The Resy Guide to Date Night in Los Angeles

Named after the tiny neighborhood it’s situated in, tucked between Highland Park and South Pasadena, Hermon’s is a rustic, 89-seat space that combines Art Deco vibes with the area’s prevalent Craftsman style. The menu is defined by chophouse-style dishes with modern twists, like loaded potato fritters, two-sheet lasagna vongole (inspired by the clam toast at Dudley Market, where chef DK Kolender previously worked), and mushroom Bourguignon with a dash of miso. The bar program, created by Eric Alperin and Angus McShane, centers on classic, ice-cold martinis served in freezer-stored glasses, available in both regular and “tiny” portions, proving that good things can indeed come in small packages.

Founded by lifelong friends Natasha Price and Tatiana Ettensberger, Wilde’s has quickly become the hottest place to eat in Los Feliz. This new restaurant blends rustic British heritage with fresh California ingredients, through classic dishes like bangers and mash, a flaky meat pie for two, and sticky toffee pudding. It’s elegant and charming, without a whiff of pretentiousness, and its cozy, warm wood interior evokes a British countryside pub. If daytime dates are more your style, the restaurant offers a light daytime menu with scones, spiced carrot tea cake, and savory bites along with coffee and tea.

Buvons sits quietly in Long Beach’s Zaferia district. It’s a women-owned natural wine bar, shop, and French-Mediterranean restaurant, and each part of that operation is imbued with a true sense of care — you get the sense that you’ve stumbled upon something really special here. The enchanting garden patio, open for lunch and dinner, is ideal for snacking on freshly shucked oysters, house-made pâté, or pasta alla norma, a traditional Sicilian dish with silky-tender fried eggplant. Buvon’s thoughtful selection of small-production, low-intervention wines is handpicked by the staff, so you’ll want to take your time with it — check out the rare bottles from Jura, Burgundy, and Champagne that are seldom found elsewhere in Long Beach.

Chef Dana Slatkin (Violet) has teamed up with Brian Rigsby (Animal, Son of a Gun) for this romantic new steakhouse-styled spot in Brentwood Village. Expect dishes both classic (steak tartare, a wedge salad) and less-so (a latke-encrusted chicken schnitzel), along with, of course, plenty of choice cuts, including a 32-ounce ribeye and wagyu New York strip. The handsome room mixes old school touches with new, including leather booths and a fireplace, and the long marble bar serves cocktails and a full wine list.

A meal at any of pasta maestro Evan Funke’s restaurants (which include Mother Wolf and Felix) is bound to be special. But his three-level flagship in Beverly Hills might just be his magnum opus. This romantic restaurant offers impeccable service a glass-encased pasta room that churns out a new selection of nonna-style, hand-rolled pastas, “fatta a mano,’ and world-class pastries (save room for the meringata and citrus panna cotta). Make sure to stop by the rooftop bar to snuggle up for a cocktail—and possibly some caviar—on one of the comfortable couches or at the pretty Cristallo Rosa quartz bar on the way out.

After a years-long break from the Westside restaurant scene, chef-owner Travis Lett of Gjusta and Gjelina makes his highly anticipated return with this dimly lit gem. Housed in the same wood-clad space as his previous restaurant, MTN, this moody, modern spot highlights Japanese California cuisine with a hyper-seasonal izakaya menu. Boldly flavored dishes range from pork belly chashu ramen with housemade noodles to handrolls with bluefin tuna and natto, plus charcoal-grilled meats as well as farmers market vegetables. The wine list is smartly overseen by Maggie Glasheen (formerly of Anajak Thai), along with Japanese-inspired cocktails. 

Internationally acclaimed chef Enrique Olvera’s first Los Angeles restaurant in the Arts District pairs a modern California sensibility with Mexico City soul. The mostly outdoor restaurant combines neutral tones and cool concrete accents with so many plants, it’s basically like dining in a greenhouse. The menus are just as special, with dishes blending farmers’ market produce with Japanese and Korean influences, along with traditional Mexican flavors and techniques. Start with a margarita or another one of its no-waste agave-infused cocktails before digging into uni tostadas, carne asada, and the Insta-famous hibiscus meringue.

This recently opened nouveau bistro feels like traveling to Paris without leaving L.A. Arrive early to kickstart your evening with a classic cocktail or aperitif at the horseshoe-shaped bar, before cozying up in one of the banquettes to linger over steak frites, trout rillettes and other reimagined French dishes paired with a wide-ranging selection of natural wine. The food and drinks at this East Hollywood joint are spectacular and the ambiance is sexy as hell — so work this into your date night rotation stat.

Hit the shops before grabbing a couple of dirty martinis at the U-shaped bar of this recently opened outpost of the beloved Venice steakhouse. The menu offers a similar selection of dry-aged cuts, wood-fired seafood, and creative vegetable-forward dishes, paired with well-crafted cocktails and a wine list of more than 200 selections from around the globe. Like the original, the ambiance here is boho chic, and there’s an equally appealing outdoor patio that’s particularly magical during golden hour. And, don’t worry, if you want to avoid the hordes of shoppers: it’s accessible without stepping foot into the mall.

This beautiful Culver City spot seamlessly blends Paris and Los Angeles with modern bistro-inspired ambience. Envisioned by Architectural Digest 100 designer Jeremiah Brent, the chic space boasts a mix of neutral tones, black and white bistro-style tiles, marble tabletops, and an expansive outdoor terrace that still manages to feel intimate. It’s prime date-night vibes, but what sets this place apart is the extensive, all-French wine list—with one of the best Champagne selections in town—paired perfectly with its modern Parisienne fare. Make sure to ask one of the somms to match these excellent bottles to fun, seasonal dishes like duck confit cigars, sea bream, or endive salad. And do save room for brown butter Madeleines at the end.

Rustic Canyon has been holding it down in Santa Monica for nearly 20 years, and it’s a date-night standby for a reason: wood-inflected decor; warm, refined service; and a menu that is heavily seasonally influenced, with much respect paid to local farms. It’s romantic any night of the week, but for Valentine’s Day specifically, the team is offering a six or eight-course menu with classics like peas and white chocolate, duck leg confit with red wine-braised cabbage and rhubarb, and black truffle add-ons.

This Michelin-approved spot has a lot going for it in the date night department. Its location in the heart of Old Town Pasadena is prime for a romantic stroll before or after a meal, and the sidewalk tables, set beneath warm bistro lights, are straight-up idyllic. Then there’s the food. Owner Marie Petulla and executive chef Sandro Hernandez have created a rustic yet refined menu of Cal-Italian handmade pastas, seafood, and meat, most of which are sourced from local farms and fisherman. It’s all paired with a thoughtful selection of Italian and Californian wines and can’t-miss desserts. (Word to the wise: order the olive oil cake.)

 A paved tunnel opens into an olive tree-lined courtyard at this romantic Fairfax hideaway. Marble staircases overlooking the patio below, private gazebos, and a lounge set the mood, while the wide-ranging, crowd-pleasing menu drives it home further. Expect bright salads, hand-cut pastas, seafood and a half-dozen or so specialty steaks; along with an extensive craft cocktail list and brunch on weekends. 

It’s hard to beat the views at this Hollywood Hills mansion that boasts spectacular panoramas of the entire city, from the Griffith Observatory and surrounding hills to the Pacific Ocean. Translating to “mountain palace” in Japanese, this 1910 house is a replica of a Kyoto palace with a garden courtyard (complete with koi pond) and a 600-year old pagoda from Japan that’s supposedly the oldest structure in California. It’s just about as picturesque as it gets, with well-prepared Asian fusion fare, ranging from sushi boats and rolls to tableside grilled Wagyu and duck yakisoba, accompanied by cocktails and artisanal sakes.

From the Southern-inspired food to the pergola-covered patio and vintage-inspired dining room, this Culver City favorite nails the romantic date night atmosphere. Whether you dine outdoors, on a tufted leather banquette, or at an intimate wooden table, chef Wes Whitsell’s historic American cooking techniques will make you rethink any preconceived notions of Southern cuisine. Local products are highlighted in nuanced dishes like collard greens with smoked turkey, braised Peads & Barnett pork belly, and housemade ricotta toast. There’s no going wrong at this Michelin-starred spot—as long as you add biscuits to your order.

This Loz Feliz hotspot is the place to go when you wish you could take that special someone on a romantic trip to Tulum, but can’t afford the tickets. The massive spot hits all of the Yucatan design notes with woven light fixtures, minimalist furniture, and a jungle’s-worth of greenery. There’s no beach nearby, but the retractable roof and view of the Griffith Observatory might just make up for it. Snag a table up there, order some mezcal cocktails, and share a selection of modern Mexican dishes like tacos de cochito, ceviches, mole blanco, and more.