The Best Cheap Date Ideas in Los Angeles

Griffith Observatory has no admission fee. It stands on Mount Hollywood's south side inside Griffith Park. Visitors can use telescopes, see the exhibits, and catch planetarium shows. From the grounds, the view takes in the city and the Hollywood Sign. Plan to reach the roof's 12-inch refractor before the 10pm closing. Hours are noon to 10pm Tuesday through Friday and 10am to 10pm on weekends, and it is closed Mondays. Parking nearest the building is paid.

Echo Park Lake is a former reservoir turned public lake, with skyline views of Downtown and lotus blooms in summer. Pack a picnic and eat on the grass before getting on the water. Swan boats cost $13 per person per hour as of February 2026, up from $10 in 2016. Reserving a time after 5pm gets you a lit-up boat.

The Getty Center has free admission, and the timed-entry reservation is free too. Art, a garden stroll, and city views fill the visit on the Westside. The visit can be quick or leisurely. Parking is the cost: $25 per car, $15 after 3pm, and $10 after 6pm, with free parking on Saturdays after 6pm. The Center is open 10am to 6:30pm Tuesday through Friday and Sunday, and 10am to 9pm Saturday.

Three blocks of canals make up this Venice walk, with arched footbridges, beach houses, and ducklings. The canals sit between the Venice Boardwalk and Abbot Kinney, and the stroll is free. A first-date guide lists a walk along the water as an idea. Paddlers bring their own kayak and enter at the launch ramp on Venice Boulevard. The canals are a public residential walkway.

Grand Central Market is a Downtown food hall and a landmark since 1917. Each person can pick a different stall, then meet at a table. The setup suits picky eaters sharing a meal. For soups and noodle bowls, Ramen Hood is one option. The market is open daily from 8am to 9pm.

Hollyhock House is a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Barnsdall Art Park, finished in 1921 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. Self-guided admission is $12 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. The house is open Thursday through Saturday from 11am to 4pm, and advance tickets are strongly advised. Picnics are allowed in the park, which is open daily from 6am to 10pm, though food stays out of the house. We recommend a picnic on the west lawn at sunset.

The Strand is a 22-mile coastal path that starts at Will Rogers State Beach. A date can cover a short stretch or a long one. Stretches in Santa Monica, Venice, and Manhattan Beach are friendly to pedestrians. Walkers and cyclists both use it, but a walking pace works best for a date. The path costs nothing.

Santa Monica Pier has a Ferris wheel and the Sea Dragon ride. A walk on the sand with an ice cream cone rounds it out. Strolling the pier is free, and games and rides cost extra but are relatively cheap. If a pier alone sounds thin, add dinner or a nightcap at a nearby restaurant or bar.

The Mulholland Drive overlooks are about six viewpoints along an hourlong drive from the 101 to the 405. It is a scenic route for date night. Stop at the overlooks, or head to San Vicente Mountain Park, an old radar tower with 360-degree views. Beyond gas, the drive costs nothing.

Highland Park Bowl combines a bar, a restaurant, and a bowling alley in Highland Park, and it is the splurge on this list. In 2024, an hour on a lane cost between $35 and $70, with the price set by date and time. Lanes are walk-in only, in one-hour blocks. Hours run 5pm to midnight Monday through Thursday, with later nights on Friday and Saturday, and it is all ages before 8pm.