The Best Date Night Restaurants in Los Angeles

Botanica Restaurant & Market is a relaxed spot in Los Angeles’s Silver Lake neighborhood, known for its fresh, California-style cooking. Their focus on local ingredients and simple preparation means the flavors really shine. There’s also a small market area, so you can bring some of their seasonal finds home.

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Carsten Schmidt

Culinary Explorer

Great Californian food reminds me of Italian and Greek food in that it lacks the complexity of French food but instead focuses on bringing out the simple features of a few ingredients. This simplicity is anything but easy, as a great Cacio e Pepe can show, and certainly requires access to fresh ingredients, something both Greece, Italy and California are blessed with. There are a couple of neighborhoods in LA that stand for this type of food. Santa Monica and Venice on the coast with places like Gjusta and Rustic Canyon and then more inland there is the Los Feliz and Silver Lake area with places like Kismet. Botanica, just south of the Silver Lake reservoir is one of the best examples of this type of LA Californian food. Simple but surprising and no matter which month of the year the ingredients taste like they just came fresh from the farm. Like the White Beets and Persimmon (salad or plate) was so simple but full of subtle flavors. The Seared Pointed Cabbage with the touch of Gouda. And then for the main the Striped Bass in probably the lightest coconut broth I have ever had and an edge from the charred radicchio and squash. While all these dishes were outstanding and made me think about when I could squeeze in another visit, the highlight of the dinner was the date desert. This was just perfection. Dates on a bed of fluffy tahini and olive oil and rosemary drizzled all over. It could have been a starter or a desert, but no matter which, it was amazing.

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Anajak Thai Cuisine offers a relaxed setting where you can enjoy Thai flavors in both a cozy dining room and a lively outdoor alley space. They’re known for an impressive wine list and a friendly team that makes you feel welcome. It’s a straightforward spot where good food, music, and atmosphere come together.

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David P. Leja

@thegastrojourney

Thai restaurant with a nice wine selection in Sherman Oaks. This was one of our favorite meals, if not the favorite meal of this trip. First of all, Sherman Oaks is becoming cooler by the minute, we want to explore this area more on our next trip, as on our way there we saw many cool spots and just a nice general vibe. We really enjoyed the restaurant's atmosphere, the sommelier was super friendly, as was the rest of the team, and perhaps the only downside is that it can be a touch tight depending on where you get seated. Regarding the wine, they have a pretty wide selection, and it includes a couple of natural wines so there’s a little bit for everyone here. Now, focusing on the food, we had the following: * Massaman Brisket Curry. * Southern-Thai Fried Chicken. * BBQ Pork Collar, coriander molasses, soy & sesame. * Pad Thai. Except for the Pad Thai, which wasn’t bad, but we wouldn’t order it again, we absolutely loved the rest of the dishes, and the one that stood out the most was the Massaman Brisket Curry, this was the best Massaman we’ve had so far, it’s super rich in flavor, with a nice thick texture, the brisket was still juicy, just a great dish. Definitely one of our new favorite spots in the city, and a place we want to come back to on our next trips.

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Bestia in Los Angeles stands out in a city full of dining choices by offering consistently good food that keeps people coming back. Even with limited time in town, many make a point to return because they crave what Bestia has to offer. Its straightforward approach focuses on quality cooking that remains a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

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Mimi Lan

Chef/ Consultant/ Foodie

It’s so many great restaurants in SoCal, why should I go back to any restaurant, when I travel there with limited time? Yet I made a point of visiting Bestia every time bc it’s THAT good- just solid good food that you crave for more. Their roasted bone marrow with homemade gnocchi is addictive. You have to check it out when you’re in LA.

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Ceviche Project is a small restaurant tucked along a busy stretch of Hyperion Avenue in Los Angeles. It focuses on fresh seafood presented in raw forms, and you can often see the chef preparing each dish behind the bar. The atmosphere is laid-back and welcoming, making it a nice spot for anyone who appreciates simple, bold flavors.

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Carsten Schmidt

Culinary Explorer

There are few places in Los Angeles that cool you off and transport you into another dimension like Ceviche Project. The place that Ceviche Project’s Octavio Olivas (owner and chef) transports you to, is a mix between 1950’s Saint-Tropez, Acapulco, and the Copacabana. You will find this amazing restaurant on a busier stretch of Hyperion Avenue (borderline Silver Lake and Los Feliz) in a small little space. The best place to sit at is right at the bar, allowing you to watch Olivas as he prepares the various dishes. Fresh fish is what is on the menu, prepared in various ways — but all raw (or ceviche). The restaurant opens at 5pm and closes when they are out of fish, so I would recommend going between 6 and 7. The dishes are a feast for both your eyes and your taste buds. If there is a special I would highly recommend ordering it. And all ceviches (Mexican style, not Peruvian) are to die for. I especially loved the Sea Bass Ceviche. Another highlight for me was the Green Shrimp Aguachile, where you could see the raw shrimp “cook” in the aguachile in front of your eyes as you poured the green sauce over the ingredients. Another must have are the scallops on the half shell (and order them with the optional uni) — this is one of the best starters I have ever had. The olive oil combined with the uni coats the mouth as the flavors burst in your mouth. And in a city where you find raw fish tostadas nearly at every street corner, do not skip the Kanpachi Tostada, which will blow you away with its fresh ingredients. Each of my visits has been outstanding, and even before leaving I was hashing out my next visit.

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L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele is a relaxed spot in Hollywood that blends old-school Neapolitan roots with a modern Californian vibe. It has an airy layout, cozy fireplaces, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels ideal for both casual get-togethers and special occasions. The open, inviting space makes it easy to enjoy a taste of Italy right in Los Angeles.

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Carsten Schmidt

Culinary Explorer

Might just be LA’s best pizza. On the one side knowing a great pizza place in a city is important (pizza can fill all kinds of needs — from quick snack, to comfort food, to a fun time with friends, even to a romantic dinner). At the same time, I think there is little as contentious as a pizza place — I think it’s rare for even two foodies to agree on the best pizza joint in a city. So let me start by saying that for me a great pizza is an Italian style pizza, not the cheese and gluten monstrosities they serve in Chicago (if this last sentence offended you, no need to read further 🙂). Thin crust, crispiness on the edges of the crust, a little burn, nice acidity in the sauce, and overall simplicity, that is what I am looking for in a great pizza. LA might not be a traditional pizza country, with the more famous slices being those strange creations at places like Spago that add salmon and caviar. Nice but way too over the top for me (at least when it comes to pizza.) L’Antica is a special place, on the other hand, a place where I have driven from Santa Monica because I wanted some pizza. It is traditional, old school Neapolitan style pizza, served in a side street of touristy Hollywood, in a place that is modern Californian (with lots of open space) yet cozy and romantic with its several fireplaces. I usually have a Marinara and a salad or pasta on the side. The tomato sauce on the marinara is divine, mouthwatering. I won’t go into the whole connection between this LA restaurant and its Neapolitanian namesake (think more franchise than the second restaurant), but the pizza will transport you to Italy.

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Saffy’s in Los Angeles is known for its lively cooking, thoughtful beverage selection, and welcoming atmosphere. Visitors appreciate the cheerful service and heartfelt approach in the kitchen, making it a favorite spot for bright, flavorful meals.

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Robert Dentice

Food | Wine Connoisseur

Chef Ori is Cooking From His Heart An absolutely stunning meal. Flavors burst with joy. Chef Ori has the kitchen operating at an extremely high level. Service is wonderfully cheerful and passionate. An instant LA favorite!

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Shibumi is a cozy Japanese restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles that serves kappo-style cuisine rooted in seasonality. Helmed by chef David Schlosser, it highlights local, organic, and sustainable ingredients in a relaxed and personal setting.

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Nicole Jacobsen

Co-Founder TheFoodOffice

It’s no surprise that Shibumi, a Japanese restaurant that specializes in kappo cuisine, tops our list of food experiences in Los Angeles! To be frank, Downtown LA was a​ disappointment for us but one restaurant not​ to miss out on is Shibumi - a restaurant that specializes in kappo cuisine, which results in an elegant and mesmerizing Japanese dinner with a focus on seasonality. We tried their medium-range omakase, twelve very different and beautiful dishes by chef David Schlosser.

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Tsubaki is a Japanese izakaya in Echo Park, Los Angeles, that pairs traditional flavors with a relaxed California feel. The cozy space offers indoor and outdoor seating, creating an inviting spot to enjoy shared plates with friends or family.

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Margaux Koopman

Foodie

Delicious Japanese restaurant. Delicious Japanese sharing plates in Echo Park with intimate ambiance. I particularly recommend the prawns and chicken skewers.

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