Yamashiro – One of the Most Romantic Restaurants in L.A.

Updated on May 29, 2023

Yamashiro is one of my all-time favorite date restaurants in Los Angeles.  The ambiance is right out of a Samurai movie, and it has one of the most amazing views of L.A. of any restaurant I know.  The garden in front of the restaurant has got to be one of the most romantic spots in L.A!

History

Yamashiro means “Mountain Palace” in Japanese, and that’s a good description of what it is.  It was built as a private Japanese-themed estate of the Bernheimer brothers in 1914.

During the 1920’s, it served as a private club for Hollywood’s elite. When World War II broke, out, anti-Japanese sentiment resulted in the vandalism of the property, and much of the decor was destroyed or covered up to disguise its Asian appearance.

In 1948, a builder bought the property with the intent to destroy the building, until he discovered the ornate woodwork hidden under the plywood covering.  He decided to save the building and embarked on a restoration effort which continues today.

Yamashiro Restaurant
Yamashiro Restaurant

Getting there

Amazingly, Yamashiro is usually not that crowded, (shhhh, let’s keep it that way) but I would still recommend making reservations for dinner.  If you just want drinks, you can just come up without reservations.

Part of the Yamashiro experience is about walking around the gardens after dinner (more on this later).  So, be sure to bring a light jacket for you and/or your date.

The entrance to Yamashiro is on Sycamore, off of Franklin Blvd in Hollywood.  Sycamore is a small road with a tiny sign on Franklin, so watch for it.  It’s near the Magic Castle, if that helps.

If possible, approach Sycamore from the East on Franklin.  If you approach from the West, you have to make a gnarly left turn onto Sycamore while blocking traffic, resulting in angry drivers behind you.

Drive up the one-way street to the top, where they will valet park your car.  Be sure to get your ticket validated in the restaurant (it’s $20 for parking without validation, $8 with validation).

If you can’t get a table with a view, don’t be too disappointed. The inner garden area is also very nice, and you can save the best views for your after-dinner stroll in the front garden.

Courtyard at Yamashiro
Courtyard at Yamashiro

The food

The fusion-inspired dishes are good, but this is not the place to go for authentic Japanese cuisine or if you are a foodie. Personally, I like the food.  My favorite dish is the shrimp and scallops.

Entrees range from the twenty to forty dollar range, which is reasonable, all things considered.  With drinks, dessert, valet, and tips, a date can easily run over a hundred dollars.

The service can range from fine to slow. I remember feeling abandoned a few times in the courtyard, but the ambiance made up for it.

The Pagoda Bar

If you just want to have drinks outside and are okay with a limited menu selection, you can hang in the Pagoda Bar.  The view is spectacular. But note, it is only open during the summer months.

The Pagoda Bar at Yamashiro
The Pagoda Bar

The gardens.. and that incredible view

The great thing about going on a date at Yamashiro is that it gives you something to do after dinner.  Just as important as the meal is a walk through the gardens in front of the restaurant.  This is where you’ll see the amazing views of L.A. from Century City to Downtown.  It’s a small garden, so savor every part of it.  It doesn’t get much better than this!!!

You can pick out lots of landmarks from the Capitol Records building to downtown L.A., to Century City.

View of the Capitol Records building
View of the Capitol Records building

But, the real payoff of Yamashiro comes at night!  This is why I think it’s one of the most romantic date spots in L.A. Walk slowly through the gardens and savor every minute of the view!

Yamashiro Buddha
Yamashiro Buddha
View from the parking log
View from the parking log
The view from Yamashiro Hollywood
The view from Yamashiro Hollywood

If you’re up for something afterward, Hollywood is just a short drive down the hill!

I hope you have a great date at Yamashiro.  Let us know about your experiences there! – Brian

Get the latest date ideas in L.A.

Subscribe to my posts. No ads or spam, Unsubscribe anytime.

Join 442 other subscribers

Or, join me on the LA Date Ideas Facebook Page or on Instagram!

Related Articles

Romantic Date Ideas in Beverly Hills

Romantic Date Ideas in Beverly Hills

If you want to really impress a date and you're willing to spend some dough, take them to one of the high-end restaurants for dinner in Beverly Hills. These are my favorite restaurants, along with some other great activities to do there with a date, day or night! 1....

The Best Date Ideas in Hollywood and Los Feliz, CA

The Best Date Ideas in Hollywood and Los Feliz, CA

Hollywood, CA is known for many things - its nightlife, the entertainment industry, and sometimes as a tourist trap. But Hollywood also has some of the best date destinations in the L.A. area, as long as you know how to avoid some of the insane traffic that can happen...

The Best Late-Night Dessert Hangouts in Every Part of Los Angeles

The Best Late-Night Dessert Hangouts in Every Part of Los Angeles

The perfect way to extend a great date is to grab dessert at one of these spots! You'll definitely want to bookmark this article because there will be a time when you want to continue a good date into the evening after most restaurants close. Here are some great...

The Best West Hollywood and Sunset Strip Date Ideas

The Best West Hollywood and Sunset Strip Date Ideas

The city of West Hollywood has some of the hottest restaurants and date destinations in Los Angeles. It encompasses the most happening stretches of the Sunset Strip, Santa Monica Boulevard, and Melrose Avenue. If you really want to impress a date, you should...

Ask Me a Question or Leave a Comment

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Pin It on Pinterest