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SAVORY EXPLORES: BEST DATE NIGHT SPOTS IN LOS ANGELES

With Valentine’s Day being one of the most romantic days of the year, finding the perfect dinner spot is essential! With guidance from our writer and LA local Mandi Mikasa, Savory Traveler has put together a list of eight ideal date night options in Los Angeles for you to choose from.

Bottega Louie

Bottega Louie
Address: 700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Price: $$$
Attire: Business Casual
My family decided on Bottega Louie in Downtown, L.A. Parking was a breeze since they have a valet stand right outside the entrance, which is a blessing because finding parking down there can be a nightmare at times. Upon walking into the restaurant, there are several cases of perfectly made and well-designed pastries ranging from macaroons to tarts, and even cakes. You cannot make a reservation here, so we put our name in with the hostess. Despite it being a large and busy restaurant, Bottega Louie was not that loud and is perfect for a family setting, a date night, or a night out with friends. I will definitely be going back because I am super eager to try more of their menu items. I was eyeing the cacio e pepe pasta and the tartufo pizza, so I’ll for sure order those the next time I go. I have also heard their fishes, salmon and branzino, are exceptional, so I might have to try them as well.

Cento Pasta Bar

Cento Pasta Bar
Address: 4921 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
Price: $$
Attire: Casual
Finding a date night spot in LA is not as easy as one might think. You have to account for aesthetics and vibes, quality of service, and of course, the quality of the food. I have a long list of restaurants I am dying to try, but they are not all “date-approved,” so to speak. However, we landed on Cento Pasta Bar on West Adams as an option and decided to book it. I cannot wait to visit again sometime soon to try more of the menu. Next time, I will certainly be broadening my scope of what I order to some of the appetizers and other main dishes, as well as re-ordering my favorites (aka the Spicy Pomodoro and Banana Pudding Tiramisu) from this visit.

Craig's

Address: 8826 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Price: $$$
Attire: Business Casual
Craig’s is serving up classic American cuisine, with upscale comfort food and vegan specialties. I definitely want to go back to Craig’s to try their brunch and experience the fun atmosphere of the spot again. After taking a sneak peek at their brunch menu, I am really eager to try the potato latkes small plate as well as the breakfast pizza with prosciutto, arugula, parmesan, and egg. Our group was completely satisfied with our well-rounded experience as we had fantastic food and great service, and we did, in fact, have a celebrity sighting while waiting for our cars after dinner!

Felix Trattoria

Felix Trattoria
Address: 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $$$$
Attire: Business Casual
After seeing Felix Trattoria in articles about the best restaurants in L.A., various Instagram posts, and TikTok videos, I knew I had to try it out. Chef Evan Funke brings two decades of experience training in Italy to his menu at Felix Trattoria. Abbot Kinney is one of my favorite streets to walk down on a Friday or Saturday night because of how lively it is. There are so many great shopping stores and restaurants, and Felix Trattoria is undoubtedly one of the best to dine at. Although my wallet is crying after dining here, I definitely think it was worth it. This spot is ideal for special occasions, celebrations, or date nights because it is such a treat and the customer service is awesome.

Great White

Great White
Address: 244 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Price: $$
Attire: Casual
While doing some research on where to go for dinner the night before my birthday, my friend and I landed on Great White, a lovely spot on Larchmont. The owners of Great White are two friends from Australia who were “influenced heavily by café culture and fresh produce that’s delivered in an easy-going, fast and friendly way.” The menu was appealing, the location was ideal, and the interior looked lively! You truly feel like you have escaped the business of L.A. when dining here. I absolutely recommend trying Great White out for dinner, and brunch too! I will be going back soon to try more of their dinner menu, such as a few of their pizzas (specifically the wild prosciutto, the spicy sausage, and the truffle fungi ones), fish tacos, avocado dip, and crispy Brussels.

Marvin

Marvin
Address: 8114 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Price: $$$
Attire: Business Casual
In hopes of finding the perfect trendy celebratory spot, my friends and I came across Marvin, “a French bistro in the heart of LA!” Our group lucked out in finding parking at metered spots in front of the restaurant. Both indoor and outdoor seating is offered, but we chose a booth by the door in which part of the seating is in the window looking into the restaurant. This cozy seating area was so cute and intimate, and I’d recommend requesting it for small groups. While the food was to die for, the establishment was also quite atmospheric. In fact, our group almost forgot we were even in a restaurant since we were in our own little section where we received outstanding service and it wasn’t too loud. This spot is absolutely worth the price, and I can’t wait to go back to try more of their dishes and, of course, to reorder the rigatoni Bolognese.

Perch

Perch
Address: 448 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Price: $$$
Attire: Business Casual
Downtown L.A. has a wide variety of trendy restaurants that people are dying to try. The good news is I have found a restaurant that absolutely has to be added to that list: Perch. Beautiful fish tanks surround you as you check in with the hostess before taking the elevator up to the fifteenth floor. We got the perfect table for our large party out on the patio near the live music. The skyline of Downtown L.A. makes an excellent backdrop for a girls’ night out, date night, a family reunion, or anything celebratory or special. Seeing the sunset behind the buildings transports you to a different place, making you forget you are in L.A. I most definitely want to go back to Perch because I was so pleased by the aesthetic of the restaurant (inside and out), the tastiness of the food, and the fun live music setting.

Ysabel

Ysabel
Address: 945 N Fairfax Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Price: $$$
Attire: Business Casual
I have been dying to try Ysabel for a while. Whether Ysabel was solely vibes, solely food, or a hybrid of the two, I was eager to find out! The ambiance of Ysabel is lovely — from the outdoor seating and hanging lights in the courtyard to the more formal and chic inside (even the bathroom!). I definitely want to go back to try brunch at Ysabel. A few things off the menu that caught my eye include the buttermilk pancakes, the short-rib hash, the mortadella panini, and the salmon benedict. All in all, I was very satisfied with the food we ordered and the overall experience.