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Spago Dining Room
Photograph: Courtesy Spago

The most romantic Valentine’s Day dinners in Los Angeles

When it comes to reservations, you know it’s a bloodbath out there—so get ahead of the crunch with our favorite (still available) V-Day menus across L.A.

Patricia Kelly Yeo
Written by
Patricia Kelly Yeo
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For many restaurants, Valentine’s Day is their Super Bowl—and this year, the Hallmark holiday and big game day are going head to head, with many of the city’s best eateries pulling double duty in order to offer specials and menus for both events, which fall within just days of each other.

Our word of advice? Skip early celebration and celebrate with your loved ones on Valentine’s Day itself, which falls on a Tuesday this year. Though you’ll find plenty of restaurants with à la carte menus, our curated list of the best Valentine’s Day prix-fixe menus in L.A. (that still have reservations!) will take further hassle out of planning and choosing. We’ve also included callouts for those that offer outdoor dining for those concerned about catching Covid, the flu or RSV. 

From romantic hideaways to a handful of the city’s best restaurants, old favorites and newcomers alike, these excellent L.A. restaurants have your V-Day plans more than covered in terms of ambience and food alike—and if you find that your first choice is booked, you’re almost guaranteed to find another just-as-great spot on this list. 

Feb 7 update: We've updated our Valentine's Day dinner picks to reflect which restaurants are completely booked out—and added two new options, Mírame and Gwen, that still have tables available. Unless stated otherwise, all menus are only available on February 14. 

Our favorite $100+ per head dinners

  • Restaurants
  • Mediterranean
  • West Hollywood
  • price 3 of 4

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: This Valentine’s Day, Soulmate in West Hollywood will offer a special seven-course prix-fixe menu courtesy of head chef Rudy Lopez. Each diner will receive oysters (an aphrodisiac) to start, before moving onto several seafood-centric courses, including uni toast and kanpachi ceviche. Dessert consists of chocolate con fresas. Singles looking to mingle will also find the regular menu available at the bar.

Why you should book: Beyond its extremely fitting name, the feel of this beautifully designed West Hollywood space turns particularly sultry at night. The excellent Spanish-Mediterranean cuisine and impeccable indoor-outdoor space have earned it a spot on our most romantic restaurants guide, if you're into more of a scene-y atmosphere for V-Day.

Price: $160 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity.

Reservations: Pre-pay and book online via OpenTable.

  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Hollywood
  • price 3 of 4

Menu: Curtis Stone’s Hollywood chophouse will offer a decadent six-course surf and turf menu featuring pâté en croûte, wild mushroom tart and pumpkin agnolotti. From there, indulge in scallops and an Australian Wagyu flat iron steak and pastry chef Tamber Weiersheuser’s black forest roulade for dessert. 

Why you should book: Soft-lit, understated and elegant, the feel of Curtis Stone’s second L.A. restaurant is absolutely made for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, provided you and your date enjoy the taste of high-quality red meat and any and all methods of eating animals. 

Price: $195 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via Resy.

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  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Downtown Arts District
  • price 3 of 4

Menu: Though normally closed on Tuesdays, this newly Michelin-starred French bistro in the Arts District will host a one-night-only tasting menu with options for supplement wine pairings ($95 for standard, $185 for reserve). Highlights include oeuf mayonnaise with celeriac and mains like duck with dolce forte and A5 Wagyu with truffle jus, plus a selection of Camphor's delicate desserts.

Why you should book: This new-school fine dining spot made it onto our Best New Restaurants list last year for a myriad of reasons: an amazing cocktail program, a stylish white and blue interior, first-rate confections like a playful kiwi sorbet, and last but not least, an elegant, sumptous bill of fare that subtly nods to Asian cuisine. The high-touch service and chic interiors make it perfect for Valentine's Day, especially for those who appreciate a modern take on French cuisine.  

Price: $185 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via Resy (bookings open at midnight on January 19).

  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Beverly Hills
  • price 3 of 4

Menu: Walter and Margarita Manzke's traditional bistro will offer a five-course Valentine's menu highlighting seasonal ingredients and signature favorites from Bicyclette's regular menu, with options for vegetarians and pescatarians.

Why you should book: We named Bicyclette our Best New Restaurant of 2021, and while the upstairs tasting menu at Manzke might have just won a new Michelin star (and is already sold out for Valentine's, by the way), the downstairs bistro's green-and-wood interiors still offer more relaxed, still romantic Parisian vibes. Plus, everything on the menu is delicious and covered in butter. 

Price: $225 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Pre-pay and book online via OpenTable.

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • French
  • La Brea
  • price 3 of 4

Menu: The Manzkes' other critically acclaimed Californian French eatery is offering a multi-course tasting menu with a $495 premier option that throws in a full wine pairing, glasses of Krug champagne and supplemental Périgord truffles. Though the exact menu is yet to be determined, expect lots of seasonal produce, high-quality meat and seafood. (Note that vegans can't be accommodated.)

Why you should book: République has long been one of L.A.'s best restaurants, and though many might have turned towards the newer Manzke and Bicyclette, the charming former Campanile space is still an excellent place in terms of both atmosphere and cuisine to spend Valentine's Day.

Price: $260 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Pre-pay and book online via OpenTable.

  • Restaurants
  • Steakhouse
  • Beverly
  • price 3 of 4

Menu: Suzanne Tracht's iconic chophouse on Beverly Boulevard will offer a three-course menu for Valentine’s Day. Start off with a Maine lobster cocktail, celeriac parsnip soup or a little gem Caesar salad before moving onto Tracht's well-executed takes on turbot, duck breast or a shareable prime New York steak. Choose between red velvet raspberry or chocolate caramel cake for dessert. Jar will also offer half-bottles of Dumangin and Billecart-Salmon brut rosé champagne.

Why you should book: Jar's famously sleek interiors and mood lighting have made it famous through on-screen appearances, including key scenes in La La Land and I Love You, Man, and the modern steakhouse still reads just as luxurious today. If you’re looking for an impressive, timeless meal for Valentine’s Day, go here.

Price: $150 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via OpenTable.

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  • Restaurants
  • Californian
  • Beverly Hills
  • price 4 of 4

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: The iconic Wolfgang Puck restaurant is pulling out all the stops for Valentine's Day with a seven-piece band and live singer on the patio alongside a three-course meal. Sit up close outdoors for an extra $45 on top of the prix-fixe menu, or opt for the showroom for $25 more. You can also add on chocolates, flowers and champagne to your evening.

Why you should book: Spago is an icon, and the glitzy 90210 locale will make your partner feel like a million bucks (in other words, within spitting distance of affording a regular-sized home in this city). While we don't think the kitchen will be particularly experimental on a day like Valentine's Day, the Asian-inflected Californian cuisine here never fails to deliver on gourmet ingredients, executed in a delicious way and a perfect fit for special occasions. 

Price: $250 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity.

Reservations: Book online via OpenTable. Note that all pre-paid bookings are non-refundable. 

  • Things to do
  • Little Tokyo

Menu: Though Chris Ono's "L.A. Nikkei" tasting menu usually only runs Wednesdays to Fridays, Hansei will offer a special dinner menu for Tuesday, February 14th. Unlike the regular experience, the five-course dinner will take place fully in the dining room, which features panoramic views of the tranquil James Irvine Japanese Garden. Live music and other surprises throughout the night will supplement the intimate atmosphere.

Why you should book: The serene beauty of this hidden Japanese garden in Little Tokyo is utterly romantic, and Ono's Michelin training shines through in delicate, beautifully plated creations. The menu is also completely new for Valentine's Day and will feature dishes like A5 Miyazaki Wagyu with teriyaki bordelaise, winter black truffle and hon wasabi as well as Nama chocolate with chef favorite Harry's Berries.

Price: $195 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via Tock starting Jan 18.

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  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • Beverly Hills
  • price 3 of 4

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: This Valentine's Day, the always-romantic Il Cielo will pull out all the stops with fresh rose petals on every table and a decadent three-course meal. 

Why you should book: While the Italian fare here isn't exactly our favorite, this Beverly Hills icon has long been one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. If your Valentine isn't the type to care about food, but to really, really care about atmosphere, this is the place for you.

Price: $225 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity.

Reservations: Pre-pay and book online via OpenTable.

Ilé LA (SOLD OUT)
Photograph: Time Out/Patricia Kelly Yeo

Ilé LA (SOLD OUT)

Menu: For a more immersive Valentine's Day dinner experience, this Nigerian pop-up series led by Lagos-born Tolu Eros will offer 5pm and 8pm seatings for a one night only tasting menu showcasing West African flavors and plenty of aphrodisiacs including chili peppers, figs and strawberries. 

Why you should book: We checked out Ilé last summer, and while the dinner party-esque experience isn't for everyone, Eros's vibrant storytelling skills and the delicious cooking make for a fun, slightly unconventional upscale dinner for Valentine's Day. Those who love amazing food and trying new things with loved ones would do well to book Ilé—of all the places highlighted on this list, it's definitely the one best suited for "food people." 

Price: $250 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via Tock.

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  • Restaurants
  • Californian
  • Beverly
  • price 3 of 4

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: Both locations of Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne’s pioneering hyper-seasonal California-French eatery will offer the same four-course, seasonally driven Valentine’s Day prix-fixe menu. Start your dinner off right with dishes like avocado and blood orange salad with crème fraiche. Other highlights include a stuffed chicken with morels, country bread and stewed leeks and nettle gnocchi with Maine lobster. For dessert, there’s a drool-worthy ode to the Girl Scout Samoa.

Why you should book: A.O.C's original Beverly Grove location, which features a plant-filled, stringlit patio with a fireplace, is particularly charming for Valentine’s Day, and its newer Brentwood location is convenient for those coming from the Westside or the Valley. (There are also way more tables available at Brentwood, for what it's worth.) In either case, the iconic small plates spot is perfect for a quieter, more intimate Valentine’s Day meal. 

Price: $150 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via OpenTable.

  • Restaurants
  • American creative
  • Downtown Historic Core
  • price 3 of 4

Menu: Neal Fraser's stunning Downtown restaurant, located in an old Roman Catholic cathedral, will offer a three-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu (with vegetarian options) in Redbird’s main dining room and lounge. Choose from decadent appetizers like shigoku oysters with hibiscus migonette to start, plus a rack of Australian lamb with gnocchi romana as a main. Though exact details are still in the works, Redbird will also offer an exclusive chef's tasting menu led by Fraser, which will begin in Redbird's gorgeous garden and progress to several upstairs dining rooms normally reserved for private events.

Why you should book: The breezily elegant rooms behind a former Catholic cathedral bring to mind romance, and Fraser's cuisine—whether you're doing the prix-fixe or the chef's tasting—wows with plenty of global flourishes whether or not it's Valentine's Day. 

Price: $275 per person for the chef's tasting and $180 per person for the main dining room prix-fixe.

Reservations: Book via OpenTable

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  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • Fairfax District
  • price 3 of 4

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: There may be no more maximalist V-Day prix-fixe menu in town than Angelini Osteria, where guests can choose from 10-plus options for their appetizer, entree and dessert. Each diner also receives a trio of stuzzichino to start the meal of marinated salmon, fregola sarda and chunks of Parmesan in saba, a balsamic-like condiment made from fermented grape juice. For those who prefer to dine outside, this traditional Italian trattoria off Beverly Boulevard also has a quiet, string-lit back patio.

Why you should book: L.A. is a city full of great Italian restaurants, but Gino Angelini's eponymous neighborhood eatery keeps the mood feeling cozy and casual with excellent service and even better cuisine. If you're looking for an unfussy dinner that still manages to feel special, this place is it. 

Price: $125 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity.

Reservations: Book online via OpenTable or call 323-297-0070, extension 1.

  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • Santa Monica

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: This Santa Monica Italian stalwart is offering a five-course meal. Choose from a Maryland crab torta or Capo's signature mini meatballs and other highlights like a black truffle-laden corn ravioli and New York strip steak. For dessert, there's the almost-mandatory chocolate lava cake or a fruity blackberry crisp. Note that the usual menu will not be available, only the prix-fixe.

Why you should book: Stalwarts become stalwarts for a reason, and this underrated Italian restaurant that some compare to celebrity favorite Giorgio Baldi offers the same old-school white tablecloth vibes—and delicious cuisine—to satisfy any couple looking for an intimate Valentine's Day dinner on the Westside.

Price: $175 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity.

Reservations: Pre-pay and book online via OpenTable.

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  • Restaurants
  • Californian
  • Santa Monica
  • price 3 of 4

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: The lobby eatery at Santa Monica's Shutters on the Beach will offer a Valentine’s Day prix-fixe menu on the 14th.

Why you should book: This airy, nautical-themed hotel eatery overlooks the Pacific and its outdoor area includes a tree overhung with lanterns, as well as plenty of patio heaters. While you likely won't catch the sunset unless you arrive early for a table at 5:45pm, you can still have a romantic dinner right by the ocean. 

Price: $125 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via OpenTable.

Trying to save? The best options under $100 per head

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Beverly Hills

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: This seafood-centric Mexican restaurant in Beverly Hills is offering a six-course tasting menu for Valentine’s Day (plus the Friday and Saturday before) of signature dishes like a whole fried Baja snapper and a scallop aguachile made with Asian pear. You can also upgrade your Valentine's meal with A5 Wagyu and lobster available at a supplemental cost. For dessert, chef Joshua Gil will forgo the usual chocolate affair for a cinnamon-sweet buñuelo with persimmon, truffle, honey and buttermilk ice cream.

Why you should book: Ignore the fact it’s located in the most expensive, price-gouging part of Beverly Hills—Mírame offers some of the best Mexican cooking in all of L.A. The restaurant’s tequila and mezcal list is formidable, and its airy feel, high ceilings and more intimate hidden back patio make it a worthwhile Valentine’s Day dinner for those who appreciate a highly inventive take on Mexican cuisine. 

Price: $150 per pair plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via Resy.

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • West Hollywood
  • price 2 of 4

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: This stylish West Hollywood vegan Mexican restaurant (with a second location in Newport Beach) will be featuring a special prix-fixe San Valentin menu for Valentine's Day. Items include a heirloom tomato crudo, mushroom scallops and cheesecake with strawberries and blackberries. 

Why you should book: Gracias Madre's patio is one of the best in the city, particularly at night, and its fully vegan menu is a boon for anyone with dietary restrictions. The eatery's regular menu is full of must-order favorites that would please any omnivore, including the potato flautas and the "crab" cakes, and its mixed drinks are top-notch.

Price: $185 for two guests (or $92.50 per head).

Reservations: Book online via OpenTable.

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  • Restaurants
  • Contemporary American
  • Downtown Arts District
  • price 2 of 4

Outdoor dining available.

Menu: Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard’s Arts District eatery will offer an eight-course tasting menu for Valentine’s Day. Taking a page from Girl & the Goat's original outpost, the holiday menu will feature a host of shareable menu items from both the restaurant's L.A. and Chicago locations, including a delectable hamachi crudo seasoned with spicy yuzu and fresh tomato.

Why you should book: Yes, the string-lit patio is romantic—but this destination-worthy date spot also happens to be really, really good. Thanks to a beautiful dining room and patio and deftly executed globally inspired cuisine, Girl & the Goat is firmly in our back pocket whenever we’re planning a big-ticket Downtown date night or other special occasion. Their V-Day menu packs a double punch, however, and serves as a well-rounded survey of G&TG’s greatest hits across two time zones. 

Price: $95 per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity. 

Reservations: Book online via OpenTable.

Looking to impress and splurge even more on a meal?

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