Today I want to share my guide to the best date ideas in Los Angeles with you. From romantic dinners to outdoor adventures and fun experiences, the City of Angels has plenty of ways to show that special someone you care. Whether you’re looking for the perfect night out or a daytime excursion, these are some of the best date spots in LA. I know from experience, as I’ve done them all. Read on for my list. I’ve included a map, too.
Date Ideas in Los Angeles
From dinners in the Arts District to rooftop bars in Venice, my other half and I have gone on a lot of dates in Los Angeles. They’ve ranged from classic dinner-and-drinks nights to surprise evenings involving speakeasies and celebrity spotting. Each one has proven how much LA has to offer when it comes to romance.
Shortly after I met my other half, he took me out on a surprise date night. It was so much fun we decided to make it a tradition. Now we regularly take turns planning dates for each other. Lucky for me, he’s from LA. He knows the best places to go out, and he’s shown me some amazing spots.
We’ve taken the idea all over the world, planning surprise date nights in places as far-flung as London, the US Virgin Islands, San Francisco, and Charleston. Not only has it given us a creative way to show our love for one another, but also a fun way to see California and the world.
Our dates in LA have also helped us get to know each other, tune into what the other likes, and be better listeners. We strive to plan thoughtful dates to places the other has mentioned they want to go. Doing so has meant we’ve become more attuned casual mentions of “you know what would be fun…” or “I’d love to do…”.
It makes our time together all the more special when we see the other’s faces light up and hear the words “I’ve been wanting to go here forever!” or “oh wow, you remembered!”. The experiences are more meaningful because we feel like the other has put real effort into the planning.
Each Los Angeles date on my list is something he’s planned for me. I hope you find one or more that helps you come up with the ideal date for a new love or a long-standing special someone.
You can use these as inspiration and customize them to fit your other half’s interests. Whether it’s a first date or you’ve been together for years, they’re the perfect ways to have fun and inspire romance.
1. Griffith Observatory, Dinner in Hollywood, and Urban Light
I’ll start my list of date ideas in Los Angeles with the first one my other half planned for me. He wanted to take me to some classic parts of LA and a few fun places to go out, so he put together a creative night for us.
We started the date at Griffith Observatory, where we took in golden hour views of LA and the Hollywood sign. From the glow of the hills to the light across the city skyline, it was a romantic place to start our date.
From there he took me to dinner at Osteria Mozza in Hollywood. Nancy Silverton’s famous Italian restaurant is one of his favorites, and we enjoyed a great meal of fresh mozzarella, delicious pasta, and good wine. As an added bonus, we even got to meet Nancy and ask for her restaurant recommendations for our upcoming trip to Italy.
After dinner we drove over to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Outside the museum is Urban Light. Created in 2008, this free outdoor art installation by Chris Burden features a grid of restored vintage street lamps that illuminates the night sky on Wilshire Boulevard.
Urban Light is a Los Angeles landmark and attraction, and we had a great time walking through it and taking pictures. It was a fun way to cap off a great night out in LA.
2. Rooftop Bar in Venice Beach & Beverly Hills Dinner
Another of my favorite Los Angeles date ideas is a double date my other half planned for us and our friends who were visiting from out of town. He wanted to do something creative but classic, so he booked us an evening with a rooftop bar and dinner.
We spent the first part of the night in Venice Beach. He’d reserved a table for us at High Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Erwin. It’s known for its amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. We enjoyed cocktails and nibbles as the sunset turned the sky amazing shades of orange.
After drinks we went to Beverly Hills for dinner at Avra. This restaurant is not only known for its delicious seafood, but also its world-class people watching. We enjoyed everything from zucchini and eggplant fries with tzatziki to a delicious whole fish in the spacious dining room.
3. Arts District Speakeasy & Dinner
Next on my list of date ideas in Los Angeles is one my other half planned for us in the Arts District in Downtown LA (DTLA). This hip part of town is known for its stylish bars and restaurants, and I was excited to experience what he’d booked for our night out.
We started at a subterranean bar called Death & Co. This cool New York cocktail lounge has a speakeasy feel, low light, and creative drinks. It’s an ideal place to kick off a night out in LA.
After Death & Co, it was a quick drive to dinner at award-winning chef Enrique Olvera’s Damian. This restaurant blends Mexican cuisine with seasonal Californian produce. We enjoyed excellent food in a contemporary warehouse atmosphere (and I tried ants for the first time!).
4. Manhattan Beach Drinks & Dinner
We spend a lot of time in Manhattan Beach, and it numbers among our favorite places to go out in LA. One of our Los Angeles date nights started at Esperanza, a fun Mexican restaurant with a big bar along the wall. We tucked into mezcal margaritas as the dining room buzzed around us.
Afterwards we walked a few doors down to have dinner at Love & Salt. We sat at a table in the contemporary dining room and tucked into Italian-inspired cuisine with Southern California soul.
If you want to take this date idea a bit farther, you can walk over and have a post-dinner drink at Downstairs Bar. Better yet, if you know a member of the 900 Club, you can go upstairs and have a cocktail with the locals.
5. Tiki Bar in Los Feliz, Dinner in Hollywood, and Drinks in Bel-Air
Next on my list of date ideas in Los Angeles is a night out in Los Feliz, Hollywood, and Bel-Air. This one started at a tiki bar called Tiki-Ti on Sunset Blvd. My other half loves a good tropical-themed watering hole, and I’ve come to enjoy them too. This one didn’t disappoint.
Tiki-Ti’s unassuming exterior gave way to a Polynesian extravaganza inside the intimate bar. We tucked into cocktails that came complete with a little show (I won’t spoil the surprise), and it was a great start to our night in LA.
After drinks we headed to dinner at Mother Wolf. Chef Evan Funke’s restaurant pays homage to Rome and the rich culinary heritage of La Cucina Romana. Housed in the old Citizen News building in Hollywood, it has a colorful dining room and delicious pastas and pizzas. It’s a great place to spot celebs, too.
After a delicious dinner we went over to Hotel Bel-Air, one of the iconic 5-star luxury hotels in Los Angeles. With its lush garden setting, it feels like it’s a million miles away from the city.
We sat in the Bar & Lounge and enjoyed cocktails to the sound of live music. The atmosphere was one of long-lost Hollywood glamour, and it was a great way to cap off a date night in LA.
6. Palos Verdes Hike & Lunch
Next on my list is a fun day date idea in Los Angeles. This one is on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, one of my favorite places to get outdoors in LA. It’s pup-friendly, too, so you can bring your canine companion if you want to.
The date started with a dog-friendly hike in Los Angeles, where we walked along the Bluff Cove Trail in Malaga Cove. It took us and The Pup from the bluffs past Flat Rock Beach and down to the shore below Surf View Park. A relatively easy 1.1-mile out-and-back trail, it’s right on the Pacific Ocean in the South Bay.
Along the way we enjoyed stunning coastal views and lots of wildflowers before arriving at a stretch of rocky beach. After exploring the shoreline, we continued our hike on the Blufftop Trail and along the coast toward Lunada Bay for around an hour.
When we finished the hike, we drove the short distance to a cafe called Yellow Vase in Rancho Palos Verdes. This place is great for casual order-at-the-counter meals, and we sat at an outdoor table on the sunny patio to enjoy our post-hike lunch.
7. Palos Verdes Spa, Sunset Cocktails, and Dinner
My next date idea in Los Angeles is also in Palos Verdes. This one focused on luxury and indulgence, complete with spa treatments, cocktails, and dinner with a view.
We started at the spa at Terranea, a grand coastal resort on the peninsula. We enjoyed relaxing massages before heading outside to chill by the fire pits and soak up the Pacific Ocean views.
When we left the spa, we headed up to the Lobby Bar & Terrace for sunset cocktails. It was the perfect way to transition from afternoon to evening, and a great place to watch the sun go down.
After drinks we headed to dinner at Mar’sel, one of the restaurants at Terranea. We always enjoy great food and excellent service here, and this trip was no exception. From the seafood to the steak and the ocean views, it was an ideal place to end our evening.
8. Malibu Beach & Lunch
Next on my list of date ideas in Los Angeles is a daytime one in Malibu. We did this as a double date with my other half’s sister and her husband. We brought The Pup, too.
First we met for lunch at Trancas Country Market. This shopping and dining complex on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) features rustic barn-like structures with restaurants and cafes. Our lunch on the patio at Malibu Brewing Company was a fun start to our time in the area.
After lunch we spent the afternoon on the dog-friendly part of Leo Carrillo State Beach. It’s a great stretch of sand in Malibu, and a fun place to soak up the sun in Los Angeles. It’s an ideal place for a relaxing day on the Pacific Ocean.
9. Sunset Walk in Venice & Dinner
Next on my list of date ideas in Los Angeles is one in Venice. It started with a sunset walk along the famous canals there. It was a romantic way to start the evening, not least because the sky turned pink as the sun went down.
From there it was a few minutes’ walk to Ospi, an Italian restaurant in Venice. With an airy dining room and great service, it was the perfect place to tuck into Southern Italian cuisine, handmade pastas, and delicious pizza.
I loved how this date was a mix of something active and something delicious. It was a great way to experience some of the best of what Venice has to offer.
10. Newport Beach Holiday Lights
The next LA date idea on my list is one that’s ideal for the holiday season. While not technically in LA (it’s in Orange County), it’s still perfect if you and your special someone like getting into the spirit and seeing the lights.
We drove from LA to Newport Beach and started our evening with dinner at Arc Butcher & Baker. This restaurant has amazing food, and our flatbreads lived up to their reputation.
After dinner we drove over to the waterfront and boarded a boat to see the famous holiday lights. Newport Beach is one of the best Christmas towns in California, and it’s known for the extravagant seasonal displays and Ring of Lights decorating competition.
Seeing the lights from a boat cruise in Newport Beach was a fun way to spend time together, and a great opportunity to get into the spirit of the season. If you’re interested, you can book a cruise here.
11. Long Beach Gondola Ride
Another fun seasonal date idea in Los Angeles is a gondola ride in Long Beach to see the Christmas lights along the Naples Canals. This is something you can do year-round, but it’s particularly special during the holidays. The twinkling lights on the houses add an extra bit of romance to the atmosphere.
We started out just before sunset, and our gondolier ferried us across Alamitos Bay. He serenaded us with songs as we went. We weaved our way through the canals, taking in the lights as the sunset painted the sky around us.
By the time we got back to the dock, the sky was bright yellow and pink, and the world felt magical.
Map of Date Ideas in LA
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all the places on my list of dates in LA. You can find it here. It can help you get an idea of where things are so you can plan your next romantic adventure.
Date Ideas in Los Angeles
I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of date ideas in Los Angeles, and that it’s inspired you to get out and discover more of the City of Angels and the surrounding county. There are so many places to go on dates in LA, and the city inspires romance in a range of ways.
I’ll add more fun Los Angeles date ideas to this list as we go on them, so make sure to bookmark this post or pin it on Pinterest so you can check back for updates. I hope they help you fall (more) in love!
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