CITY & ITS PEOPLE

The LA date map (insider edition)

For dates in LA, tourists go to Griffith; locals go to the hill across from it. The version that's not on the tourist map, sorted by mood: each stop with what time to go, where to park and what to watch for, plus three local date routes.

Translated from Jasmine’s original Chinese. The illustrated slides are on the interactive reader.

Full text

1. Want the sunset, without the crowd

   Angels Point is a little hilltop next to Dodger Stadium; an hour before sunset, DTLA's towers turn gold, and the park closes at sunset. Vista Hermosa is great for skyline shots and much closer than Griffith.

2. Want to walk a locals' route

   The Lake Hollywood Reservoir loop is 3.5 flat miles with the Hollywood Sign keeping you company, and the best lake view is from Mulholland Dam. At the Silver Lake Reservoir Meadow, a picnic blanket and two coffees make a date.

3. Want a rooftop nobody knows about

   The rooftop garden at Walt Disney Concert Hall is free and open, and a lot of Angelenos don't know it. The prettiest way up is the spiral stairs by the main entrance; it's locked at night, so go in the late afternoon.

4. Want to see a real movie

   Tarantino's two film theaters: the Vista in Los Feliz screens 35mm and 70mm, and evening shows often sell out, so book ahead; the New Beverly is film only, with $12 midnight screenings.

5. Want live music

   The Baked Potato in Studio City is a little jazz club, and some shows sell $25 patio tickets, easier for talking. For LA Phil nights at the Hollywood Bowl you can bring your own picnic and wine; bring a blanket.

6. Want a drink, but not too loud

   Tabula Rasa in East Hollywood is a relaxed wine bar; Bar Bandini in Echo Park opens at 3 p.m. on weekends; Gold Line in Highland Park plays vinyl; to actually talk, pick a weekday happy hour.

7. Want it really quiet, really slow

   Lake Shrine has reopened after the fire, free but reservations required, and please keep your voice down. The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden in Long Beach is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and also requires reservations.

8. Want to watch the sunset on horseback

   Sunset Ranch Hollywood has evening trail rides where you watch the city lights come on one by one; no riding experience needed, but book ahead.

9. Want a walk overlooking the whole basin

   Kenneth Hahn has 7+ miles of trails with views from the ocean to DTLA. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, no parking fee on weekdays; it closes early in winter, so time your sunset carefully.

10. The date's over, but you don't want to go home yet

    Canter's Deli is now only 24 hours on Saturdays, so on Friday you can still get pastrami past midnight; Highland Park Bowl is a vintage bowling alley and bar, open till 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

11. Route ① | First date (Eastside)

    Two coffees in Silver Lake → sit a while at the Reservoir Meadow → sunset at Angels Point → a drink at Bar Bandini. Some walking, some views, no sitting stiffly through a big dinner.

12. Route ② | The movie-lover's date

    The Disney Concert Hall rooftop garden in the late afternoon → dinner → a film print at the New Beverly or the Vista. In the movie capital, end the night at the movies.

13. Route ③ | A night in Highland Park

    Dinner on York Blvd or Figueroa St → vinyl at Gold Line → a game at Highland Park Bowl. All walkable on one street, no driving between stops.

14. The unwritten local rules of dating in LA

    Don't leave anything in the car, most parks close at sunset, and book popular spots weeks ahead. "Let's split it" doesn't mean they don't like you. It gets cold at night, so bring a jacket, or lend it to your date.

15. Two-city mirror

    In Taipei, a date means finding a great restaurant; in LA, it means finding the right time of day. 'The best date is taking someone to a place you'd rather not tell anyone else about.'

Places in this story

• New Beverly Cinema
• Hollywood Bowl
• Canter’s Deli
• Highland Park Bowl

In this series

• The LA beach town guide | Same Pacific, so why is every beach town different?
• The LA hiking trail guide 2026 | Which mountain do Angelenos climb on weekends?
• Where do you catch LA's night view? | The LA night view & rooftop map 2026
• Before the Getty closes, which LA museums should you see? | The LA museum guide 2026
• DATALAND | The first time art looked back at me
• In the city of movies, seeing a film can be an event | The LA special cinema map
• Where do celeb wardrobes come from? | The LA boutique map 2026
• The LA vintage map
• The LA independent bookstore map
• LA rainy-day backups

Read it with the slides →

An original JSLALALAND field guide by Jasmine Chang (@jslalaland).