Los Angeles is undoubtedly the city of dreams and cinematic magic. That’s why it has played a significant role in the love stories of movie characters, celebrities, residents, and visitors from around the world. In fact, Starline Tours travels to many of these romantic locations along its Hop-On, Hop-Off route.
From legendary hotels steeped in Tinseltown’s golden age to breathtaking overlooks, LA offers numerous opportunities for couples to date, fall in love, and commit to a life together. This guide will transport you to the most enchanting spots in Los Angeles and Hollywood.
Starline Tours
Starline Tours is Los Angeles’s premier Hollywood sightseeing company and offers an immersive tour to many of L.A. and Hollywood’s well-known sites. It’s not surprising that Starline Tours fosters romance while introducing visitors to highly recognized landmarks in the home of celebrities and movie studios.
Our evening tours tend to create an inherently romantic atmosphere as dusk settles over the city. Recently at Griffith Observatory, our team members got to witness a beautiful and emotional proposal between a gentleman and lady who had been together 16 years. The starry skies and twinkling lights provided the perfect, intimate setting for such a momentous occasion.
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel has been a beacon of movie star glamour since 1927. Unsurprisingly, it’s also served as a silent witness for its fair share of Hollywood romances. Clark Gable engaged in trysts with Carole Lombard both before and after his divorce from second wife, Ria Langham. Before moving to their 20-acre ranch in Encino, California together, the Hollywood Roosevelt’s penthouse suite was famously named after them.
Similarly, celebrity royalty Marilyn Monroe famously frequented the Tropicana Pool after living in the hotel for two years early in her career and shooting her first commercial there. The hotel’s historic Cinegrill nightclub is even rumored to be the spot where Marilyn Monroe was first introduced to her future husband, Arthur Miller. Modern-day guests can enjoy some evening entertainment in the Spare Room or grab a drink at the onsite Library Bar.
Learn more about the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel here.
Griffith Observatory
More than just the spot where Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone romantically tap-danced in the film La La Land, Griffith Observatory on Mount Hollywood offers arguably the most gorgeous views of Los Angeles. Opened in 1935, the Art Deco masterpiece allows couples to wander through engaging exhibits about the cosmos, which include a Foucault pendulum and displays about Earth’s solar system.
The true magic, however, unfolds on the observatory grounds. Thanks to large telescopes available to the public, dates of all ages can stargaze while also looking out over the sprawling city lights, Pacific Ocean, and legendary Hollywood Sign. Although specific celebrity couple sightings are often kept private, Griffith Observatory is a common spot for lovers yearning for a shared quiet moment under the stars.
Learn more about the Griffith Observatory here.
Musso & Frank Grill
For a taste of old Hollywood romance, look no further than Musso & Frank Grill. This venerable restaurant is the oldest in Hollywood and has remained virtually unchanged since its establishment in 1919. Legendary figures like F. Scott Fitzgerald, who preferred its quiet booths for writing and holding conversations, stopped by frequently. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks—a legendary power couple in old Hollywood—allegedly convinced Musso & Frank Grill’s chef to add “Fettuccine Alfredo” to the menu after a trip to Italy.
Although they were 25 years apart in age, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall regularly visited Musso & Frank’s together for martinis and classic American cuisine. Bacall and Bogart’s love story began as an affair while Bogart was married to Mayo Methot and culminated in their 1945 marriage. Bogart cried at the wedding and greeted Bacall with “Hello, Baby” after their vows. Step back in time when you visit Musso & Frank Grill. Make sure to request specific booths that were once popular with celebrities like Marilyn Monroe or Charlie Chaplin.
Learn more about Musso & Frank Grill here.
The Hollywood Bowl
Since its opening in 1922, the Hollywood Bowl has been the backdrop for romantic evenings for hundreds of starry-eyed lovers. The home of classic ballets and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for decades, the Bowl has hosted performances during events like the 1932 Olympic games and from storied groups like the Beatles.
Unlike many other performance venues, the Hollywood Bowl actively encourages guests to bring their own food and beverages, which lends itself to a cozy picnic for two on one of the site’s grassy hillsides. As the sun sets over the Hollywood Hills, it’s not hard to envision falling in love at this world-famous but surprisingly intimate location.
Learn more about the Hollywood Bowl here.
Yamashiro Hollywood
Perched high in the Hollywood Hills, Yamashiro Hollywood is a Japanese-inspired palace that transports guests to a tranquil oasis with breathtaking views of Los Angeles. Built in 1914, this “mountain palace” has long been a go-to spot for romantic dinners and special occasions because of its gardens, koi ponds, and authentic 600-year-old Japanese pagoda.
About a decade or so after its establishment, owner Frank Elliott transformed the property into what eventually became the Club of the Four Hundred, a society for Hollywood film actors excluded from more traditional elite communities. Prominent members like Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, and “Fatty” Arbuckle would likely have attended club meetings with their significant others. Regardless, today the Yamashiro is a public restaurant that consistently appears on “most romantic” destination lists in Los Angeles. With its wall-to-wall glass windows, the Sunset Dining Room is a particularly beautiful spot for enjoying a meal and drinks with your love.
Learn more about Yamashiro Hollywood here.
Chateau Marmont
Nestled discreetly on Sunset Boulevard, the Chateau Marmont is a staple of classic Hollywood. Since its opening in 1929, this castle-like retreat has been a clandestine hideaway for Hollywood’s most famous (and infamous) lovers. Known within celeb circles for its discretion and exclusivity, the Chateau allowed couples like Clark Gable and Carole Lombard (who also checked into the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel often) to enjoy private moments away from prying eyes during their 1930s whirlwind romance.
Dozens of movie star trysts and affairs have been protected by the hotel’s “hush-hush” policy. This secrecy makes it a true haven for illicit romance that protected its patrons—at least, for a time—from the glare of pushy tabloids.
Learn more about Chateau Marmont here.
Cicada Restaurant and Club
Filled with soaring gold-leafed ceilings, large oak columns, and original Lalique glass elements, the Cicada Restaurant and Club is known for its ritzy dining experience and popular role as a movie set. Although it was originally constructed in 1928, the Cicada was christened Rex il Restorante and modeled after a 1930s-era Italian cruise ship.
It was under this identity that the romantic comedy Pretty Woman used the space to film Julia Roberts’ infamous escargot dining scene. Along with this classic film, other Hollywood blockbusters like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and popular television shows like Mad Men featured the Cicada Restaurant and Club in various scenes. Check the restaurant’s calendar to see if any vintage dance orchestras or other live performances will take place during your visit.
Learn more about Cicada Restaurant and Club here.
Sunset Tower Hotel
A grand Art Deco landmark on the Sunset Strip, the Sunset Tower Hotel has long been synonymous with Hollywood glamour and, by extension, lots of romantic tales and secret encounters. Completed in 1931, the Sunset Tower gained popularity as a highly sought-after luxury apartment hotel. For this reason, the site was home for several Hollywood stars, including Howard Hughes, Marilyn Monroe, Errol Flynn, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Hughes in particular was known for renting multiple apartments in the building, including the penthouse, for various girlfriends and mistresses over the years. It also became a prime spot for movie sets and a preferred place to host cast and crew temporarily while filming. The hotel is famously associated with “Sunset Boulevard,” the classic tragic romance that is reflective of Hollywood’s golden age.
Learn more about Sunset Tower Hotel here.
Hollywood Sign
Stretching over the Hollywood Hills is the iconic Hollywood Sign. This steel-made landmark is 44 feet tall with letters 31 to 39 feet wide, and it has retained several benefactors through the years that funded its initial construction and ongoing maintenance. Although getting up close and personal with the Hollywood Sign is typically not allowed, it has still played a role in several romantic movies filmed in Los Angeles.
The Hollywood Sign frequently appears in films as an establishing shot that cues viewers into where the story is taking place. Some more romantic films that heavily featured the sign include Friends with Benefits, City of Angels, and Mulholland Drive among others. The Hollywood Sign symbolizes grand aspirations and the magic of Hollywood itself, which makes it a fitting setting for celebrating love and companionship.
If you and your loved one want to experience the best of Los Angeles and Hollywood, book an adventure with Starline Tours today!
