The Best LA Bars For A First Date

After months of messaging, Instagram lurking, and bargaining with a higher power, you finally did it—you’re going on a first date. But that also means you have to do that thing where you meet a stranger and then attempt to convince them that you are a cool, stable person worthy of love and affection (or at least one little smooch). Alcohol can help, preferably at a bar that’s not too fancy, loud, or so quiet you can hear the other person regretting this decision. It also wouldn’t hurt if the bar poured delicious drinks, either. It’s a tall order, but we have some ideas. From cocktail spots to neighborhood dives to wine bars where the lighting is so romantic, you might fall in love with yourself, these are our go-to spots in LA for first dates.

THE SPOTS

Justine’s Wine Bar

A night at Justine’s tells your date that you have interesting taste. This kooky, psychedelic wine bar in Frogtown is unlike anything else in town, with murals of blue goddesses, soothing dream pop echoing from the speakers, and an oddly hypnotizing orb of light behind the bar. It’s somewhere you can sink into a velvet booth and feel so relaxed you won’t worry about running out of talking points.  And it also won’t hurt if you order a bottle of chilled red and delicious vegan snacks, like mushroom calamari that’s a spot-on clone of the real thing.

Stay Zero Proof

Let’s say the person you met doesn’t drink, but you’re not the coffee date type. Stay Zero Proof is a fun solution. Located inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza, drinks in this dark lounge feels like stepping into a neon-lit Wong Kar-wai film, complete with a bar that looks like a glowing temple. And before you assume you’re spending $20 on fancy juice, these drinks are both delicious and taste like sophisticated cocktails—like the smoky Tiger with “tequila,” pineapple juice, and a splash of green Tabasco.

Alibi Room

Reasonably priced drinks? Easy to get into? Kogi tacos on-premise? Alibi Room has been a Culver City standby for years, but as a foolproof meet-up bar it remains as cool as ever, particularly if you want to show your date you're not the type to chase trends. It’s dimly lit, but not nightclub dark, with hidden tables in the corners where you can chat over a draft beer or mezcal mule that eventually leads to a sweet chili chicken quesadilla.

Offhand Wine Bar

At Offhand Wine Bar, you might find yourself slipping into the same laid-back, uninhibited state you only feel in your living room. This Santa Monica spot is a coffee shop during the day and a vibey wine bar at night, but it’s also the kind of place where you could show up in sweatpants after 9pm and not be an instant pariah (though maybe don't do that. There’s usually a DJ spinning vinyl records in the corner and a long bar inside where you can chat with a date by candlelight. Come here the next time you need a low-key Wetside option for a chill wine night.

Baby Gee

Baby Gee is a colorful neighborhood bar in Long Beach where the just-fancy-enough cocktails have names like “Merlin’s Beard” and “Pickled Pink.” Bringing a date here shows that while you appreciate a quality beverage, you’re also looking for someone who you’d want to take shots with at your future birthday party. Almost everything on the drink menu is under $20, plus they’ve got some quiet little nooks where you can hang out and nibble on toasted rosemary focaccia and burrata pizza.

Blue Collar

Despite having a name that screams “dive bar,” Blue Collar is a sort of fancy cocktail place in Mid-City. There’s no menu—you just describe your favorite cocktail to the bartender and let them come up with something that suits your tastes. Starting the night here with a drink is a good way to suss out your potential partner’s taste in whiskey and, if things go well, walk to another dinner spot on Fairfax.

Accomplice Bar

Accomplice is one of the more underrated bars on the Westside, and its Mar Vista location is an ideal middle-ground if, god forbid, you match with someone west of the 405 and live elsewhere. The cocktails at this modern bar are great, and when you get hungry (or just want to keep the night going), you can order from Little Fatty , the solid Taiwanese spot next door. They’ll serve you right at the bar.

Everson Royce Bar

From big groups to to patio enthusiasts , we’ve recommended Everson Royce Bar for so many situations our guides should come with an automatic slot for this place. Because guess what? It’s also a great spot for first dates. This massive Arts District bar has everything you’d want while getting to know a stranger: no lines, a spacious back patio, tables that are just the right amount of spaced-out (a.k.a. far enough apart that no one can eavesdrop), excellent cocktails, plus a burger that’s one of the best in the city .

Highland Park Bowl

As anyone who’s watched Vanessa Hudgens’ 2006 music video “ Say OK ” knows, bowling alleys and a romantic night out are the ultimate combo. Which is why we love Highland Park Bowl, a relic from 1927 that got a major renovation several years back. You’ll find eight super shiny lanes here, plus comfortable leather couches and draft cocktails for you and your plus one to share. Make a reservation, then do something cute and cheesy, like bet the loser has to kiss the winner (or at least pay for a game).

Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt is a charming neighborhood bar with fantastic drinks at the edge of Historic Filipinotown that’s become our go-to for first dates near Echo Park. Semi-hidden between The Park’s Finest and a Knights Inn motel, it’s the perfect little hideaway where you can sip some of the city’s best cocktails and eat Southern-style snacks on comfy leather couches without feeling rushed. The move is to order their gluten-free buttermilk biscuits with whipped butter and jam, then give your date the last bite—this little act of sacrifice might just help you secure a second date.

Oriel

Because of its slightly hidden location under the Gold Line tracks, entering this French wine bar and bistro’s patio in Chinatown is like stepping into a New York film noir: everything has a moody reddish glow to it, and the romantic drama is palpable . In addition, all of the food is fantastic (get the bavette steak), and the wine list is full of organic and biodynamic reds, whites, and sparklings that will help break the ice.

Chez Jay

If the words “60-year-old dive bar in Santa Monica” don’t immediately make you think “perfect first-date spot,” we don’t blame you. On paper, Chez Jay sounds more like a place you’d take your much older, out-of-town cousin than the setting for a romantic evening. But after an extensive update, the large back patio is now decorated with fire pits, string lights, and big comfy chairs ideal for making you feel relaxed and super cute. We like the crispy chicken sandwich with house slaw or the cheeseburger, but if you aren’t that hungry, stick to martinis and an order of calamari.

Tabula Rasa

It’s a fact of life that wine will always set the mood. But some wine bars (the stuffy ones) have a tendency to kill it. Not Tabula Rasa. This casual spot keeps things cool in an unpretentious industrial space in Thai Town. The wine features a variety of natural whites, reds, sparklings, and oranges, and their draft beer selection is quite solid as well. If you’re looking for something to snack on, you should order the Cuban sandwich, plus a salami board, just to be safe.

The Black Cat

The Black Cat in Silver Lake is the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure date spot. If you want something a little more serious, grab one of the green booths in the back and order a full meal, with dishes like chopped kale salad, shishito peppers, and an excellent burger covered with melted onion and raclette cheese. But if your date is showing some red flags, like going on and on about how Die Hard is their favorite Christmas movie, it’s just as easy to hang out at the bar or front patio for a single drink, slip out quietly, and bury that memory forever.