✦ Local Guide · Santa Monica

🕯️ Date Night Restaurants in Santa Monica

The best romantic and intimate spots perfect for a date in Santa Monica — curated from over 200 LA restaurants.

9 picks

Santa Monica has one of the most layered date-night dining scenes in Los Angeles — you can go Michelin-starred tasting menu or a candlelit 30-seat counter and never feel like you're settling. These 9 picks range from splurge-worthy special occasions to spots that make a Tuesday feel like an event. Every restaurant comes with a real TikTok review so you can check the vibe and the crowd before you book. Top of the list: Melisse / Citrin, Seline, Pasjoli.

Santa Monica's dining scene combines ocean-view settings with serious culinary credentials — walkable, diverse, and well worth the westside traffic.

Melisse / Citrin

Modern American · French  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.9

Santa Monica's refined tasting menu for the most special of occasions

Must-try: Full Tasting Menu ($295), Tomato Salad, Lobster Bolognese

📍 1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Seline

Contemporary Tasting Menu  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.7

Michelin-starred 15–18 course tasting menu in Santa Monica by Chef Dave Beran — one seating per night

Must-try: 15–18 course chef's tasting menu, Seasonal wine pairing

📍 3110 Main St, Ste 132, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Pasjoli

French · Bistro  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.6

Michelin-starred French bistro on Main Street — showstopping pressed duck and casual Parisian soul

Must-try: Canard à la Presse (pressed duck for two), Moules frites, Jambon beurre

📍 2732 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Fia

Italian · California · Wood-Fired  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$

★★★★½ 4.5

Santa Monica's Italian-inspired restaurant where wood-fired cooking and California produce meet in a warm, beautiful room

Must-try: Wood-fired whole fish, Pasta carbonara, Burrata with seasonal accompaniments

📍 2454 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Milo & Olive

Italian · Pizza · Bakery  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Beloved neighborhood wood-fired pizzeria and bakery on Wilshire — always worth the wait

Must-try: Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza, Soft-Boiled Egg Toast with Burrata, Seasonal Galette

📍 2723 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Birdie G's

American · Southern-Californian  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Jeremy Fox's Santa Monica American — duck, ribs, and Jewish-Southern cooking that defies category

Must-try: BBQ duck, Gluten-free fried chicken, Pie of the day

📍 2421 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Cassia

Southeast Asian · Singaporean · Californian  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Santa Monica's Southeast Asian brasserie — Bryant Ng's Singapore-inflected cooking in a beautiful room one block from the beach

Must-try: Singapore-style laksa, Kaya toast with coconut jam, Slow-roasted pork shoulder

📍 1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Rustic Canyon

Californian · Vegetable-Forward · Wine Bar  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Santa Monica's farmhouse wine room — Jeremy Fox's produce-first cooking and one of the best natural wine lists on the Westside

Must-try: Vegetable plate (seasonal), Whole roasted chicken, Pasta with whatever's at the market

📍 1119 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Tar & Roses

American · Wood-Fired  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$

★★★★☆ 4.2

Wood-fired small plates, bone marrow, and a buzzy cocktail bar on the east end of Santa Monica

Must-try: Wood-Roasted Bone Marrow, Tagliatelle with Braised Rabbit, Crispy Pork Belly

📍 602 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best date night restaurant in Santa Monica?

Melisse / Citrin consistently tops the list — it combines exceptional food with an atmosphere that feels genuinely special without being stuffy. Book ahead; it fills up on weekends.

Are there romantic restaurants in Santa Monica that aren't too expensive?

Yes — Milo & Olive is a great choice if you want a memorable meal without the fine-dining price tag. The food is excellent and the setting still feels like a proper night out.

Do I need a reservation for date night dining?

For most of these picks, yes — especially on Friday and Saturday. Book at least 3–5 days ahead on Resy or OpenTable. A few spots are walk-in friendly on weeknights.