Looking for the most romantic things to do in Long Beach, California?! We got you!
Long Beach is one of Southern California’s most underrated coastal gems for couples.
With beautiful beaches, oceanfront restaurants, romantic date ideas, a new amazing luxury hotel, and a lively downtown Long Beach scene, it’s a perfect destination for anyone planning a getaway full of sunshine, seafood, and love.
Whether it’s your first date or you’re just looking to spice things up, these romantic things to do in Long Beach will make you fall in love with each other and the California city of Long Beach.
Take a Romantic Gondola Ride Around Naples Island
A gondola ride with Gondola Getaway around the Naples Canal is one of the most iconic romantic things to do in Long Beach.
We had no idea you could ride a gondola outside of Venice, Italy, and were so excited to explore the coziest way to be on the water.
Drift through the calm waters, enjoy charcuterie and cannolis, and listen to romantic Italian songs as you glide under bridges.
Also, whenever you go under a bridge be sure to kiss your partner for good luck.
Our gondolier provided us a tour of the Naples Canal including some history and real estate facts.
The gondolas are BYOB, so pack a bottle if you’re looking to sip wine during your adventure as you curl up in the authentic Venetian boats and snuggle under a blanket.
Stay at Long Beach’s Most Premium Luxury Hotel
The Fairmont Breakers’ hotel opening was the most anticipated hotel opening in Long Beach.
This historic ocean-view landmark has been reborn as the Fairmont Breakers, a glamorous five-star hotel that oozes timeless elegance.
With its fine dining, rooftop bar, and beautiful view of harbor, it’s without a doubt the best place to stay for couples seeking a romantic getaway in Downtown Long Beach.
This historic building is celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2026.
In the past, this hotel has hosted many famous guests. In fact, Elizabeth Taylor spent her wedding night at this hotel.
The hotel was artfully restored with many original ceilings, trim, and even woodwork from previous reception desks combined with modern finishes that belong on the cover of Architectural Digest.
Have a Cocktail at a Chic Jazz Bar
Hidden inside the Fairmont, Alter Ego serves sultry speakeasy vibes where you can sip cocktails and enjoy live music in a lush atmosphere.
It’s the perfect setting for a romantic nightcap, and definitely one of the best cocktail bars if you’re exploring Downtown Long Beach.
The obscenely dirty martini comes with the ultimate martini garnish: a cocktail pick loaded with a pickle stuffed olive, a pickled onion, and a blue cheese stuffed olive.
They also have a number of old fashioned cocktails to choose from.
For a kiss of smoke and a theatrical display, order the Alter Ego old fashioned. Or try their redwood old fashioned with a smokey mist and an edible pine cone.
Hang around for the jazz musicians to start to play and you have a perfect little date night with a kiss of luxury.
Enjoy a Couples Massage at the Fairmont Spa
Take a break from sightseeing and unwind with a couples massage at the Fairmont Spa.
This serene sanctuary is designed for total relaxation; perfect for quality time together before heading out for dinner or a sunset cruise.
When we get asked for tips from couples who are going on a romantic trip, we always tell them to book a couples massage, it’s a great way to reconnect over wellness.
When in Long Beach, this is definitely a fantastic spa to spend time with your partner.
The spa facilities are gorgeous. Allocate some extra time to enjoy the steam room in the changing rooms.
Then nestle into your robes and cozy up with a cup of tea and healthy snacks in the tranquility room.
Rent a Tandem Bike or Surrey Bike
Take your love on a bike ride, where you ride together along the sandy beaches and marina of Shoreline Village.
Wheel Fun Rentals has everything from tandem bikes to surreys, so you can pedal side-by-side while enjoying ocean breezes and beautiful beaches.
We typically avoid bike rides in most cities, as Karen is a bit accident prone, but the fact you can rent bikes where you can ride together made it an active date.
Since the surreys have more than two wheels, it also takes away any fall risk for those who don’t love bike riding (or who are also accident prone, like Karen!)
The dedicated bike trail gives you a view of the iconic Queen Mary ship, the boats in the marina, Catalina Island, as well as stretches of beach and palm trees.
Take in the Sunset at Long Beach’s Highest Rooftop Bar
Perched above the city, HALO Rooftop Bar is the perfect place to toast the end of the day with handcrafted cocktails and dreamy views of Long Beach and the sparkling Pacific Ocean.
The highest rooftop bar in Long Beach, the views are stunning both inside the bar and outside on the roof deck.
The menu features a handful of specialty drinks with special touches, such as their grapefruit peel infused cointreau in the margarita and a rum drink showcasing strawberry cucumber flavors.
Our favorite speciality drink was the banana bread old fashioned.
Made with bourbon and rum alongside Clement Bana Canne liquor and black walnut bitters, the drink was perfectly balanced with a kiss of banana.
The top of the cupola framing the rooftop bar even features a pillbox, a sniper lookout point that was used during WWII.
This mix of history, amazing views, and tasty libations make this new rooftop bar a hot spot.
Share a Romantic Dinner
Elevate your evening at the iconic Sky Room, one of Long Beach’s most romantic restaurants.
Expect fine dining, vintage art deco vibes, and sweeping Rainbow Harbor views that make this a perfect spot for a romantic dinner or anniversary celebration.
Start your meal with a visit from the champagne and caviar cart.
Choose from three different caviar choices, which are served with chives, creme fraiche, and blinis.
The homemade sourdough blinis made this caviar service the most delicious caviar we’ve ever tasted.
In terms of appetizers, don’t miss out on ordering the crab cake. It’s literally the best crab cake we’ve ever had.
The crab cake is essentially all crab meat with no filler, it’s hard seared for the perfect texture on the outside.
For entrees, choose from a variety of options from scallops, to duck, to their renowned beef Wellington.
Finally, be sure to save room for dessert (and a show!).
A visit from the foster cart for tableside flambe is always the sweetest ending for a great date night at Long Beach’s most romantic restaurant.
Explore a Japanese Garden
Nestled at California State University, Long Beach, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a tranquil Japanese garden filled with koi ponds, bridges, and beautiful gardens.
Students from the local university showed us around the relaxing gardens and provided fish food for us to spend time with the koi fish – even the ducks got in on the feeding!
It’s a perfect place for a peaceful romantic stroll, and free admission days make it accessible to everyone.
Japan is one of our favorite countries in the world, and this garden will transport you when you can’t make that long flight.
Have a Beachfront Cocktail and a Snack
With the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop, Gaucho Beach delivers the ultimate romantic meal by the shore.
Dine right on Alamitos Beach, sip margaritas, and soak in those dreamy views that make Long Beach one of the best places for seaside romance.
The drink list at Gaucho Grill is impressive. The strawberry basil margarita even won best margarita in Long Beach.
The smokey mezcal margarita cocktail even comes cloaked in smoke!
The menu highlights Latin to South American cuisine.
From lomo saltado, a dish of marinated steak with tomatoes, onions, and French fries, to Argentinian steak, you’ll be transported with every bite.
Be sure to order the shrimp taquitos, this seaside snack was crispy and flavorful.
Stroll 4th Street’s Retro Row
If vintage treasures and retro vibes are your thing, 4th Street’s Retro Row is a great place to explore.
Discover quirky boutiques and antique stores as you grab coffee at one of the many coffee shops nearby!
Gusto Bread is a James Beard Award-nominated bakery. They’re using unique and sustainable ingredients like masa madre and in-house nixtamal.
The Dona pastry is a double fried concha that was irresistible.
Loaded with seasonal jam, almond cream, and sliced almonds, the flavor evolves as you continue to eat the pastry.
It is nutty, textural, and the perfect balance of sweetness.
Hot tip – arrive early for the best selection of pastries. When they sell out, they’re out for the day!
Share a Wine Tasting with Tapas
District Wine is a cozy spot in Downtown Long Beach which is ideal for a wine filled date night.
Sip flights, share small plates, and discover new favorites during a wine tasting.
The lush atmosphere and dim lighting make it a perfect setting for conversation.
Choose from three different wine flights as well as a tapas menu featuring items like green pea tapenade, a gorgonzola crostini, or goat cheese with berry jam.
For a heartier bite, order one of their varieties of flatbread.
Swirl a good glass of red with your partner, and learn about wines that you both enjoy together.
Soak Up the Sun at the Pool
Spend your afternoon lounging at the Fairmont Breakers Pool, a serene retreat with lush lounge chairs and a beautiful view of the harbor.
It’s one of the best things to do for couples who just want to relax and soak in the Southern California sunshine.
During the weekends you can order light bites like ceviche, guacamole, or hummus and crudite alongside a full bar.
We cracked open a book while sipping on a St. Germain spritz for a relaxing retreat under the umbrellas.
Savor Brunch on the Marina or in a Duffy Boat
Located near Alamitos Bay, Nigel’s at Anchor’s Away offers an upscale brunch experience with marina bay views, lots of photo opportunities, and an entertaining time.
It’s the perfect setting for an Instagramable brunch date.
Typically, the more instagramable a restaurant, the worse the food. But at Nigel’s we were floored by how tasty the dishes were.
The la reina pork carnita chiliquales were topped with tender pork and the flavor had the perfect amount of spice.
The pink hen chicken and waffles were so crispy and even featured honey-cured bacon bits.
This is a delicious and fun brunch. For a different way to experience Nigel’s rent a pink duffy boat and explore the water!
We noticed so many groups bringing their own snacks and drinks aboard the bright pink boats to explore the canals around the marina.
After your boat experience, stay for a craft cocktail or a glass of champagne from their robust wine list as you watch diamond-clad performers dance around the charming space.
You can even ring a bell to have your champagne delivered through the wall on-demand!
Savor an Authentic Taste of Spain
One of our favorite meals in Long Beach was at Teleferic Barcelona.
Located in the 2nd & PCH lively entertainment district, this restaurant transported us back to Spain.
Offering many of our favorite things to eat in Barcelona, from imported Iberico jamon, to traditional pan con tomate, to the most authentic paella we found in America.
There are even five paella varieties to choose from!
The drinks and plates were as delicious as they were theatrical. Some of which came presented with bubbling dry ice, a smoke cloche and even a tableside au jus injection.
We absolutely loved the elevated take on Spanish food, everything was elegant which made for a romantic date night in Long Beach.
Be sure to order the heirloom tomato salad. The dish was layered with bright, fresh tomato carpaccio, tuna escabeche, and a basil vinaigrette.
We also loved the prime wellington entree. This take on a beef wellington used short rib and iberian ham, which was a rich, yet irresistible combination.
Enjoy Italian Food at L’Opera
Craving a taste of Italy while in Long Beach? Head to L’Opera Ristorante.
The Lombardi dish features ravioli filled with red wine braised short rib combined with ricotta.
Served in a gorgonzola cream sauce and topped with english peas and roasted broccolini, it is rich and satisfying.
Looking for another amazing filled pasta dish? Try the Cappallaccci di Zucca, it’s a taste of autumn.
Ravioli is filled with butternut squash and ricotta then sauteed in brown butter sage.
What sets this butternut squash ravioli apart is that it is topped with a spicy marinara, which offsets the sweetness that is prevalent in most squash pasta dishes.
If you’re looking for a lighter ending after all that pasta, opt for the panna cotta.
Served with fresh berries, it’s creamy without being heavy.
Eat Along 2nd Street in Belmont Shore
Partake in a food crawl along 2nd Street in Belmont Shore.
Take a romantic stroll down the boulevard and enjoy the lively atmosphere of this beachside neighborhood.
For a taste of Hawaii, try a taro root donut from Holey Grail Donuts. Pair it with an iced coffee made with macadamia nut milk and you have a perfect start of the day.
For a mid-day snack with a show, add some fire and flair to your Mediterranean Greek meal with flaming saganaki at George’s Greek Café in Downtown Long Beach.
The cheers of “Opa!” and warm hospitality makes it a great time and Greek food brings us back to our favorite Greek islands.
They’re also known for their grilled lamb chops!
For dessert head to Foodologie, they have a number of whimsical flavors of brownies and cookies.
From Ube Oreo, to Matcha, to even a cookie called Churrodoodle!
Pair your sweets with an iced churro cold brew latte for a real treat.
The drinks at Foodologie come with an optional cold foam cloud, and of course they’re featuring innovative flavors!
We loved the coconut water topped with light and fluffy ube cold foam, it was unlike any other drink we’ve tasted!
Still hungry? The Locals rave over the cinnamon rolls at Sweet Jill’s Bakery. The display case is loaded with tons of desserts that anyone with a sweet tooth will love.
Eat Breakfast at The Breakfast Bar
Wake up with comfort food and cocktails at The Breakfast Bar, one of Downtown Long Beach’s best places for hearty morning eats.
We loved the famous omelette casserole.
Prepared a day in advance, the eggs are so rich and creamy. We topped our dish with spiced pork sausage and mushrooms which was so satisfying.
For a unique asian-fusion twist, try the bulgogi egg benedict served on their famous potato pancakes.
It’s a perfect spot for relaxed, delicious weekend mornings together.
Or, if you’re looking for a party, enjoy a breakfast cocktail or a brunch shot, the staff shirts do say “day drinker” afterall!
Check Out a Show Together
Long Beach has a vibrant entertainment scene. You can find a number of concerts and comedians at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.
Long Beach also showcases a thriving LGBT community.
Get ready for laughs, live music, extravagant drinks, and fabulous performances at Hamburger Mary’s.
From party brunches to dinner shows, it’s one of the most unique special events in Long Beach and an option for couples looking for a unique and lively show.
We visited Long Beach in October, so to partake in the spooky season, we were previewed to the Beetlejuice show.
We sipped the XL high heel cocktails as we enjoyed the show.
The costumes were top notch and the crowd was singing along to the high-production show!
Enjoy a Brunch Date at Nettuno
Start your morning Italian-style at Nettuno, where romantic Italian decor and mimosas flow freely.
This cozy restaurant in the Fairmont Breakers blends European charm with Southern California sunshine for a dreamy brunch date.
Start with the prosciutto Bloody Mary made with house infused rosemary and pepper vodka or the black boulevardier, a cross between an old fashioned and a cold brew.
For entrees, be sure to order the fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes. They’re topped with orange marmalade, which is a game changer.
We also loved the smoked salmon crostini which was served with an herbed mascarpone, it was the best salmon toast we’ve had!
For something savory, try the lobster florentine Benedict or the Tuscan duck confit hash.
Still craving more date ideas? Check out:
- The Aquarium of the Pacific for interactive exhibits and diverse marine life.
- The Long Beach Museum of Art and the Museum of Latin American Art for creative inspiration.
- A harbor cruise for sunset views of the Queen Mary.
- The Long Beach Antique Market (every third Sunday) for vintage finds.
- The Laugh Factory for a night of comedy and cocktails.
- A scenic picnic at Hilltop Park, one of Long Beach’s best date ideas for sunset lovers.
From fine dining at the Sky Room to gondola rides through Naples Island, Long Beach truly is a great city for lovebirds.
With its beautiful beaches, romantic restaurants, and vibrant city energy, it’s a perfect destination for anyone seeking romantic things to do in the United States’ most charming coastal enclave.
Be sure to explore Visit Long Beach for trip planning resources.
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