More Maps

17 Essential Late-Night Restaurants in Los Angeles

13 Stellar Places to Eat Brazilian Food in Los Angeles

13 Essential Arts District Restaurants in Los Angeles

More in Los Angeles See more maps

Restaurants to Make You Randy on Valentine's Day in LA

by Matthew Kang@mattatouille Jan 31, 2014, 5:21am PST

1 comment / new

View as Map

by Matthew Kang@mattatouille Jan 31, 2014, 5:21am PST

1 comment / new

Arguably the biggest dining night of the year, Valentine's Day is a spectacle to be seen by diners both seasoned and amateur. Dates dress up in their fanciest garb, flowers in hand, perfume sprayed, hair curled and ready for a night on the town. Restaurants know their part — pricey prix-fixe menus that make it easy to choose the evening's array of aphrodisiacs. Lovers and would-be-lovers toast to Champagne cocktails and awkwardly slurp raw oysters. Main courses are often more ordinary, but sometimes come with truffles or caviar. Desserts feature plenty of chocolate, naturally. Here now, Eater presents a handy guide to Valentine's Day Dining in Los Angeles. Reservations are most definitely recommended.

Read More

If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Drago Centro

This expansive Downtown restaurant is doing an ode to San Valentino, with a four course menu offering the likes of Chef Celestino's signature garganelli, grilled swordfish, braised osso buco, and chocolate olive oil terrine topped with salted caramel gelato. $68 per person.

Open in Google Maps

525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Visit Website

Maison Giraud

Chef Alain Giraud is doing a special six course tasting for Valentine's Day in Pacific Palisades, featuring red endive salad, mushroom ravioli, arctic char with lemon confit, or beef tenderloin with gratin dauphinois and black truffle sauce. If that's not enough, end with choux harmony, followed by mignardises. $85 per person.

1032 Swarthmore Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Vertical Wine Bistro

This swanky wine restaurant in Pasadena is doing a three-course dinner serving pappardelle pasta, shrimp bisque or arugula and burrata salad, then an entree course of roasted chicken breast or filet mignon, then petit four for dessert. $59 per person and an additional $27 for wine pairings.

70 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Sotto

Chefs Steve Samson and Zach Pollack are preparing a $65 four-course dinner for Valentine's Day at this rustic Italian restaurant in South Beverly Hills. Along with regular menu dishes, there are a few specials that will be offered that night.

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Nick & Stef's Steakhouse

This modern steakhouse in Downtown is offering both a three and four course menu for V-Day, including a kale salad, pan-seared diver scallops or oak-grilled filet mignon. End the meal with a S'more Kiss with a dark chocolate center and graham cracker crumble. $65 for three courses, $75 for four.

330 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Visit Website

Also featured in:

La Sandia Santa Monica

A nice, flexible Valentine's Day at this Santa Monica restaurant means a special menu offered from the 14th to the 16th, which will serve a $29 prix fixe menu that includes fundido de queso, shrimp and crab empanadas, surf and turf with hangar steak and grilled shrimp, and a pasilla lava cake for dessert.

395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Visit Website

One Pico

At the pleasant Shutters on the Beach, experience an $85 prix fixe that focuses on market-fresh ingredients and seafood, like fluke sashimi, dungeness crab cake, black truffle bucatini, and whole lobster with Israeli cous cous. Dessert comes out as a trio of chocolate.

1 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Cafe Pinot

Those with a literary slant can check out the Valentine's Day at Cafe Pinot, situated right next to the LA Public Library. Prepared and conceived by chef Sydney Hunter, the Waldorf Salad (think Gatsby) starts the meal while Gnocchi and Truffles and a Cowboy Steak (Brokeback Mountain) continues into the meal. Dessert is a trio of custom Compartes chocolate truffles.

700 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Valentino

This expansive Italian restaurant in Santa Monica is offering a $90 prix fixe that offers a wide selection of antipasti like vitello tonnato with bottarga, then a choice of pasta like crabmeat cannelloni, and perhaps an entree of grilled branzino. Wine pairings run an additional $50, definitely recommended.

Open in Google Maps

3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Visit Website

Bar Marmont

In addition to the regular menu by chef Carolynn Spence, this Hollywood haunt is preparing some romantic specials like caviar and oysters served on a bed of roses, or a lady and the tramp-style pasta for two.

Open in Google Maps

8171 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Visit Website

The Strand House

Looking for a grand place to dine in the South Bay? This $125 menu boasts a caviar croque madame, seared dayboat scallop with truffle risotto, a duo of beef that includes a Wagyu NY strip and braised beef cheeks, and a raspberry macaron with meyer lemon cream to finish.

117 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Scratch | bar

A relatively affordable multi-course tasting in the heart of Beverly Hills' restaurant row, Scratch Bar is doing three seatings, the first two of which offer 6 courses for $55, and the last, which starts at 9 p.m., going for $65. Dishes include pork belly & raw oyster, dry-aged hangar steak, and a dark chocolate cayenne pepper candy bar.

111 N La Cienega, Los Angeles, CA 90211

Visit Website

Also featured in:

18 Ways To Celebrate the Fourth of July in LA

Comme Ça

Chef David Myers is preparing a $59 prix fixe called Sweethearts, inspired by the memories of Julia Child and her husband Paul. Enjoy dishes like coq au vin, rolled omelet with caviar ($15 supplement), lobster thermidor, and a gateaux Paris-brest for dessert. The regular menu is also available.

8479 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Melisse Restaurant

For an over the top, no holds barred Valentine's Day, Melisse is doing an eight course, $275 dinner (though it's a mere $150 the day before and after V-Day) that includes chef Josiah Citrin's trademade egg caviar, Perigord truffle risotto, and crispy Atlantic bass with swiss chard.

1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Little Next Door

This romantic annex to the celebrated Little Door is doing a more casual approach to Valentine's Day, with a "lovebirds" special by chef Patrice Fournel, and live music by Jean Paul Monsche. An ideal pick for those living in Mid-City.

8142 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Post & Beam

For something catering to South LA or lower Mid-City residents, check out Govind Armstrong's affordable $43 dinner at Post & Beam, which starts with a bibb lettuce salad, hangar steak with lyonnaise potato, wild grouper, and devil's food cake for dessert.

3767 Santa Rosalia Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Tapenade

This New American restaurant on Sawtelle is offering a $55 prix fixe that includes cripsy brussels sprouts, hen of the woods mushrooms with creamy polenta, oven-roasted duck with coffee citrus powder, and a walnut banana gratin with vanilla gelato for dessert.

11301 W Olympic Blvd, #116, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Visit Website

Also featured in:

A Comprehensive Guide to Dining on Sawtelle

Chianina Steakhouse

For a quiet escape from the bustle of the city, this Italian steakhouse in Long Beach is doing a four course, $90 dinner that starts with grilled razor clams, then moves to a squid ink spaghetti with uni sauce, and finally an 8 oz. prime filet mignon or grilled half-rack of lamb. Dessert is a salted caramel and chocolate tart.

5716 E 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Hinoki & The Bird

While there isn't a prix menu here, chefs David Myers and Kuniko Yagi are making some special Valentine's Day dishes. The arresting, modern room and the fantastic cocktails are alone a fine enough draw for the romantic holiday.

10 W Century Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Visit Website

Also featured in:

AOC

Suzanne Goin's signature restaurant on Third Street is doing a four course menu for $100 with market-driven dishes which can be paired optionally with the biodynamic, organic selections. The romantic patio is certainly a great place to escape from the city.

8700 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

AOC patio with chairs and tables.

Also featured in:

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

Drago Centro

525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

This expansive Downtown restaurant is doing an ode to San Valentino, with a four course menu offering the likes of Chef Celestino's signature garganelli, grilled swordfish, braised osso buco, and chocolate olive oil terrine topped with salted caramel gelato. $68 per person.

Open in Google Maps

525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Visit Website

Maison Giraud

1032 Swarthmore Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Chef Alain Giraud is doing a special six course tasting for Valentine's Day in Pacific Palisades, featuring red endive salad, mushroom ravioli, arctic char with lemon confit, or beef tenderloin with gratin dauphinois and black truffle sauce. If that's not enough, end with choux harmony, followed by mignardises. $85 per person.

1032 Swarthmore Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Visit Website

Vertical Wine Bistro

70 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

This swanky wine restaurant in Pasadena is doing a three-course dinner serving pappardelle pasta, shrimp bisque or arugula and burrata salad, then an entree course of roasted chicken breast or filet mignon, then petit four for dessert. $59 per person and an additional $27 for wine pairings.

70 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Visit Website

Sotto

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Chefs Steve Samson and Zach Pollack are preparing a $65 four-course dinner for Valentine's Day at this rustic Italian restaurant in South Beverly Hills. Along with regular menu dishes, there are a few specials that will be offered that night.

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Visit Website

Nick & Stef's Steakhouse

330 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

This modern steakhouse in Downtown is offering both a three and four course menu for V-Day, including a kale salad, pan-seared diver scallops or oak-grilled filet mignon. End the meal with a S'more Kiss with a dark chocolate center and graham cracker crumble. $65 for three courses, $75 for four.

330 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Visit Website

La Sandia Santa Monica

395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA 90401

A nice, flexible Valentine's Day at this Santa Monica restaurant means a special menu offered from the 14th to the 16th, which will serve a $29 prix fixe menu that includes fundido de queso, shrimp and crab empanadas, surf and turf with hangar steak and grilled shrimp, and a pasilla lava cake for dessert.

395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Visit Website

One Pico

1 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

At the pleasant Shutters on the Beach, experience an $85 prix fixe that focuses on market-fresh ingredients and seafood, like fluke sashimi, dungeness crab cake, black truffle bucatini, and whole lobster with Israeli cous cous. Dessert comes out as a trio of chocolate.

1 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Visit Website

Cafe Pinot

700 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Those with a literary slant can check out the Valentine's Day at Cafe Pinot, situated right next to the LA Public Library. Prepared and conceived by chef Sydney Hunter, the Waldorf Salad (think Gatsby) starts the meal while Gnocchi and Truffles and a Cowboy Steak (Brokeback Mountain) continues into the meal. Dessert is a trio of custom Compartes chocolate truffles.

700 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Visit Website

Valentino

3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405

This expansive Italian restaurant in Santa Monica is offering a $90 prix fixe that offers a wide selection of antipasti like vitello tonnato with bottarga, then a choice of pasta like crabmeat cannelloni, and perhaps an entree of grilled branzino. Wine pairings run an additional $50, definitely recommended.

Open in Google Maps

3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Visit Website

Bar Marmont

8171 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

In addition to the regular menu by chef Carolynn Spence, this Hollywood haunt is preparing some romantic specials like caviar and oysters served on a bed of roses, or a lady and the tramp-style pasta for two.

Open in Google Maps

8171 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Visit Website

The Strand House

117 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Looking for a grand place to dine in the South Bay? This $125 menu boasts a caviar croque madame, seared dayboat scallop with truffle risotto, a duo of beef that includes a Wagyu NY strip and braised beef cheeks, and a raspberry macaron with meyer lemon cream to finish.

117 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Visit Website

Scratch | bar

111 N La Cienega, Los Angeles, CA 90211

A relatively affordable multi-course tasting in the heart of Beverly Hills' restaurant row, Scratch Bar is doing three seatings, the first two of which offer 6 courses for $55, and the last, which starts at 9 p.m., going for $65. Dishes include pork belly & raw oyster, dry-aged hangar steak, and a dark chocolate cayenne pepper candy bar.

111 N La Cienega, Los Angeles, CA 90211

Visit Website

Comme Ça

8479 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Chef David Myers is preparing a $59 prix fixe called Sweethearts, inspired by the memories of Julia Child and her husband Paul. Enjoy dishes like coq au vin, rolled omelet with caviar ($15 supplement), lobster thermidor, and a gateaux Paris-brest for dessert. The regular menu is also available.

8479 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Visit Website

Melisse Restaurant

1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

For an over the top, no holds barred Valentine's Day, Melisse is doing an eight course, $275 dinner (though it's a mere $150 the day before and after V-Day) that includes chef Josiah Citrin's trademade egg caviar, Perigord truffle risotto, and crispy Atlantic bass with swiss chard.

1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Visit Website

Little Next Door

8142 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

This romantic annex to the celebrated Little Door is doing a more casual approach to Valentine's Day, with a "lovebirds" special by chef Patrice Fournel, and live music by Jean Paul Monsche. An ideal pick for those living in Mid-City.

8142 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website

Related Maps

Post & Beam

3767 Santa Rosalia Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90008

For something catering to South LA or lower Mid-City residents, check out Govind Armstrong's affordable $43 dinner at Post & Beam, which starts with a bibb lettuce salad, hangar steak with lyonnaise potato, wild grouper, and devil's food cake for dessert.

3767 Santa Rosalia Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Visit Website

Tapenade

11301 W Olympic Blvd, #116, Los Angeles, CA 90064

This New American restaurant on Sawtelle is offering a $55 prix fixe that includes cripsy brussels sprouts, hen of the woods mushrooms with creamy polenta, oven-roasted duck with coffee citrus powder, and a walnut banana gratin with vanilla gelato for dessert.

11301 W Olympic Blvd, #116, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Visit Website

Chianina Steakhouse

5716 E 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803

For a quiet escape from the bustle of the city, this Italian steakhouse in Long Beach is doing a four course, $90 dinner that starts with grilled razor clams, then moves to a squid ink spaghetti with uni sauce, and finally an 8 oz. prime filet mignon or grilled half-rack of lamb. Dessert is a salted caramel and chocolate tart.

5716 E 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803

Visit Website

Hinoki & The Bird

10 W Century Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90067

While there isn't a prix menu here, chefs David Myers and Kuniko Yagi are making some special Valentine's Day dishes. The arresting, modern room and the fantastic cocktails are alone a fine enough draw for the romantic holiday.

10 W Century Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Visit Website

AOC

8700 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048

Suzanne Goin's signature restaurant on Third Street is doing a four course menu for $100 with market-driven dishes which can be paired optionally with the biodynamic, organic selections. The romantic patio is certainly a great place to escape from the city.

8700 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048

Visit Website