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 Beverly Hills to Venice 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.
The list
Editors' picks first, then by rating.
The Tasting Kitchen
4.3(24)Venice · $$$
Geoffrey’s Malibu
4.3(23)$$$
Alta Adams
4.3(22)Mid-Wilshire / Miracle Mile · $$$
Spice Affair
4.3(21)Mid-Wilshire / Miracle Mile · $$$
The Lobster
4.3(21)Santa Monica · $$$$
The Depot
4.3(20)Koreatown / Mid-City · $$$
Matū Kai
4.3(19)West LA / Brentwood · $$$$
Dudley Market
4.3(16)Venice · $$$$
Gwen
4.3(15)Hollywood · $$$$
Avalon Grille
4.3(15)Catalina Island (Avalon) · $$$
Yamashiro
4.3(15)Hollywood · $$$
Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery
4.3(15)Pasadena · $$$
Ardor
4.3(14)Beverly Hills · $$$$
Pasjoli
4.3(13)Venice · $$$$
Saddle Peak Lodge
4.3(12)$$$
Catalina Kitchen
4.3(12)Palos Verdes · $$$
Ladyhawk
4.3(11)Beverly Hills · $$$
Steve's Steakhouse
4.3(11)Catalina Island (Avalon) · $$$
San Damian
4.3(11)Venice · $$$
CUT by Wolfgang Puck
4.3(10)Beverly Hills · $$$$
The Benjamin Hollywood
4.3(8)West Hollywood · $$$
Dante Beverly Hills
4.3(8)Beverly Hills · $$$
Michael's
4.3(8)Santa Monica · $$$
Cara Restaurant
4.3(8)Los Feliz / Griffith Park · $$$
Showing 97–120 of 202 spots
Good to know
- What's the best special-occasion restaurant in Los Angeles for a date?
- Our top pick is The Tasting Kitchen in Venice, rated 4.3 out of 5. Geoffrey’s Malibu and Alta Adams round out the top 3.
- Which Los Angeles neighborhoods have the best special-occasion restaurants?
- Beverly Hills (4), Venice (4) and Catalina Island (Avalon) (2) have the most spots in the top 24.
- Do I need a reservation?
- It depends on the spot. Book ahead for Matū Kai, Ardor and Ladyhawk, while Steve's Steakhouse takes walk-ins.
- 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.