Best Date Spots in Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles

BOA Steakhouse brings an upscale feel to date night in Manhattan Beach, with sleek interiors, upbeat music and a lively atmosphere. For a more intimate dinner, grab a table on the heated patio and settle in over steaks and good conversation. It's the kind of place worth dressing up for, so leave the beachwear, athletic clothes and flip-flops at home.

Simmzy's is an open-air gastropub on the main drag of Manhattan Beach, with an easygoing seaside atmosphere, music and TV screens. The patio is dog-friendly, so a four-legged friend can join the date. Couples tend to split plates like the carne asada fries and the fried chicken sandwich.

Toranj is a Persian restaurant with piano in the background and a stylish, hushed dining room, which suits a quiet dinner for two. Kabobs come off a fire-fed grill and stews are cooked low and slow, alongside saffron rice and fesenjoon, a chicken dish with pomegranate and walnut. The pier is two blocks away if you want to walk after dinner.

Oysters star at Fishing with Dynamite, a seafood bistro where wainscoting and lobster buoys set a nautical mood. It makes a good date night or first date. The menu mixes traditional and inventive dishes, with oysters at the center. The beach is a short walk up the street for afterward.

Love & Salt serves Italian-inspired food with a Southern California twist, in a room where communal tables and wood-oven seating give dinner for two a romantic, close feel. The wine list is approachable and the cocktails are classic, and brunch and day drinking are on offer too. Book ahead on weekends, then walk to the pier a few steps away.

The Arthur J is a steakhouse by chef David LeFevre, styled after the 1950s in its curved booths, geometric patterns and menu. This neighborhood steakhouse cooks over a big wood-fired grill and keeps a strong wine list, which makes it a good date-night dinner. We'd begin with the popovers and strawberry butter, then split one of the large steaks, such as the Kansas City Strip, Ribeye, Wagyu or NY Strip.

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa serves Mexican food roughly four blocks from the sand. Gulla Jónsdóttir designed the coastal interior. Chef Ray Alverez leads a Sonoran-inspired menu, and the bar has the South Bay's largest tequila list along with a mezcal collection. Margaritas and seafood are what Esperanza is known for, especially a shrimp and pineapple ceviche.

Low lighting sets the mood in the dining room at FISHBAR, a seafood restaurant. Fish is cooked on a mesquite grill, and the menu features oysters, scallops, shrimp, Maine lobster and king crab. Clam chowder and hand-crafted drinks are on the menu, and the bar is a place for day drinking or watching a game.

Nick's is an all-day restaurant in downtown Manhattan Beach. The dining room is snug and polished, and the American comfort food on the menu gets a dressier turn. That combination makes it a date-night option in the South Bay. We'd go for the fried chicken, the cioppino or the seared ahi salad.

dan modern chinese brings a fresh take on Chinese comfort food to Manhattan Beach, with handmade dumplings, noodles and wok-fried favorites that are perfect for sharing. The menu puts a modern spin on traditional dishes, keeping ingredients simple and letting the flavors shine. It's a relaxed choice for a casual dinner date in the South Bay, especially if you love ordering a little bit of everything to try together.