The 48-Hour Guide to Romantic Los Angeles

Check into the Farmer’s Daughter, a boutique hotel with charming amenities, a great pool and neighborhood feel right on Fairfax Avenue. It’s convenient to a lot of shopping and dining boutiques on 3rd Street and across the street from The Grove and The Original Farmer’s Market. Tart, its first-floor restaurant, is a great place to eat Southern-influenced brunch, lunch and dinner.

For breakfast, head across the street for a combined morning stroll and bite to eat. Peruse the maze of purveyors stationed at their stands. Grab pastries and coffee at Short Cake, an omelette breakfast dog at Fritzi Dog, a breakfast plate at Monsieur Marcel or even a Boreka at Moishes. There’s no shortage of morning options, old and nouveau, at this historic market, which has been at this location since 1934.

Visit the MAK Center for Art & Architecture at the Schindler House, built in 1922 and one of the most significant modernist pieces in Southern California history. It houses a rotating art exhibit for visitors as well as the MAK Center bookstore. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., with docents available on Saturday or Sunday with reservation, so plan your trip accordingly.

After the MAK Center, go to The Eveleigh on the Sunset Strip for lunch inside a natural light-filled, distressed wooden dining room - or the restaurant’s front or back patio. Order market-forward food and cocktails on the constantly evolving menu for a picture-perfect lunch tucked away on Sunset Boulevard.

After lunch, visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for a look at a few exhibits inside the largest art museum in the west with over 150,000 works spanning all time periods. Time your visit during the free outdoor jazz concerts in the summer (with picnicking options), one of the film screenings or music concerts.

For a break from the city, go for a hike on one of L.A.’s most popular trails, Runyon Canyon. The trail is as difficult or easy as you want to make it, with great people watching, to boot. You’ll experience great views of the city from one of many trails just a few feet above its foothills.

NOTE: Runyon Canyon will be temporarily closed April to July 2016 for pipe repair work.

Enjoy some quality, live jazz music in an intimate club setting at Catalina Jazz Club in the heart of Hollywood. With shows every night and two on Sundays, you’ll have your pick of performances to choose from. Take note of the two-drink minimum if you decide not to have food so you can plan your night accordingly.

Before heading back to your hotel room, stop for a nightcap at Frankie’s, which is on the rooftop of the Southeast Asian restaurant E.P. & L.P. You’ll enjoy inspired cocktails with some of the best views in West Hollywood - a perfect way to wind down the evening.

Check into the conveniently located Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor hotel, just a few minutes walk to the Ports ‘O Call Village, Maritime Museum and Battleship IOWA. With easy parking and a bathrobe and slippers provided in every room, the two of you will have a well appointed home base for your exploration of San Pedro.

Start your day in San Pedro right with a proper breakfast and head to the Omelette & Waffle Shop. Pick from one of their special omelettes, scrambles, or build your own. If you’re more into breakfast sweets, they’ve also got hotcakes, French toast and waffles on the bill.

After breakfast, take a walk to the stunning Korean Bell of Friendship, a 100% bronze piece presented to America by the Republic of Korea back in 1976 for America’s bicentennial and as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. It is struck five times per year, including on Korean American Day and the 4th of July.

One of the highlights of your San Pedro itinerary is a visit to Battleship IOWA, aka the “Battleship of Presidents.” Now a living museum, the IOWA served during World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War. And if you’re visiting on the weekend from Friday to Sunday (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.), stop by CRAFTED, the artisanal marketplace showcasing artists, crafters and purveyors. Better yet, while you’re shopping there, you can purchase tickets to Battleship IOWA for a mere $10 (regular is $18 each) at their beverage station.

For a scenic detour after lunch, the Ocean Trails Reserve offers more than five miles of trails of varying degrees of difficulty. From the parking lot at the end of La Rotonda Drive, take the paved road to the trailhead. There are numerous trails to explore, including the Catalina Trail, Coastal Switchback, and Sagebrush Walk, along with breathtaking views and tidal pools by the beach.

After your hike, experience the romantic history of Point Fermin Lighthouse and enjoy a fantastic lookout point. The lighthouse was built in 1872 by Paul Peltz. It was renovated in 1974 after being saved from demolition, and is currently open to the public from 1-4 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, with tours offered every hour. Admission is free, though a donation is appreciated.

Take a stroll through the diverse collection of more than 30 art galleries that comprise the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. If you happen to be taking your rendezvous here during the first Thursday of the month, you can enjoy First Thursdays, when the galleries offer open houses and special events.

For dinner, head to Raffaello Ristorante, a cozy Italian spot that's a favorite among locals. They’ve got classics you and your loved one will both enjoy, with the menu split between proteins like fish and chicken, and of course pasta. It doesn’t get any more classic Italian American than at Raffaello.

If you’re game for dinner on the water, spring for a 2.5-hour Spirit Cruises dinner featuring Prime Rib, Mary’s Chicken, and accompanying sides. You’ll be served white wine and Champagne tableside. To finish your cruise, enjoy well cocktails, dessert as well as dancing. After all, there are few things more romantic than dinner and dancing right on the water.

To close out the night, enjoy a show at the historic, Art Deco-Moderne Warner Grand Theatre designed by B. Marcus Priteca. It was built as a movie house, predates Priteca’s Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, and is a venue where you can watch foreign, art, and family films. You can also catch live music performances a few doors down at the Grand Annex. Their schedule is filled with a diverse set of musical acts spanning all genres and cultures.