Love him or left him? Here are nineteen local spots for dealing with matters of the heart.
Gauge the interest of a potential new partner over the ever-changing selection of raw aphrodisiacs and mollusk-friendly wines and cocktails at the Silver Lake resto’s new Thursday oyster night. Go early to snag a spot on one of the more romantic patios in the city.
Cliff’s Edge, 3626 West Sunset Boulevard, at Edgecliffe Drive, Silver Lake (323-666-6116 or cliffsedgecafe.com).
Crank up the heat with this Downtown gem’s saucy Peruvian dishes and Latin cocktails. If your date is a dud, the din drowns out awkward silences.
Mo-chica, 514 West Seventh Street, between South Grand Avenue and South Olive Street, Downtown (213-622-3744 or mo-chica.com).
Get cultured (and buzzed) at Barnsdall Art Park’s famed Friday Night Wine Tastings. After sampling what Silverlake Wine has to offer, grab a bite at a gourmet food truck and head across the park for an impressive (and free) exhibition of L.A.’s best emerging artists.
Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, at North Berendo Street, Hollywood (323-660-4254 or barnsdall.org).
Kick things off over craft cocktails and free jukebox jams at the dimly lit “b side” bar before making your way over to the “stage side.” There, take a spin around the dance floor as bands and DJs play everything from samba to 1960s soul.
The Virgil, 4519 Santa Monica Boulevard, at North Virgil Avenue, Silver Lake (323-660-4540 or thevirgil.com).
Play for the win at bowling, board games, and market cocktails in The Roosevelt Hotel’s vintage-inspired lounge. If you make a great team, take things to the next level by joining the new weekly bowling league.
The Spare Room, in The Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, at North Orange Drive, Hollywood (323-769-7296 or spareroomhollywood.com).
Can’t decide where to go? Umami’s latest venture has something for everyone. Its five kitchens sling everything from gourmet burgers and deli sandwiches to swine-tastic dishes and made-to-order donuts. If you’re in need of liquid courage, head to Back Bar for cocktails, craft beers, and $28 bottles of wine.
Umamicatessen, 852 South Broadway, between West Eighth and West Ninth Streets, Downtown (213-413-8626 or umami.com/umamicatessen).
Call us old-fashioned, but we’re suckers for Ferris wheels and funnel cakes — especially when they come with an ocean view. Unless you’re hell-bent on winning a stuffed Shrek, we suggest you skip the carnival games for a stiff drink at Copa d’Oro.
Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier, at Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica (310-458-8901 or santamonicapier.org); Copa d’Oro, 217 Broadway, at Second Street, Santa Monica (310-576-3030 or copadoro.com).
Whether you make your pilgrimage to the most romantic resto in L.A. for a posthike brunch or dinner under the stars, you’ll fall hard for the free love vibes and sustainable cuisine at this creekside hideaway.
Inn of the Seventh Ray, 128 Old Topanga Canyon Road, at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Topanga Canyon (310-455-1311 or innoftheseventhray.com).
José Andrés’s gastronomical alchemy makes any night a magical one. Break the ice with on-point tapas and martinis with exploding “olives” or go all out with the 22-course tasting menu.
The Bazaar by José Andrés, 465 South La Cienega Boulevard, at San Vicente Boulevard, Mid-City West (310-246-5555 or thebazaar.com).
Party’s over? Celebrate your singledom with a fresh look. Go to Blushington to get your makeup done and sip free bubbly.
Blushington Makeup and Beauty Lounge, 8591 West Sunset Boulevard, at Londonderry Place, West Hollywood (310-652-5874 or blushington.com).
After powdering your nose, head next door to Drybar for a blowout or just-off-the-beach waves for $35 (and a second glass of that bubbly).
Drybar, 8595 West Sunset Boulevard, at Londonderry Place, West Hollywood (323-843-4777 or thedrybar.com).
Watch the good, the bad, and the hilarious over a few primate-inspired cocktails at this famed K-town karaoke joint before building up enough (liquid) courage to belt out a drunken rendition of “I Will Survive.”
Cafe Brass Monkey, 3440 Wilshire Boulevard, at South Mariposa Avenue, Koreatown (213-381-7047 or cafebrassmonkey.com).
Round up your BFFs for a night of drinks, dancing, and (beautiful) people-watching — and nary a schadenfreude-inducing bride-to-be in sight, thanks to The Abbey’s new ban on bachelorette parties (in the name of marriage equality).
The Abbey Food & Bar, 692 North Robertson Boulevard, at Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood (310-289-8410 or abbeyfoodandbar.com).
The lineup at this intimate venue regularly includes the likes of Sarah Silverman, Nick Kroll, Jeff Garlin, and Ed Helms, so laugh the pain away before scoping out cute guys at the bar.
Largo at the Coronet, 366 North La Cienega Boulevard, at Oakwood Avenue, Mid-City West (310-855-0350 or largo-la.com).
Make a dinner date with your bestie in the Chateau’s infamous garden, where you can spy on celebrities whose lives are more dysfunctional than yours. After the show’s over, head to Bar Marmont and snag a hookup with an IMDB profile.
Chateau Marmont, 8221 Sunset Boulevard, at Marmont Lane, West Hollywood (323-848-5908 or chateaumarmont.com/therestaurant).
Break out the red lipstick and your best cooking heels for Cook L.A.’s monthly Girls’ Night Out cooking class. Learn to whip up a gourmet five-course dinner before celebrating your newfound knife skills at a margarita tasting.
Cook L.A., 10938 Ventura Boulevard, at Vineland Avenue, Studio City (818-760-5157 or cooklaonline.com).
Stuff your wallet with singles for L.A.’s answer to Chippendales. Honestly, we can’t think of a better way to forget about what’s his name than a stage full of scantily clad beefcakes.
The Hollywood Men, Level 3 Nightclub, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, at North Highland Avenue, Hollywood (818-845-6636 or hwmen.com).
Head to this vintage carnival-themed haunt for artisanal cocktails, tallboys, pizza, and free Skee-Ball. If you happen upon your dream dude on the dance floor, test your fate at the antique Love Machine to see if he’s worth your while.
The One-Eyed Gypsy, 901 East First Street, at North Vignes Street, Downtown (626-340-3529 or one-eyedgypsy.com).
Dance the night away with your best (single) friends at this beloved WeHo watering hole, which is always packed with PYTs. On weekends, you’ll probably want to reserve a table to avoid getting lost in the crowd. Or on second thought …
Bar Lubitsch, 7702 Santa Monica Boulevard, at North Spaulding Avenue, West Hollywood (323-654-1234 or committedinc.com).
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