Cara Restaurant
Photograph: Courtesy Cara HotelCara Restaurant
Photograph: Courtesy Cara Hotel

The most romantic restaurants in Los Angeles

Seduce your sweetheart with fireplaces, ocean views and splurgeworthy meals at L.A.’s most romantic restaurants

Patricia Kelly Yeo
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Lady and the Tramp had the right idea—what better way to celebrate with your significant other than sharing a romantic meal? Whether you’re looking to wine and dine on a rooftop, cozy up on a first date or splurge to celebrate a special occasion, we’ve got you covered with a round-up of L.A.’s best restaurants that lay on the charm. Below, check out our guide to the best romantic restaurants in Los Angeles.

Looking for more sentimental ideas? Check out the most romantic things to do in L.A.

L.A.’s most romantic restaurants

  • Japanese
  • Malibu
  • price 4 of 4

Nobu Malibu is one of those places that’s so stunning, you may just hear yourself muttering, “Is this real life?” With a menu designed by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the iconic restaurant—overlooking Surfrider Beach and Malibu Pier—is so close to the beach that you can overhear children playing on the sand. Its minimalist aesthetic complements its natural environment, and the sushi and modern Japanese food are just as disarmingly beautiful as the setting. Mini tacos are filled with deliciously creamy uni, and Nobu’s signature tiradito—thin slices of whitefish dotted with chili—are wonderful. Take note: Reservations here are a must, and while the restaurant's on OpenTable, the best reservation times are typically only available over the phone—310-317-9140.

  • Californian
  • Malibu
  • price 3 of 4

Looking for a patio with a breathtaking view? This Malibu restaurant specializing in California cuisine lets you enjoy a meal right at the Pacific’s edge for a sunset view that can’t be beat. The unenclosed dining room makes even “indoor” views of the sea possible from every angle, and tall hedges to the side only add to this high-profile spot’s exclusive vibe. Straightforward seafood and steaks reign supreme here, though you’ll find a few deviations from the American steaks and chops by way of baked Brie in puff pastry and miso-braised tofu.

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  • Pan-Asian
  • West Hollywood
  • price 4 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

Though other WeHo hotel restaurants might possess a similar winning combination of ritzy, ultra-chic interior design and breathtaking urban vistas (plus the glitzy patrons to match), only Wolfgang Puck’s newest fine-dining endeavor strives to do more than just coast on its looks. Pairing aesthetics with actual substance, Merois demonstrates that later works in a longtime celebrity chef’s oeuvre, even one as expansive and commercialized as Puck’s, can still delight and outright impress seasoned diners. French Californian dishes with plenty of Asian culinary influences, all atop the Pendry's rooftop, which features stellar views and an opulent interior? Sounds like a date to us. 

  • Californian
  • West Hollywood
  • price 4 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
You can’t avoid a bit of that trying-a-little-too-hard Sunset Strip scene inside this dinner spot at the West Hollywood EDITION. But any drawbacks are easily outweighed by Michelin-starred chef John Fraser’s veggie-focused menu and the astoundingly lush garden interior (seriously, you just might be competing with a wall of palm fronds for you date’s attention). The menu here is one of our favorites along the Sunset Strip, but the sultry, cinematic ambience is what send this place over the top for anniversaries, birthdays and Valentine's Day.
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  • Californian
  • Thai Town
  • price 3 of 4

With a stunning reflective pool, olive and palm trees and an open-air skylight, this trendy Los Feliz-ish hotel restaurant will transport you far, far away from the chaos of Thai Town, located just a few minutes’ walk around the corner. Come nightfall, the space’s mood lighting transforms Cara’s coastal Mediterranean design from merely breezy to downright romantic. Book a reservation to snag a seat by the pool and order from a crowd-pleasing, straightforward menu, including a tasty prosciutto and burrata starter paired with grilled sourdough from Santa Monica’s Jyan Isaac Bread. Walk-ins are likely to end up in the front patio and bar area, where Wednesday salsa dancing and weekend DJs liven the space up for an impromptu date night. Throw in the solid food and cocktails, and it’s no wonder Cara has become a shoo-in for anniversary dinners and other special occasions.

  • French
  • Beverly
  • price 3 of 4

Hidden away on Beverly Boulevard, this impeccably designed French restaurant takes over the old Dominick’s space. True to its name, Amour conjures visions of romance with a candle-lit dining room, cozy lounge seating by the fireplace and a brick-lined, checker floored courtyard. Step into the little library on your way back from the and leave your loved one a message in a book—it's not only allowed, it's encouraged. The Japanese-inflected haute cuisine runs on the pricier side, with a few tasting menus, with vegan and vegetarian options, but the dreamy setting, first-rate service and excellent cooking make Amour an ultra-dreamy dining destination fit for date nights, anniversaries and of course, Valentine's Day. If you’d rather order à la carte, the kitchen's precise saucework translates into strong entrées, a standout steak tartare and the comte cloud, a truffle-covered cheesy poached egg. Either way, you're in good hands with El Bullí-trained head chef Dani Chavez-Bello.

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  • Californian
  • Topanga
  • price 3 of 4

Forget the Topanga stereotypes of burning sage and healing crystals. Off Old Topanga Road, love-stricken diners can enter a bucolic, wooded city escape thanks to Inn of the Seventh Ray’s multi-tiered outdoor dining space draped in lights, lilac and oak trees—and, OK, the wafting scent of incense that hits you on your way in. Take in the serene, creekside scene under heat lamps and twinkling stars, then start with a glass from their organic-leaning wine list and follow with the likes of roasted-mushroom toast with sherry tarragon cream, and then, grass-fed filet mignon with truffled mashed potatoes or a dish of black-vinegar-braised short ribs with BBQ-spiced carrots. Nostalgic Angelenos will be happy to know that it’s still veg-, vegan- and gluten-free–friendly, and has been romancing diners for nearly half a century.

  • American creative
  • Studio City
  • price 3 of 4
Firefly may be the closest thing to a modern-day secret garden in L.A., walls of tangled ivy included. The Studio City fine-dining restaurant offers modern-American cuisine in a romantic, cozy setting: A heated, firelit patio is decorated in candles and twinkling lights, while the library-like bar area offers an ideal date-night vibe. In this secret garden, you’re fed exquisitely constructed dishes such as veal meatballs swimming in San Marzano tomato sauce, or an artful roasted monkfish with pumpkin and salsa verde. Make goo-goo eyes at your date by sharing a decadent butterscotch budino topped with Maldon sea salt.
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  • French
  • Downtown Historic Core
  • price 3 of 4

This rooftop bistro is one of the prettiest in town, with patterned tile floors, dead-on views of the Central Library and other DTLA landmarks, and an ambiance full of potted trees and twinkly lights, not to mention beautiful locals—plus a few hundred of their closest friends. Inside, the eclectic French décor displays a series of tasteful boudoir paintings over the bar and a scattering of plush sofas. Sample the wide selection of kir and wines (and bubbly) by the glass, and drop in for happy hour—dubbed “Apéritif Hour”—on weekdays from 4 to 6pm.

  • Italian
  • Santa Monica
  • price 3 of 4

Vibes: the only word that comes to mind after the elevator ride up to this extremely popular Santa Monica rooftop restaurant and bar serving seasonal California Italian cuisine and top-notch cocktails. Located upstairs from the Laemmle Theater, Élephante boasts one Santa Monica’s best indoor-outdoor spaces, with resort-like interior design that feels ripped from the pages of Conde Nast Traveler. Inside, chic modern wood furniture and a selection of cacti and lush houseplants set the stage for a stunning view of the ocean from the aptly-named Sunset Room. At night, the low lighting and beachside vibes make for an ideal Westside date night. When it comes to ordering, our go-to is the whipped eggplant dip with puffy house-made flatbread, but there’s also excellent pizza, pasta and a sunny weekend brunch with the likes of soft polenta with eggs, crab and sweet corn.

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  • American
  • Downtown Financial District
  • price 3 of 4

Skyscraper-topping restaurants always seem like perfect go-big date ideas, but many end up coasting on views alone. But 71Above—you guessed it, it’s 71 floors up in the U.S. Bank Tower—backs up its height with a tasty prix-fixe feast of poached oysters, agnolotti, steak tartare and scallops. Try the bar for a sunset-facing seat, and look out for a pair of tables pushed right up to the edge of the windows.

  • Mexican
  • Los Feliz
  • price 2 of 4

This Mexican restaurant and bar in Los Feliz always wows us with its dreamy open-air dining room and excellent seating options—from well-appointed tables and low-slung armchairs to stools at the glittering bar. The towering tree overhead gives the space an enchanted forest-like feel, and the various nooks and crannies add a dimension of coziness for pairs on date night. Chef Joshua Gil's Baja-inspired menu of tasty tacos and other drinking snacks make for light fare that, as Gil (of now-closed Mírame and Level 8's Maison Kasai) loves to say, will leave you light enough for plenty of post-prandial activity. Toss in the solid list of tequilas, mezcals and several agave-based cocktails, and you’ve got yourself an excellent date night destination.

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  • Seafood
  • West Hollywood
Perched above the trendy streets of West Hollywood, Catch LA is the perpetually busy West Coast outpost of NYC's popular globally influenced, vaguely Asian seafood spot. While the pricey, crowd-pleasing menu offers little to no surprise, the see-and-be-seen element of dining here adds a hint of thrill to any date night, and the well-trained staff know how to provide a night to remember, especially on special occasions. Walk through the charming floral entryway (be sure to avoid any people taking Instagram photos) and you'll find a stunning open-air dining room with a retractable roof for rainy or colder evenings. In terms of ordering, we like the lobster macaroni, crunchy rice cakes and specialty rolls; the "Hit Me" chocolate cake and Ferris wheel of ricotta doughnuts always make for a decidedly over-the-top ending to the night.
  • Californian
  • Rancho Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills Estates
  • price 3 of 4

Palos Verdes’ sumptuous resort Terranea boasts a couple of oceanside outdoor dining options, but Mar’sel is the go-to for an impress-your-date kind of place. The peninsula-topping patio looks out toward the rugged Palos Verdes coastline and Catalina Island; it’s the kind of privileged setting that you simply won’t want to give up when you’re done. Dinners quickly climb into the triple digits, so consider the three-course Sunday brunch for (a still expensive) $75 to keep things in check.

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  • Mexican
  • Downtown Arts District
  • price 3 of 4

Wouldn’t it be romantic to whisk off to Mexico City for an impromptu vacation? Well, you’ll still be firmly in the Arts District, but you sure won’t feel like it on this palm and cacti-lined patio escape. The aesthetic details at LA Cha Cha Chá are divine, as is head chef Paco Moran's seafood and tequila-forward menu at this CDMX-inspired terraza. Order a tuna tostada and a painkiller or two and you’ll feel as though you’ve slipped away to paradise.

  • Contemporary American
  • Burbank

The sprawl of the Valley may not typically scream romance, but it sure does when it’s twinkling a few hundred feet below you. Burbank’s Castaway swapped its over-the-hill country club atmosphere for a hillside retreat that feels more fresh, with steaks, whole roast fish and impressive charcuterie boards. The patio, with a clear shot of the entire SFV, is the place to sit, as is the adjacent subject-to-availability bar, the Green Room.

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  • American creative
  • Eagle Rock

There’s romance even in the story of this Eagle Rock gem: The cozy Craftsman bungalow turned bistro is run by—of course—a husband-and-wife team. Chef Sean Lowenthal and Deborah Schwartz-Lowenthal cook up a hyper-seasonal New-American menu in a setting with such low lighting in almost feels entirely candle-lit. Get there early to grab a seat at the tiny marble-topped bar or on the cozy plant-draped front porch, or hole up in one of their banquette seats with tufted leather backing as you share your way through braised meatballs, duck liver mousse with sherry gastrique, and charred flat iron steak.

  • French
  • West Third Street
The Little Door’s ample candlelight, rustic cuisine and one of the best patios in the city keep L.A. couples entranced—and have for a quarter of a century. The formerly French restaurant is now home to a Mediterranean-leaning menu, but still just as much romance as ever before: Catch couples canoodling—especially in the courtyard—over pine-nut–crusted rack of lamb with goat cheese or seared scallops in a wild-mushroom carbonara sauce, with organic produce sourced from local farms and wines that trot the globe. This “hidden” gem is hidden in location only—make sure you land a reservation so as not to keep your date waiting.
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