Red carpets. Magic Castles. Private country clubs. A-List everything. Sure, there’s that LA dating scene, but just because your savings account is seriously anemic doesn’t mean your dating life has to be.
With a little out-of-the-box thinking, you can be (or at least appear to be) a Romeo—be it bankrolled or not. Yeah, you may thinking, “How can I possibly land an ‘8’ or above without a membership to Soho House?”
Remember, getting (or keeping) the one isn’t about how much you spend—but rather how much you attend. Attend, as in invest emotionally. And really think about who you’re with and what they’d be into when designing a date—whether you swiped right 10 minutes ago or have Facebook official status. Now, that makes you a baller.
For ideas to do just that, here are 20 dates in Los Angeles for $20 or under. Don’t worry, these won’t make you come off as cheap (i.e. this is a Groupon free zone)—unless you already are. If that’s the case, please do the dating pool a favor and don’t read this guide.
Swiped Right Yesterday
1. Pool Party for Two
Beverly Hilton Pool
Beverly Hills, $20 = parking and two happy hour drinks
Spending an afternoon at a swanky hotel pool is a stroke of genius move… and there's actually a formula here that works in your favor—the less it smells like day-old Snooki, the more likely you’ll have a super pleasant and cheap poolside date. Pass on the oily, exclusive pool parties, and go to the Beverly Hilton. It's full of LA history past and present (they still host the Golden Globes). Order a round of drinks, and you've got a classy afternoon in the BH on a SMC-student budget.
Pro tip: This is one of the rare upscale hotels in the area that invites non-guests to hang poolside. No room key/gate access required. Make sure you go during happy hour (M - F, 4 - 6 p.m.) to keep it at $20. HH beer/wine is $5.50, validated parking is $7.
The Beverly Hilton. Image courtesy of @beverlyhilton
2. Do the Right Thing
LA Food Bank
DTLA, Under $20 = lunch
Do something good together. Really, it's a win every time. The LA Regional Food Bank needs help every Saturday morning sorting and inspecting food donations. You two can stand next to each other as those Progresso cans come barreling down the assembly line all I Love Lucy candy factory-style. Get lunch afterward at La Carreta (combo meals average $8 each), about a 10-minute walk from the food bank, and plan your second date over a round of enchiladas.
Pro tip: Sign up in advance on the food bank’s website.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Image courtesy of @dabellina
Taqueria La Carreta. Image courtesy of @andyhondalife
3. Play Dress Up
DTLA, Up to $20 = parking ($10) and street food ($10)
There's almost a 100 percent guarantee that she's never tried on a Quinceañera
dress on a first or second date … until now. Follow her lead and try on some sweet pimpin' suits as you stroll through Santee Alley in the middle of the Fashion District. On a weekend morning, you'll be transported to another place and time. So put on your own fashion show, get some bacon-wrapped hot dogs and churros from a street vendor, and share a real LA moment together.
Quinceañera dress shopping. Image courtesy of @marissasbridal
Haute dawgs. Image courtesy of @thealleydogla
4. Get Slammed
Da Poetry Lounge
Fairfax, Up to $20 = $10 per person for the Slam; $5 per person for open mic nights
Here's the thing about spoken word, stand up, or improv as a date idea: there's at least a 50 percent chance that it'll be like watching an episode of Dating Naked—embarrassingly uncomfortable, shame-inducing, and quite literally unwatchable. But there's something different about Da Poetry Lounge's monthly Slam. It's actually exciting, energizing and is sure to amass talking points for some meaningful conversation afterward. The Slam happens the third Tuesday of every month, but if you don't want to wait, there are also weekly open mics.
Da Poetry Lounge. Image courtesy of @da_poetry_lounge
Pasadena Roving Archers. Approved by @enjoypasadena
5. Find Your Inner Robin Hood at Pasadena Roving Archers
Pasadena, $0
It turns out there's been a group of archers in Pasadena who have been perfecting their craft since 1935, and they offer free Saturday morning lessons to first-time students. Wearing your favorite Lenny Kravitz-designed dress is optional, but strongly encouraged.
6. The Peace Labyrinth Awaits
Jefferson Park, $0
She may think you're taking her to a David Bowie shrine (which would be a pretty damn cool date), but the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens are probably the most zen place in LA that you've never heard of. There’s a meditation garden, lily ponds and many areas with great views of the city to inspire some meaningful convos. You'll win major points for this one.
Pro tip: The Labyrinth is free, but you need to reserve tix ahead of time via their website.
Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens. Image courtesy of @hariatmabirth
7. Break Bread
Various locations, Under $20 = breakfast
Sharing a meal together is a beautiful thing. But at this early stage, no dinner date this side of a double-quarter pounder with cheese is realistically gonna cost under $20. Ditto with a proper brunch. The answer? An old school breakfast joint. A straight out of the ‘50s place with old timey booths, a counter that runs the length of the place and maybe even a claw game in the foyer where you can try to win a stuffed gremlin or something. Here are some good options all over town:
-Rae’s Restaurant, Santa Monica (cash only)
-Nick's Coffee Shop & Deli, Mid-City
-Bob's Big Boy, Burbank
-Corkys Restaurant & Bar, Sherman Oaks
-The Original Pantry Cafe, DTLA (cash only)
8. Outdoor Museum Date
The Getty Center
West LA, $20 = parking and two coffees
The idea of spending an afternoon roaming endless halls, pretending to be interested in 12th century sporks and butter churners sounds like the complete opposite of a good time. That’s why a museum is usually a terrible date idea early on … unless you never have to actually go inside. Hellooo, Getty. The most engaging part of The Getty is their garden and architecture tours, which are open all day Tuesday through Sunday. And, it’s entirely free with the exception of $15 parking (after 4 pm, it’s $10). Afterwards, grab two coffees ($3 each) from the cart in the Courtyard, have a seat in the Central Garden and get to know each other in one of the most beautiful settings in town.
Image courtesy of The Getty
Cactus Garden. Image courtesy of @wanderinghallie
9. Flowers for Days
Descanso Gardens
La Cañada Flintridge, $18 = admission for two
You may have a great hike in mind that winds through the Santa Monica Mountains with sweeping ocean views and a waterfall at its peak, but here's the thing: huffing and puffing for air isn't the best way to have a conversation when you’re just getting to know each other. However, nature is kinda romantic and always good to get a dose in. So, no to the hike. Yes to a garden walk. Descanso Gardens in La Cañada is about as picturesque as it gets and you won’t break a sweat even if you haven’t worked out since 1999.
Descanso Gardens. Image courtesy of tclf.org
10. Beach Bubbles
Playa del Rey, Under $20 = prosecco, OJ and plastic champagne flutes
It doesn't get any more simple and charming than this. Pick up a bottle of halfway decent prosecco, some OJ and head to the beach on a weekend morning. Lay down a blanket by the water, and enjoy an intimate morning together. Playa del Rey has a huge beach, ample free parking on weekend mornings, and pretty clean public bathrooms, but any old beach will do.
Pro tip: Have a wind plan. You never know when the beach is gonna be crazy windy, and there's nothing that will make her hate you more than a mouthful of sand.
Baes on the beach. Image courtesy of @brianjayroth
Facebook Official
11. Night Picnic
Griffith Park Observatory, $20 = wine and snacks
One of the keys to a successful and unique date is to take a standard idea and twist it to make it your own. Any given night at the Griffith Park, there will be a hundred couples on dates, but you'll be the only ones spread out on the front lawn with an after-dark picnic. Bring a bottle of wine, some light snacks, and enjoy the stars, city views and each other’s company.
Pro tip: Technically, you can't drink there, but no one should bother you.
Views from Griffith Observatory. Image courtesy of @stevepopp
12. Game ON!
The One Up
Sherman Oaks, $20 = beer ($6 each), goat cheese tots ($8) and nostalgia
Remember when weekends were about arcades, bowling alleys, drive-in theaters, and Members Only jackets? Of course you don't, because you're not Jeff Spicoli and you didn't go to Ridgemont High. But go ahead and re-live a little of that ‘80s glory (maybe for the first time) with free classic arcade games all night, like fan favorites Frogger and BurgerTime at The One Up.
PacMan anyone? Image courtesy of @theoneup
13. Travel Internationally, No Passport Necessary
Various locations, Under $20 = lunch or dinner
Sure, you two love Panda’s Orange Chicken, El Pollo Loco BRC burritos, and Yoshinoya Beef Bowls. Who doesn't? But this is date night, and it turns out that you're lucky enough to live in pretty much the most culturally diverse metro area on the planet. So go ethnic … and not just to the first Korean BBQ joint you find in K-Town (as amazing as that may be). It turns out there's a Little Armenia, Cambodia Town, Little India, and Little Ethiopia (to name just a few) all within a pretty short drive. So spend a day or night in a new land, eat some foreign food, stop in a few shops, and maybe pick up a postcard you can mail to her later on to remind her of your daycation. All the local spots below come in under $20 for a meal for two, and several are cash only:
Al Wazir Chicken in Little Armenia. Image courtesy of @kevinlien
Legend Seafood in Cambodia Town. Image courtesy of @mrs_marss
-Taron Bakery, Little Armenia
-Al Wazir Chicken, Little Armenia
-Phnom Penh Noodle Shack, Cambodia Town
-Legend Seafood Restaurant, Cambodia Town (note: live Cambodian band every weekend evening)
-Ambala Sweets & Snacks, Little India
-Paratha Grill, Little India
-Addis Ethiopian Restaurant, Little Ethiopia
-Marathon Restaurant, Little Ethiopia
Phnom Penh Noodle Shack. Image courtesy of @ccravemusic
Ambala Sweets & Snacks. Image courtesy of @lookasmeen
14. Bouquet for Bae
Flower District
DTLA, Under $20
Sure, she somewhat appreciates the gesture when you come home with toilet paper and a $6 bouquet from CVS or Vons, but did you know you’re not far from the largest wholesale flower district in the United States? Spend a Saturday morning in the LA Flower District designing a bouquet together—flowers are cheap and it’s good vibes for blocks on end. You might even have a few extra bucks for horchata and tacos.
The LA Flower District. Image courtesy of @missbrigette
15. Take a Hike
Various Locations, $0
Huffing and puffing isn’t so awkward when you’re with that special someone. Yes there are hundreds of hikes in greater Los Angeles, but opt for one with some backstory behind it—like the Shipwreck Hike, or the Bridge to Nowhere
Pro tip: check distances and conditions beforehand to make sure you're both up for it.
Bridge to Nowhere hike. Image courtesy of @rob_actually.
Eagle Rock Hike. Image courtesy of @ms.danica
16. Reading to Kids
All over, $0
Maybe you have kids. Maybe you don't. Either way, reading to some new ones together on a Saturday morning is about the most heart-warming way to start a weekend. You'll leave feeling great about yourselves, and each other.
Pro tip: This happens the second Saturday of every month and you need to sign up/pick your location in advance.
Reading to kids. Image courtesy of @drawnforyou
Take the bus. Image courtesy of @thetransitjournal
17. Spin the TAP Wheel Adventure
All over, Under $20 = TAP Card/fare and any adventures that come your way
Maintaining a sense of adventure is one of the keys to any lasting relationship. To that end, don't make a plan today. Just load $7 on your TAP card to cover two round trip fares, walk to the nearest bus stop and hop on the first bus that pulls up. Exit whenever you feel like it, walk around a fascinating neighborhood or attraction that falls under the radar like The Banning Museum (take the 246) or Petersen Automotive Museum (take the 780) and pop into a local place for some food (who knows, maybe that Chipotle burrito bowl tastes better in Gardena than it does in Culver City).
A few diverse routes to consider:
720: runs from East LA, through DTLA, passing LACMA, onto the heart of Beverly Hills and Westwood, ending at the Third Street Promenade
96: runs from Downtown Burbank, through Griffith Park passing the LA Zoo and Autry Museum of the West, onto Silver Lake and Chinatown, ending in DTLA.
534: runs from Mid City, though Culver City, downtown Santa Monica, up the PCH, passing Pepperdine, Zuma Beach, ending in Malibu
Pro Tip: Buy TAP cards (they cost $1) at any metro rail station, on the LA Metro site, or at a handful of Ralph’s stores.
The Petersen Automotive Museum. Image courtesy of @mark.pribanic
The Banning Museum. Image courtesy of @discoverla
18. Go Fly a Kite
Various locations, $10 - $20 = a new kite
Like kickball, coloring books and positive affirmation, kite flying ain't just for kids. Maybe you haven't flown a kite since you were six, and maybe you sucked at it then … and maybe you'll be even worse now. Either way, you're in it together. So have a blast. You can always pick up a kite at a Big 5 ($10 kites) or a Sports Authority, but go to Sunshine Kite Company on the Redondo Beach Pier instead and the kite purchase can be part of the experience.
Fly here:
-Silver Lake Meadow, Silver Lake
-Burton Chace Park, Marina del Rey
-Bruce's Beach, Manhattan Beach
You’re never too old to fly a kite. Image courtesy of @belibebebe
Silver Lake Meadow is where to do it. Image courtesy of @nicolesunscreen
19. Polo & Prosecco
Will Rogers Polo Club
Pacific Palisades, $20 = prosecco and breakfast food
You may think polo is for a bunch of Ralph Lauren-wearing, prep school turds with first names like Hamilton or Niles. Turns out that's not the case at Will Rogers Polo Club, which has free matches every weekend from late April through early October. It's family friendly, free and open to the public. So dig those white linen pants out of your closet, pack some champagne (or rather sparkling wine, just not that $5 dollar bottom shelf brand at Ralph’s or it will give you a headache) and food, and head on over.
Pro tip : There's no shade, so bring hats and sunscreen. Park on the hill leading up to the polo field for free or else pay $12 to park in the lot at the top.
Will Rogers Polo Club. Image courtesy of @realjessemetcalfe
20. DIY
Your humble abode, $15-$20 = crafting supplies
Projects are more fun together, and teamwork makes the dream work. Stay home one night and make things for each other. Try these:
Create custom mugs for each other. All you need are two ceramic mugs, some Sharpies, maybe stencils and an oven. Your morning Irish Coffees will taste so much sweeter knowing those mugs were made with love.
Go ahead and be that so-cute-you-make-others-puke couple who handpaints Christmas cards together. Blank cards, brushes, paint, stencils, and stamps and you’re ready to rock and roll.
DIY Art. Image courtesy of @brianjayroth
Brian Roth knows how to make a girl feel like a million bucks, even when he keeps it under the $19.99 mark. Don't blame him for being resourceful, this is LA and he's a writer for crying out loud. Follow his baller budget moves on Instagram @brianjayroth.
