Dates tend to always fall into the categories of “Awesome! I’m in love! Can’t sleep till I see ‘em again!” or “Sucked. Total waste of a night. Awkward conversation, and I think he/she was picking his nose.” Clubplanet can’t assure that your date won’t be a nosepicker, but we can promise if you go to any of these spots your night will at least be good in part, whether it be food, drinks, atmosphere or all of the above. We’ve searched high and low to find the best date spots in LA, so search just as hard for the perfect date and you’ll be off for an unforgettable night.
Hyde
8029 W. Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90046
The good thing about Hyde – it’s practically a hallway so you’re virtually set up for an intimate night before you even get there. The bad thing about Hyde is there’s essentially no place to, ahem, hide if your night isn’t going so well. The whole bar is within an eyeshot, so it can get pretty claustrophobic. So much that there’s no room to mingle and meet new people, so you may want to plan ahead and come up with a list of conversation-starters or a friend you can text for a bail-out if you’re unsure how this night will go. Although it plays upbeat dance tunes, there’s no room to show your moves (which may be a good thing for some). If you’re going on the weekend, make sure you get there early, know someone or take a celeb as your date, because there’s nothing more embarrassing that getting choked by the velvet rope when you’re trying to impress, and this rope can be quite selective.
Green Door
1429 Ivar Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Right off the bat Green Door gets points for decor. With an aristocratic theme including stone walls, gold chandeliers, antique velvet furniture and art that looks like it belongs in a museum more than a top LA nightclub, there’s enough interesting surroundings for you to point out if your date is truly dull and you’ve already talked about the weather. The inspiration for the club’s name came from the 1972 porn flick “Behind the Green Door,” which is about a neighborhood house that causes curiosity from its neighbors. As far as we know, no porn’s been made behind this green door yet, but hey, if your night goes well enough there’s always that chance for after. Although Green Door takes inspiration from the French Renaissance and its creator isn’t a fan of scene LA nightlife, you’ll still find a Hollywood crowd in short dresses inside. DJ Adam 12 of She Wants Revenge is the resident, but when he’s not at the tables you can expect a mix of tunes from the ‘20s to ‘40s with some old school hip-hop and funk.
Mood
6623 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
If you think your date might be special enough for a ring, take her to Mood. At Mood, all VIPs are given mood rings rather than an outfit-ruining wristband to denote status. Roses are also available for purchase, so in case guys forgot them before the date there’s a chance for redemption. Like Hyde, this place is small space-wise but larger-than-life status-wise. With a giant Buddha hanging out alongside the bartenders and dark hues everywhere, its Asian theme is more charming than most. The downside to Mood is it’s pretty paparazzi-ridden. There’s nothing that can break a romantic moment better than a blinding, bright flash. But hey, seeing Paris Hilton can also induce the mood of sexiness, and it’s moderately-priced cocktails are just the right thing to get anyone properly buzzed.
Kress
6608 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Watch your date ooooh and aaaah at the infamous Hollywood sign and LA skyline from the Kress rooftop, for an evening that will move even higher up on the romance meter if your date’s not an LA native. You’re going to have to be somewhat of a star if you want to take your date star-gazing from the roof, as it’s the VIP area for the club. However, the other parts of Kress aren’t too shabby, either. Kress is one of the easier top-tier bars to get in if you’re not aiming for VIP, as it’s five floors, which also makes for plenty of room to dance whether its to live entertainment on the third floor or to blaring techno in the basement. Although its cocktails come in for the average $12, it’s bottle service has been known to skyrocket to $1,000, so make sure you talk to your server before having your credit card denied in front of your date.
The Bungalow Club
7174 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Dinner and drinks have never been so colorful. The Bungalow Club is the best date spot in LA for a seamless transition from meal to nightlife, and its atmosphere is infused with bursts of energy everywhere from the holiday lights outside to the red glow of the perfectly-centered bar in the interior. Its share-plate entrees make the perfect platter for any date to enjoy together … just try not to lick your lips too much after indulging in its Lamb Lollipops or Ahi Tartar if you’re not trying to send the wrong signals. As the sky darkens, this place becomes quite the nightlife hotspot, offering up martinis in every flavor from Nuts and Berry to Creamsicle. And for only $10 a pop, you can afford a substantial buzz for you and your date.
Monsoon Cafe
1212 3rd St. Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401
For a kicked-back and casual affair, the Monsoon Cafe has just the right Indiana Jones-style theme to suit. Although parts of the restaurant’s decor feel like they were taken from Disneyland, its dark lighting sets the mood for romance. Monsoon offers a great happy hour with appetizers and drinks starting at just $4. The appetizers pale in comparison to the actual entrees of this place, but you get what you pay for. Outside of happy hour, its drinks can be expensive in regards to size and strength, but that doesn’t stop us from downing cranberry vodkas. Its energy is laced with several cultures as most of its food is Asian-inspired, but it also offers salsa lessons and plays contemporary music. Although Monsoon looks small from the outside and calls itself a cafe, it’s one of the largest spots on 3rd Street Promenade. This is one of the best date spots in LA if you want to go all-out without looking like you’re trying too hard.
Katsuya
11777 San Vicente Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Cozy up on one of the all-white sofas and order a round of drinks from the liquid kitchen. Yep – this place has got a whole kitchen for the cocktails, in addition to its three for food. Although this Japanese hot spot is mostly known for its sushi and interesting decor, we think it’s astounding rep should come from being one of the best date spots in LA – although we must admit, the abstract art providing images of geishas’ eyes and lips is also pretty interesting. Katsuya’s a full-out restaurant but garners the energy of a nightclub as the clock nears its midnight closing time, which always seems to come disappointingly early. Upon walking through the glass doors, you and your date will immediately realize what all the fuss over this place has been about since its opening. The only thing that doesn’t seem in quo with its must-visit status is the surprisingly-low prices.
Bar Noir
140 S. Lasky Drive
Maison 140
Beverley Hills, CA 90209
Every girl knows the little black dress is the perfect attire for any date. So why not go to Bar Black to complement it? Bar Noir, aka Bar Black when translated from French, is sleek and sexy. Never too crowded, it’s the perfect date spot for engaging in conversation and sipping generously strong cocktails. You won’t meet a pretentious crowd nor will you see A-listers lounging on the black, red and white furniture, so if you’re looking for a break from the typical Hollywood scene this may very well be your spot. The mirrored tables, reflecting the walls and ceilings, make for interesting decor to accompany the beyond-dark lighting. It may just be the best kept secret of Beverley Hills.
