Best Romantic Restaurants in Santa Monica (90402)
5 hand-picked restaurants, AI-analyzed and critic-validated
Essential Picks
9.0
An intimate, art-filled modern French dining room from chef-owner Fardad Khayami, MUSE turns Channel Road into a destination for multi-course date nights. Tasting-style plates, a serious wine program, and candlelit Art Déco interiors make it one of the most romantic rooms on the Westside.
Must-Try Dishes:
Veal bonbons with sauce verte, Lobster with pommes soufflées and caviar, Vanilla St. Honoré
What makes it special: Gallery-like French dining where fine art and tasting menus meet.
Notable Picks
Family-run for over three decades, Giorgio Baldi is a celebrity-beloved Italian hideaway known for rich pastas and coastal romance just off PCH. Dim lighting, white tablecloths, and tightly packed tables create an old-world date-night feel that still draws Hollywood regulars.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sweet corn agnolotti in white truffle sauce, Spaghetti bottarga, Langostine grigliate
What makes it special: Classic coastal Italian with decades of star-studded regulars.
#3
Farmshop
8.8
Farmshop turns breakfast into a polished, market-driven affair, with dishes built around pristine California produce and a serious in-house bakery. Locals come for shirred eggs, buttermilk biscuits, and excellent coffee before wandering the Brentwood Country Mart’s boutiques.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shirred Eggs with lamb merguez, dates & yogurt, Buttermilk Biscuit with fra’mani ham & sunny-side egg, Brioche French Toast with strawberries & mascarpone
What makes it special: A chef-driven breakfast with bakery-level pastries in a chic market setting.
8.5
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Comfort Food Classics
A Santa Monica Canyon chophouse dating back to 1949, The Golden Bull delivers classic steaks, prime rib, and martinis in a wood-paneled, fireplace-warmed room. It’s a go-to for couples who want an old-school, slightly buzzy steakhouse feel without leaving the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, French onion soup, Filet mignon
What makes it special: Midcentury steakhouse energy with fireplaces and canyon locals.
8.4
This longtime beachfront cafe attached to the Annenberg Beach House serves a trio of seafood tacos—fish, shrimp, and salmon—steps from the sand. The tacos pair crisp slaw and pico with ocean views that make a casual plate feel like a mini vacation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Salmon Tacos
What makes it special: A Santa Monica landmark where you can eat seafood tacos at tables set directly in the sand.