Best Romantic Dining in Los Angeles

Every Sunday, Culina at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills transforms from a cutting-edge Italian eatery into the home of the best brunch buffet in town. Guests can sit inside or out on the terrace in Southern California's almost-always sunny weather. The brunch offerings fill numerous rooms and range from classic made-to-order breakfasts including Belgian waffles, omelets and eggs Benedict. And if the lunch side of brunch is more suited to your mood, look for groaning tables of hand-rolled sushi selections, a huge choice of dim sum delicacies, house-made quesadillas and more. There's even a nod to Culina's fare, with an Italian spread of cured meats and tasty cheeses. Doughnut lovers will find the Four Seasons' freshly made tidbits hard to resist – try dipping them in the flowing chocolate fountain for a decadent end to an unforgettable buffet brunch.

BALEENkitchen combines a gorgeous seaside ambience with delicious, mostly seafood dishes, making it a perfect place to take someone you love for a fine dining experience. Located in Redondo Beach Marina, the restaurant features a pretty patio overlooking the boats, as well as a cozy indoor lounge and formal main dining room. It's been recently reimagined with a renovation and two talented chefs now at the helm in the kitchen (Vasili Tavernakis and Paul Dinulescu) are putting out some seriously great food. The Pan-Roasted Diver Scallops with a corn-truffle puree might just make you swoon. Pair it with the Lobster Mac & Cheese made with truffles and you'll definitely notice love in the air. BALEENkitchen is doing everything right these days, from craft cocktails that are very appropriate for a lover's night out to an excellent wine list that is half off on Wednesdays.

At the Inn of the Seventh Ray, lovers find waterfalls and sycamore trees in a taken-over-by-nature setting that easily leads to romantic feelings. That's especially true if you sit out in the slightly wild garden, where a welcoming fireplace gives a soft glow to the whole space. And being in Topanga Canyon, it's no surprise that the chefs at this iconic restaurant actually forage for the herbs they use in the organic dishes they concoct. Plus, most of the produce used in the menu selections are sourced locally and the chef makes sure that many dishes can be made gluten-free or vegan. Carnivores should be sure to try the 8-hour Plum Braised Short Ribs for a swooningly great dish. Located well into the canyon, you'll wend your way in for about five miles from either PCH on the ocean side or from the San Fernando Valley.

Located inside the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Wolfgang Puck's CUT has been at the top of the culinary hierarchy in Los Angeles since it opened in 2007. The strikingly modern interior, designed by famed architect Richard Meier, welcomes guests to an unparalleled dining experience. There's a steak for every taste here, ranging from U.S.D.A. Prime Beef aged 21 or 35 days; Grass-Fed Angus Beef; American Wagyu from famed grower Snake River Farms; and 100 percent Japanese Wagyu imported from Kyushu. No matter which type of beef or cut you choose, there's one thing certain here: your steak will be perfectly cooked and served with sauces that will make you swoon (be sure to try the Argentinean Chimichurri). Attention to every detail, charming service and â€" often â€" a chance to say "Hi" to the master chef himself make Puck's CUT a true cut above the rest.

Yamashiro Hollywood is one of the most iconic restaurants in all of Los Angeles, simply by virtue of its fantastic location and decor. Set above Hollywood Boulevard in a gorgeous pagoda with stunning views of the whole city below, Yamashiro also boasts a beautiful Japanese garden and classic interior. What began as a private home in 1911 has long been a classic Japanese restaurant serving up everything from sushi to shoyu-glazed black cod, with some seafood tempura, seaweed salad and Asian baby back ribs thrown in too. After changing ownership in 2016 (and a moment when it looked like Yamashiro was going to be shuttered for good), this romantic restaurant is happily back and better than ever.

Cafe del Rey has always been one of the most stylish and romantic restaurants on the Westside of L.A. Located in Marina del Rey, with fabulous views of the marina right out its glass wall overlooking the water, the restaurant is not only in a beautiful setting, but also serves up terrific food. Choose a booth to get really private and cuddly, or go for one of the tables by the windows for a quintessential Southern California view. Be sure to sample some of the seafood here. Start with the blue crab cake and follow with beautifully plated and tasty main courses. Favorites include seared diver scallops and charred wild octopus. At lunch, the CDR Seafood Cobb Salad is one of the most flavorful salads you'll ever eat. To have a quiet lover's tryst, go for the lounge area, where fireplace, craft cocktails and couches await.

Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill, Jazz, Etc. is a perfect spot for a romantic first date â€" or an anniversary, or just any other night you and your love are in the mood for great music, good food and a cool vibe. Run these days by Alpert's daughter Eden, the focus at Vibrato is bringing an eclectic mix of jazz, big band and blues into this beautiful space. Make reservations to ensure a cozy seat along the banquette facing the stage, where you'll sit side-by-side and sip craft cocktails with names like "Moon River." The menu features lots of seafood and steaks (try the Dungeness Crab Cakes) as well as vegetarian choices and comfort foods like Mac & Cheese. And naturally, for a really romantic time, have a bottle of bubbly while you listen to world-class musicians do their thing. There's a lively bar scene too, if that suits your style.

Los Angeles is where it all began for Nobu Matsuhisa, the acknowledged king of Japanese cuisine, who now has high-end eateries all over the world. His first restaurant, Matsuhisa, is a tiny place on La Cienega Boulevard; Nobu Los Angeles is further north up that same street; and the prettiest of them all, Nobu Malibu, is perched right on the sand on Pacific Coast Highway in the heart of that posh beach community. Malibu gets our vote for the best of three solely on location, for the stunning ocean views and sleek restaurant design somehow make Nobu's signature dishes like Black Cod Miso and Yellowtail with Jalapeno seem even more delicious when eaten there (and they are seriously fantastic no matter where you taste them). Make sure to get a table with a view and let the romance begin.

Il Cielo owners Pasquale and Pattie Vericella have given Angelenos one of the most swooningly romantic restaurants in Southern California ever since they opened the doors of this Beverly Hills restaurant back in 1986. Combining classic Italian fare with a gorgeous garden area as well as a beautiful main dining room and even a few private rooms designed just for dinner for two, Il Cielo is arguably L.A.'s favorite spot for proposals, weddings and anniversaries. Be sure to include the Il Manzo filet mignon carpaccio served with shaved black truffles, paired with a lovely bottle of sparkling Prosecco as part of your meal, for nothing says "I Love You" quite like truffles and bubbly.

Da Lat Rose is the latest creation of Chef Helene An, whose fame as the force behind Crustacean is so great she was recently honored by the Smithsonian Institution. This little jewel of a place is located upstairs from Crustacean, where diners go on a unique "gastrobiography" experience that follows the journey she took from her pre-war Vietnam childhood to refugee immigrant to America, all the way to becoming one of California's top chefs. The multiple-course meal (a collaboration with Chef Tony Nguyen) tells a story as it unfolds in an elegant setting featuring impeccable service. It's a culinary tale of love, family, survival and success, and a complete treat to share with a lover. Choose the associated cocktail journey with each course or sip the inspired wine pairings and by the time you are sharing dessert you'll be sold on the idea of going on a gastronomic life journey.