Greater Los Angeles has no shortage of romantic restaurants for special occasions. Whether you’re looking for a chic bistro, a rooftop panorama, sunset by the sea, or a candle-lit hideaway, there are thousands of choices to consider for a Valentine’s Day date. And after the horrific month Los Angeles has had, a beautiful meal in a beautiful setting is just what our frazzled nerves need right now.
To keep things simple, here’s our shortlist of time-honored restaurant favorites, all of which are offering special prix fixe menus for Valentine’s Day dates at cozy tables for two.
A celebrity favorite, BOA Steakhouse is offering a set Valentine’s dinner menu for $115 per person at all three of their see-and-be-seen LA locations: West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Manhattan Beach. The first three courses feature several options, including Creekstone Petite Filet, Pan Roasted Chilean Seabass, Maple Leaf Duck Breast, plus vegetarian options. Dessert is a decadent dark chocolate mousse, complemented by specialty Valentine’s Day cocktails. Insatiable diners can add a la carte extras, such as a Porterhouse steak to share, lobster tail, or a Japanese wagyu flight. www.boasteak.com
9200 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
101 Sana Monica Blvd., Santa Monica
3110 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach
Every table in the house has a panoramic view of the ocean at this Malibu landmark which thankfully survived the recent L.A. fires. For Valentine’s Day, they’re serving a three-course prix fixe brunch ($98) and dinner ($135) featuring delectable choices of California-style international dishes. Full disclosure: my husband and I chose Geoffrey’s as our wedding venue, so it was guaranteed to make my “most romantic” restaurant list. Perched on a cliff at the edge of the Pacific in Malibu, there’s no better place to share a Castelvetrano Olives Salad and 1¾-pound Lobster Risotto, gaze at the sunset, pop the question, and yes, say your vows. www.geoffreysmalibu.com
27400 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu
Overlook the iconic Sunset Strip at one of L.A.’s favorite dining scenes for the beautiful people. Valentine’s Day lover can enjoy an izakaya feast for $125 per person, featuring a starter, robata options, sushi, and a dessert. Katana is also offering Valentine’s Day specials such as a premium robata grilled seafood tower ($125) and a toro hand roll duo ($32). Just remember to post IG photos for everyone to drool over. www.katanarobata.com
8439 W Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
To ramp up the drama, there’s nothing like the theatrical ambiance of La Boheme, a West Hollywood staple that’s been dripping with chandeliers for 30+ years. Whether you’re getting cosy in a red booth on the main floor or on full display upstairs at a balcony table for two, you feel like a star — even on Piano Bar Thursdays, Jazz Fridays, and Burlesque Saturdays. For Valentine’s Day, La Boheme’s three-course dinner ($95) has something for everyone: Miso Marinated Chilean Sea Bass, Grilled Angus Filet Mignon, Roasted Half Chicken Dijon, and Portobello Mushroom Steak are among the choices. www.labohemeweho.com
8400 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
Stoke the flames of romance with the endorphins from a sushi high. Diners can enjoy an izakaya feast for $125 per person at the Pasadena location and $105 at the Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach locations. Menu highlights include toro carpaccio and hamachi serrano for starters, chu-toro and sea bream nigiri, baked crab hand roll, and a dark chocolate mousse for a sweet finish. www.sushiroku.com
1401 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica
33 Miller Alley, Pasadena
3110 Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach
