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A man in a flat cap and shoulder holster beside a woman in a cream silk blouse, under the chandeliers of the dining room

From the Family

Date Night in Hollywood, Florida: How to Plan the Perfect Evening Downtown

Downtown Hollywood is one of the best places in South Florida for a date night, and a lot of people still do not know it. It is walkable, it has character, and it is a few minutes from the beach without the beach crowds.

Here is a simple plan for an evening that feels special without trying too hard.

Start with a walk on Hollywood Boulevard

Park once and walk. The blocks around Hollywood Blvd and Harrison Street are full of murals, galleries, small bars and shops. On the third Saturday of the month, ArtWalk brings live music and art to the streets, and the whole downtown comes alive.

Have a drink before dinner

Italians call it aperitivo: a light drink before the meal to open the appetite. At The Goodfellas, the Italian Sunset Spritz is made with Prosecco and blood orange. If you are celebrating something, a glass of Prosecco or a bottle of Franciacorta is the right start.

An Italian spritz in a stemmed glass with an orange slice and mint, on a dark background

Dinner: share everything

The best date night dinners are the ones where you share. Here is what we would order for two:

Start with the Insalata Caprese with burrata and a plate of prosciutto bruschette. For the main course, split The Sopranos pizza (burrata, mortadella and Bronte pistachio) or the gnocchi with mascarpone and Gorgonzola. For wine, a Barbera d’Alba or a Chianti goes with almost everything on the menu.

A pizza with artichokes and black olives on a laid table, the gold plaque behind reading The Goodfellas, ristorante pizzeria 100% italiano

Ask for one of our named tables. Telling your date you sat at the Corleone table is a better story than telling them you sat at table 12.

Save room for dessert

Cannoli or tiramisù? Get one of each and split them. Then finish with an espresso or a Marocchino, an Italian coffee with cocoa and milk foam. That is how you end a dinner the Italian way.

Sicilian cannoli filled with ricotta, chocolate chips, pistachio and candied orange

No need to rush home

We are open late every night, so dinner can start at eight or nine and nobody will rush you out. If the night is going well, the beach and the Broadwalk are a short drive away for a walk by the water.

Date night in Hollywood, Florida does not need to be complicated. Good food, a good bottle of wine and someone you like across the table. We will take care of the first two. Book your table at The Goodfellas, 1917 Hollywood Blvd.

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