Iron Gate’s patio will get the Valentine’s Day treatment in February. (Photo via Facebook)

Love will be in the air (or at least in the glassware) at Iron Gate (1734 N St. NW) next month, when the restaurant will transform into a full-fledged Valentine’s Day pop-up bar, complete with red drinks, over-the-top decor, and even an R&B soundtrack.

The pop-up will run from February 1 to the 15 in Iron Gate’s bar and patio areas. The typically sophisticated restaurant says it envisions the project as a lighthearted way to celebrate the holiday and the cheese that often comes with it.

“A pop up Valentine’s Bar just made sense for us, since the restaurant has always been a romantic destination and popular date night spot, but we also wanted to do something fun,” Iron Gate spirits manager Nick Farrell tells DCist.

Bar-goers will be met with decorations like red lanterns, candles, heart projections on the ceiling, and more. It’ll all be tied together with a soundtrack of smooth 90s R&B hits from artists like George Michael, Prince, and others.

Cocktails will include “A Black Manhattan Where My Heart Once Was,” a drink with chocolate-infused, cherrywood and cocoa butter-washed bourbon, Lucano amaro, vermouth, house orange bitters, and a chocolate-covered maraschino cherry garnish. There will also be the bright red, “I Wish I Knew How To Quit You, Negroni,” served with a heart-shaped ice cube.

Chef Tony Chittum is developing a special lounge menu with desserts for the duration of the pop-up. Final details are still being worked out. The regular menu will be available as well, and the dining room will remain in its usual set up for anyone who prefers a more traditional evening.

Farrell says that while there’s a part of him that “recoils at the idea of a dedicated day for love,” he hopes to create an environment where all people, whether a couple or a group of friends, can enjoy whatever love means to them.

“I hope people have fun and get a kick out of the over-the-top romantic setting we’re creating.”