Amazing List of Santa Monica Date Ideas

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Santa Monica Date Ideas

Santa Monica is a city of incredible date ideas. Because of its close proximity to Los Angeles and all of the amazingness that LA has to offer, sometimes you can wonder, "Why would I look for date spots Santa Monica when I could be going to LA? Well, don't discount Santa Monica just yet! Like all of the other US cities we've profiled, Santa Monica has a ton to offer and deserves to be explored.

Date Scene History

The dating scene in Santa Monica dates back to when the first bars and saloons popped up in the 1900s. The pier was built in 1909 and it forever changed the dating scene. Suddenly, hanging out on the pier actually seemed like like one of the coolest date ideas. And ever since then, Santa Monica has been growing and developing even more unique clubs and cool Santa Monica date ideas.

Best Times And Days To Go Out In Santa Monica

Like most west coast cities, we at Hookupcloud discovered that every night is a great night to go out in Santa Monica. There is a reason the west coast is called the Best Coast and it's because everyone is so laid back and also loves to party! You can even find fun date ideas happening on a Monday night in Santa Monica.

Santa Monica Date Ideas: Directory

Like with all of our other incredible date ideas, we've put together an ultimate list of everywhere awesome in Santa Monica. If you're a resident, perhaps you have never taken the time to really explore your own neighborhood! Well now is your chance! And once you've finished working your way through this list, check out this website for more inspiration.

Santa Monica Bars

West 4th Jane

Type

Traditional Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Mature Adults

Address

1432A 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401-2309

Website

West 4th Jane

Any Notes

No parking; fully accessible

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

West 4th Jane is the sort of bar you might walk by and not ever consider for one of your date ideas. However, we urge you to consider this Santa Monica bar as it is one of the best hidden gems in the city. If you are looking for a casual, non-fussy, relaxed bar, then West 4th Jane is the perfect spot. You might not find a fancy signature cocktail here but there are plenty of great beers and ciders on tap and the food is always quick and hot. If you and your date want to go somewhere low-key, we can't recommend West 4th Jane in Santa Monica enough!

THE BUNGALOW

Type

Traditional Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401-1106

Website

THE BUNGALOW

Any Notes

All major credit cards accepted; open 7 days a week

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Bungalow is a super fun, super quaint restaurant/bar located right near the beach. The inside of the space is gorgeous enough, like a traditional bar with light, beachy touches, but it's the outside patio and seating area that is what makes this one of the best date ideas in Santa Monica. Once you see this patio, you won't want to drink anywhere else in the city. The vibe here is laid back yet still feels nice. There are fun activities, like a ping-pong table and pool table, and various drink specials throughout the week.

COCK 'N BULL BRITISH PUB

Type

Traditional Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Area

Crowd

Mature Adults

Address

2947 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405-5742

Website

COCK 'N BULL BRITISH PUB

Any Notes

All major credit cards accepted; limited parking available

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

It may not look like much from the outside, but the Cock 'n Bull British Pub is one of the most authentic British pubs you can find on the west coast. The moment you walk in, you'll feel like you were transported to a high street in in outer London. This bar is truly one of the most underrated Santa Monica date ideas in the entire city and we want to change that! Do you like your bars to include a relaxed atmosphere, delicious pub food, and reasonably priced beers and ciders? Of course you do! That's why you should grab a date and head to the Cock 'n Bull British Pub as soon as you can.

THE CHESTNUT CLUB

Type

Cocktail Bar

Space

Bar and Lounge Area

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

1348 14th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404

Website

THE CHESTNUT CLUB

Any Notes

Valet parking available

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Chestnut Club is one of Santa Monica's best kept secrets and that's because it's literally a bit of a secret to find! There's no obvious sign outside, just a set of stairs that lead down. We love bars like this! Once inside, you'll be struck by the swanky yet sedated decor. It's stylish yet relaxed at the same time and has a speakeasy vibe about it. The cocktail menu is what The Chestnut Club is known for, with The Saturn drink being one of the most popular. There is also a great Happy Hour menu and food menu as well. We're pretty sure after one visit you'll put The Chestnut Club at the top of your date spots Santa Monica lists.

YE OLDE KING'S HEAD

Type

Traditional Pub

Space

Bar and Lounge Area

Crowd

Mature Adults

Address

116 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401-2202

Website

YE OLDE KING'S HEAD

Any Notes

Limited parking available; open seven days a week

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Who knew there were so many British style date ideas in Santa Monica?! While the aforementioned pub is like your typical "modern" British pub, the Ye Olde King's Head is styled more like an old fashioned pub you might find in a small, quaint village. To complete the feel, there's a great food menu that contains British favorites like fish and chips and cottage pie. The drinks menu is also great, with a lot of British beer and cider imports. Happy Hour on the patio goes from 4pm to 7pm, making it one of the best early evening spots to take your date.

Santa Monica Clubs

WEST END

Type

Nightclub

Space

Bar and Lounge and Dance Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

1301 5th St, Santa Monica, CA, Santa Monica, CA

Website

WEST END

Any Notes

No parking; call ahead for VIP and table service

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

West End touts itself as Santa Monica's only "true nightclub" and we find ourselves agreeing. The club is sleek and stylish, with chrome finishings. No matter what night you attend, there is always something great going on. This is why we think it is one of the top date ideas in Santa Monica. There are special events happening weekly at West End, ranging from Reggae Thursdays to Salsa Night to special guest DJs. West End is also a supporter and champion of local art and you can see it hanging from the walls of the club.

31TEN LOUNGE

Type

Nightclub

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

3110 Main St Ste 132, Santa Monica, CA 90405-5353

Website

31TEN LOUNGE

Any Notes

Fully accessible; all major credit cards accepted

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

31Ten Lounge is only open from Thursday through Saturday, which makes it one of the perfect date ideas for the weekend! This lounge is done up with low lighting and sleek, sophisticated details, yet it never feels stuffy or overly fancy. Try one of their custom cocktails on the large patio. We recommend the Refresher or Rose Martini. Also be sure to try their stone-oven baked pizza. It is super delicious! You can call ahead to get VIP and table service, which is recommended as 31Ten can get pretty busy.

HARVELLE'S BLUES CLUB

Type

Blues Club

Space

Bar and Lounge and Performance Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

1432 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401-2309

Website

HARVELLE'S BLUES CLUB

Any Notes

Open seven days a week; fully accessible

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Harvelle's Blues Club is one of the best blues clubs in the area. It's one of the most popular date ideas. We love it for the incredible music and ambience. It's the perfect place to bring an extra special date. Check out the website to see what artists and groups will be playing at the venue coming up. For most special events, pre-purchased tickets are required, which you can also get on the website. Harvelle's Blues Club has been around since 1931, making it one of the oldest live music venues on the west coast. You're sure to have a sexy, fun time at this club!

MI'S WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER

Type

Comedy Club

Space

Bar and Performance Space

Crowd

Young to Mature Adults

Address

1323A 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401-1309

Website

MI'S WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER

Any Notes

Purchase tickets in advance

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Mi's Westside Comedy Theater has been a staple of the Sanata Monica area for nearly 10 years. They have a variety of comedic stylings, ranging from stand up to improv, which makes this one of the best date ideas in Santa Monica. Mi's Westside Comedy Theater is the original home of Epic Rap Battles of History and they've had many famous acts grace their stage. You can check out their website for upcoming shows and open mic nights if you or your date want to test out your comedic chops! The drinks are a great price and the food is great too, so really what are you waiting for?

HOUSE OF BILLIARDS

Type

Billards Club

Space

Bar and Lounge Space

Crowd

Mature Adults

Address

1901 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403-5605

Website

HOUSE OF BILLIARDS

Any Notes

All major credit cards accepted; limited parking

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

If your idea of a great night out includes a good game of pool then look no further than the House of Billiards! House of Billiards is Santa Monica's premiere billiards club. You can play individual games there or even join a league. The game rates are hourly and range in price depending o the day of the week and number of players. And did we mention that billiards is the perfect sport to use as an excuse to get cozy to your date? That's why it's one of our fave date ideas always! The menu features all the beers, wines, and spirits you could want and the food is pretty good too. But really, it's all about the billiards!

Santa Monica Date Spots

PAINT LAB

Type

Activity

Space

Art and Studio Space

Crowd

All Ages

Address

1453 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Website

PAINT LAB

Any Notes

Book a class in advance on the website

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

You might've noticed now that a lot of cities have paint classes. This is because painting makes one of the best date ideas ever! It's a great way to get to know someone, have fun, and create a piece of art to take home too. And you don't have to worry about being a great artist. Paint Lab offers a lot of different kinds of classes but the "fun" ones are the Brushes and Bites classes, where you paint and enjoy a class of wine. At Paint Lab you can paint everything from landscapes to your own Van Gogh!

SANTA MONICA PIER

Type

Activity

Space

Outdoor and Multipurpose Space

Crowd

All Ages

Address

200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA

Website

SANTA MONICA PIER

Any Notes

Open the the public with various parts requiring ticketed access

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

One of the best things about Santa Monica is the incredible pier and beach! It's almost not fair to put the Santa Monica Pier as one listing because there are so many things do to on the pier and so many great date ideas happening on the pier. You can take a stroll and take in the sights, you can have a picnic in the park area or play some games and try to win some prizes. There are also a lot of delicious food trucks along the pier too. And at night there are Twilight Concerts to enjoy! Seriously, for one of the best dating experiences in Santa Monica, just spend an entire day at the pier!

PACIFIC PARK

Type

Amusement Park

Space

Outdoor and Multipurpose Space

Crowd

All Ages

Address

200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA

Website

PACIFIC PARK

Any Notes

Be mindful that during heavy tourist season there are often long lines

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

We mentioned above that the Santa Monica Pier had so many great date ideas that it could have multiple listings. Well one of those extra listings is Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier! Pacific Park is one of the most iconic pier parks in North America. From roller coasters to arcade games to carnival delights, you can experience it all at Pacific Park. It's open late on certain nights too, which is always fun because you can see the park all lit up against the ocean. It is quite the sight! You could easily spend a whole day playing and exploring with your date at Pacific Park, never mind the rest of Santa Monica Pier!

MUSEUM OF FLYING

Type

Museum

Space

Outdoor Space

Crowd

All Ages

Address

3100 Airport Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405-6113

Website

MUSEUM OF FLYING

Any Notes

Parking available and fully accessible

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

You may think that this sounds like a museum just for children but trust us when we say there are tons of interesting things for adults to see and do as well! Besides, who doesn't love airplanes? Have you ever just wondered about flying. Like, how humans created a giant hunk of metal that is able to stay in the sky. The science makes sense, of course, but when you think about it abstractly, it's kind of crazy. You and your date can be equally amazed at the museum which is why it's one of our favorite date ideas for Santa Monica! There are many different kinds of airplanes to look at and explore from.

PEDAL OR NOT ELECTRIC BIKE TOURS

Type

Activity

Space

Outdoors

Crowd

All Ages

Address

214 Pier Ave, off Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405-5423

Website

PEDAL OR NOT ELECTRIC BIKE TOURS

Any Notes

Purchase tickets in advance from the website

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

We maybe added Pedal Or Not to our Santa Monica date ideas list solely for the cool name, but can you blame us? Pedal Or Not is actually a super cool company too! They offer electric bike tour rides of the Santa Monica and Venice Beach area. There is nothing more fun (or romantic, hint hint) than biking down the pier in beautiful weather! This is the perfect leisurely activity to really bond with your date before hitting up a local bar or restaurant.

Enjoy More Date Spots Across The US

Santa Monica is such a beautiful city that has so many great date ideas to offer. We hope you enjoy exploring all of the bars and clubs and date spots we listed above! Check out our guide for another fantastic west coast city worth visiting: San Francisco!