With its idyllic subtropical-Mediterranean climate, rolling terrain, Hollywood glitz, buzzing nightlife, Los Angeles is perfect city for dating. Let’s explore best places you can use for going out:
Going out
Who said no one walks in LA? From the number of trails in Los Angeles, hiking should be the city’s official pastime. Going for a long walk with a date is also a great way to get to know someone. Plus, it’s inexpensive and low maintenance!
- Take a secluded romantic walk on the Tapia Spur Trail in Malibu Creek State Park.
- Picnic in the Rose garden of the exhibition center.
- Cozy up in front of a bonfire at Dockweiler Beach.
- Explore the city center on foot. Play tourist in your hometown and take a guided tour of City Hall, Little Tokyo or the Biltmore House and Gardens.
- Or take an architectural walking tour of Bunker Hill.
- Head to Griffith Park for a free outdoor performance of Shakespeare in the Park.
- Tired of walking? Bike the Strand, a 35-mile trail that hugs the Los Angeles County coastline. Break for a picnic for two at Venice Beach.
- If you want your date to consider you her knight, take her out for a Friday night dinner stroll at Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables. It’s first come, first served, so show up early.
Museums
LA has two of the best museums in America:
- The Getty Center, celebrating art and architecture, opened in 1997 and became instantly famous. The view overlooking the city is breathtaking, and the Central Garden is practically a sculpture in itself. (Bonus: Free admission.)
- The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) holds more than 100,000 works of art and frequently hosts jazz nights and other date-worthy musical events.
Other museums worthy of dating:
Markets
- Farmer’s Market isn’t all vans and fruit stands. It opened in 1924 and became a gathering place for several LA communities. With dozens of restaurants, shops, markets and bars, the Rendezvous Promenade is superb. Celebrity watchers should keep their eyes peeled for stars like market regulars Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon shopping for fresh vegetables. Unlike most farmers’ markets, this one is open daily.
- the Hollywood Farmer’s Market on Sunday mornings-founded in 1991, was one of just a few farmers’ markets in all of California when it opened for business on May 5 of that year. It became an immediate success – bringing together farmers and producers from as close as Ventura County and as far away as the Central San Joaquin region.
- Echo Park Market-A staple in the trendy Echo Park neighborhood, the Echo Park Farmers’ Market continues to grow in popularity because of the ever-growing number of farmers and producers who participate on a weekly basis.
- The Yamashiro Farmer’s Market on Thursday evenings.
- If you want to include the kids, on Sunday mornings the Motor Avenue Farmer’s Market offers a petting zoo and free pony rides.
Games Night
- Some of the best sports teams call LA home: the Lakers, Dodgers, USC, UCLA, Galaxy, Kings and even the LA Clippers.
- Take your date to the game or cheer yourself on from the comfort of a place like the Yankee Doodles in Santa Monica. It has the distinction of having women among its regulars among LA sports bars, which makes it a bit friendlier than other options.
- Shoot pool together at Q’s Billiard Club Restaurant, a chic hangout in Wilshire,
- throw strikes at Shatto 39 Lanes in Koreatown or
- hit the (mini) golf course at Sherman Oaks Castle Park.
- For early risers, Roving Archers offers free archery lessons on Saturday mornings.
A Different Kind of Game Night
- Play Games! Drink beer and enjoy fried Oreos while you play Skee ball – for free! – and make funny faces at One-Eyed Gypsy’s photo booth in downtown LA, test your arcade skills with a friendly bet at Blipsy Bar in Koreatown,
- Hang out at The Spare Room for a night of bowling, games parties and cocktails at the retro-inspired lounge in Hollywood.
- Feeling more adventurous? Sign up for a Watson Adventure scavenger hunt and explore the city together.
Movie Night
Los Angeles has been called “the creative capital of the world,” with a history and big-screen culture that’s hard to ignore.
- Embrace Hollywood and stroll along the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.
- Visit the Hollywood History Museum or the Paley Center for Media.
- Take a walking tour of downtown film locations or catch a taping of a favorite TV show.
- Watch a movie at the Landmark Theatre. The Screening Lounge has been called “the best seat in the house” and allows you to snuggle up to your date on a comfortable sofa.
- If you’ve spent a summer in Los Angeles and haven’t seen a movie on the lawn of Hollywood Forever Cemetery, you’re missing something. This affordable Saturday night staple is offered May through September.
Night Owls
Los Angeles has a great late night scene. So if you and your partner are night owls, be sure to explore some of the legendary hotspots.
- Some of the biggest names in rock have played the famous/infamous The Viper Room. The Troubadour was a major folkloric attraction in the 60s, with Carole King, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell all stopping by. It remains a great showcase for emerging artists, making it a draw for fans of new music.
- If you’re trying to avoid the club scene, head to Baja Sharkeez, a popular local bar on Hermosa Beach for a more relaxed atmosphere. The patio and dance floor are sure to be teeming with gorgeous beachgoers.
- Mojito and salsa lovers will love El Floridita. Just be sure to book if you want a table.
- When it comes to sexy hangouts, it doesn’t get much cooler than the A-list Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel. More of a laid-back lounge than a hard-hitting nightclub, the old-Hollywood-style piano bar, gorgeous views, and memorable aperitifs are sure to impress.
- Relax at Maxwell DeMille’s Cicada Club.
Be a Kid
Escape the cynicism of the city and laugh like children together.
- Men, take notes from Ryan Gosling’s Dating Playbook, and take your girl to Disneyland or Magic Mountain.
- For some old-fashioned fun, sip milkshakes as you stroll along the Santa Monica Pier, hand in hand. (Be sure to stop to ride the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park.)
- Embrace a childlike wonderland and check out the Space Shuttle Endeavor at the California Science Center.
Laughing
One of the perks of living in a city full of aspiring actors is that you have the best fans in the country eager to entertain.
- Comedy clubs are scattered throughout the city, with The Laugh Factory in West Hollywood – popular comedians always frequent the place to try out new tunes –
- Upright Citizens Brigade Theater as outstanding date opportunities
- Hollywood Improv
- iO West
- Second City
Get a little relationship coaching
In a city filled with movie stars and Instagram influencers, finding the right person to spend your life with can be tough. But matchmaking services in Los Angeles are here to save the day, or at least your love life. These matchmakers specialize in pairing up the quirkiest of characters, from a sci-fi nerd who loves cosplay to a hipster who’s obsessed with kombucha. Plus, they know all the best hidden gems in the city for a unique first date, like a haunted cemetery tour or a vegan sushi-making class. So, if you’re tired of swiping left on dating apps and ready to find your perfect match, let the LA matchmakers work their magic and help you live happily ever after.
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