Romantic Restaurants in Los Angeles

Contrary to its reputation as a land of endless urban sprawl, Los Angeles’ pristine coastline, rugged mountains and glistening skyline combine to offer a romantic landscape. Some of the City of Angels’ top restaurants offer equally romantic settings, from rustic patios adorned with twinkling lights to elegant rooftop spots with sweeping views of the cityscape. So grab a babysitter for the night and enjoy a night on the town with your sweetie as you share some of LA’s finest food.

The romantic mood is set the minute you arrive at the Bowery Bungalow (4156 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA) in the Silverlake neighborhood of LA—a vine-covered arbor greets you, then gives way to a quaint yellow cottage. Unwind in the restaurant’s farmhouse-chic interior, complete with tin-pressed ceilings, distressed wood siding and lavish tiled floors, as you nosh on gourmet Mideast, North African and Mediterranean cuisine. The evening doesn’t have to end once the kitchen closes. Instead, grab a glass of sangria and head to the outdoor patio, an intimate space filled with rustic wooden tables and twinkly lights that stays open late.

Franco on Melrose (6919 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA) is an elegant Italian trattoria in Hollywood that lets you know from the start that this will be anything but a traditional dining experience. Upon arrival, every guest is escorted directly through the kitchen, teasing you with the tantalizing aromas of Italian cooking. Settle in for the evening in the restaurant’s main dining room, a romantic indoor/outdoor space, where billowy white fabric, chandeliers and string lights serve as the overhead canopy. The flowing fabric drapes down to the floor, while garden vines creep along the outlying walls. Spend the night sampling an array of Neapolitan dishes and Italian wines.

Tucked away on the 2nd floor of the trendy Koreatown hotel, LINE LA (3515 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA), Commissary offers a unique setting for dining: a greenhouse. Owned and operated by celebrity chef Roy Choi, Commissary serves up new American cuisine in a lush landscape typical of a greenhouse with colorful hanging plants and glass walls that allow a view to the outside world. Step outside the structure and you’ll discover the outdoor patio provides an equally picturesque setting complete with views of the hotel pool and the nearby ornate Oasis Church.

Settle in for a night under the stars at Perch (448 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA), downtown LA's elegant rooftop eatery. Dine on gourmet French cuisine on the 15th-story restaurant’s outdoor patio, a space dotted with oversized fireplaces, ornately tiled floors and lush landscaping adorned with little white lights. After dinner, head to the 16th floor, where a rooftop bar invites you to snuggle on a cozy couch and warm yourself by a fire pit. Choose from the bar’s extensive wine list and rare selection of fine cognacs while you take in panoramic views of the city and listen to live music.

A distressed wooden door greets diners at the aptly titled Little Door (8164 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA), West Hollywood’s beloved Mediterranean restaurant. Cross the threshold to enter a place where alfresco dining takes place in a brick courtyard alongside staked candles, dense landscaping, trickling water fountains and small ponds. The interior features equally intimate quarters as you dine by candlelight or under the soft glow of rustic chandeliers. The carefully crafted menu specializes in gourmet French dishes and includes a wine list filled with revered labels.