Latest Date ideas
The Best Santa Monica Date Ideas
Santa Monica is an obvious and popular destination for hanging out with friends or someone special. As a native, I've spent a lot of time there. Here are my top night and daytime itineraries for a fun time in my home town and the in the Palisades....
The Best Date Ideas in Malibu, Topanga, and the Pacific Palisades
Malibu is a great place for an all-day or half-day date when you want to get away from it all without straying too far from the Los Angeles area. You get beautiful beaches and mountains, as well as great restaurants and other attractions. Check out these date ideas in...
My Top 20 Downtown L.A. Date Ideas
Downtown Los Angeles is an ideal date destination with great restaurants, bars, and attractions, many of which are within walking distance. Traffic and parking can be difficult in downtown L.A., so park your car in a good central location (like Pershing Square) and...
The Coolest Vintage Bars in Los Angeles That Are Sure to Amaze
If you're looking for an extraordinary place to bring a date to, or just a place where you can hang out with friends, check out some of my favorite vintage Los Angeles bars below. These will surely impress! Clifton's / The Pacific Seas (DTLA) The first...
The Coolest Date Spots in Venice, CA
Venice has become one of the hippest areas of the West Side. Here are my top ideas for fun and interesting dates in Venice. 1. Abbott Kinney Blvd My favorite date hangout area in Venice is Abbott Kinney Blvd, named "The Coolest Block in America" by GQ...
The Best First Date Ideas in Los Angeles
If you're going on a first date with someone you don't know very well, planning the right kind of date is critical! True first dates, where you don't know each other very well, have special requirements in addition to the obvious stuff like being fun and romantic....
The Most Romantic Restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles: 71 Above
71 Above an ideal destination for a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday, or if you just really want to impress someone on a first date! Often, restaurants with a gimmick like a good view or special location have mediocre food. That's not the case with 71...
Why the Downtown LA Arts District is An Amazing Date Destination
The Arts District east of Downtown LA is one of the most vibrant, hip, and up-and-coming areas of the city. It's now one of my favorite daytime date destinations in the entire LA area! It's undergone an amazing revitalization with cool galleries, breweries,...
Have a Great Date at Griffith Park Observatory
The Griffith Park Observatory is not only one of the most popular tourist attractions in Los Angeles, it’s also a great place to go for an after-dinner date with someone special, and most of the attractions there are free! Here are my top recommendations to have a...
Top Tips to Have a Great Hollywood Bowl Experience
The Hollywood Bowl is an awesome and unique Southern California institution. There’s nothing like listening to music in the hills beneath the stars. I’ve done it many, many times. Here are some tips to make your time there perfect. Which Seats to Get...
Tips for Having a Great Time at a Staples Center Sporting Event
Home of the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings, and host to concerts and other events, the Staples Center is a prime attraction in downtown Los Angeles. Here are my tips to make your visit fun and hassle-free. 1. Bring a good jacket for Kings games If you go...
My Top Twenty Pasadena Date Ideas
In my opinion, Pasadena is one of the best places to go on a date in the Los Angeles area. It’s got fine restaurants, bars, shopping areas, cultural events, museums, and a lot more, making it worth visiting even if you live far away. Here are my top ten date ideas in...
The Best Orange County Date Ideas
Orange County actually has some really charming destinations that are ideal for a romantic date! Here are my favorites. 1. Laguna Beach My pick for the best Orange County date area is Laguna Beach. Once a secluded beach town, the secret is out, and...
A Great Walking Tour of Downtown Los Angeles
If you are into history or architecture, the highly-rated Free LA Tour can be a great outdoor date idea! I recently took an out-of-town friend on the tour and we enjoyed it. Here are my experiences. The Logistics You'll need to register for the Free LA...
The Best BBQ on Los Angeles’ West Side
Los Angeles is not a town known for its BBQ, but it actually does have some good spots if you know where to look! I love barbecue: the brisket, ribs, cole slaw, beans, potatoes, biscuits, and of course the sauces! Here are some of my favorite BBQ places on LA's West...
Los Liones Canyon Trail – My Favorite Hike
You might have noticed that I've been going on a lot of hikes in the Santa Monica mountains lately. They've all be great, but each seems to be better than the last. At a friend’s recommendation, I did the Los Liones Canyon hike and I think it’s the best one I've...
Romantic Date Ideas in Long Beach
When you think of great places to go on a date near L.A., Long Beach usually doesn’t immediately come to mind. Yet, I recently spent a few days there and was blown away by how beautiful and romantic parts of Long Beach are. I’m not a Long Beach local, but there are...
The Best San Diego Date Ideas
Only a few hours away from Los Angeles, (depending on traffic), San Diego is an ideal weekend date destination. These are the highlights from my recent trips to San Diego that I’d recommend to you.
The Best Mid-City L.A. Date Ideas
The mid-city area of Los Angeles offers some of the best restaurants and coolest attractions around, making it a prime date destination. By "mid city", I'm referring to the area roughly between La Cienaga Blvd on the West and Western on the East, north of Pico and...
The Best Museum Date Ideas in LA
I believe that a museum is a great place to go to on a date. It's quiet so you can talk, and there are usually interesting things to see and comment on. Maybe you can even show off some of the stuff you learned in that art history class you took in college....
L.A. Vegan Restaurants Even Carnivores Will Enjoy
Has this ever happened to you: You’re a meat-lover, but your date is a vegan, and you never been to a vegan restaurant before and have no idea where to go. Or, vice versa, you’re a vegan and you want to take your carnivore date to a restaurant they won’t hate. Here...
The Top Date Ideas in Culver City and the Surrounding Area
Culver City and the surrounding areas have some really romantic and fun places that are ideal for a date. Here are my top recommendations. 1. The Culver Hotel Grand Lobby I consider the Culver Hotel to be the jewel of downtown Culver City. Completed in...
The Best Free and Cheap Date Ideas in Los Angeles
Going on dates can be really expensive, but it doesn't have to be. There are some really great date ideas in Los Angeles that are cheap or free. Here's my list! 1. Hiking Hiking tops many lists of cheap date ideas for good reason. I have yet to meet...
Have a Great Date Night at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills
Wolgang Puck is arguably one of the most famous chefs in the world. His flagship restaurant, Spago, in Beverly Hills, has been on my bucket list for a while, and I finally got to try it! Getting There and Parking Spago is located in the heart of Beverly...
Awesome Things to Do in Las Vegas That Aren’t on the Strip
Las Vegas is famous for gambling and the Strip, but there are many other cool things to do there that are often overlooked in the afterglow of the casinos. If you aren’t into gambling, or you ran out of money, or you’re just plain tired of the madness of the strip, here are some ideas to check out!
The Skyroom in Long Beach (Will Return in 2020)
SPECIAL NOTE: Unfortunately, the Skyroom is now closed for a two-year remodel. I'm hoping it returns in 2020 even better than it was! - Brian On my personal short list of romantic restaurants in Los Angeles is Long Beach’s incredible Skyroom. This place is not only on...
How to Have an Amazing Date at Disneyland
Disneyland is not a place that usually comes to mind when you are thinking of where to take a date. But, I've have some wonderful times at Disneyland as an adult going with someone special. If you’re willing to shell out the dough for admission, or if you have an...
A Great Summer Date Idea: Yamashiro Night Market
I'm so psyched that the Yamashiro Night Market is back!! (Previously called "Yamashiro Farmers' Market".) This is one of my favorite summertime Los Angeles events! Starting in April 2018, it will be every Thursday night from 5 to 10PM during the summer. It has an...
Romantic Restaurants and Bars on Ocean Avenue Santa Monica
If you asked most people what the best date spot in Santa Monica is, many would say Third Street Promenade. But Ocean Avenue has a collection of great restaurants and bars too. Although it's gotten more crowded and touristy lately, it's still a good bet on...
Temescal Canyon – An Ideal Date Hike
The Temescal Canyon Loop is a popular trail and is an ideal date hike because it’s the perfect length, it’s just the right difficulty level, it’s very close to civilization, and has some great views and interesting terrain. It’s a great way to spend a weekend morning...
Complete List of Summer Outdoor Movies in Los Angeles 2017
Seeing an outdoor movie with someone special can be a fun and cozy date idea. Below is a link to the best list I’ve found of outdoor movies for summer 2017 (from Thrillist): 2017 Outdoor Movie Screenings from Thrillist.com Note that “outdoor” does not necessarily...
My Five Favorite Restaurants in Old Town Pasadena
There are so many great restaurants, bars, and hangouts in Old Town Pasadena, it can be difficult to choose. Here are my personal favorites based on food, service, and ambiance, in no particular order. 1. Mi Piace Right in the heart of Old Town on the...
A Relaxing Bike Ride on the West Side – The Ballona Creek Bike Path
The Ballona Creek Bike Path is a beginner-level bike path completely free of cars and signals, extending from Culver City to Marina del Rey. It can be a great date idea if you go at the right time of day (avoiding the heat of mid-day) and make plans to hang out...
A Fun Beach Hike to Tidepools at Abalone Cove in Palos Verdes
If you want a really unique L.A. beach experience, check out Abalone Cove in Palos Verdes. It offers a short trail hike down to a rocky beach leading to caves and tidepools. It can be a really cool and unusual date experience! One warning though - you will get wet!...
My Favorite “Secret” Beach – Lechuza Beach Malibu
There are many wonderful beaches in Los Angeles and Orange County, but many of these are crowded and lack privacy. I'd like to tell you about a "hidden gem" that I found.. a beach that feels like a private beach far away from the crowds of the city. It's a bit of a...
Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens – An Ideal Holiday Date Idea
If you want a magical date experience during the holidays, check out Descanso Gardens Enchanted: Forest of Light in La Canada Flintridge. It really is "enchanted"! Logistics You definitely should buy your tickets in advance as this does sell out almost...