There are literally hundreds of romantic restaurants around Los Angeles from glamorous dinner clubs to corner bistros and courtyard garden cafes. Somehow adding a spectacular view to the mix ups the romance factor a notch, so here are some restaurants whose romance depends, at least in part, on having an advantageous view of the city, the mountains, the ocean, or all of the above.
Yamashiro
Photo courtesy of Yamashiro Restaurant
1999 N. Sycamore Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90068
(323) 466-5125
Yamashiro is a Japanese restaurant with Cal-Asian cuisine offering a fine dining experience perched high above the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There are beautiful gardens and views from Hollywood to the Pacific Ocean. You can enjoy the view from most tables even if you're not right next to the window. Tables on the inner courtyard don't have the same view, but are situated in a romantic garden setting. If you're not a sushi fan, don't worry. There's steak and grilled fish on the menu too. Reservations Recommended.
Geoffrey's Malibu
Courtesy of Geoffrey's Malibu
27400 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 457-1519
This classic establishment nestled on a lush Malibu hillside has peerless views of the Pacific coastline. It was voted one of LA's best proposal spots on Citysearch. Good for celebrity sighting too. Reservations Required.
Takami Sushi and Robata Restaurant
Photo © 2008 Kayte Deioma, used with permission
811 Wilshire Blvd, 21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 236-9600
The sushi is exquisite, as is the view of Downtown Los Angeles from this open-air 21st floor restaurant. It's a great view at night, but get there by twilight to really appreciate the surroundings and the change in light. A full dinner at Takami may get you an escort into the sexy Elevate Lounge on the same floor.
The Sky Room
Courtesy of The Sky Room
40 S Locust Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 983-2703
Be Fred Astaire to her Ginger Rogers when you take her for dinner and dancing at the elegant Art Deco Sky Room on top of the historic Breakers building in Long Beach. From this height, you can see up and down the coast, and on a clear winter day, there is a stunning view of the LA basin with snow-capped mountains in the background. Reservations Recommended.
The Restaurant at the Getty Center
Photo © 2009 Kayte Deioma, used with permission
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 440-6810
The restaurant at the Getty Center in Brentwood has a beautiful view of the Santa Monica Mountains, perfect for a sunset dinner. Unfortunately, they're only open for dinner Friday and Saturday nights. You can get the daytime view over lunch Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations Recommended.
Café at the End of the Universe
Photo © 2007 Kayte Deioma, used with permission
2800 East Observatory Road
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(213) 473-0800
The cafeteria-style café at the Griffith Observatory is a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. It may have an industrial feel with exposed ceiling pipes and plastic tables and chairs, but you can't beat the panoramic view from the Hollywood Sign to Downtown LA and on a really clear day, all the way to Catalina Island. Grab some sandwiches for a picnic as a romantic end to a hike in Griffith Park, or a preview to a night of star-gazing through the Observatory's Zeiss telescope (and it won't break the bank).
