Around Forma
3 stops, all within a short walk
1
0.8 mi
5:30 PMDrinks first
2
0.9 mi
7:00 PMThe big dinner
3
8:30 PMSomething sweet
← Best special-occasion restaurants in Los AngelesDate night guide · Los Angeles
A big night out in Santa Monica
For the anniversary, the birthday, the big news.
25 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 25 special-occasion restaurants in Santa Monica. 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.
upscale
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.
Around Hillstone
2 stops, all within a short walk
Around Mélisse
2 stops, all within a short walk
1
0.8 mi
5:30 PMDrinks first
2
7:00 PMThe big dinner
Special-occasion restaurants in Santa Monica
Editors' picks first, then by rating.
Forma
4.8(22)Santa Monica · $$$
Hillstone
4.8(19)Santa Monica · $$$
Mélisse
4.8(14)Santa Monica · $$$$
The Golden Bull
4.8(9)Santa Monica · $$$$
The Penthouse at the Huntley
4.8(5)Santa Monica · $$$
Fia
4.7(18)Santa Monica · $$$
Capo
4.7(15)Santa Monica · $$$
Rustic Canyon
4.7(10)Santa Monica · $$$
Ivy at the Shore
4.7(6)Santa Monica · $$$
Corridor 109
4.6(23)Santa Monica · $$$$
1 Pico
4.6(8)Santa Monica · $$$$
Tar & Roses
4.5(11)Santa Monica · $$$$
Terrazza
4.5(11)Santa Monica · $$$$
Michael's
4.5(8)Santa Monica · $$$
Sirena Bar
4.5(6)Santa Monica · $$$
MUSE Santa Monica
4.3(9)Santa Monica · $$$$
The Buffalo Club
4.3(4)Santa Monica · $$$$
Lunetta
4.2(10)Santa Monica · $$$$
The Lobster
4.0(21)Santa Monica · $$$$
Calabra
4.0(7)Santa Monica · $$$$
The Georgian Room
3.8(24)Santa Monica · $$$$
Citrin
3.8(14)Santa Monica · $$$$
Fia Steak
3.8(8)Santa Monica · $$$
Water Grill
4.1(22)Santa Monica · $$$
Showing 1–24 of 25 spots
Good to know
- What's the best special-occasion restaurant in Santa Monica for a date?
- Our top pick is Forma, rated 4.8 out of 5. Hillstone and Mélisse round out the top 3.
- Do I need a reservation?
- It depends on the spot. Book ahead for Mélisse, The Golden Bull and Capo.
- 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.
More nights in Santa Monica
Special-occasion restaurants in other neighborhoods
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