Date night in Lawrenceville: dinner downtown, Aurora Theatre and the arts center, wine and cocktail bars, comedy and places open late.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Addresses, hours and show dates come from each venue’s own site or the city’s downtown directory, linked. We do not rank restaurants.

Downtown Lawrenceville packs a full evening into a few blocks: dinner on the square, a show at Aurora Theatre or the Lawrenceville Arts Center, and a nightcap at a courtyard bar or wine room. Parking is free, and drinks can go with you inside the city’s open container district.

Who to call

  • Aurora Theatre and arts center box office: 678-226-6222
  • The Lawrence Hotel (Bellfire, Old Nick’s): 678-750-1100
  • City of Lawrenceville: 770-963-2414

Dinner

From the city’s downtown dining directory and each restaurant’s own site:

  • Perry Street Chophouse, 125 N. Perry St.: prime steaks, local produce and fresh seafood (website).
  • Bellfire at The Lawrence Hotel, 120 E. Crogan St.: Southern and Mediterranean dishes from wood-fired grills, dinner 5 to 10 p.m. daily, with reservations (Bellfire).
  • Añejo, 165 N. Perry St., Suite 200: Mexican dining the restaurant calls elegant, open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday (website).
  • Magazzino Delle Pizza, 137 S. Perry St., Suite A: pizza from wood-fired ovens (website).
  • D’Floridian Cuban Cuisine & Bar, 125 W. Crogan St.: Cuban dishes and handcrafted cocktails (website).
  • Oyster Bay Seafood Cafe, 125 W. Crogan St., Suite B: oysters and Southern-style seafood (website).
  • Local Republic, 139 N. Perry St.: burgers and small plates with craft beer and wine (website).

A show

  • Aurora Theatre, 128 E. Pike St., the resident professional company at the Lawrenceville Arts Center. Season 31: Christmas Canteen Nov. 19 to Dec. 23, 2026; Misery Jan. 28 to Feb. 21, 2027; Lady Disdain, a romantic comedy, April 1-25, 2027; and Frozen June 24 to July 18, 2027 (Season 31).
  • Lawrenceville Arts Center, 125 N. Clayton St.: comedy, concerts and dance. Coming up: Dad’s Garage Comedy, 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6; Southern Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker, Dec. 18-20; and the Gwinnett Symphony’s concerts through May 2027 (arts center calendar).
  • Lawrenceville Ghost Tours and Brews & Boos, Aurora’s fall walking tours; the pub crawl is 21 and up. They run through Nov. 1, 2026 (Haunted Happenings).

Drinks after

  • Old Nick’s, The Lawrence Hotel’s open-air courtyard bar: craft cocktails, whiskeys and small plates, 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday (Old Nick’s).
  • Vintages Tasting Room, 162 E. Crogan St.: a wine tasting room, per the city’s directory.
  • Slow Pour Brewing, 407 N. Clayton St.: tasting room and beer garden, open until midnight Friday and 11 p.m. Saturday (Slow Pour).

More bars and music venues are in our live music and nightlife guide.

Something different

  • Masterpiece Mixers Paint & Party, 152 E. Crogan St., Suite D: guided painting sessions (website).
  • Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament and Dave & Buster’s at Sugarloaf Mills, 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, as listed by Explore Gwinnett.
  • Murder Behind the Mask, a masquerade mystery dinner for ages 21 and up at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 (county guide).

Late openings

From each venue’s own site, regular hours:

Venue Friday and Saturday close
Truck & Tap, 175 S. Perry St. 1 a.m.
Añejo, 165 N. Perry St. Midnight
Universal Joint, 181 W. Pike St. Midnight
Slow Pour Brewing, 407 N. Clayton St. Midnight Friday; 11 p.m. Saturday
Pearl’s Tea, 30 S. Clayton St. 10:30 p.m.

Parking and drinks to go

Downtown parking is free in the city’s decks and lots, including the Purple Deck, 147 E. Crogan St., and the Blue Deck, 225 Luckie St. (parking page). Inside the marked Downtown District you may carry a drink bought from a licensed downtown business in a clear plastic cup of 16 ounces or less, on sidewalks and walkable areas (open container rules).

Frequently asked questions

Where should we go for a date night in Lawrenceville? Downtown has dinner at places such as Perry Street Chophouse, Bellfire at The Lawrence Hotel and Añejo, shows at Aurora Theatre and the Lawrenceville Arts Center, and drinks at Old Nick’s and Vintages Tasting Room, all downtown.

What is playing at Aurora Theatre this season? Aurora’s Season 31 includes Christmas Canteen Nov. 19 to Dec. 23, 2026, Misery Jan. 28 to Feb. 21, 2027, Lady Disdain April 1-25, 2027, and Frozen June 24 to July 18, 2027.

What is open late in downtown Lawrenceville? On their own sites, Truck & Tap lists 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and Añejo and Universal Joint list midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Is there comedy in Lawrenceville? The Lawrenceville Arts Center lists Dad’s Garage Comedy at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, and lists more comedy nights on its calendar.

What this means for you

  • Book dinner and a show together; the arts center is downtown, inside the open container district.
  • Aurora’s Lady Disdain in April 2027 is the season’s romantic comedy.
  • Park once and walk; to-go drinks are allowed in the downtown district.

Related: Valentine’s Day, brunch and a guide to downtown Lawrenceville.