Downtown Los Angeles is an ideal date destination with great restaurants, bars, and attractions, many of which are within walking distance.
Traffic and parking can be difficult in downtown L.A., so park your car in a good central location (like Pershing Square) and walk to the attractions. Or, take the Metro if you can.
Here is my list of favorite things to do in downtown L.A. with someone special!
1. San Laurel
Located across the street from the Walt Disney Concert Hall and inside the Conrad Los Angeles Hotel, San Laurel has an amazing outdoor ambiance, as well as great Spanish cuisine prepared by Michelin-starred chef José Andrés.
With a killer combination of great location, great views, and great cuisine, you can’t go wrong taking a date here on a special occasion.
The only downsides are the portions are small and the prices are high… but that’s to be expected when you’re dining across the street from the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
2. The Walt Disney Concert Hall / Asterid
It’s hard to think of a more classy place for a date than the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Home to the L.A. Philharmonic, they also have concerts from other performers and bands. Every other year, Pink Martini hosts New Year’s Eve there, and I highly recommend their show!
You should arrive at least 30 minutes early to deal with parking, check-in, and ticket issues like trying to find your tickets in your email. There’s convenient (and relatively inexpensive) parking under the building on Second Street. When the show ends, there is sometimes a minor traffic jam to get out, just be aware.
If you want to have dinner before an evening concert, definitely pick a restaurant within walking distance and park at the concert hall. We learned this one year the hard way. We finished dinner with minutes to spare only to be held up in the concert hall parking garage. Another bonus of parking at the concert hall early is that you’ll get great parking at a higher level so you’ll get out quickly.
Some restaurants within walking distance that I’d recommend include Vespaio (Italian), and Au Lac (vegan Vietnamese).
If you want to dine right at the concert hall itself, look no further than Asterid. This is a fine dining restaurant by chef Ray Garcia, formerly of Broken Spanish. We had the New Year’s Eve set menu there and the food was good, but the portions were very small and prices were high. But then again, it was New Year’s Eve and inflated prices are to be expected. It’s a fine date restaurant otherwise, with good ambiance and service.
If you have time before or after a concert, check out the outdoor courtyard garden on the upper level of the building. Step outside and explore! You’ll find lots of photographers and wanna-be Instagram models there.
3. 71 Above
71 Above is a fine dining restaurant located on the 71st floor of the First Interstate building. Needless to say, the views are incredible, because you’re towering over almost every other building in the area.
Often, when a restaurant has a gimmick like a good view, the food suffers. Not the case here. The three-course Prix-Fixe dinner is top-notch and will not disappoint!
This is the place to go if you want to impress someone special! Read my full review here.
4. The Music Center
If you want to catch a play or other type of performance, the rest of the Music Center is next door to the Disney Concert Hall (technically, these are all part of the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County). The venues there include the Ahmanson Theatre which often features Broadway plays, The Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, which hosts the L.A. Opera, and the Mark Taper Forum which features plays and other performances.
On a budget? Look for free and low-cost events in the Music Center Plaza like A Taste of Dance, where you can get super low-cost dance lessons in a variety of styles. During the summer, there are free dance concerts here on Friday evenings called Dance Downtown. Finally, matinee performances are significantly cheaper than nighttime ones.
5. Perch
Perch is a popular rooftop restaurant and lounge overlooking Pershing Square. This place has a lot of buzz and for good reason. The view is amazing and the food is good. Later at night the bar gets packed with singles and is practically impossible to get into, so make reservations.
Second, this place is best on a warm summer night. There is indoor seating, but much of the seating is outdoors (and that is where the view is best). There are covered areas and heat lamps, but you’re pretty high up. Bring a light jacket or sweater, regardless of the temperature during the day.
The cuisine is French-inspired. I had the scallops, which were great! There is live entertainment (usually jazz) on some nights.
There is no dedicated parking, so park at one of the pay lots nearby. The entrance on Hill Street is a bit hard to find, so look for the small sign.
6. The Broad Museum / MOCA
I’m not a big fan of the cheese grater exterior of the Broad Museum (located next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall). But, I’m a big fan of what’s inside. This building houses much of the modern art that was at LACMA plus more. The main collection is free and well worth seeing, but I really like the special exhibits like Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room and Cindy Sherman: Imitation of Life.
For best results, get your tickets online in advance. Special exhibits might require going early and standing in line, or might not be free, but these are usually worth it.
I also like the Broad because it’s open relatively late – until 8 PM on most nights, so you can still see it after work!
Pez Cantina is about a block away and a much more affordable but still tasty option, serving Mexican fare with indoor and outdoor dining. Note that Pez is closed for dinner on Sundays.
If you are really into modern art, check out the Museum of Contemporary Art, located across the street from the Broad, and the Geffen Contemporary, located in Little Tokyo. Due to a recent ten-million-dollar donation from a trustee, MOCA now has free admission!
7. Cabra
Located at the roof of the Hoxton Hotel on Broadway, Cabra is probably one of the best-kept secrets in Downtown L.A., as far as awesome date restaurants are concerned. Serving Peruvian cuisine by chef Stephanie Izard (of another one of our favorite restaurants, Girl and the Goat in the Arts District), the food is absolutely wonderful, with an emphasis on strong flavors and crunchy textures (toasted quinoa in the Chili Butter Bass, and corn flakes in the soft serve dessert are examples).
Cabra features indoor and outdoor dining options, but even the indoor option is semi-outdoor. Whichever you choose, there will be some great views of downtown (probably slightly better on the outdoor side though).
We went on a Friday night and honestly, it was only half full by 7PM, inexplicably. Why this place isn’t packed on a weekend night is beyond me. But unlike most L.A. restaurants, that meant that it was quiet enough for good conversation.
Another note was that the music playlist was quite interesting and eclectic, ranging from 60s soul to 90s hip-hop to 80s new wave. We found ourselves Shazamming multiple songs during the night.
So, if you’re looking for a great, non-pretentious, date restaurant that’s not solidly booked up for weeks, with awesome views and cuisine that would impress any foodie, grab a reservation at Cabra!
8. The Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel / Cara Cara / Caldo Verde
With accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and the New York Times, the Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel is one of the hottest new hotels in the country.
If you want to impress a date with great food, ambiance, and view, check out the Proper Hotel’s rooftop restaurant, Cara Cara, featuring Mexican-inspired new American cuisine. It’s a more elegant rooftop restaurant than Perch, which can get a bit rowdy later in the night.
If you want to impress a foodie, check out Caldo Verde on the ground floor, featuring Portuguese cuisine by Suzanne Goin (AOC) and Caroline Styne. Better yet, have dinner there and drinks at Cara Cara!
9. Clifton’s Republic
In one sentence, I would describe Clifton’s as a multi-level vintage bar crossed with a museum of natural history, complete with real taxidermied animals (a bison and lion among others!) It’s a great place to go for drinks and DJ dancing on the second floor, or just to wander around and explore.
For a great make-out spot, check out the Stone Chapel on the second floor – an intimate cave-like make-out space with a forest diorama in front of you. Knock before entering!
There’s affordable parking at the converted office-building parking garage across the street, above the Burlington Coat Factory.
Right now, Clifton’s is open on Friday and Saturday nights. Their Instagram page seems to have the most up-to-date information on their hours.
10. Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market is downtown L.A.’s famous indoor food hall with lots of great ethnic food options. It opened in 1917 and has been in continuous operation since. The selection ranges from a Jewish deli to kickass Mexican food to Asian sticky rice. It’s a great place to stop for a meal, coffee, or beer while downtown during the day.
If you’re craving fried chicken, check out Lucky Bird, which features some of the crispiest fried chicken I’ve found.
The Grand Central Market parking structure costs $5 for the first 90 minutes and $2 for every 15 minutes afterward. For longer stays, park in the outdoor lot across the street to the east. It has some of the lowest parking rates that I’ve found in downtown LA. This is a great launch point for further adventures in downtown L.A! For example, you can check out the lobby of the famed Bradbury Building across the street:
11. Angels Flight Railway
After your meal at Grand Central Market, spend a dollar to ride Angels Flight – the world’s shortest train ride. Opening in 1901 to transport rich shoppers from their mansions to the stores in downtown LA, this railway has been meticulously restored to its former glory. Cost is only a dollar (fifty cents if you show your Tap or Metro card). I like riding it in the evening when it’s all lit up. Or, recreate the scene from La La Land. Afterward, you can easily walk down the stairs if you want to save a few bucks.
While I wouldn’t make a trip to downtown L.A. just to on this one-minute “ride”, it’s definitely a fun thing to do if you’re in the area already.
12. The Last Bookstore
If you’re into books, The Last Bookstore is an awesome place, but even if you’re not, it’s worth a stop if you’re nearby.
The bottom floor looks like a regular bookstore with a pretty good selection of vinyl.
But, venture to the top floor to see a cool maze of bookshelves, the famous “book tunnel” and a Horror Vault.
The Last Bookstore has a quirky vibe that is so rare these days. It’s an ideal place to stop by for an after-dinner stroll. Checking out books just might spur some interesting conversation.
13. The Cicada Club / Restaurant
Even if you haven’t heard of the Cicada, you’ve seen it in movies like “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”. Stepping inside this amazing art-deco space is like traveling in a time machine back to 1930. Formerly a men’s clothing store, it’s now a restaurant, featuring Italian and American dishes. On the top floor is a bar serving cool vintage drinks.
On certain nights (about once a week), the restaurant turns into “The Cicada Club”, featuring vintage 1920s and 30s bands with Swing dancing on the front floor. On these nights, there are package Prix fix deals that include dinner and admission. There is a dress code on these nights. Men must wear a suit and tie. Women, cocktail dress or suit. There is no dance lesson, so brush up on your East Coast Swing beforehand.
There is a convenient self-paid parking lot across the street or valet. There are also nearby underground parking garages.
LA Weekly named the Cicada Club one of the top ten places in Los Angeles for a first date. I don’t know if I would take a first date here because it is super pricey, but it’s definitely a place to take someone special.
14. Staples Center and LA Live
I am not a huge sports fan, but I was impressed by the amenities of the Staples Center when I went to see the L.A. Kings play there recently. The food was a bit better than what you’d expect at a sports stadium, and even the nosebleed seats had a pretty good view.
Next door, LA Live offers lots of casual restaurant options, fine for grabbing a bite before a game or before a concert at the Nokia Theater. It can get quite crowded and tourist-heavy at times, just keep in mind.
15. The City Hall Observation Deck
This is a great FREE attraction that is open during weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM. The City Hall Observation Deck offers spectacular views of Downtown L.A. in every direction.
The public entrance is on S. Main Street. There is no dedicated public parking for City Hall, but I was able to find some metered parking on S. Main Street a few blocks to the southeast.
You’ll pass through metal detectors, then take an express elevator to the 22nd floor, then another elevator to the 26th floor, then stairs to the deck.
The whole place has a cool old-school feel to it, with lots of marble finishes, portraits of previous mayors, and so forth. Be sure to take an Instagram selfie at the podium with the flags on each site.
We got there at about 4:45 PM, but they let us stay there way past closing, which was great!
16. The BonaVista Lounge at the Bonaventure Hotel
You can’t miss the distinctive glass cylindrical buildings in the heart of downtown LA that are the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.
The Bona Vista Lounge on the 34th floor of the center “cylinder” is a rotating bar that gives you an unparalleled panoramic view of the city. Because this place is not exactly “hot” right now, it’s unusually not that crowded and you can get a booth or table with no problem. Get past the 80’s décor and it’s actually very romantic. It is quiet and good for deep conversation while slowly rotating in the middle of the city – really a forgotten gem amidst the trendier rooftop bars around town.
Yes, the novelty drinks are expensive, but the view and ambiance make up for it.
If you want dinner, go to the LA Prime steakhouse, one floor up. It doesn’t rotate, but you can always go to the BonaVista lounge afterward. The food is top-notch.
There is valet parking inside the hotel and a parking garage across the street. These are rather pricey parking options, but kind of worth it to not have to walk around in this particular area of downtown, which is abandoned and a bit spooky at night.
17. The Downtown Central Library
Okay, going to a library on a date may seem kind of geeky, but I know a lot of book lovers who would be into this. The Downtown Central Library is a great place to relax and check out some books for free. But first, you should explore the wonderful interiors and grounds.
They also have an art gallery and a good gift shop with gifts for book lovers.
18. Orsa & Winston
If you want to impress a foodie, make a reservation and order the five-course tasting menu at Orsa & Winston.
The restaurant is owned by chef Josef Centeno, who named it after his two dogs. The cuisine is Italian and Japanese-inspired.
Afterward, you can get dessert at Grand Central Market, which is within walking distance.
19. Redbird
Redbird has one of the most charming and romantic outdoor dining areas in downtown Los Angeles, complete with trees and overhead bistro lights. It’s a common choice for weddings, so count yourself lucky if it’s open for dinner. The interior is super nice as well as the building formerly was a church cathedral!
Chef Neal Fraser serves Modern American cuisine with local influences. Definitely a worthy dinner date destination!
20. Le Petite Paris
I love restaurants with great ambiance, and Le Petite Paris definitely has that. You’ll be transported to 1930’s Paris in this super romantic French restaurant in the heart of downtown. The food is good too, with four stars on Yelp.
21. The Millennium Biltmore Hotel
So many of my trips to Downtown LA have included a quick stop at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel for two reasons. One, because it’s centrally located within easy walking distance from many of the attractions in this article. And two, because it has an extravagant main hall and a small photo gallery with pictures from the early Academy Awards. Try to identify early film celebrities such as Walt Disney and Cecil B. DeMille! It’s worth a stop if you’re anywhere near Pershing Square.
22. The Orpheum Theater
The Orpheum Theater is an amazing venue to see a concert or show. The 1926 interior has been faithfully preserved and is quite breathtaking. But, it’s also a great concert venue because the seating area is very steeply angled – nearly every seat has a good view of the stage.
After the show, go across the street to the Ace Hotel, or down Broadway to Clifton’s.
23. The Wolves
The Wolves is a meticulously restored vintage bar that offers hand-crafted drinks made from locally sourced ingredients. It’s a great place for a quiet stop before or after dinner.
24. Rossoblu / DAMA
These are two great restaurants located in the somewhat sketchy Fashion District in Downtown L.A. Formerly industrial loading docks, these restaurants are now in a charming re-developed oasis of overhead bistro lights and soon-to-open stores and cafes.
Rossoblu Italian restaurant was Jonathan Gold’s #10 pick in his 101 Best Restaurants in L.A. list. Chef Steve Sampson features his handmade pasta and market-fresh produce. We had the salad, risotto, pasta, grilled fish, cauliflower, and the Summer Semifreddo dessert. All were excellent!
Directly across from Rossoblu is DAMA Fashion District Restaurant & Bar, featuring Latin-inspired food. We haven’t tried it yet, but it’s highly rated on yelp and has a romantic atmosphere. It’s on our list!
25. H & H Brazillian Steakhouse
If you’re a carnivore, look no further than H & H Brazillian Steakhouse. It’s got a huge classy interior and patio. Reviews for food and service are stellar. After dinner, walk over to Bottega Louie next door for macarons!
26. Bottega Louie
You can’t miss the vast white marble interior of Bottega Louie. They have a full dinner menu but are probably most well-known for their desserts. They’re open late, so keep this place in your back pocket if you’re looking for a way to extend a date that is going well.
27. Howlin’ Ray’s Nashville Hot Chicken (Chinatown)
Is there any meal in Los Angeles worth waiting five hours in line for? Many would say that Howlin’ Ray’s chicken sandwiches are worth the wait, and there is a line that varies from 45 minutes to five hours long to prove it.
I decided to give it a try. I “only” waited an hour and a half to get my prized “Sando”, along with chicken strips and a good selection of sides. Yes, it tasted awesome, but I’m not sure I’d wait that long in line again.
Needless to say, you should only do this if you know what you’re getting into, and want to do something a little crazy (like wait multiple hours in line for a chicken sandwich). If you’re with a date who’s into it and have lots of stories to tell in line, it could be a fun, unique experience. If you’re hungry right now, definitely go elsewhere! Check their Twitter feed for the line wait times.
28. The Edison (Temporarily Closed)
Located in a former electrical generator station built circa 1910, The Edison is LA’s steampunk heaven. Much of the original heavy generator equipment remains. Silent movies play on the walls, and most nights they have a live band or performance of some kind. The menu is small but what they do offer is good (tomato soup and cheese sandwiches, yum!)
The entrance is located on an alley off of 2nd street called Harlem Place, but it is practically impossible to identify from the street, so look at a map beforehand. There is a convenient parking garage across the alley with an entrance on South Spring Street, but, like many downtown parking garages, it’s pretty dingy. Just warning you.
During the week, there is no cover, but they started having a $10 cover on Fridays and Saturdays. If you go early or on an off-night, there is usually no line to get in. But later in the evening, especially on weekends, there might be a line.
Refreshingly, there is very little attitude at the door, but there is a mild dress code: no athletic wear of any kind including sneakers. Men must wear dress shoes and collared shirts. But, you’ll have the best time if you dress up even more and go full vintage or formal – that’s part of the fun!
Conclusion
What are your favorite hangouts in downtown LA? Please comment below! – Brian
Other Nearby Cool Areas: Little Tokyo and the Arts District
If you want even more cool things to do in the area, consider Little Tokyo and the Arts District, adjacent to Downtown LA.
Little Tokyo is a charming area on the outskirts of downtown LA that includes a small outdoor mall and surrounding Japanese-themed restaurants and stores. It is a small but worthy date destination. It’s quite lively on the weekend (there was outdoor karaoke in the courtyard on the Saturday we went), but more reserved during the week.
If you are into ramen or sushi, there are plenty of options. There is always an insane line to get into Sushi Gen, but locals swear by it (call ahead to get on the list). After dinner, walk around and get tea or dessert in one of the many shops. If you want more excitement, walk on over to The Edison a few blocks north for drinks and live music (but beware of the dress code).
Just a little further out from Downtown past Little Tokyo is an area known as the Downtown Arts District. It might look rather quiet on the outside, but there are many cool restaurants and attractions there. A few of my favorites are the Hauser & Wirth art complex, and Angel City Brewery.
For details on the Arts District and more fun ideas there, check out my article on the Downtown LA Arts District!
Getting There
For all of these activities, consider taking one of the LA Metro trains to get into downtown. I’ve taken it from Culver City and it beats rush hour traffic hands down. Cost is just $1.75 each way plus a one-time fee of $1 for the Tap card. Subway coverage in downtown L.A. is pretty good, and it will save you the considerable hassle of fighting insane traffic, searching for parking, paying exorbitant rates, and navigating the confusing downtown L.A. streets.
Unless it’s a first date, anniversary, or another special occasion, I think the train is a fun way to get around when on a more casual date. Uber is another good option.
Downtown L.A. itself is very walkable. It would be easy to go to many of the locations on this list in one evening without having to set foot in a car! For example, you can easily walk from The Edison to Little Tokyo to the Arts District. Or, you can walk from the library to Perch. I highly encourage combining these ideas into a grand date itinerary!
Ask Me a Question or Leave a Comment
I visited los angeles last year with my hubby and it was really a great destination for couples.Date in los angeles is fundamentally a fun, and to invest quality energy with your accomplice.
Love this list! My husband and I just moved to downtown and we will definitely have to check these out on date nights.
Hi Melissa,
I’m so glad you liked my list! Please feel free to tell me what you think of these attractions, or of anything else fun that you find in downtown LA. Have fun!!
Thanks,
Brian