Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and nothing says romance more than a plate of sweet corn carbonara with pancetta. Or maybe a juicy tomahawk steak topped with 24k gold, shaved truffle and caviar. Or perhaps a perfectly risen chocolate soufflé. Our point is the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, and this is especially true when someone else is doing the cooking and you can focus on staring deeply into each other’s eyes (phones down, please). Whether you’re looking for a restaurant patio, rooftop bar or sexy spot with a view, we’ve got you covered with our pick of the most romantic restaurants in Los Angeles. (Psst: Be sure to keep an eye out for special Valentine’s Day menu items because we all know that date night can get pricy.)
The 32 Most Romantic Restaurants in Los Angeles
1. Mother Wolf
Evan Funke is an LA pasta-pizza God and his new Hollywood Old World Roman-inspired place is one of the most romantic rooms in town. Sure, you can go to his other famous spot on Abbott Kinney (Felix) but this one is four times the size with plenty of blush-hued banquettes for snuggling over delicate squash blossoms with ricotta or a spicy rigatoni with oxtail ragu. Don’t miss the mortadella di bologna stuffed in folded pizza dough with pistachio and lemon along with a couple of negroni cocktails.
1545 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028; motherwolfla.com
2. Ka’teen
The sexy-romance vibes begin the minute you walk down the dark, twig-lined tunnel-like entry way to this new Mexican hideaway by chef Wes Avila on the ground floor of the Tommie Hollywood hotel. It feels like you’re in a jungle setting with lush foliage and plenty of private nooks that are dimly lit. The Volcan Tequila and Illegal Mescal cocktails will get you in the mood for ceviche tostadas, mole verde mushrooms or whole branzino with fresh salsas hand-made tortillas.
6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028; kateenla.com
3. Grandmaster Recorders
How about three romantic options in one venue? Brought to you by the owners of E.P./L.P., start your night with cocktails in the first-floor Studio 71 bar-lounge area with a DJ then move over to dinner in the open chic warehouse-style main restaurant for Petrossian caviar cannolis and crispy potato scallops with whipped cod row or the special Valentine’s Day “Chefs Menu for Lovers.” End the evening with a nightcap on the roof patio where the cocktails are flowing and the playlist spans Neil Young to Cool and the Gang, plus the anecdotal history and memorabilia of this former recording studio, where everyone from David Bowie to Gwen Stefani and Kanye West recorded, will give you all the feels.
1518 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028; grandmasterrecorders.com
4. L’antica Pizzeria Da Michele
You can’t go wrong with a hidden Hollywood patio that is the sister restaurant of the famous Naples pizzeria in Eat Pray Love (the one that made Julia Roberts gain weight, as if!). The space has been updated with a secret garden where you can sip cocktails and order the fantastic thin-crust pizza and pasta Nerano from the main menu. That’s amore!
1534 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90028; damicheleusa.com
5. Caldo Verde
James-Beard Award-winning chefs Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne’s (of AOC fame) can be found most nights on the ground floor of the Kelly Wearstler designed Proper DTLA Hotel. The room mixes warm tones, vintage finds and an array European-inspired tiles with modern touches. Share a steaming bowl of Caldo Verde aka spicy fish stew and pretend like you are in Portugal for a night. After dinner, the Cara Cara rooftop awaits for cocktails, firepits and a city view.
1100 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015; properhotel.com
6. De La Nonna
Behind the funky white-walled Arts District exterior, lies a charming garden and tree-lined area with Motown music wafting out from an indoor walk-up pizza ordering counter. The pies here are oblong squares and made with fluffy focaccia with perfectly crispy edges, but don’t miss an order the eggplant caponata which is caramelized (almost like a banana). It’s fun date food in any case and do try the tequila-mezcal cocktails or house-made fennel lemon citrus limoncello. And be sure to pop into The Let’s Go Disco & Cocktail Club for great drinks and music to cap the night off.
710 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013; delanonna.com
7. Lady Byrd Café
This beloved all-day Echo Park casual spot has flipped the patio into a space with greenhouse-style pods where you can dine by candlelit in the evening. If you are an early bird (that was too easy), do try the lemon poppyseed pancakes for breakfast, or spicy pulled pork sandwich for lunch. At night, they break out the wine and cocktails and the pastas are very temping.
2100 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026; ladybyrdcafe.com
8. Horses
If a dimly lit pub atmosphere is more your style, you’ll want to book this Sunset Blvd. newcomer in the former historic Coach & Horses space. The small red leather two-top side booths are just waiting for you and your date and the intimate back room is perfect for splitting a whole Cornish game hen or a brioche-bun burger and a bottle of bubbles or a vodka Vesper martini with a gin infused fig leaf. They also have a more casual new patio area The Garden at Horses with a different menu – think pizzettas - which makes is tad bit easier to book a table at this hotspot.
7617 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046; horsesla.com
9. Fanny’s
This long-awaited restaurant at the mid-city Academy Museum with chef Raphael Francois (Tesse) at the helm, screams special occasion. The old Hollywood vibes feature plenty of red booths to sink into with your love and nostalgic art with a historical movie theme covers the back walls. Order the tomahawk steak for two, a tableside Caesar, and cheese plate along with ‘the world’s best martini’ by star-tender Julian Cox. If you come for lunch, go upstairs to the museum and accept your ‘fantasy’ Oscar on stage in a simulated experience as part of the date. It’s a win-win.
6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036; academymuseum.org/en/visit/fannys
10. Tatel
This Spanish newcomer in Beverly Hills has two patio options—one in the front where you can people watch on Canon Drive or in the back for a little more privacy with your pan of paella and bite-sized pork croquettes. If you do dine in a cozy indoor booth, you will catch roving performances from singers to musicians when you’re not staring into each other’s eyes.
453 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; tatelrestaurants.com
11. Bicyclette Bistro
The French slay when it comes to romance so a visit to this cozy bistro by Walter and Margarita Manzke (of Republique fame) on Pico, is the ideal spot. All the dishes are perfectly executed (and sound like aphrodisiacs), especially the soft egg in the shell with caviar, steak tartare, Kumamoto oysters, escargot en croute and caramelized onion tarte tatin. They have a more formal tasting menu in the upstairs space with a private dining room, so start thinking about that Valentine’s Day booking.
9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035; bicyclettela.com
12. Olivetta
With several separate convivial dining rooms giving off a roaring 20s celebratory vibe (think: vibrant gold-hued wallpaper, softened by billowing cloth draped ceilings), you’ll feel like you’re on a decadent vacation where more is more. This is also a good option on Melrose Avenue for excellent coastal Mediterranean dishes by beloved chef Michael Fiorelli. This includes a mini-loaf of toasted sourdough bread, a signature Bolognese or whole salt-encrusted branzino.
9010 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069; olivetta.la
13. Lulu At The Hammer
Legendary Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters opened her first LA restaurant with longtime collaborator David Tanis inside a courtyard patio at the Hammer Museum in Westwood, presenting diners with an epic date opportunity. You can sit at the open-air bar or amid the alfresco tables of fresh produce and fruits that will likely show up in your garden lettuces salad or house daiquiri cocktail, and you can walk it off while you view the exhibits after that long lunch.
10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024; hammer.ucla.edu/restaurant
14. Cobi's
Let’s start with the entryway and dozens of long stem roses hanging from the ceiling—and this is not just for Valentine’s Day but a signature design feature. Try to book the back patio where you will dive into sharable plates of Indonesian snacks ranging from Curry Puffs with garam masala to a spread of gado gado with tempeh, peanut satay and cassava crackers washed down with natural wines and Asian lagers. For dessert, a shaved ice with berry granita and coconut tofu cream hits the spot.
2104 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405; cobis.la
15. Cento
Another must with great regionally-inspired Italian fare, Chef Avner Levi’s (Bestia) pasta pop-up has put down roots with a cozy patio space and an open chef kitchen with bar seating in the blossoming West Adams area. Coupled with a great wine list, sharable chicken liver crostino with aged balsamic, sweet corn carbonara with pancetta, crème fraîche and white truffle or the signature beet spaghetti with ricotta are a few indulgent options.
4921 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016; centopasta.com
16. Pasjoli
For a westside French bistro scene filled with gorgeous de Gourney wallpaper (and a sidewalk parklet option in front), where you will sip on Armagnac, chartreuse and cognac infused with white or black truffles, head to Main Street in Santa Monica. And nothing says romance like blinis with golden osetra caviar and smoked sturgeon rillette. Share a chocolate soufflé at the end of the meal and add a kir royale pour deux (that’s for two) with a half-bottle of Gaston Chiquet Cru Champagne and crème de cassis to seal the deal.
2732 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405; pasjoli.com
17. Sugar Palm Ocean Avenue
The Viceroy in Santa Monica has an indoor-outdoor main dining venue with a wrap-around bar but you’ll want to sit out by the firepits or book a private cabana. No one will judge if you feed each other crudo, prawns, octopus or any of the veggie-friendly dishes and don’t miss the best deconstructed creamy cheesecake or the festive mai tai in a tall glass.
1819 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401; viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/santa-monica/dining-nightlife
18. Catch Restaurant
If you crave an unobstructed ocean view sunset while you feast on fresh seafood by new executive chef Gemma Gray (who hails from Spain), Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica is a great spot a twilight toast with your besotted over crispy skin branzino, grilled octopus or fruits de mer ceviche for two.
1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405 ; hotelcasadelmar.com/dining/catch
19. Wolfgang Puck At Hotel Bel-air
This is the quintessential OG romantic spot. From the floating swans in the pond as you walk the bucolic grounds to an enchanting patio restaurant with a marble fireplace in view and food by Wolfgang Puck, plus a bar you can tuck into after for a nightcap or view an art exhibit—currently Warhol—or check into a historic bungalow room. This spot has it all and there is always something new to discover.
701 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077; dorchestercollection.com
20. The Green Room
For the best view of the San Fernando Valley, this longtime favorite hilltop spot, Castaways near the Burbank golf course has a Green Room speakeasy-bar that is just as inviting as the spacious patio with a fireplace. And you can nibble on a massive charcuterie spread or try the surf & turf oysters along with chocolate-covered strawberries, Champagne or fun cocktails from a fountain.
1250 E Harvard Rd, Burbank, CA 91501; tgrburbank.com
21. The Maybourne
Sometimes variety is the spice of life and romance. The beauty of this modern-Mediterranean central Beverly Hills hotel is you can dine on The Terrace patio overlooking the Beverly Cannon Park and fountain, have a more casual bite at the Café right next door, and a nightcap in the new chic lobby bar or head upstairs for an international flare in the Cigar and Whiskey Bar, if that’s your thing.
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; maybournebeverlyhills.com
22. Soko
With only eight bar seats, this new sushi haven is a perfect spot for a couples or a Galentine’s Day take-over, and it’s hidden inside the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows by the beach. But if you do come on a date, order the shareable bluefin tuna platter with a melt-in-your-mouth selection of nigiri from red snapper to Selva shrimp, and a carafe of primo sake or a cocktail made with yuzu.
101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401; fairmont-miramar.com/dine/soko-sushi
23. Mr. T
New to LA’s Sycamore District, Mr. T is a contemporary French restaurant with a large patio, twinkling lights and a cozy interior with a bar and open kitchen. Restaurateur Guillaume Guedj - former owner of two Michelin-starred Passage 53 in Paris, and creator of the original Mr. T in partnership with Chef Tsuyoshi Miyazaki – is behind the concept. Here you can have a sinful bowl of mac-n-cheese flambeed with shaved truffles or a wagyu cheese burger that will also be lit on fire at your table.
953 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038; mrtrestaurants.com
24. Anna May Bar
Tucked inside highly the highly-regarded Beverly Hills staple, Crustacean, the pan-Asian signature dishes of matriarch Helene ‘Mama’ An can now be enjoyed in a sultry, bar-lounge setting paying homage to the pioneering silent film star Anna May Wong. Don’t miss the famous garlic noodles, ‘smoking’ tuna cigars and Dungeness crab legs, but if you’re feeling really decadent, go for the spoonful of caviar and glass of Champagne. On date night or girl’s night out, you can get a caviar ‘bump’ served on a rose gold compact for the ultimate keepsake.
468 N Bedford Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; crustaceanbh.com
25. Lillie’s at The Culver Hotel
This new indoor-outdoor French spot in the historic Culver City Hotel has a menu with classics such as steak frites, whole branzino and cheesy onion soup. It’s also the perfect spot to order dozens of oysters and a bottle of Champagne while listening to the Jazz quartets Thursday through Sunday nights. And hey, dpending on how the night is going, you can also book a room and continue the romance.
9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232; culverhotel.com
26. Niku X
Niku X is a sultry, modern Japanese venue at the Wilshire Grand Center with Michelin-starred Chef Shin Thompson behind the grill. There is nothing more romantic than a view of the DTLA city lights while you nibble on a decadent Wagyu tasting menu and sip premium sake. You can also opt for a sleek booth with a built-in grill for a more interactive grilling experience.
900 Wilshire Blvd Ste 212, Los Angeles, Ca 90017; nikux.com
27. KAVIAR
The original Pasadena restaurant has expanded to the DTLA Arts District and is one of the sexiest, dimly lit main dining rooms in town. Past the velvet drapes there are plenty of nooks and crannies to get cozy from the bar to the private omakase tasting room, and a special crystal chandeliered room for Aureta caviar tasting and Casa Del Sol tequila pairings. Share the signature Billionaire’s Tomahawk topped with 24k gold with shaved truffle and caviar.
449 S Hewitt St, Los Angeles, CA 90013; kaviarrestaurants.com
28. San Laurel
Nothing says romance like a stunning view of one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Gaze out at the legendary architect Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall while you graze on Spanish-inspired food by humanitarian and chef Jose Andres. The menu at San Laurel inside the Conrad Los Angeles offers thinly shaved jamon Iberico, sizzling shrimp and grilled romaine with Manchego. The adjacent bar serves elevated cocktails such as the clear Japanese whisky milk punch.
100 South Grand Ave, Los Angeles, California 90012; sanlaurel.com
29. Casa Madera West Hollywood
Located inside the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Blvd, this modern Mexican eatery was inspired by the Mayan Riviera and embraces outdoor dining year-round with an expansive patio and city views - along with a roving guitarist playing a Greek Lyra which really sets the tone. The concept is from Noble 33 who also owns the popular Toca Madera chain of restaurants around the city. The menu spans from duck carnitas to wagyu beef and Dover sole with fun drink concoctions such as the sea blue Quintana Roo topped with a little salt filled floating seashell.
8440 Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069; thecasamadera.com
30. Caviar Kaspia
Another Paris transplant, this caviar haven is spread out amid a secret garden atmosphere with Tiffany blue colored table linens off Melrose Place in West Hollywood. All the caviar is farm-raised and you can really splurge here with a baked potato topped with options from Royal Sturgeon to Sevruga, smoked salmon blini or squid ink spaghetti with uni butter. Famed mixologist Dushan Zaric of Employees Only created the sake-based cocktails and pairings, while the brand’s own vodka and Champagne labels are also a good way to go.
8475 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, CA 90069; caviarkaspiala.com
31. Paloma
On the westside, Paloma in Venice is an expansive indoor-outdoor Mediterranean oasis draped in Bougainvillea that is a perfect backdrop for a romantic meal under the stars by the fire pit. In the kitchen is chef Raul Cerritos from Italian staple Madeo’s who for decades made pasta for its celebrity clientele. Order seabass crudo, tomahawk steak or lobster spaghetti and a few negronis.
600 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291; paloma-venice.com
32. Steak 48
New to the 90210 area, this Chicago and Texas import is a steakhouse stunner with several private rooms and booths set up near the open view kitchen and wine wall for a sexy super club vibe. You can also view the seafood display is a whisky tasting section. The menu offers high-end prime cuts of Australian Wagyu that will impress any date but dining at the bar is also a good option for a full view of the action, and do order the skillet bread service with butter croissant rolls and a martini.
9680 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; steak48.com
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