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The restaurant bar at Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood, California.
Grandmaster Recorders.
Wonho Frank Lee

14 Foolproof First Date Restaurants in Los Angeles

Whether the vibe is casual and low-key or romantic, fine dining, LA is full of first date options

by Eater Staff Updated
2 comments / new
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Grandmaster Recorders.
| Wonho Frank Lee
by Eater Staff Updated
2 comments / new

One of the best things about dating in a city like Los Angeles is having so many choices of what to do on a first date. Whether the vibe is more all-out romance in a beautiful setting or a more casual date with a side of activities, LA’s got plenty of options.

Date-planning choices run the gamut of tastes, styles, and activities: some have incredible views, and others have quick, casual bites. To help decide what to do (and eat) while getting to know someone for the first time, below is a handy list of some of the best first date restaurants in Los Angeles.

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Dudley Market

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Share plates of super-fresh crudo and ceviche steps away from the beach at this buzzy seafood restaurant, helmed by Mexico-born chef Diego Hernandez. Order a bottle of skin-contact wine and snag a seat at the marble bar for dinner and a show of chefs expertly slicing fish in the kitchen, or sit outside for choice Venice Beach people-watching (an instant conversation starter if things start off a little slow).

9 Dudley Ave, Venice, CA 90291
(310) 392-0825
(310) 392-0825
Dudley Market
Peeking inside Dudley Market.

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Mirabelle Wine Bar

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Nestled in Valley Village is the cozy neighborhood Mirabelle Wine Bar, which feels like a fine French hideaway lit perfectly by warm light. Friendly bartenders will take the time to help with ordering the best beer or wine, while the food menu offers shareable plates like grilled hen of the woods with zhoug and hazelnut dukkah, or a solid cheese and charcuterie board.

12518 Burbank Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 927-4241
(818) 927-4241
Mirabelle
Mirabelle wine bar
Mirabelle Official

Sosta

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For a no-pressure ambience not far from the beach, it’s hard to beat Sosta in Hermosa. The charming Italian cucina seems perfectly built for handmade pasta, glasses of red wine, and sunset conversation that spills into a warm evening dinner. At dusk, there’s nothing but candles to light the interior, lending that “falling in love” glow (even if you’re not).

439 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(424) 391-5959
(424) 391-5959
A charming Italian restaurant with wooden table and candle in the middle.
Sosta
Sosta

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Tail o' the Pup

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Nothing says “romance” like a snappy hot dog topped with mustard and grilled onions. But in all seriousness, West Hollywood’s refurbished Tail o’ the Pup — with its throwback stand shaped like an actual hot dog and menu of dogs, loaded fries, burgers, soft serve, and more — is perfect for a casual day date. There’s even beer and wine, should the date linger past corn dog o’clock and into the early evening. (Note: the place closes at 8 p.m.)

Tail o' the Pup, 329 N. San Vincente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048
(424) 527-0131
(424) 527-0131
A close up shot of a hot dog stand ready to serve customers, with hanging menu.
Tail o’ the Pup’s throwback stand.
Wonho Frank Lee

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LA Cha Cha Chá

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Walk one flight up into Mexico City import Cha Cha Chá, where the eastern view of Downtown is spectacular. Pair the view of the skyline with snacks like carnitas tacos, bluefin tuna tostadas, and beet-dressed shrimp ceviche. Pro tip: If one’s date happens to mention that they’re gluten-free, there’s plenty to eat and drink at this Arts District stunner.

812 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 548-8487
(213) 548-8487
Outdoor patio at Cha Cha Chá in Downtown Los Angeles
Cha Cha Chá
Wonho Frank Lee

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Capri Club

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Aperitivo hour really is the best time for a first date; it’s low pressure, and there’s no commitment to an entire evening. Eagle Rock’s Capri Club caters to that exact need, with its menu of spritzes, classic cocktails, and bar bites like tuna-stuffed peppers. Slide into a red leather banquette in the wood-paneled bar, order a few drinks and snacks, and see where the night goes.

4604 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
(707) 337-0170
(707) 337-0170
A corner look at a new bar with wood paneling and red booths, at daytime.
Seating at Capri Club.
Capri Club

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Grandmaster Recorders

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Grandmaster Recorders boasts a multi-level space in the heart of Hollywood, serving Italian and Australian fare alongside some of the best Negronis in Los Angeles and an impressive array of wines. Given Grandmaster Recorders’s past as a recording studio, there’s also always a real vibe at the restaurant — tasteful music, groups celebrating special occasions, couples on dates, and an overall ambient but exciting atmosphere. It’s ideal for folks who want to start with rooftop drinks, and continue the date into dinner if things go well. For those looking for a weekend morning date, the space is also open for brunch, serving up breakfast sandwiches, avocado bruschetta, and more for folks to enjoy on the rooftop along with jazz music.

1518 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 963-7800
(323) 963-7800
Grandmaster Recorders restaurant interior in Hollywood, California.
Grandmaster Recorders
Wonho Frank Lee

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Highland Park Bowl

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Highland Park Bowl makes for a great first date for folks who prefer getting to know each other better over an activity rather than while sitting across a cramped table. The menu offers pizzas, fries, burgers, and more, plus a solid range of cocktails, and there’s bar space to hang after a round or two of bowling. Plus, the best part about a date in Highland Park is the ability to walk around Figueroa after, stopping in at another bar or restaurant to prolong the evening if things go well.

5621 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
(323) 257-2695
(323) 257-2695
Bowling lanes at Highland Park Bowl in Highland Park, California.
Highland Park Bowl
Wonho Frank Lee

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Accomplice Bar

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Mar Vista’s Accomplice offers creative cocktails along with bites from chef and co-owner David Kuo’s Taiwanese and Chinese restaurant Little Fatty. It’s a great place to impress a first date with food and drink that will make the night feel festive and exciting, and it’s easy for one quick drink to turn into two or more if the chemistry allows.

3811 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 574-7610
(310) 574-7610
Accomplice Bar.
Accomplice Bar.
Jakob N. Layman

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1010 Wine and Events

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This wine bar in Inglewood is run by two sisters who wanted to build a space celebrating good wine and food in the city that raised them. With charcuterie boards, pasta dishes, fries, salads, and more, there are options for those looking for a first date with just a drink and some bites or those looking to turn a happy hour into a meal.

1010 N La Brea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302
(424) 331-9400
(424) 331-9400

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Bar Bohemien

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From the same team behind Highland Park’s Cafe Birdie and Good Housekeeping, Bar Bohemian serves craft cocktails and light bar snacks atop Citizen Public Market in Culver City. A great first date can start with bites downstairs followed by drinks upstairs, and then back downstairs for dessert.

9355 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 730-6610
(310) 730-6610

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Good Clean Fun

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Downtown’s Good Clean Fun offers wine glasses and flights along with cocktails, beers, and a stellar California-meets-Italy menu, all served on the wine shop and restaurant’s patio. It’s very casual and relaxed, ideal for a first date where the goal is to keep things lower pressure

868 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 493-0098
(213) 493-0098
Front patio at Good Clean Fun.
Good Clean Fun.
Good Clean Fun

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Stir Crazy

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Stir Crazy has that almost imperceptibly cool mix of hotspot, in-the-know getaway, and dimly lit dinner hang that makes it perfect for a first date. Anyone suggesting this spot immediately knows where the hip folks of the moment are eating, and the low light, truncated menu, and wine-forward service all work in service of a great night spent getting to know someone.

6903 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 433-4933
(323) 433-4933

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Industry Cafe & Jazz

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Culver City’s Industry Cafe and Jazz has been in the neighborhood for 18 years, hosting live jazz performances from Wednesday through Sunday. The music and convivial atmosphere make for a great first date, and the Ethiopian and Eritrean food always hits the spot.

6039 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 202-6633
(310) 202-6633
Veggie platter on a red and white checkered tablecloth at Industry Cafe & Jazz.
Veggie platter at Industry Cafe & Jazz.
Virali Dave

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Dudley Market

9 Dudley Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Share plates of super-fresh crudo and ceviche steps away from the beach at this buzzy seafood restaurant, helmed by Mexico-born chef Diego Hernandez. Order a bottle of skin-contact wine and snag a seat at the marble bar for dinner and a show of chefs expertly slicing fish in the kitchen, or sit outside for choice Venice Beach people-watching (an instant conversation starter if things start off a little slow).

9 Dudley Ave, Venice, CA 90291
(310) 392-0825
(310) 392-0825
Dudley Market
Peeking inside Dudley Market.

Mirabelle Wine Bar

12518 Burbank Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607

Nestled in Valley Village is the cozy neighborhood Mirabelle Wine Bar, which feels like a fine French hideaway lit perfectly by warm light. Friendly bartenders will take the time to help with ordering the best beer or wine, while the food menu offers shareable plates like grilled hen of the woods with zhoug and hazelnut dukkah, or a solid cheese and charcuterie board.

12518 Burbank Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 927-4241
(818) 927-4241
Mirabelle
Mirabelle wine bar
Mirabelle Official

Sosta

439 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

For a no-pressure ambience not far from the beach, it’s hard to beat Sosta in Hermosa. The charming Italian cucina seems perfectly built for handmade pasta, glasses of red wine, and sunset conversation that spills into a warm evening dinner. At dusk, there’s nothing but candles to light the interior, lending that “falling in love” glow (even if you’re not).

439 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(424) 391-5959
(424) 391-5959
A charming Italian restaurant with wooden table and candle in the middle.
Sosta
Sosta

Tail o' the Pup

Tail o' the Pup, 329 N. San Vincente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048

Nothing says “romance” like a snappy hot dog topped with mustard and grilled onions. But in all seriousness, West Hollywood’s refurbished Tail o’ the Pup — with its throwback stand shaped like an actual hot dog and menu of dogs, loaded fries, burgers, soft serve, and more — is perfect for a casual day date. There’s even beer and wine, should the date linger past corn dog o’clock and into the early evening. (Note: the place closes at 8 p.m.)

Tail o' the Pup, 329 N. San Vincente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048
(424) 527-0131
(424) 527-0131
A close up shot of a hot dog stand ready to serve customers, with hanging menu.
Tail o’ the Pup’s throwback stand.
Wonho Frank Lee

LA Cha Cha Chá

812 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Walk one flight up into Mexico City import Cha Cha Chá, where the eastern view of Downtown is spectacular. Pair the view of the skyline with snacks like carnitas tacos, bluefin tuna tostadas, and beet-dressed shrimp ceviche. Pro tip: If one’s date happens to mention that they’re gluten-free, there’s plenty to eat and drink at this Arts District stunner.

812 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 548-8487
(213) 548-8487
Outdoor patio at Cha Cha Chá in Downtown Los Angeles
Cha Cha Chá
Wonho Frank Lee

Capri Club

4604 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Aperitivo hour really is the best time for a first date; it’s low pressure, and there’s no commitment to an entire evening. Eagle Rock’s Capri Club caters to that exact need, with its menu of spritzes, classic cocktails, and bar bites like tuna-stuffed peppers. Slide into a red leather banquette in the wood-paneled bar, order a few drinks and snacks, and see where the night goes.

4604 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
(707) 337-0170
(707) 337-0170
A corner look at a new bar with wood paneling and red booths, at daytime.
Seating at Capri Club.
Capri Club

Grandmaster Recorders

1518 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Grandmaster Recorders boasts a multi-level space in the heart of Hollywood, serving Italian and Australian fare alongside some of the best Negronis in Los Angeles and an impressive array of wines. Given Grandmaster Recorders’s past as a recording studio, there’s also always a real vibe at the restaurant — tasteful music, groups celebrating special occasions, couples on dates, and an overall ambient but exciting atmosphere. It’s ideal for folks who want to start with rooftop drinks, and continue the date into dinner if things go well. For those looking for a weekend morning date, the space is also open for brunch, serving up breakfast sandwiches, avocado bruschetta, and more for folks to enjoy on the rooftop along with jazz music.

1518 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 963-7800
(323) 963-7800
Grandmaster Recorders restaurant interior in Hollywood, California.
Grandmaster Recorders
Wonho Frank Lee

Highland Park Bowl

5621 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Highland Park Bowl makes for a great first date for folks who prefer getting to know each other better over an activity rather than while sitting across a cramped table. The menu offers pizzas, fries, burgers, and more, plus a solid range of cocktails, and there’s bar space to hang after a round or two of bowling. Plus, the best part about a date in Highland Park is the ability to walk around Figueroa after, stopping in at another bar or restaurant to prolong the evening if things go well.

5621 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
(323) 257-2695
(323) 257-2695
Bowling lanes at Highland Park Bowl in Highland Park, California.
Highland Park Bowl
Wonho Frank Lee

Accomplice Bar

3811 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Mar Vista’s Accomplice offers creative cocktails along with bites from chef and co-owner David Kuo’s Taiwanese and Chinese restaurant Little Fatty. It’s a great place to impress a first date with food and drink that will make the night feel festive and exciting, and it’s easy for one quick drink to turn into two or more if the chemistry allows.

3811 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 574-7610
(310) 574-7610
Accomplice Bar.
Accomplice Bar.
Jakob N. Layman

1010 Wine and Events

1010 N La Brea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302

This wine bar in Inglewood is run by two sisters who wanted to build a space celebrating good wine and food in the city that raised them. With charcuterie boards, pasta dishes, fries, salads, and more, there are options for those looking for a first date with just a drink and some bites or those looking to turn a happy hour into a meal.

1010 N La Brea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302
(424) 331-9400
(424) 331-9400

Bar Bohemien

9355 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

From the same team behind Highland Park’s Cafe Birdie and Good Housekeeping, Bar Bohemian serves craft cocktails and light bar snacks atop Citizen Public Market in Culver City. A great first date can start with bites downstairs followed by drinks upstairs, and then back downstairs for dessert.

9355 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 730-6610
(310) 730-6610

Good Clean Fun

868 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Downtown’s Good Clean Fun offers wine glasses and flights along with cocktails, beers, and a stellar California-meets-Italy menu, all served on the wine shop and restaurant’s patio. It’s very casual and relaxed, ideal for a first date where the goal is to keep things lower pressure

868 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 493-0098
(213) 493-0098
Front patio at Good Clean Fun.
Good Clean Fun.
Good Clean Fun

Stir Crazy

6903 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Stir Crazy has that almost imperceptibly cool mix of hotspot, in-the-know getaway, and dimly lit dinner hang that makes it perfect for a first date. Anyone suggesting this spot immediately knows where the hip folks of the moment are eating, and the low light, truncated menu, and wine-forward service all work in service of a great night spent getting to know someone.

6903 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 433-4933
(323) 433-4933

Industry Cafe & Jazz

6039 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Culver City’s Industry Cafe and Jazz has been in the neighborhood for 18 years, hosting live jazz performances from Wednesday through Sunday. The music and convivial atmosphere make for a great first date, and the Ethiopian and Eritrean food always hits the spot.

6039 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 202-6633
(310) 202-6633
Veggie platter on a red and white checkered tablecloth at Industry Cafe & Jazz.
Veggie platter at Industry Cafe & Jazz.
Virali Dave

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