Some of you are eagerly looking forward to it. Probably a bigger portion of you are dreading it. But, like it or not, Valentine’s Day 2025 is fast approaching. And in a city like LA, if you don’t have your reservations dialed in well in advance, you’re looking at a wild night, one way or another. Especially this year, with Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday. You’ll still need to do the legwork, but we can get you started with some Valentine’s Day date ideas for those celebrating in the LA area.
Enjoy the City’s Natural Wonders
When compared to the rest of the U.S., LA stands a solid chance of a sunny Valentine’s Day. So why not plan to enjoy our enviable California sunshine with a cute start to the holiday? Plants can be surprisingly sexy. Just something about those petals and clinging vines and bountiful blossoms… okay, we’re not going to let this devolve into ThornHub. But if you or your partner think plants are hot, the Huntington Botanical Gardens offers one of the more solid Valentine’s Day date ideas. With over 130 acres of verdant wonders to enjoy, you could even make a whole day of meandering down its florid paths.
Think botanical gardens are a snooze fest? Then allow us to point out that the Huntington has some of the most interesting plant species in the world, all in one place. Its conservatory even hosts a carnivorous plant bog to give your day date some teeth. If you’re really feeling lucky, you might be able to catch one of the institution’s 12 corpse blossoms in bloom. Okay, maybe not the hottest experience but one you don’t see (or smell) every day. If the Huntington isn’t local enough for you, consider the Los Angeles County Arboretum, Descanso Gardens, or just casually wander down one of the city’s numerous hiking trails instead.
Even if plants aren’t your thing, you could still enjoy some romantic moments outdoors by setting sail on one of the area’s numerous whale-watching tours. These tours are a great alternative to botanical strolls, allowing landlubbers to mostly sit down. We get it; not everyone’s into dating on their feet. While there’s no guarantee that you’ll see a whale, you’ll at least spot dolphins, seals, seagulls, and other marine wonders endemic to California’s coasts.
Set the Tone with a Day Spa Visit
A day spa is a surprisingly effective addition to your itinerary of Valentine’s Day date ideas considering you won’t be spending much of that date actually in the same room with one another. Don’t worry; absence will only make the heart grow fonder, or so we’ve been told. But you can reconnect in the co-ed areas, refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready for more romance. Perhaps you can discuss your individual spa journeys over a bite to eat at the onsite cafe.
If massages, mineral saunas, and general pampering sounds like your speed, a day spa trip can really do a lot to set the tone for a cute Valentine’s Day. LA boasts several Korean day spas (with Wi Spa tending to be the most popular option).
You Won’t Need Reservations for a Picnic Lunch
Getting hungry? A romantic picnic at one of LA’s numerous scenic spots can sometimes be a more enjoyable alternative to fancy restaurants. Especially if the reservations are already snatched up and you’re running low on Valentine’s Day date ideas. We’ve seen a lot of suggestions for picnicking at Greystone Mansion, but it’s worth noting that the former estate turned current park prohibits this.
However, you can have a lovely afternoon lunch at Silver Lake Reservoir, Los Angeles State Historic Park, Barnsdall Art Park on the lawn surrounding Hollyhock House, or Echo Park Lake. And if you choose that last one, save time to take a romantic tour of the lake on their iconic swan paddle boats. As weird as it sounds, nothing spells “romance” like riding a giant swan around a dirty lake. We don’t make the rules!
Make the Sunset Itself One of Your Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
If your date coincides with sunset (and if it doesn’t, pro tip: it should), make sure you watch it from the sort of vantage point that only LA could offer. The Observatory is definitely one of those spots, but you can count on it being packed to the gills on Valentine’s Day. Especially because it’s free. We recommend parking at the base of the hill and taking the Dash shuttle up instead of taking your chances with the parking gods. Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier offers another option, especially if you can make it on the Ferris wheel at just the right moment. Again, it’s going to be a madhouse, so good luck!
Is It Time for a Drink Yet?
This point is as good of a time as any for a drink. And whether you’re sipping mocktails or cocktails, the area’s wide array of tiki bars will keep you going on your sugary sweet way with a little extra pep in your step. If you’re looking for something less tropical than Tiki-Ti or Tonga Hut, Hollywood (The Roger Room, Melrose Umbrella Co., The Spare Room) and Downtown LA (The Wolves, Apothéke, Death & Co.) both boast a wealth of glamorous cocktail bars, whisky bars, distilleries, dives, and speakeasies.
A lot of the fancier ones will be crawling with lovestruck lushes, so reservations may be in order. Or you could just try your luck and spend some time getting to know your date a little better in line.
Dinner and a Movie… the LA Way
We’ll assume you have dinner sorted because suggestions of romantic LA restaurants could fill a book. One that would need to be re-published annually with all the openings and closures happening in the post-COVID dining world. But we’re going to jump in on the other half of the traditional dinner and a movie dynamic. That’s because you can get seriously creative with how you enjoy cinema in LA.
One of the stand-outs this year is 1995’s Party Girl screening at Vidiots, which will be followed by a holiday soiree. Director Daisy von Scherler Mayer will be there in person to discuss the cult classic. If you like to get high before watching a movie, Rooftop Cinema Club seems to still have tickets available for their Valentine’s Day showing of Poetic Justice. It looks like La La Land and 50 First Dates are already sold out at the time of writing.
Of course, you could also catch a movie in one of our numerous historically significant theaters. The Egyptian, Aero, Chinese Theatre, and even The Vista have a certain old-school elegance to them conducive to high romance.
A Little Something for the Drama Club
If dinner and a movie are a bit too on-the-nose for you, maybe a play or a comedy show is more your speed. This city offers a staggering amount of live and shockingly affordable theater options to satisfy that special drama club alumnus in your life. Playhouses are scattered liberally throughout West Hollywood and LA’s westside, so you just have to search for a show that seems promising. LA’s comedy scene keeps pace with its live theater circuit with established troupes like The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade, both of whom have special comedy performances on the big night.
Give Your Night a Sense of Danger
If the threat of getting called out at an improv comedy show isn’t interactive enough for you, Los Angeles still offers a wealth of more immersive Valentine’s Day date ideas. You could double or triple up with some other couples and brave one of the city’s numerous Escape Room challenges. Not a bad idea for couples who like to think on their feet. And that sense of danger can be a real turn-on.
If you’d like something a bit less cerebral and a bit more chaotic, hit up one of the several laser tag arenas across the city. Just make sure you’re bringing a date who will still respect you if you get wiped out by a gang of eagle-eyed pre-teens.
Let’s Get Physical
If you want something a bit more physically demanding, try one of the city’s climbing gyms. They simulate rock climbing in a controlled environment with several degrees of difficulty available. Most even offer classes to help you get over the beginner’s hurdle and start having fun.
Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale presents another active date idea. On Valentine’s Day, they’re hosting both their Valentine’s Day Skate and their Anti-Valentine’s Day Skate in the same place at the same time… so expect sparks to fly off more than the skate bearings. Look forward to a steady night of dueling makeout jams and break-up jams courtesy of the Moonlight Rollerway DJs.
Leave Your Partner Seeing Stars
The final of our Valentine’s Day date ideas may require you to drive outside of the city considerably… but it’s a pretty strong ending to an ultra-romantic date marathon. With so many desert expanses around us, Southern California is the perfect spot for stargazing. And the perfect preamble to getting lost in your partner’s eyes is getting lost in the cosmos above us. If you’re trying to keep things as local to LA as possible, you can simply consult our Perseid meteor shower guide for the best local places to stargaze. The Perseids are long over, but these spots are still ideal for some heavenly vibes.
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