Los Angeles Date Ideas, Romantic Restaurants, Fun Casual Dinner Spots, Places To Meet Singles In LA, First Date Spots DTLA, West LA; LA Date Night Ideas

Los Angeles has some amazing world-class restaurants, cafes, food courts, food trucks that provide endless options for casual meals, dates, romantic anniversaries, first dates and more. Whatever your budget or lifestyle, there is something for everyone.

Dating in Los Angeles is tough. Don’t let date ideas be the reason why. Hidden gems, hole in the walls, pop-ups and more are scattered all over LA and here are some of my favorite date ideas in Los Angeles across the city from first dates to casual bites to cool walks and romantic dinners.

 

Date Ideas In LA: Where To Go, Bars, Restaurants, Date Night Ideas, Romantic Dates Spots

As an online dating photographer and consultant, I have helped clients plan first dates to provide good first impressions.

Los Angeles is one of my favorite cities to shoot and I have scoured many places over the years and have observed some fun spots to enjoy a coffee, light  bite or drink on these early first dates as well as plan for more extravagant date ideas if you want to impress a date.

Los Angeles DTLA Grand Central Market Interior

Los Angeles DTLA Grand Central Market Interior | San Francisco Travel Photographer

Los Angeles Dating Spots – Where To Go Around DTLA, Santa Monica, Arts District 

 

Hoxton Hotel Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, DTLA

The Hoxton opened up in Fall 2020 and has been a pleasant surprise in DTLA. It’s still building an image but worth checking out for a coffee or drink downstairs or views upstairs at the restaurant.

https://thehoxton.com/downtown-la/ 


Perch, DTLA

Another rooftop bar option in Los Angeles that is a bit more sophisticated and upscale than the two options above.

https://www.perchla.com/ 

 

Guerilla Cafecito, Arts District

Fantastic little breakfast spot serving delicious breakfast sandwiches with Japanese mayo, enormous, tasty breakfast burritos as well as horchata donuts.

https://www.guerrillacafecito.com/ 

 

Good Clean Fun, DTLA

A fun natural wine and craft beer bar serving Baja-Med plates. Seating outdoor on the super side street make it a great place to soak up rays and enjoy hard to find beers from breweries such as Grimm, Threes, Wayfinder & more.

https://www.goodcleanfundtla.com/ 

 

Cafe, Cafe x Milpa Grille, Boyle Heights 

The Cafe Cafe pop-up is not to be missed, Serving fantastic coffee from Chiaps and other regions of Mexico this place will draw you from across town for the incredible attention to detail coffee this shop serves up.

https://www.milpagrille.com/ 

 

Bestia, Arts District

A fancy yet approachable dinner spot, this is the type of place where you will run into an ex or Tinder date from several weeks ago. Fantastic, meat-forward place that serves some incredible dishes such as the Branzino which is not to be missed.

https://bestiala.com/ 

 

Damian, Arts District

Across the street from Bestia is this beautiful restaurant that serves up incredible thoughtful, elegant and creative dishes from the chef that brought you Pujol in Mexico City. Their cocktails will go toe to toe with any cocktail bar in Los Angeles. Try the kimchi martini if you want something spectacularly delicious.

https://www.damiandtla.com/

 

Kazu Nori, DTLA

A small, cozy handroll sushi bar is an approachable and simple place for a date beyond a first date.

https://www.handrollbar.com/ 

Grand Central Market, DTLA

For those of you who are indecisive about what to order, this will either be amazing or frustrating. So many options and communal seats outdoors makes this one of my favorite spots in LA for a casual bite and drink.

https://www.grandcentralmarket.com/ 

 

Broad Museum, DTLA

This alternative yet fun museum is free and in my opinion more interesting the LACMA down the street but does require reservations or waiting in line so plan accordingly.

https://www.thebroad.org/ 

 

DTLA Architecture Tour

There are many cool buildings around 7th-11th in/around Broadway featuring repurposed theaters, art deco buildings and more. This is my favorite place to explore the classic buildings Los Angeles is known for.

 

Salsa Dancing On The 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica

While not ideal for first dates, it’s quite a scene and filled with talented dancers. Every Sunday late afternoon, this is the spot to be to show off your moves.

 

Maru Coffee, Arts District

The cream top coffee is delicious and addictive. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

https://www.marucoffee.com/ 

 

Resident Beer Garden & Live Music Venue, Arts District

This outdoor beer garden, live menu spot is often overlooked given the covered entrance but it’s really a beautiful place that will make you think you left the city.

https://www.residentdtla.com/ 

 

Gjelina, Venice

One of my favorite restaurants in LA, this place serves incredibly delicious, fun dishes that are easy to share and will leave you and your date happy.

https://gjelina.com/la/ 

 

Wally’s Wine, Santa Monica

A slightly pretentious bar with approachable cheese board menu, this is where you come to people watch and talk among yourselves as you sip on wine on the sidewalk or inside this bottle shop.

https://www.wallywine.com/ 

Coaching clients receive even more date ideas. Contact me today to learn how to reduce unmatching, increase chances of dates showing up to first dates and more. 

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Free Date Ideas LA, Cheap Date Ideas LA, Fun Date Ideas Los Angeles, Romantic Date Spots

-Personalized walking tour of Arts District

-Self-guided architecture tour of DTLA, Broadway Street

-Street art self-guided walk in Culver City, Venice, DTLA, Arts District

-Broad Museum (advanced, free reservations)

-LACMA Museum (Free admission 2nd Tuesdays of every month. Free admission for L.A. County residents with ID weekdays after 3 p.m from Memorial Day – Labor Day)

-Natural History Museum (Free admission 1st Tuesday of every month except July & August, and free every Tuesday in September. L.A. County residents receive free museum admission Monday – Friday from 3-5 pm. Bring a valid ID or utility bill the day of your visit)

-Huntington Library (Free admission 1st Thursday of every month with advance tickets). https://www.huntington.org/free-day 

-Getty Villa (free admission, parking extra)

-City Hall Observation Deck (view)

-Griffith Observatory (picnic)

-Venice Canal stroll

Fun Date Ideas In Other Cities Like NYC, San Francisco, Chicago… Places To Go On A Date

https://eddie-hernandez.com/category/meeting-others-offline/date-ideas/ 

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About Eddie Hernandez

Eddie is a dating coach for men & women in San Francisco (clients in NYC, LA, Chicago, & beyond ), as seen in the NYT & Bumble). He helps w/ profiles, photos, wardrobe, messaging, date ideas, red flags, lifestyle choices, hobbies, communication, social skills & offline efforts. Check out new dating blog here.