These 6 Cute Venice Bars and Restaurants Will Have You Swooning Even If Your Date Doesn’t
Tinder. Bumble. Hinge.
When living in the realm of digital dating, it can be daunting to find the perfect destination to meet your mystery suitor. You want something private but public, intimate yet exciting, contemporary albeit classic. Venice Beach is our favorite vibrant seaside city with plenty of pizazz to spice up any first date. When it comes to meeting your match, you need something to sip and savor to create that spark. Here are six of our favorite spots to get a little unhinged. …
A Great First Date
From the same people who brought you Great White comes its equally cool sister restaurant: Gran Blanco. This place is trendy–think Gen Z middle part trendy. Opting for couches over traditional chairs, strangers can easily become sidekicks after a couple of loveseat libations. Gran Blanco is casual without being frumpy and cool without being fussy—and so is their food! The menu features some fan favorites with a twist, such as the tapioca fries with sweet chili sauce and curry fried chicken served in a lemongrass coconut sauce. They sure know how to elevate the ordinary. Want to look like a veteran? Split the tremendous burger and pair it with two GB spritzes. Talk about a winning first impression.
Say Hello to My Little Friend
At the corner of disco and diner is The Little Friend Bar. This hip haunt is serving up all the high-end sips and snacks so you can boogie-oogie-oogie til you just can’t boogie no more, all while getting to know your new boo. The cocktail menu features a collection of creations named after classic dating personas like The Hustler, The Player and The Prick. We personally like The Lover, which is a shot of bourbon and a PBR tallboy—fun, flirty, and full of personality. As for eats, anything in taco form will help fuel your two-step.
Saved by the Belles
Welcome to Belles Beach House, where you can get a little freaky with tiki. This first-date destination is within a stone’s throw of the Venice Beach boardwalk and will transport you to the waves of Waikiki. The crispy rock shrimp and mochiko chicken nuggets are excellent conversation starters, but definitely don’t sleep on the fried chicken cheeseburger or Huli Huli chicken. The best part about Belles, you ask? The extra-boozy beverages. These offer the best bang for your buck, so you can get a little shaken, then stirred.
5/15
Super- Market Sweep
Dudley Market is a hip little beer and wine restaurant that serves up sustainable seafood options surrounded by rustic-chic decor. Whether you opt for a mid-morning coffee rendezvous or a happy hour meet and greet, the warm woods and retro vinyls will give you plenty to talk about while you wait for your round of oysters or warmed-up babka, depending on the time of day. This spot is a little less sceney and a little more dreamy, so it’s a great place to get to know someone.
You Can’t Lose at Erwin
Hotel Erwin’s High Rooftop Lounge has some of the best sights and sounds in town, featuring a 360-degree view of the Pacific and a menu that has the perfect grub for a get-to-know-you gathering. Swap stories over a charcuterie board, crack a laugh over crudité, graze hands over the horizon hummus. If things are heating up, cool them down with a frozen cocktail or keep the temperatures up with a hot toddy. Split some ice cream with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt to seal the deal.
6/19
On the House
Love music but don’t want to battle the big crowds? Enter Winston House. This intimate venue serves up some of the best tunes and tinctures in town. We love the Westside cocktail, which features color-changing butterfly pea flower powder, and proceeds from this drink go to Move For Hunger. We love a cocktail with a cause!. The menu features some of the greatest hits, but the shrimp toast, spicy noods, and steak frites are simply the best—better than all the rest. This is the spot that will make you look sophisticated and savvy.
