Whether you’re looking to stay at home, get romantic or enjoy the wildest Valentine’s Day of your life, DTLA is the only place to be for lovin’ this Valentine’s Day Weekend. Here’s a list of DTLA Weekly’s 10 Great Places for Valentine’s Day.
1. Grammy Museum and the Stanton DTLA
The GRAMMY Museum will welcome six-time GRAMMY-winning jazz bassist Christian McBride for an intimate conversation moderated by Scott Goldman, followed by a grand ole performance.
Christian McBride has worked with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard and Chick Corea as well as major pop and rock stars like Sting, Paul McCartney, James Brown and Celine Dion.
We suggest visiting the Stanton on 11th and Flower just a few blocks east of The Grammy Museum for delectable bites perfectly in tune with the romance of the evening. Grammymuseum.com
Service is impeccable, as is the wine selection and the atmosphere is friendly, dimly lit, and the dishes like the ever popular lobster linguine is prepared to perfection. The Stanton is a South Park community favorite and the one place sure to impress any date, friend or business colleague.
Plus, The Stanton is showered with flat screens that channel the Lakers, Dodgers and the Kings to come enjoy a scrumptious meal with you. For more info visit www.thestantondtla.com
2. Le Grand Valentine’s Night
Once again the Southwest corner of 7th and Grand has reinvented itself, except this time instead of a whole new venue, DTLA will get a whole new menu thanks to Le Grand Restaurant’s new chef Edgar Delarosa, formally of Drago Centro.
Brothers, George and Tamaz Gomiashvilli hope you enjoy Le Grand Restaurant’s California-inspired menu, select wines, and complimentary sweets from the chef during your 4 course meal this Valentine’s Day. Be sure to make a reservation. Le Grand’s love will be served on a platter filled stacked with albacore shishimi, stone crab claws, Manila clams, muscles, black tiger shrimp, Norwegian langoustines, and wild lobster tails in celebration of love that evening,
Le Grand also has an all night Happy Hour featuring fresh oysters, crab claws and a chicken sandwich mini you just can’t help but fall in love with. Legrandrestaurant.com
3. Wonder Lust at Kapoor’s Akbar
After relocating from his previous 20 year-old location in Pasadena to the southern edge of Chinatown, Chef Avinash Kapoor began serving lovers everywhere with a selection of signature dishes prepared with dozens of spices as rich as India’s past. Aka. The Seven Wonders of Chef Avinash Kapoor.
Dishes like Coco Lamb, prepared with coconut milk, crushed peppers, mustard seeds, red chilies and coconut powder paired cream cheese naan, washed down with fine red wine or Taj beer present a bonanza Of flavor with every bite.
Best of all, parking is free with validation, and Kapoor’s Akbar is just a block away from DTLA’s theater performance, museum And dating mecca on top of Bunker Hill. Kapoorsakbar.com
4. Celebrate with the MOB at LA Biergarten
The Los Angeles Biergarten has always been the Historic Core’s ideal spot to watch a game, grab some of Downtown’s favorite beers.
Recently the neighborhood sports hub has been hosting events out of the ordinary. Celebrity rapper Blueface recently celebrated his birthday at the hub, and during the holidays, the venue lent itself to Neotropolis; a futuristic, post apocalyptic cyberspace lounge, with greetings from cyborg hostesses and smoke filled drinks all lit to the backdrop colors of neon.
The space it occupies is nearly 4,000 sq. ft. just south of 7th and Broadway in the historic Chapman building,, constructed in Just before the days of prohibition in 1912,
Celebrate Valentine’s Day like a Boss.. A Mob Boss at Mob Bar
This Valentine’s Day prepare yourself for the Grand Opening of MOB BAR! An intoxicating pop up of burlesque, prohibition themed cocktails, mob boss impersonators, screening room and underground speakeasy tours. Open Thursday thru Saturday each night will offer something more and more. Visit www.labiergarten.com or call 310.270.0111 to make a reservation.
5. Cozy Up at Home – it’s the Loftway
Snuggle up at home and avoid all heartaches of the buzzling inner city by enjoying the loving comfort of your own home. Since its modest beginnings in 2003, Loftway has sold hundreds and leased over one thousand units to date. Specializing in lofts, they span from Marina Del Rey to Pasadena with units to lease and buy for every price range.
From concrete floors and brick laden walls, to tri-level refurbished warehouses, Loftway has them all available for viewing everyday of the week.
Prices on available spaces range from some of the most affordable, quality luxury lofts to multi-million dollar penthouses atop downtown’s tallest buildings. Tall buildings with a birdseye view of all the prospects below? www.Loftway.com
6. Cupid’s Favorite – Grand Central Market & Angel’s Flight
Its been over 100 years of date spot magnificence at Grand Central Market which first opened to courting couples in 1917.
Although, back then couples were more apt to find flowers and candies, today Grand Central Market is one of DTLAs most cherished dating destinations.
With just over 30 vendors offering everything delicious from the tips of the mountains to the depths of the sea, plus plenty offering wine and beer, it’s not only good for one date a year but many.
Before or after visiting GCM be sure to take a ride on the historic landmark just across the road known as Angel’s Flight.
For $0.50 cents you and your romantic partner can cozy up inside one of DTLAs most iconic vintage rail cars. Www.grandcentralmarket.com
7. Pinned Up or Pinned Down? Lucha VaVOOM Returns to the Mayan
Los Angeles’ longest-running, most celebrated variety show—has been wowing audiences with their glam/slam extravaganzas for over 17 years — from L.A. to Tokyo, across the U.S. and all the way to Australia, people go crazy for this perfect combo of authentic masked Mexican wrestling matches interspersed with insane, high-octane burlesque performances, death defying aerial acts, live music, low riders, tequila, and comedy, adding up to two unforgettable nights….Wednesday, February 12th and Thursday, February 13th.
Love hurts thanks to special musical guests Starcrawler. This LA band comes supercharged with manic electricity. And let’s not forget about all your favorites; Dirty Sanchez, the Lovely Rita D’Albert and the mini superstar wrestlers Microman (as seen on ESPN, CBS News, The Telegraph and El Espectador). For tickets and more information visit LuchaVaVOOM.com
8. Dinner and a Movie at LA Live
You can’t go wrong with dinner and a movie. Thank goodness Regal Cinema at LA LIVE has got all your Oscar favorites. Yes, the classic first date at the movies will never get old. Especially when the two of you agree on just what movie to see. Is he or she into adventure, romance, or laughing out loud in public?
If so, there’s always a new premiere at LA LIVE’s Regal Cinemas and its surrounded by some of the world’s most acclaimed restaurant bars at Staples Center/LA LIVE offering every type of international cuisine and an array of signature cocktails to help you ring up an impressive tab (about the same price as a bucket of popcorn). The best part is, Regal Cinemas is now serving coffee and beer to help keep up your intoxicating desire as you enjoy your blockbuster. www.regmovies.com
9. Jungle Love at Lost Souls Distillery
Are we the only ones who think drinking to liven things up is a good idea on the first date? Honestly…you know the truth comes out when you drink and while heading to the nearest cafe may work for some, upon which we would suggest Boketto Cold Brew or Cafe Demitasse (of course), distilled drinks work just fine when it comes to breaking the ice.
But, up until Lost Soul’s Distillery opened in the Arts District, drinking dates although direct and to the point, may not have been the most romantic, and while these days, Arts District is becoming as known for its variety of distilleries as it is for its breweries, there’s only one RUM distillery set inside of a jungle theme, complete with dinosaurs, a bathroom robot, river raft rides and adventure around every corner. Lost Soul’s Two Hour Tours start at $35 and space is limited, but trust us! planning a date this magnificent is one of the most romantic gestures ever and really says you care enough to make a great first date impression. www.lostsouls.net
10. Get a Room! Embrace The New Savoca at JW Marriott
JW Marriott sets the standard for luxury and is ideally suited for both business and leisure travelers to Los Angeles. Their rooms and suites feature luxury bedding, flat-screen TVs, and ergonomic workspaces of glass, wood and marble.
If you need to get away for a private affair or just want to avoid a long drive home you’ll find the JW quite accomodating.
Best part yet, the JW Marriott just announced the opening of its brand-new lobby restaurant, Savoca – a Californian Trattoria.
Savoca means “embrace“, so feel free to wrap your arms around Chef Nathaniel for creating a menu with ingredients inspired by the similar climates of Southern California and Italy.
A focal point of the menu is a selection of house-made pastas – agnolotti, campanelle, tagliatelle, bucatini and more are all made from scratch in the Savoca kitchen, complemented by locally sourced ingredients. Www.jwmarriott.com
