Here’s how to take out your boo without breaking the bank.
Check out date guides for New York, Austin, and Miami.
1
Las Perlas
Taking your date to a bar with a speakeasy vibe always adds a touch of mystery, which will probably bode well for you…just saying. Las Perlas is an eclectic spot downtown that claims to have the largest spirits selection in town, with more than 400 premium tequilas and mezcal to choose from, so it might be wise to pace yourself. The intimate bar has weekday $5 margarita happy hours (5-8 p.m.), plus live music and happy hour food menu, which sounds like everything you pretty much would need for an amazing date night.
107 East 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014
2
The Last Bookstore
If you haven’t gone to the Last Bookstore and taken a photo through a book window, do you even read, though? Bookstore dates are always super cute because you have endless amounts of topics to discuss, which leads to getting to know each other way faster than just sitting in a movie theater for two hours. The Last Bookstore is special in that you can also browse endless rows of records, art, and installations in a huge space that has a library vibe, with vintage touches all around.If you and your date are bibliophiles, this is the place to meet and nerd out before you keep exploring DTLA.
453 S. Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
3
The Broad + Museum of Latin American Art
If you and your date are art aficionados, a museum date is a must. Los Angeles boasts an impressive amount of world-renowned museums, so any choice would have to be up to you and your date’s tastes. The Broad is a great choice because it does indeed have free admission, and you can drop some cute Instagram stories while you tour Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room. If you want to head out on a little adventure to Long Beach, stop by the Museum of Latin American Art, a museum aimed to highlight the vision and diverse voices of modern and contemporary art from Latino America.
The Broad: 221 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
MoLAA: 628 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, CA, 90802
4
Moonlight Rollerway
Just take one step into Moonlight Rollerway, and you will feel transported back into the 1950s–and every decade since then, for that matter. Built in 1952, Moonlight Rollerway is a bit of an icon in LA and its rich history, throwback music, and kitschy decor will give you and your date plenty of things to talk about. Plus, rollerskating is a great opportunity to innocently claim that you “can’t skate,” which will get you to hand holding/going steady status real quick, ‘50s style.
5110 San Fernando Road, Glendale, CA 91204
5
Grand Central Market
Since 1917, Grand Central Market in downtown LA has been a meeting ground for all things food, music, culture, and undoubtedly, love. There is something very romantic about meeting a date to peruse through vendors and artisans, exploring and discovering new things along the way and Grand Central will give you just that. While you should definitely grab some food at the start of the night, from vendors like La Tostaderia, Sarita’s Pupusas and Ana Maria, the market boasts some legit date night fun other than eating. On Thursdays, you can get competitive with some cornhole, ping pong, Uno or Scrabble at the Grand Central Game Night and on Fridays, take your boo out dancing at Grand Central Fridays with Dublab featuring modern dance, funk, soul, world music and beyond.
317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
6
Griffith Observatory
OK, so maybe this is a super LA cliche, but if you’re into hiking, why not see if your boo is ready to live your lifestyle, too? Griffith Park and the Observatory are iconic LA spots, and while the throngs of tourists could get a little bit overwhelming, nothing quite beats that panoramic view of the entire city. Whether you decide to hike the whole way up or take your car, the Observatory offers the chance for some cute moments with your date, where you can argue over the best Alien film or re-enact your favorite scene from La La Land – all while staring at the stars, of course.
2800 E. Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027
7
Echo Park + Tierra Mia Coffee
Since it can be considered a beautiful day in LA about 97 percent of the time, a date spent at the park, or outside in any manner, is ideal. Before you head over to the actual Echo Park Lake, you can stop into Tierra Mia Coffee, a Latino-owned coffee shop with a distinct Latino flair to all of its offerings. Catch up with your date over a horchata frappe and tres leches muffin while listening to some ranchera before walking over to the lake, where you can lay in the grass, watch the swans, or even paddle boat across the lake and get some Instagram story-worthy snaps.
1202 N. Alvarado St., Los Angeles, CA 90026
8
Ace Hotel
It’s always fun to be on a rooftop (if you’re not afraid of heights ofc), and being on one with a date is even better. The Ace Hotel offers some pretty sweet views of Downtown LA, plus a pool and plenty of cozy outdoor seats where you can mingle with your cutie. Almost every night of the week hosts a different vibe, with either DJs, live music or acoustic sets of local musicians going on. If you are down for something a little more ~cultured~, The Theatre at Ace Hotel brings concerts, poetry readings, film screenings, Q&As and more, so it’s worth always keeping an eye on its schedule because something cool is bound to pop up for you and your boo.
929 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
9
Guisados
Search any “Best tacos in LA” list and Guisados will likely be high on one of those lists. While it’s no easy feat to find the best tacos in a city known for its many culinary marvels (particularly Mexican cuisine), Guisados offers the just-obscure-enough mention that can impress your date with your impeccable taste. Originally from Boyle Heights, its cozy locations around the city have an extensive, but very inexpensive menu, featuring handmade tortillas with toppings like mole poblano, chorizo and hongos con cilantro. You can order a sampler platter so you and your date can share and rate your respective guisados, all while drinking authentic aguas frescas in the perfect hole-in-the-wall spot to really get to know each other.
1261 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
10
La Cita
La Cita is the spot where las tías, tíos and mamis have partied in LA since the ’70s and ’80s, but now a whole new generation of Latinxs are joining in. The iconic locale still hosts norteño nights, but has introduced hip hop, punk and rockabilly nights so it’s got a little bit of something for anyone. Bring your date here for a taste of old school L.A., where you can grab some drinks and dance the night away. This place is La Santa Cecilia and Chicano Batman approved, so you know it’s legit.
336 S. Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013