Best special-occasion restaurants for a date in Los Angeles
For the anniversary, the birthday, the big news.
202 spots · Jump to the list
For the anniversary, the birthday, the proposal. Every restaurant here sits at the top of the price range and treats dinner as the whole event. Book well ahead, mention what you're celebrating when you do, and plan for a longer meal than usual.
This guide ranks 202 special-occasion restaurants in Los Angeles, from Downtown Los Angeles to Silver Lake / Echo Park and Long Beach. Editors' picks come first, then the rest by rating, and the plans below build a whole evening around the best of them.
The list
Editors' picks first, then by rating.
mar'sel
4.6(11)Palos Verdes · $$$$
Oleander
4.6(11)West Hollywood · $$$$
Asanebo
4.6(11)$$$$
Miyabi Uni
4.6(11)Torrance · $$$$
Musso & Frank Grill
4.6(10)Hollywood · $$$
Si! Mon
4.6(10)Venice · $$$$
Alexander's Steakhouse
4.6(7)Pasadena · $$$$
Katsuya L.A. Live
4.6(7)Downtown Los Angeles · $$$
Parkers’ Lighthouse
4.6(7)Long Beach · $$$$
Maestro Pasadena
4.5(26)Pasadena · $$$
Dada Echo Park
4.5(26)Silver Lake / Echo Park · $$$
Donna's
4.5(26)Silver Lake / Echo Park · $$$
Damian
4.5(25)Downtown Los Angeles · $$$
Mírate
4.5(24)Los Feliz / Griffith Park · $$$
Loreto
4.5(24)Silver Lake / Echo Park · $$$
AB Steak by Chef Akira Back
4.5(22)West Hollywood · $$$$
Forma
4.5(22)Santa Monica · $$$
Cali Chilli
4.5(21)Downtown Los Angeles · $$$
Palma Ristorante
4.5(19)Burbank / Studio City · $$$
Hillstone
4.5(19)Santa Monica · $$$
La Traviata Restaurant
4.5(18)Long Beach · $$$
Manuela Restaurant
4.5(18)Downtown Los Angeles · $$$$
ADKT
4.5(16)Mid-Wilshire / Miracle Mile · $$$
The Penthouse at Mastro's
4.5(16)Beverly Hills · $$$$
Showing 25–48 of 202 spots
Good to know
- What's the best special-occasion restaurant in Los Angeles for a date?
- Our top pick is mar'sel in Palos Verdes, rated 4.6 out of 5. Oleander and Asanebo round out the top 3.
- Which Los Angeles neighborhoods have the best special-occasion restaurants?
- Downtown Los Angeles (4), Silver Lake / Echo Park (3) and Long Beach (2) have the most spots in the top 24.
- Do I need a reservation?
- It depends on the spot. Book ahead for Damian and AB Steak by Chef Akira Back.
- What should we do before or after?
- Make it a big night out: drinks first, then the big dinner, then something sweet. The plans on this page pair each top spot with the best-rated places within about a 20-minute walk.