The Best First Date Spots in Silver Lake in Los Angeles

Bar Besito is a Spanish wine bar and tapas spot in Silver Lake that suits a first date or a date night. Conversation hums constantly in the room, and it is easy to drop in for drinks and a few tapas whenever the mood strikes. Plenty of tables are open to walk-ins, and you can also book online through the OpenTable widget.

L&E Oyster Bar is a low-key seafood bistro on Silver Lake Boulevard with a sidewalk cafe that makes a good date-night dinner.

The creamy, briny oysters are the highlight. The menu also includes grilled whole branzino, a shareable bouillabaisse-style stew, and a burger. Head to the upstairs bar for happy hour specials, or try the bacon-heavy wedge salad.

Ceviche Project brings a little 1980s Miami glamour to Silver Lake, with a tiny, intimate dining room featuring a green marble counter, brass accents, tropical plants and a glowing neon sign. Chef-owner Octavio, often dressed in his signature white suit, serves Mexican ceviche and fresh raw seafood in a setting that feels made for a memorable date night or special occasion.

We'd start with the shrimp aguachile in verde, rojo, or negro, then share the scallops on the half shell. The kanpachi tostada is also worth a try.

Pijja Palace is an Indian sports bar and restaurant on Sunset Boulevard, and a first-date option for anyone who wants a livelier night out. The room has mid-century furniture and arcade-style neon.

Malai rigatoni is a favorite. Doors open at 5pm. Book early, since slots appear at midnight a week out and vanish quickly.

Briciola brings a little romance to Silver Lake, with dim lighting, candlelit tables and a wine-focused menu that blends Italian cooking with Brazilian influences. The intimate atmosphere makes it a great spot for a cozy dinner date. Start by sharing the burrata with tomato granita and anchovies, then save room for the bananas foster with shaved parmesan for dessert.

Tucked inside a charming yellow bungalow in Silver Lake, Josephine is a French-Italian restaurant that feels made for a romantic date night. Gingham tablecloths, potted carnations and a string-lit back patio give the space plenty of character without feeling overly formal. Start with the beef tartare, then go for the steak frites or the chicken Josephine with lemon and thyme.

Bacari Silverlake is an Israeli-inspired Mediterranean small-plates restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake, part of the Bacari chain. Happy hour is a draw here, as is the open bar that runs 90 minutes every night.

Pass around fried chicken sliders, shawarma tacos, or a dish of mejadra, all small plates built for sharing.

Cafe Stella brings a little Parisian romance to Silver Lake's Sunset Junction, with a charming courtyard and a cozy, brick-walled dining room perfect for an intimate date night. Settle in over French bistro favorites like escargots, steak au poivre and frisée salad, then finish with a frozen lemon filled with sorbet. If the date is going well, head to neighboring Bar Stella for another drink. Reservations are recommended.

Santo Silverlake brings a Japanese-Mexican twist to date night at Sunset Junction, with a menu centered on nigiri and a selection of sake to pair with your sushi.

Sonmari is a hand roll and sushi bar with Korean-leaning small plates from the Temaki Society team. Hand rolls are the whole idea, and the name says so in Korean.

Only have room for a single hand roll? Make it the Unagi Gochujang. The uni toast is a must-order for the table, and the menu also has a gamja-jeon potato pancake with caviar.