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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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 Go for the...
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 for a Kings...
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...
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 traffic and parking...
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 Tour on...
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...
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...
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 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,...
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. And...
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 1924, it offers...
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...
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 Hills on North...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 busiest part of...
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...
