Date Night Ideas in Los Angeles
Memorable First Dates in LA, Creative Ideas for a Couples Date Night, Romantic Things to Do in Los Angeles at Night and Daytime
Your favorite matchmaker, Julie Ferman, surveyed hundreds of her Los Angeles & Southern California Success Story Couples to share their memories of some of their most unforgettable dates together. Why? To inspire you to have YOUR unforgettable dating adventures.
Below, find our matchmaking clients’ recommended suggestions for unique daytime date and date night ideas in Los Angeles and nearby Southern California date-worthy spots. It’s your turn to fall in love, right here in LA.
Parking off Mulholland
Have YOU done it? It’s not cliché when YOU are doing it together. The Mulholland Drive Overlook is a first date smooch-worthy spot for a first date or a 20th anniversary celebration.
Gil took Julie up to the top of Mulholland for a smooch (or a few) in 1990, and they have a habit of kissing each other whenever they find themselves on that lovely, renowned, twisty ridge road.
Was this kiss on Mulholland Road? OK, no, but it might as well have been….it’s the most famous Gil and Julie Ferman kiss shot of all time. It was part of an ad campaign that they designed for their Great Expectations Video Dating Service offices in St. Louis and Kansas City. Kinda reminds of us of Grease. Right?
Dinner at the Getty Center over Sunset
Fun fact. Julie visited the Getty Center with her own dating coach decades later, long after he helped her find Gil. She and her coach celebrated the success of their dating how-to adventure together right there at the Getty Center. Don’t miss the Central Garden; there’s as much on the outside as on the inside at the Getty.
Tip: anytime you’re at a museum, each of you choose a favorite painting. Take a photo of it or you (or your date) in front of that painting. You’ll never forget the painting or the artist, even if the person you met on the date was forgettable. HA. https://www.opentable.com/restaurant-at-the-getty-center
Date night ideas Los Angeles like this make for memorable adventures.
Hike Runyan Canyon together and keep your eyes open for celebs while on the trail. Gil and Julie spotted Charlize Theron there once…
https://www.laparks.org/runyon/
Conversational Quickies in the Park with a bunch of other couples
Borrow Julie Ferman’s Signature event concept, Conversational Quickies, which is fun for a singles gathering or a group event.
https://julieferman.com/event/conversational-quickies-event/
Julie Ferman’s favorite spot for a Conversational Quickies gathering in Los Angeles? Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-104-matchmaking-evolves/id1451684205?i=1000563340353
Pretend you’re a tourist in your own town. Dress like you’re from a trashy trailer park, and take selfies in front of your favorite stars’ names on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Take a photo of you in front of a star you LOVE and also … in front of a star you don’t love so much, and go ahead, express yourself fully… !
Echo Park Lake for a picnic or a power walk
On the day when Julie and Gil were at Echo Park, it was a Santa Ana windy day and they got wet from the spray. It was a hot day, so that was actually OK…
One of Julie’s favorite ways to keep love alive over three decades is to kidnap her burger-loving’ husband, Gil, every month or so to try out one of these favorite Burger Hot Spots in LA. They order their burgers to go, and she’s always got a picnic table at a park picked out for the indulgence. https://la.eater.com/maps/best-essential-los-angeles-burgers
Julie’s fave? The Apple Pan on Pico.
Stroll along the Venice Canals
No, not the ones in Italy, silly, the ones right in LA, in … Venice, of course.
https://losangelesexplorersguild.com/2021/05/05/venice-canals/ And while you’re there, play Julie’s favorite real estate game. Each of you choose a house that you’d love to move into … if Oprah was buying. She’s so generous, that Oprah. Take full advantage.
Downtown LA Art Walk
https://www.downtownartwalk.org/
OK, Gil’s not an art fan, but Julie is, so she keeps an eye out on the downtown artwork IG
page to see what’s happening that might amuse Mr. Ferman.
https://www.instagram.com/downtownartwalk
This is one of those date night ideas in Los Angeles locals treasure for its cultural flair.
LA Metro Adventure
Have you done it yet? Park your car and spend the day
Exploring LA a new way, via the metro.
https://www.latimes.com/travel/list/los-angeles-public-transit-things-to-do
Don’t miss the Disney Hall You know it’s a Frank Gehry creation, don’t you?
The Los Angeles Farmers Market
Seriously, guys, you can’t go wrong, taking a date to a farmer’s market. Follow her eyes, see what delights her and ask her what she loves about … tomatoes, pineapple, watermelon, oranges or a fresh, juicy shrimp. Ask her what comes to her mind when she sees way too many bananas stacked up. Never a dull moment at a Farmer’s Market.
LA Beaches you’ve not yet explored?
Pick one this Sunday (How about Carpenteria?) with a
romantic restaurant afterward: https://www.opentable.com/features/best-date-night-restaurants-carpinteria-ca
For couples searching for creative date night ideas in Los Angeles, a beach escape offers both relaxation and romance.
13 Date Night Ideas in Los Angeles for New Couples Over 40
You’re not kids anymore, but that’s not to say that you can’t act like a kid on a date with your
favorite goofball.
1. Date Night Ideas in Los Angeles: Romantic Dinner at a a Date Night Restaurant in Los Angeles.
Julie’s favorite? The Little Door:
2. Sunset Stroll at Griffith Observatory,
or see a show there – mind-blowing and a great chance to snuggle up to be inspired together.
3. Movie Night at Rooftop Cinema Club
Date night ideas in Los Angeles don’t get much better than an outdoor movie experience with a touch of Hollywood magic!
4. Late-Night Jazz
Julie likes the Rhythm Room in LA:
Gil prefers The Baked Potato. Why? Cuz he likes … baked potatoes…
5. Explore the Santa Monica Pier
One of Julie Ferman’s all-time favorite success story couples fell in love playing air hockey at the Santa Monica Pier. No joke. The wedding was at Sherwood Country Club.
6. Cooking Classes for Couples – Julie and Gil’s kids, Alex and Kevin loved the Thai Spicy
Chicken at their favorite Thai spot and so Julie surprised Gil with a Thai Cooking Class where
they learned to make the dish themselves. It’s a Tuesday night regular for the Fermans, years
later. Cooking classes work, folks!
7. Romantic Date Night Idea: Gondola Ride in Naples Island
– nope, also not in Italy, but right down south a bit in Long Beach. https://secretlosangeles.com/gondola-cruise-long-beach-naples-canals/
Kinda like Europe, only local!
8. Stand-Up Comedy at The Comedy Store
A night of laughter and entertainment at The Comedy Store makes for one of the best date night activities in Los Angeles. It’s a fun and unique way to bring humor to your couples date night.
9. Craft Cocktails at The Speakeasy in Pasadena
Did you know that every GREAT bartender has a special non-alcoholic-yet-still-fancy drink for the designated driver, or the person who wants to go with the flow, but … wants to feel great in the morning too?
10. Swing Dancing anyone?
You HAVE to visit the Cicada Club, to be totally wowed by those who actually know how to do this well. https://www.swingdance.la/cicada-club/
11. Art Night at Hauser & Wirth Gallery
Have fun pretending that you’re serious about art, even if you’re not. https://www.hauserwirth.com/locations/10069-hauser-wirth-los-angeles/
12. Karaoke Night in Koreatown. Yeah, Julie likes Karaoke…
https://vimeo.com/1042372313?ts=0&share=copy
You’re the designer of your dating adventures. Never a dull day in YOUR dating playbook! Create Unforgettable Date Night Memories in Los Angeles, with just a bit of planning and
creativity.
The X Factor? The special ingredient in your Los Angeles Dating adventures? YOU and your creativity. Is it OK to cheat? Heck yes, that’s why we gave you all these amazing, super fun ideas that have been entertaining Mr. and Mrs. Ferman for decades in Los Angeles.
FAQs How do you make a date night special?
- Plan ahead, save the date, mark your calendars
- Create an invitation – Fancy like, with a poem or a card, or simple… send a text invitation for an unforgettable LA Date Night.
- Dress appropriately. Plan your wardrobe…. Yours and your partner’s
- Take photos. Lots of them. Stop strangers on the street to ask them if they’ll take your photo. Especially interesting people…
- Tell your friends about your plan. They’ll have ideas for how to make the date even more special.
