Date night in East Cobb: dinner, movies, theaters, late hours

Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. Hours and details come from each venue’s own website, or from Avenue East Cobb’s directory where we say so, linked below. We list places, not rankings.

An East Cobb date night usually means dinner in one of the shopping centers along Johnson Ferry and Roswell roads, then a movie or a stroll. For a show, Marietta Square is about seven miles west.

At a glance

• Dinner: Seed Kitchen & Bar, Luga Italian Eatery, Tenku Sushi, Marlow’s Tavern
• Movies: Merchants Walk Cinemas, with luxury recliners
• Shows: the Strand Theatre and Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta
• Open latest on weekends: Marlow’s Tavern, 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Dinner

Seed Kitchen & Bar is chef and owner Doug Turbush’s restaurant in Merchants Walk, with a seasonal American menu that uses local farmers’ produce where it can; 678-214-6888 (Seed). Luga Italian Eatery takes reservations through OpenTable; 470-787-2663. Tenku Sushi describes Japanese cuisine “reimagined under a modern gastronomic lens”; 770-575-0873. Marlow’s Tavern is in the same Merchants Walk center as Seed; 770-977-7747.

Movies

Merchants Walk Cinemas, run by Georgia Theatre Company in the Merchants Walk shopping center on Johnson Ferry Road, has luxury recliners. Showtimes and tickets are on its website (recliners). Seed and Marlow’s are in the same center, so dinner and a movie need one parking spot.

At Avenue East Cobb, Lights, Camera, Avenue shows free movies on The Plaza’s LED screen at 6 p.m. on set nights, including Oct. 22 and Dec. 3 and 10 (schedule).

Shows

• Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, 117 N. Park Square, Marietta: a nonprofit theater with live theater, films, concerts and comedy; box office 770-293-0080 (The Strand).
• Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta: Cobb PARKS’ theater, where the Marietta Theatre Company is staging its 2027 season; 770-528-8490 (Jennie T. Anderson Theatre).

More music venues are in live music and nightlife.

Drinks and dessert

• Round Trip Brewing, Avenue East Cobb, Suite 1600: taproom and beer garden, open until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Round Trip FAQ).
• Vanilla Cafe, Avenue East Cobb, Suite 1010: gelato, open until 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. weeknights, according to the center’s directory.
• Avenue Live: free music in The Plaza, 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays, April to October (Avenue Live).

Run a wine bar, restaurant or late-night spot in East Cobb? Send us your link and we will check it and add you.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I go for a date night dinner in East Cobb? Seed Kitchen & Bar in Merchants Walk serves dinner nightly from 5 p.m., and Luga Italian Eatery and Tenku Sushi at Avenue East Cobb serve dinner most nights. Each restaurant’s own site has its menu and reservations.

Is there a movie theater in East Cobb? Yes. GTC’s Merchants Walk Cinemas on Johnson Ferry Road has luxury recliner seating; showtimes are on its website.

What is open late in East Cobb? Marlow’s Tavern in Merchants Walk is open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Round Trip Brewing at Avenue East Cobb until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Where can we see a show near East Cobb? The Strand Theatre on Marietta Square, about seven miles west, has live theater, concerts, comedy and films, and the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta hosts the Marietta Theatre Company.

What this means for you

• Merchants Walk puts dinner and a movie in one parking lot.
• Book Luga on OpenTable for a weekend table.
• Valentine’s Day 2027 is a Sunday; see our Valentine’s Day page.

Related: brunch, live music and nightlife, Avenue East Cobb and free things to do.