Los Angeles may be famous for many things—glitz, glamour, and fame itself—but affordability isn’t one of them. But if you’ve got a date in LA without a lot of cash on hand, there are still countless ways to impress. Here are some date ideas.
LessAs one of the most fitness-obsessed cities in the world, there’s a good chance that your date will appreciate the suggestion to get to know you while keeping fit on Los Angeles’ miles of mountainous trails. Some of the most scenic views of the city (and the Hollywood sign) can be had from the Runyon Canyon trail.
If whisking your date away to Tuscany isn’t quite within your budget, don’t fret because there is the Getty Villa, built by oil tycoon J. Paul Getty to house his collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities and designed in exact imitation of a villa in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. The artifacts and the meticulously landscaped grounds overlooking the ocean are worth a wander. It's free to get in but parking costs $15.
Don’t be fooled by the Huntington Library’s name—a visit to this destination offers so much more than books to impress your date. (Although showing your date the library’s Gutenberg Bible and the earliest known edition of The Canterbury Tales can’t hurt.) But up the romance with a stroll through the 207 acres of gardens that the property has to offer. Admission is is free the first Thursday of the month, and $25 all other times.
Perched on the northern end of Malibu, El Matador State Beach is one of L.A.’s longest, with miles of dramatic coast and cliffs. After a long walk on the beach, head to nearby Neptune’s Net, a dive bar and seafood joint that has been serving devotees for years, with past famous patrons including Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra.
With alums like Will Ferrell and Conan O’Brien, this intensive improvisational and sketch comedy training ground in Hollywood has performances with students in its advanced classes that will have you laughing so hard that you’ll swear they’re pros. And sometimes, they just might be: alum Kristen Wiig is known to sneak on stage some nights to perform. General admission tickets are just $12.
It doesn’t get much more romantic than ascending above the pier on an enormous Ferris wheel overlooking the ocean. While romantic at any time of day, the scene is especially stunning at sundown, so if you time things right, you can give your date a sunset they’ll never forget, with nothing but the shimmering Pacific in sight. Stroll along the boardwalk after and try your hand at arcade games after fish, chips, and a beer.
If your date loves music, there’s arguably no better place you could take them than the giant Amoeba Music store on Sunset. Thousands of records, videos, and CDs cram the aisles, which you can browse together. Up-and-coming local acts and marquee names alike fill a jam-packed live show series at the store, which are completely free.
It may be unconventional to suggest a government building as a hot date spot, but suspend your disbelief and whisk your date up 27 floors to the top of the tallest building in L.A. and prepare to be awestruck by the sweeping views of the city in every direction. Even better than the view? The fact that admission is free. After taking in the sights, head down to solid ground and stroll through nearby Grand Central Market, where you can brunch on everything from paella to wiener schnitzel.
Stroll through this farmers’ market with your date on a Sunday morning, stopping to get coffee, crepes, and fresh blueberries. If you’re feeling particularly romantic, stop to buy a glorious bouquet of flowers for less than $10, or pick up some provisions at the market and head nearby to enjoy an al fresco picnic.