The right first date spot has good drinks, real food, and just enough energy to keep things interesting. These LA spots deliver all three without trying too hard.
Echo Park · 1360 Allison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Minimal wood, paper lanterns, and a long white-oak bar set the calm, sexy tone. The sake list is deep and approachable, with playful tasting notes so you don’t feel like you need a PhD. And the food is built for sharing…
Arts District · 1850 Industrial St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Set in the old Church & State space in the Arts District, this Bistro from the Tsubaki / Ototo folks feels like a moonlit dinner in mid‑century Paris run through a Japanese filter. Wood‑panel walls, leather booths, scal…
Arts District · 1356 Palmetto St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Part guided distillery experience, part gothic fever dream, this DTLA hideaway drops you into mossy trees, trickling waterfalls, and shadowy archways before the first sip even lands. The experience runs as a 2-hour, pri…
Los Feliz · 4628 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
A wine bar with no menu, because real ones don’t need one. Instead, tell the staff what you’re into—earthy, jammy, ‘whatever pairs well with existential dread’—and they’ll find your perfect match. The space is airy, the…
Arts District · 1936 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
DTLA’s best answer to “Where should we go?” Whether it’s a date, a casual drink, or a full-on birthday rager, this bar has you covered. The back patio is pure magic, the cocktails never miss, and if you’re the type to j…
Silver Lake · 2835 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026, USA
Dim-lit Thai in a Sunset strip mall that keeps Silver Lake regulars coming back for a bowl of khao soi and a glass of natural wine — in that exact combination — more often than anyone admits. No reservations, dinner onl…
DTLA · 424 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
Getting a table starts with emailing the owner directly, which tells you a lot about Kinjoro's pace and priorities. The menu leans classic izakaya—miso black cod, thick-cut beef tongue with yuzu negi, agedashi tofu in m…
Arts District · 2121 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021
A cavernous Arts District warehouse turned Italian powerhouse, Bestia hums with clatter, copper, and people who dress like dinner’s an event. The pastas are handmade, the bone marrow is legendary, and everything’s rich …
Arts District · 950 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Cute Italian-focused wine bar specializing in organic, biodynamic, natural wines, aperitivi cocktails, delicious antipasti and authentic Pizza Romana. Aperitivo Happy Hour everyday till 6pm and till 5pm on Sunday. Great…
Echo Park · 1642 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
There’s a worn upright piano by the door, wax pooling in wine bottles on every table, and a bartender who’ll pour you a Spanish red while naming five albums that pair with it. The crowd is a quiet mix of off-duty musici…
Silver Lake · 1637 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
An LA institution for oysters and classic cocktails, L&E is small, cozy, and always a good time. The top-notch oysters fly in daily, the clam chowder is a must, and if you’re looking for a pre-dinner martini that sets t…