The Best Date Ideas in Los Angeles

Mírate is a Mexican restaurant in Los Feliz with an open-air dining room. A towering tree sits overhead, and the nooks are sized for two. Seating ranges from tables and armchairs to bar stools. The menu centers on Baja-inspired tacos and drinking snacks, plus a mezcal and tequila list. We recommend the La Sonodora, a gin-based milk punch, for anyone who skips tequila and mezcal. Dinner starts at 5pm Monday through Friday, and weekend service begins at 11am, as of January 2026.

Griffith Observatory overlooks Los Angeles from Mount Hollywood's south side in Griffith Park, and getting in is free. Inside, visitors can look through telescopes, see exhibits, and catch a show in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. Outside, the view takes in the city and the Hollywood Sign. We recommend visiting on a weekday in the off-season and heading to the 12-inch refractor on the roof before closing time. Hours are noon to 10pm Tuesday through Friday and 10am to 10pm on weekends. The observatory is closed Mondays.

Yamashiro is a Japanese-inspired restaurant in a 1910 hilltop house above Hollywood. The house is modeled on a Kyoto palace and has a koi pond courtyard with a 600-year-old pagoda. Stroll the courtyard garden before or after dinner, and take in views of the city that reach the Pacific. The menu includes Wagyu Sukiyaki and Matcha Soba Noodles. Dinner starts at 5pm, Sunday brunch runs from 11am to 2:30pm, and valet is available.

Grand Central Market is a Downtown food hall that has been a landmark since 1917. Each person can pick a different stall, then meet at a table. Ramen Hood is the stop for soups and noodle bowls, and Go Get Em Tiger covers coffee. We recommend finishing with a donut from The Donut Man or something from Fat + Flour. The Bradbury Building sits across the street, and a Photomatica photo booth is on site. Opening hours run 8am to 9pm daily, and individual vendors keep their own schedules.

Echo Park Lake is a former reservoir turned public park in Echo Park, with views of the Downtown skyline. Lotus flowers bloom on the water in summer. Swan boats cost $13 per person per hour as of February 2026. Reserve a boat for after 5pm and it will be lit up. Bring a picnic for the grass first, and note that a pizza shop has opened in the Boathouse.

71Above is an American restaurant on the 71st floor of the US Bank Tower in Downtown. Panoramic views set the scene, and two tables sit right at the windows. For a more casual date, the bar has a seat that faces the sunset. Dinner is a seasonal prix-fixe at $103 per person, before bread service, steak supplements, and extra courses, as of January 2026. Dress is smart casual, and valet is about $18 plus tip after 5pm.

Three blocks of canals make up this Venice walk, with arched footbridges, beach houses, and ducklings along the way. The walk is free. The canals sit between the Venice Boardwalk and Abbot Kinney. Paddlers can bring their own nonmotorized boat and launch from the ramp at Venice Boulevard. The canals are a public residential walkway.

Highland Park Bowl packs a bar, a restaurant, and a bowling alley into one Highland Park building. The building dates to 1927 and was restored by 1933 Group. Lanes are walk-in only, rented in one-hour blocks on a first-come basis. In 2024, an hour on a lane cost between $35 and $70, with the price set by date and time. The space is all ages before 8pm and 21 and over after.

The Getty Center is a museum on the Westside with art, architecture, gardens, and city views. A visit can be quick or leisurely. Stroll the garden, then look at some art, and bring a picnic for the lawn. Entry is free, though visitors must book a timed slot ahead. Parking is $25 per car, $15 after 3pm, and $10 after 6pm, and it is free on Saturdays after 6pm.

Inn of the Seventh Ray is a Californian restaurant in Topanga Canyon that has been open since 1975. The outdoor tables step up beside a creek, with string lights, heat lamps, and oak and lilac trees. The menu includes roasted-mushroom toast and grass-fed filet mignon, and it is friendly to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets. Dinner runs 5:30 to 9pm on weekdays and 5:15 to 9:30pm on weekends. The drive in is winding and dimly lit after dark, and Topanga Canyon Boulevard has had frequent closures, so check before you go.