Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles plays out across neighborhoods, not just candlelit tables. It’s a city where a great date might mean a late jazz set in Hollywood, a quiet lake at golden hour, or a long dinner that stretches past midnight downtown. Some plans lean romantic, others playful or unexpected—but the best ones feel distinctly L.A., shaped by place, timing, and mood. Below are 10 Valentine’s Day experiences across Los Angeles worth planning around this year, chosen for atmosphere, execution and the kind of details that make a night memorable with loved ones.
1. Redbird — Valentine’s Day Prix-Fixe
Redbird occupies one of Downtown L.A.’s most storied spaces: a former cathedral originally built in 1931. The dining room’s vaulted ceilings and original architectural details give Valentine’s dinner a sense of permanence—rare in a city known for reinvention. The kitchen’s prix-fixe menus are typically structured for pacing rather than flash, allowing courses to unfold gradually in a room designed for lingering. The courtyard, when open, adds a second atmosphere entirely—quieter, warmer, and well-suited to long conversations.
Why go: Elevated cuisine and architecture that turns dinner into an occasion.
Date: Friday, February 14
Hours: Valentine’s Day dinner service (seating times vary)
Address: 114 E. Second Street, Los Angeles
Link: redbird.la
2. Leña at The Ritz-Carlton — Skyline Dinner
Sitting more than 20 stories above Downtown, Leña is offering one of the city’s most expansive dining views. The menu leans into fire-driven techniques and bold flavors, while the room’s floor-to-ceiling windows turn the skyline into a moving backdrop as daylight fades. Valentine’s service here benefits from timing—early seatings catch sunset, later ones settle into a city lit entirely by grid and glow.Why go: Sunset glow, skyline backdrop, craft cocktails, and a bespoke menu add cinematic romance in the heart of LA’s skyline.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 5:30PM – 10PM
Address: 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles
Link: lalive.com/eat/lena-at-sendero
3. Candlelight Concerts — Valentine’s Editions
Candlelight Concerts intentionally strip concerts down to their essentials: musicians, acoustics, and light. Held inside historic spaces—from grand ballrooms to intimate halls—the Valentine’s editions often reinterpret familiar love songs or classical works through string quartets and small ensembles. Thousands of candles provide the only illumination, reshaping rooms people may think they already know.
Why go: Live music, thousands of candles, and an atmosphere that turns music into memory.
Date: Valentine’s Week (multiple dates)
Hours: Showtimes vary by venue
Address: Multiple locations
Link: feverup.com/los-angeles/candlelight
4. City Cruises Marina del Rey — Valentine’s Dinner Cruise
Departing from Marina del Rey, this dinner cruise replaces traffic and table turns with open water and slow movement. As the boat moves through the harbor, dinner unfolds against a shifting coastline—boats, docks, and reflections replacing streetlights and intersections. Live music and multi-course menus are designed to keep the evening flowing rather than segmented.
Date: Friday, February 14
Hours: Boarding and sailing times vary
Address: 13755 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey
Link: cityexperiences.com
5. Sandbox VR — Interactive Valentine’s Playdate
Sandbox VR is one of the most highly rated immersive virtual reality experiences in Los Angeles, with thousands of reviews praising its cutting-edge technology and group-oriented gameplay. Participants wear full-body VR gear and are transported into shared virtual worlds — from cooperative missions to story-driven adventures. It’s a rare interactive date idea that actually rewards teamwork and genuine engagement rather than just passive play.
Why go: : Date night becomes real cooperation and shared disbelief — not just conversation over dinner.
Date: Valentine’s Weekend
Hours: Daily (typically ~10 am–10 pm, confirm online before visiting)
Address: 3341 La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles
Link: sandboxvr.com
6. Rooftop Cinema Club — Valentine’s Weekend Screenings
Rooftop Cinema Club reimagines moviegoing as a social, open-air event. Wireless headphones create intimacy without isolation, while skyline views remind you exactly where you are. Valentine’s programming often leans romantic or nostalgic, but the draw is the environment—loungers, blankets, and a shared sense of pause above the city.
Why go: A movie date with atmosphere, space, and that slight cool night breeze.
Date: Valentine’s Weekend
Hours: Evening screenings
Address: 888 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles
Link: rooftopcinemaclub.com/los-angeles
7. Echo Park Lake — Swan Boat Ride at Golden Hour
Echo Park Lake has long served as a quiet counterpoint to the city’s pace. Swan boats, equal parts nostalgic and slightly absurd, encourage slowness—pedaling, drifting, and watching the skyline reflect off the water. Valentine’s weekend amplifies the charm, especially in the late afternoon when light softens and crowds thin.
Why go: It’s playful and low-pressure, an easy complement to evening plans.
Date: Valentine’s Weekend
Hours: Typically 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Address: 751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles
Link: wheelfunrentals.com/ca/los-angeles/echo-park
8. Terranea Resort — Oceanfront Weekend Escape
Built along a rugged stretch of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Terranea feels geographically and psychologically removed from Los Angeles. Cliffside trails, uninterrupted ocean views, and a sprawling spa create space for Valentine’s Day to stretch into something slower. It’s as much about walking, watching, and breathing as it is about dining or treatments.
Why go: Great for couples who want the day after Valentine’s to feel as intentional as the night itself.
Date: Valentine’s Weekend
Hours: Resort services vary by location
Address: 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes
Link: terranea.com
9. Los Feliz Flea — Handmade Valentine’s Art + Workshops
Known primarily as a vintage and makers market, the Los Feliz Flea regularly layers in hands-on workshops for holidays. Valentine’s programming often includes blackout poetry, handmade cards, and creative prompts that encourage thoughtfulness over polish. The result is personal without being precious.
Why go: A way to mark the day with something you make, not just consume.
Date: Valentine’s Weekend
Hours: Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Address: 2060 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
Link: losfelizflea.com
10. The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood — Jazz & Dinner Night
Live jazz returns Valentine’s dinner to an older rhythm—measured, warm, and conversational. The Godfrey’s Hollywood location brings energy without chaos, while the music provides a backdrop rather than a centerpiece. It’s the kind of night where conversation and sound coexist.
Why go: Live music that enhances the meal instead of overpowering it.
Date: Friday, February 14
Hours: Dinner service + performance (varies)
Address: 1400 Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles
Link: godfreyhotels.com/hollywood
Photo credits: Photos courtesy of business/venue.
