Latest Date ideas
The Most Romantic Restaurants in Los Angeles for Those Special Occasions
This is my list of the most romantic restaurants in Los Angeles that you need to book for anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine's day, or when you really want to impress someone special. The restaurants on this list either have exceptional ambiance, or exceptional...
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...
The Best 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 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...
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...
Have a Great Date Night at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills
Wolfgang 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...
The Best Casual 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 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! 1. Clifton's / The Pacific Seas (DTLA) The...
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,...
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....
Awesome Things to Do in Las Vegas That Aren’t on the Strip (at The Frugal Noodle)
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!
Terranea: A Hidden Gem in Palos Verdes with Spectacular Hiking Trails
Terranea is a hidden gem that’s worth a bit of a drive. Sure, there are other beautiful places to hike along the shore in Palos Verdes. And, there are some great restaurants as well. But Terranea combines the best of both. It’s an ideal place to have a good meal and go for an easy walk with breathtaking views of the ocean. You’ll feel like you’re staying at a high-end resort for a fraction of the cost.
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 Summer Date Idea: Hollywood Night Market at Yamashiro
I'm so psyched that the Yamashiro Night Market is back!! (Actually, it's now officially called the "Hollywood Night Market at Yamashiro"). This is one of my favorite summertime Los Angeles events! Starting in May 2019, it will be every Thursday night from 5 to 10PM...
Have a Great Hike with Amazing Views at Griffith Park
Griffith Park is famous for its observatory, but it also offers some great hiking trails which offer amazing views of downtown LA, Century City, the Hollywood sign, and the valley. I'm going to tell you about my favorite trail which begins at the Glendale Peak...
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...
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...
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 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. Restaurants and Shops on Abbott Kinney My favorite date hangout area in Venice is Abbott Kinney Blvd, named "The Coolest Block...
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 Trail to Sandstone Peak Hiking tops many lists of cheap date ideas for good...
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...
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...
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...
Twenty Fun & Romantic Pasadena Date Ideas
Pasadena has some amazing places to take a date! 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 date ideas in Pasadena and the surrounding area!...
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....
My Four 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...
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...
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...
All of the Outdoor Movies Playing in Los Angeles, and How to Enjoy Them
In Southern California, watching an outdoor movie can be a nice way to spend an evening with someone special almost any time of year. Time Out Los Angeles maintains an up-to-date list of outdoor movies happening in Los Angeles. It's a great resource! Note that...
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...
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...
Hike the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook for an Awesome View near Downtown Culver City
As a Los Angeles native, I'm always amazed that I am still discovering cool new things to do in the city. One of the things I was recently turned on to is the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. It offers a great stair workout that puts the Santa Monica stairs to shame,...
The Best Museum Date in LA: The Huntington Library and Gardens
I’m a big fan of museums, and Los Angeles has some great ones, including the Getty, the Getty Villa, LACMA/La Brea Tar Pits, and the California Science Center. But, I recently re-visited the continually-expanding Huntington Library and I concluded that it’s the...
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...
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...
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...