for musicals including “Sister Act”; season.
  • Comedy: The Idiot Box Comedy Club, 503 N. Greene St., and The Comedy Zone; details on our live music and nightlife guide.

Wine, cocktails and a view

  • ONETHIRTEEN Brewhouse + Rooftop Bar, 113 N. Greene St.: a bourbon and whiskey bar on the second floor and open-air rooftop bars above, according to Visit Greensboro.
  • Lewis + Elm, 600 S. Elm St.; 336-763-3435: reservations through its website.
  • Muddle., 607B S. Elm St., and Amity Cocktail Bar, 300 W. Gate City Blvd.: cocktail bars, listed by Downtown Greensboro Inc.
  • O.Henry Hotel: “Cocktails & Jazz” evenings with a jazz trio and guest vocalists, listed on the hotel group’s happenings calendar, and afternoon tea in the Social Lobby by reservation (tea page).

Play a game

  • Bourbon Bowl, 531 S. Elm St.: six bowling lanes, a cocktail bar and craft food, according to its website.
  • Boxcar Bar + Arcade, 120 W. Lewis St.: classic and modern arcade games and a full bar; see Visit Greensboro.

Late openings and free dates

  • Weatherspoon Art Museum, 1005 Spring Garden St.: free, open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, according to the museum.
  • Lucky 32’s bar: live music Tuesday to Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m., no cover, according to the restaurant.
  • A walk: the Downtown Greenway or the Greensboro Arboretum; see free things to do.

Getting there

  • Parking: downtown surface lots and street parking are free after 5 p.m. weekdays and all weekend; city decks are free on Sundays, according to the city’s parking page.
  • Hopper Trolley: free and seasonal, noon to midnight Thursday to Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, according to the city’s GTA routes page.

More: Valentine’s Day in Greensboro and brunch.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I go for a date night dinner in Greensboro?

Downtown options with posted hours include Machete, 600C Battleground Ave., open 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and White and Wood, 215 S. Elm St. Green Valley Grill near Friendly Center lists more than 500 wines.

Where can we see a show in Greensboro?

The Steven Tanger Center hosts Broadway tours, concerts and the Greensboro Symphony; the Carolina Theatre shows films and concerts; and the Community Theatre of Greensboro stages musicals and plays.

Is there anything open late on a weeknight?

The Weatherspoon Art Museum stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, free. Lucky 32 has free live music in its bar Tuesday to Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Where can we park downtown at night?

Downtown surface lots and street spaces are free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend, according to the city.