Los Angeles Outdoor Dining: Top Romantic Spots

In Los Angeles, we enjoy year-round near-perfect weather -- it would be ludicrous not to sit outside and eat. From Silver Lake to Venice Beach, Angelenos have numerous options for al fresco dining, but among hundreds of restaurants, here are our favorites.

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Cafe Pinot

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This is al fresco fit for a fantastical wedding. Its white linens, numerous wine glasses and attentive buttoned-up service do not deflect from the serene, even carefree, surroundings of this concrete jungle-meets-botanical garden. Cafe Pinot sits adjacent to Downtown L.A.'s classic public library, and while you enjoy chef Kevin Meehan's exquisite menu (the wild mushroom risotto with black truffle cream is the stuff of gastro-dreams), you're able to take in a rare view of L.A.'s intimate skyline. 700 W. Fifth St.; 213-239-6500 Photo via Facebook: Cafe Pinot

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This is al fresco fit for a fantastical wedding. Its white linens, numerous wine glasses and attentive buttoned-up service do not deflect from the serene, even carefree, surroundings of this concrete jungle-meets-botanical garden. Cafe Pinot sits adjacent to Downtown L.A.'s classic public library, and while you enjoy chef Kevin Meehan's exquisite menu (the wild mushroom risotto with black truffle cream is the stuff of gastro-dreams), you're able to take in a rare view of L.A.'s intimate skyline.
700 W. Fifth St.; 213-239-6500

Photo via Facebook: Cafe Pinot

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Comments

[Rebecca1970]

09:50 PM on 04/27/2011

Mantee on Ventura Blvd in Studio City. The back patio is sublime on a warm night. Great food too.

[rongbeech]

09:01 PM on 04/27/2011

Please give some credit to the person who created the garden that is now the great outdoor space at Cliff's Edge. He installed it while the space was still a gay bar not that long ago. (among other things) Don't know who it was, but the garden didn't just appear there the day Cliff's Edge opened.

[cybolt]

10:25 AM on 04/27/2011

Interesting... not one ocean view establishment in the well-researched group of SIX.

How much did these restaurateurs have to pay to make the list?

[TaurusRose]

12:16 PM on 04/27/2011

And the description of A-Frame did not work as a romantic spot, much less a top one.
And yes, I WOULD MIND waiting 2 hours to sit next to a dingy parking lot! Sheeeesh!

[Sandmanj]

04:51 AM on 04/27/2011

I don't live in L.A. any more but I could put a much better list than this together.

[RButler]

03:51 AM on 04/27/2011

When the weather is nice, I love to eat al dente. 

[mc]

11:21 AM on 04/27/2011

Don't you mean you like to eat your pasta al dente al fresco?

[TaurusRose]

12:17 PM on 04/27/2011

I think this Butler was playing

[leorangerie]

03:07 AM on 04/27/2011

Geez, are you kidding? Bouchon in the Montage. Don't you people get out?

[supergenius02]

10:17 PM on 04/26/2011

Although not technically in L.A., Malibu's Geoffrey's is really tough to beat. It is primarily outdoor seating with ocean views. That place was my "first date" restaurant of choice back in the day when I lived there.

[surfinbro]

08:50 PM on 04/26/2011

How about Wilshire Restaurant in Santa Monica? Outdoor bar, fireplaces, and great food.

[Mona Holmes-Nisker]

08:43 PM on 04/26/2011

No Michael's? Their outdoor garden at night is romantic, perfect, heated and just the right touch for any man wanting to score points with a special someone.

[Abbybwood]

08:16 PM on 04/26/2011

The most romantic place to dine outside is in Topanga Canyon at Inn of the Seventh Ray.

Reservations encouraged.

[middleoftheroad]

08:30 PM on 04/26/2011

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO TYPE THAT!!! Great place!

[planetjeffy]

12:54 AM on 04/27/2011

beat me to it - been going there for years

[Joshua Ewing]

07:49 PM on 04/26/2011

What about The Little Door?

[Carmen Madonna Campos]

09:44 PM on 04/26/2011

The Little Door!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MaxZook]

07:39 PM on 04/26/2011

Aw, what a shame ... in all of Los Angeles there are only five romantic dining spots ... and at least three of the ones on this list are total losses. Gjelina is a fine restaurant but I wouldn't call it romantic. A-Frame? Cliff's Edge? Not a single ocean view on your list??? Please!

In addition to Saddle Peak and Inn of the Seventh Ray listed upthread, I would add the Ranch House in Ojai or Shutters On The Beach in Santa Monica. And at a somewhat lower level of food quality I would add Yamashiro in Hollywood, Gladstone's or the Chart House in Malibu.

[truthsayer288]

07:58 PM on 04/26/2011

Yea.... about A-Frame, I tried going there for lunch a few weeks ago and they were closed. I guess they only serve dinner. From what I could see, I guessed the place was more about the food and less about the ambience. It actually looked shutdown, but who knows what they do at night. If the outdoor patio is where I think it is, the only view I can imagine is that of the wall seperating the alley behind the place or Lincoln Blvd. Not romantic. I'd still check it out for the food though, the menu sounds killer.

[Carmen Madonna Campos]

09:44 PM on 04/26/2011

Shutters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Neale Aslett]

07:29 PM on 04/26/2011

Re Cage Pinot: Founding Chef of the Patina Group is a Napoleonic complex suffering, rude, insulting eunuch of a creature.

[yakmon]

07:10 PM on 04/26/2011

Romantic dining... in LA?

Ahhhhaaahaaahaaaa

[Steve Dworman]

07:06 PM on 04/26/2011

Really disagree with these choices. Doesn't appear like a lot of thought went into them. Missed Geoffrey's, Saddlepeak Lodge, and so many others.

[truthsayer288]

07:51 PM on 04/26/2011

Saddlepeak! One of the prettiest, tastiest establishments I've ever been too. The chef sent out 3 starters (on the house! that's like $100 right there) after finding out I was eyeing the place to do a culinary internship. Great service, great menu, great food, great location (in the middle of the woods) and decor. I'm calling them to see if they have space for Mother's Day as we speak..

If you're tighter on money, I highly suggest George's Greek Cafe on Pine St in downtown Long Beach. Another place with great service, great location, great menu and fresh food. It's affordable, the food is fast, fresh and big! George is also really sweet and the outside dining area is so freaking cute with Xmas lights and a tree canopy/ceiling, it feels like you are dining in Greece. Can't go wrong with this place!