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Best activities for a date in Los Angeles

Something to do first, then dinner to talk about it.

181 spots · Jump to the list

Doing something together beats sitting across a table, at least to start: a shared activity gives you something to react to, and it takes the pressure off the conversation. This list runs the whole range — a gallery or a show, a kayak or a climbing wall, a comedy set, the zoo — and every one of them sets up dinner afterwards. Check hours and booking before you go; the popular ones sell out on weekends.

This guide ranks 181 activities in Los Angeles, from Long Beach to Downtown Los Angeles and Catalina Island (Avalon). Editors' picks come first, then the rest by rating, and the plans below build a whole evening around the best of them.

Nights people planned here

Published date nights with a stop on this list.

Black Rabbit Rose → The Rooftop
romantic
Los Angeles
2 stops · $$$ · 2.5hTtashadrinks
Barnsdall Park → Sandstone Peak
adventurous
Los Angeles
2 stops · $$ · 2.5hWTWes T.
Gondola Getaway → Rusty Pelican
romantic
Los Angeles
2 stops · $$$ · 2.5hTATheo A.
The Last Bookstore → Spot Coffee & More
cozy

Make a night of it

Routes around the top spots on the list, with the best-rated places nearby for the rest of the evening.

The list

Editors' picks first, then by rating.

Showing 1–24 of 181 spots

Good to know

What's the best activity in Los Angeles for a date?
Our top pick is The Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles, rated 5.0 out of 5. Venice Beach Boardwalk and Melrose Farmers Market round out the top 3.
Which Los Angeles neighborhoods have the best activities?
Long Beach (4), Downtown Los Angeles (3) and Catalina Island (Avalon) (2) have the most spots in the top 24.
Are there affordable activities in Los Angeles?
Yes — The Last Bookstore, Venice Beach Boardwalk and Westgate Entertainment District are all $$ or under.
What should we do before or after?
Make it a night out: something to do, then dinner, then nightcap. The plans on this page pair each top spot with the best-rated places within about a 20-minute walk.

Activities by neighborhood

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