By Expedia, on February 4, 2020

Best activities for Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles

Home to everything from the nostalgia of Hollywood to the quirky and unusual, Los Angeles is one of the best cities to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Whether you want classic romance and wining and dining or something off-beat and memorable, you’ll find endless options for a great date night in Los Angeles. Take a look at the best activities for Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles to plan your couple’s night.

Discover the best Valentine’s Day date ideas in Los Angeles to enjoy a romantic holiday evening with your partner. Home to everything from the nostalgia of Hollywood to the quirky and unusual, Los Angeles is one of the best cities to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Whether you want classic romance and wining and dining or something off-beat and memorable, you’ll find endless options for a great date night in Los Angeles. Take a look at the best activities for Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles to plan your couple’s night. See a romantic movie Los Angeles is filled with spectacular cinemas that offer new movies and screenings of the classics. For Valentine’s Day, you can snuggle up to a romantic film, such as Casablanca or An Affair to Remember, at one of the city’s historic theaters. You’ll have endless options for movies and theaters in the city. Our choice is American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, a set of classic film screenings at the charming art deco-style theater from the 1940s in Santa Monica. Participate in Cupid’s Undie Run If you want to do something fun and give back to the community, why not participate in Cupid’s Undie Run? The hilarious pantless party and mile-long run is an excellent charity opportunity that donates 100% of proceeds to neurofibromatosis research. The idea arose from the fact that neurofibromatosis sufferers are unable to hide their tumors with clothing, so the undie run participants can’t either. In addition to helping a great cause, the run will give you a story to tell for years. Make your own chocolate If you and your partner have a sweet tooth, the best way to spend Valentine’s Day is with a chocolate-making class at Eataly. The Italian marketplace has a variety of unique cooking and food and beverage events, including chocolate-making classes, so you can learn how to craft delicious chocolate and turn it into a top-notch dessert. You could even turn the class into an entire romantic evening out with dinner and drinks for a quintessential Valentine’s Day date. Go on an adult-only scavenger hunt For bolder couples, there’s nothing better than an adult-only scavenger hunt completely guided by nudity. Over 2 hours of scandal and humor, you’ll solve riddles to find clues in the Getty Center’s most scintillating paintings and sculptures. Some of the questions focus on hilarious details like a sultry dog whisper and an ancient game of wife swap. If you answer the most questions right, you’ll gain some fantastic prizes like gift cards and museum merchandise. No previous art experience or nudity required. Solve a murder mystery For a little spookiness on your date night, try the Bloody Valentine Murder Mystery Dinner at Phantom Carriage. The dinner includes cocktails, appetizers, dessert, and a 3-course dinner, as well as an intriguing and interactive murder mystery show. Whether you’ve been together for years or it’s your first Valentine’s Day together, it’ll be fun to work together to solve the mystery and meet new people. The event has the option for dressing up as well, so be sure to dress to the nines to get completely immersed in the experience. Ride in a gondola Couples on a trip to Venice always want to take a romantic gondola ride on the canals. Fortunately, you don’t even have to travel to Venice for the experience, since Long Beach has its own canal system where you can ride a gondola around the island neighborhood of Naples. You can bring your own food and drinks with you, so you can completely customize your romantic gondola experience. For Valentine’s Day, the gondola package includes a romantic red rose and a keepsake photograph. Go salsa dancing Los Angeles is filled with electric Latin dance spots for a fun-filled evening of dance and music. Plenty of clubs have themed dance nights throughout the week for salsa and rumba dancing, such as La Cita and The Granada. You could also visit El Floridita, a Cuban supper club in the heart of Hollywood with salsa dancing multiple times a week. Many of these venues have live Latin music as well, giving you a fully authentic Latin nightlife experience for a date night. Experience Lucha VaVOOM If you’re looking for something truly unique, visit Lucha VaVOOM for a combination of high-octane performances, comedy, and authentic Mexican masked wrestling. The spectacular show is perfect for an off-beat date night, especially if you like cultural experiences like burlesque and sideshow acts. Some of the special events for Valentine’s Day include Amor Prohibido, or forbidden love, and Pin-ups and Pin-downs, a combination of sexy pin-up style burlesque and adrenaline-fueled wrestling matches. Plan to dress up a little and book early, so you can have the best seats in the house. Get ready for romance With all these great date ideas in Los Angeles, you’re ready for the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever. Take a look at deals for Los Angeles vacations and romantic Los Angeles hotels to make the most of your trip. If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at more attractions in Los Angeles.
Downtown Los Angeles

See a romantic movie

Los Angeles is filled with spectacular cinemas that offer new movies and screenings of the classics. For Valentine’s Day, you can snuggle up to a romantic film, such as Casablanca or An Affair to Remember, at one of the city’s historic theaters. You’ll have endless options for movies and theaters in the city. Our choice is American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, a set of classic film screenings at the charming art deco-style theater from the 1940s in Santa Monica.

Participate in Cupid’s Undie Run

If you want to do something fun and give back to the community, why not participate in Cupid’s Undie Run? The hilarious pantless party and mile-long run is an excellent charity opportunity that donates 100% of proceeds to neurofibromatosis research. The idea arose from the fact that neurofibromatosis sufferers are unable to hide their tumors with clothing, so the undie run participants can’t either. In addition to helping a great cause, the run will give you a story to tell for years.

Make your own chocolate

If you and your partner have a sweet tooth, the best way to spend Valentine’s Day is with a chocolate-making class at Eataly. The Italian marketplace has a variety of unique cooking and food and beverage events, including chocolate-making classes, so you can learn how to craft delicious chocolate and turn it into a top-notch dessert. You could even turn the class into an entire romantic evening out with dinner and drinks for a quintessential Valentine’s Day date.

Go on an adult-only scavenger hunt

For bolder couples, there’s nothing better than an adult-only scavenger hunt completely guided by nudity. Over 2 hours of scandal and humor, you’ll solve riddles to find clues in the Getty Center’s most scintillating paintings and sculptures. Some of the questions focus on hilarious details like a sultry dog whisper and an ancient game of wife swap. If you answer the most questions right, you’ll gain some fantastic prizes like gift cards and museum merchandise. No previous art experience or nudity required.

Paintings on the wall at the Getty Center
Getty Center

Solve a murder mystery

For a little spookiness on your date night, try the Bloody Valentine Murder Mystery Dinner at Phantom Carriage. The dinner includes cocktails, appetizers, dessert, and a 3-course dinner, as well as an intriguing and interactive murder mystery show. Whether you’ve been together for years or it’s your first Valentine’s Day together, it’ll be fun to work together to solve the mystery and meet new people. The event has the option for dressing up as well, so be sure to dress to the nines to get completely immersed in the experience.

Ride in a gondola

Couples on a trip to Venice always want to take a romantic gondola ride on the canals. Fortunately, you don’t even have to travel to Venice for the experience, since Long Beach has its own canal system where you can ride a gondola around the island neighborhood of Naples. You can bring your own food and drinks with you, so you can completely customize your romantic gondola experience. For Valentine’s Day, the gondola package includes a romantic red rose and a keepsake photograph.

Buildings and boats on a canal in Long Beach
Long Beach

Go salsa dancing

Los Angeles is filled with electric Latin dance spots for a fun-filled evening of dance and music. Plenty of clubs have themed dance nights throughout the week for salsa and rumba dancing, such as La Cita and The Granada. You could also visit El Floridita, a Cuban supper club in the heart of Hollywood with salsa dancing multiple times a week. Many of these venues have live Latin music as well, giving you a fully authentic Latin nightlife experience for a date night.

Experience Lucha VaVOOM

If you’re looking for something truly unique, visit Lucha VaVOOM for a combination of high-octane performances, comedy, and authentic Mexican masked wrestling. The spectacular show is perfect for an off-beat date night, especially if you like cultural experiences like burlesque and sideshow acts. Some of the special events for Valentine’s Day include Amor Prohibido, or forbidden love, and Pin-ups and Pin-downs, a combination of sexy pin-up style burlesque and adrenaline-fueled wrestling matches. Plan to dress up a little and book early, so you can have the best seats in the house.

Get ready for romance

With all these great date ideas in Los Angeles, you’re ready for the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever. Take a look at deals for Los Angeles vacations and romantic Los Angeles hotels to make the most of your trip. If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at more attractions in Los Angeles.