Romance in the Southland

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The Odyssey Restaurant is a vision of the Valley, featuring fine dining with a breathtaking view from any area in the dining room. Everything gleams from the oak paneling, brass fixtures to the crystalline windows and a panoramic view of San Fernando Valley. Open for Lunch Monday through Saturday and Dinner daily, the Odyssey menu offers delicious California cuisine specializing in steaks and fresh seafood. On Sundays the Odyssey serves their award-winning champagne Sunday offering over 100 specialty items. The Odyssey also offers a lovely lounge and cocktail patio with the same spectacular view as the restaurant. The lounge features a full bar and happy hour, which is offered Monday through Friday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Description:

The Castaway Restaurant and Events is located high in the Burbank hills overlooking De Bell Golf Course, with a breathtaking city view that is spectacular day or night. Castaway has been a landmark in the Burbank area for over 40 years.

What can be more romantic than Valentines Weekend at Castaway? Make your reservations now. For pricing or more information please contact us at (818)848-6691 or e-mail us at www.castawayrestaurant.com

Description:

This is a romantic place for both the highly artistic and the rest of us who only experience creative dreams. Low lighting, pale-colored walls, wooden tables and chairs create an unusual but relaxed atmosphere for this French bistro. The menu offers simple and basic French favorites such as Vichyssoise and Veal Blanquette, along with original dishes seasoned with special spices. Those who insist on American cuisine will find steaks and several seafood plates available. The food is one of the city's best values for its quality, and the beautiful setting will help to make your meal memorable.

Description:

Get ready for a unique dining experience. This is a traditional 15th Century-style Moroccan royal residence on the bustling Sunset Strip. Belly dancers add to the fun and make you feel that you are in a land far from Hollywood. Even the U.S. floor-level lounge seating in the traditional fashion creates the perfect mood for what's ahead. Two large purple accented dining rooms are intimately set. The staff is very helpful in explaining the dishes to those who need a little help. The food is exotic, but easy to get used to. The delicious chicken dishes and flaky sweet desserts are worth mentioning.

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So your taste is a tad exclusive, and you still haven't found the right place for a steaming cuppa? Do not fear, this Parisian café-boutique offers the most exquisite eating and drinking options! Basically a caviar shop with a small coffee bar, Petrossian Cafe & Boutique has loyal patrons who swear by its high quality food products, and simple, elegant ambiance. Nothing is reasonably priced, and you are expected to carry enough dough, especially if caviar is on your shopping list!

Description:

Il Cielo is modeled after the hotel belonging to the family of the owner, in the Tuscany region of Italy. This space is known to locals as the wedding party restaurant for its popularity as a reception site. It is also reputed to be the site of more marriage proposals than any other spot in town. The romantic dining room consists of two garden-style courtyards and an interior white room. Inside is a 35-foot retractable glass ceiling. Tuscan style seafood specialties include Lobster Ravioli and various other seafood pasta dishes. Fresh fish offerings change daily according to market availability.

Description:

This place is truly one of a kind. The delightful dining room features a sliding wall that reveals a hidden stage where a live jazz combo entertains until late into the night. The kitchen closes at the times listed below but the music goes until about midnight on weekdays, and until 1a on Friday and Saturday nights. Decorated in handpainted watercolors, the dining room allows patrons to relax in large wicker chairs and enjoy a menu offering wonderful fresh fish, steak tartare and roasted chicken with pomme frites. Call for the musical schedule.

Our Local Expert Says:

Eating here is like being transported to Middle Earth!

Description:

Enter a near-Nirvana state as you walk down the steps into this delightful outdoor setting. Romantic, candlelit tables overlook a quiet brook creating a truly unique dining experience. Inventive vegetarian, macrobiotic and organic specialties are featured here. The many salads, seafood dishes and pastas are all appealing and made with only the freshest organic ingredients. Try the prix-fixe Sunday brunch buffet where you can try a little bit of everything.

Description:

This place is mostly known as a restaurant with a great view of the ocean. The outdoor patio, however, is known by locals as a great place to watch the sun set and sip the drink of your choice. You can order eats from the menu or just enjoy the view. It's one of those places where time seems to simultaneously stand still and rush by at incredible speeds. In other words, come for the view and a drink and you may wind up staying for dinner.

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You can hear the water beneath you at this scenic Malibu bar. The terrace over the ocean is great, the food is expensive, and the parking is valet. Good place to take in the Pacific over a couple of drinks.

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Nestled next to the Queen Mary, The Reef Restaurant offers an unparalleled dining experience, starting with the enchanting front walk surrounded with waterfalls and beautifully manicured gardens. Large windows offer a stunning view of Queensway Harbor and the downtown Long Beach skyline that can be enjoyed from all the tables, and from two open patios perched above the water line, while the Sundeck Terrace, with its backdrop of The Queen Mary and harbor waters make for a breathtaking place for intimate weddings. The Reef Restaurant provides such a romantic ambiance, that many couples have been engaged here and married in one of the beautiful banquet rooms overlooking the waterfront. The Reef's selection of choice seafood and prime steaks is the star attraction that will delight the palate, along with an extensive fine wine list to complement each and every dish offered, from the succulent Australian lobster to the cowboy rib-eye steak topped with blue cheese.

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The Italian-Spanish influence is evident everywhere at this hotel. The hand-painted frescos, the bas-relief décor, the fountains, the polished wood floors, the ornate ceilings and the abundant flowers all contribute to class and elegance that is practically beyond words. A favorite since 1923, and a member of Historic Hotels of America, this famed hotel, once called the Regal Biltmore, hosted the Academy Awards during the 1930s and 1940s. Guests have included dignitaries like Winston Churchill, Presidents Kennedy, Ford, Carter and Reagan, as well as British royalty. Smeraldi's offers excellent California cuisine. The Rendezvous Court hosts afternoon tea and evening cocktails.

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Previously known as the Wyndham Checkers, everything about this grand classic in downtown Los Angeles is top-of-the-line. The furnishings are elegant, the art is exquisite, the service is impeccable, and the amenities are first-rate. The hotel, built in 1927, is a Historic Cultural Monument. It is a four-star, and four-diamond property furnished with hand-carved headboards, marble bathrooms, artwork and antiques as well as all modern amenities. Part of the historic district, many rooms overlook the city's beautiful and historic Central Library.

Description:

Formerly known as Le Reve, this converted apartment building is still close to all of the action on Sunset Boulevard. The hotel is nestled into the foothills of Hollywood and a country French and pine motif graces each of the unusually large suites. This is certainly a nice option for those looking to be close to the strip, yet also want to be able to find some peace after a hard day of shopping, exploring and attending the many wonders of the trendy area.

Description:

Formerly known as the Regent Beverly Hills, this glamorous hotel is now the Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills. One can experience the best of the Four Seasons hospitality right here. The rooms and suites are stylishly comfortable, the best you can experience. The hotel's spa offers several treatments, some of which include the use of aromatherapy oils and marine and plant extracts. If you're looking for a while away from the kids you should consider the spa's Ice Cream "Treat"ments for kids! Call ahead or check website for more details.

Description:

The Peninsula Beverly Hills offers the perfect, luxurious oasis, set in one of the most prestigious areas of Los Angeles, in the heart of Beverly Hills. Located at the intersection of Wilshire and South Santa Monica Boulevards, the hotel is within easy walking distance of the financial and shopping areas of Century City and Beverly Hills, including the famous Rodeo Drive, and only 20 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport. The only hotel in southern California to earn the distinction of an AAA Five-Diamond and Mobil Five-Star rating for 13 consecutive years, The Peninsula Beverly Hills is designed to resemble a gracious private residence, offering 193 elegantly appointed guest rooms, including 36 suites and 16 private villas, nestled amid lush, tropical gardens.

Description:

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this two-story, ivy-covered 1911 Craftsman bungalow is now a homey bed-and-breakfast on one of funky Venice's unique sidewalk streets, just a block from the beach. The interior has a homey lived-in look -- shelves of vintage books, antique furnishings, hardwood floors, faded Oriental rugs -- that adds charm for romantics but won't live up to the expectations of travelers who like their lodgings to be flawless (or who aren't keen on possibly sharing a bathroom). What's more, the inn hums noisily with activity when there's a full house -- seekers of absolute quiet and designer appointments will not be comfortable here. Still, the huge repeat clientele base doesn't seem to mind these minor caveats. My favorite room is the upstairs Venice Pier Suite -- light and airy, with a wood-burning fireplace, king-size bed, private bathroom, and sunny sitting room. An expanded continental breakfast with homemade baked goods is served in the sunroom overlooking a splendid garden.

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Channel Road Inn recently was ranked by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the Best Bed and Breakfast inns in Los Angeles. Located in the seaside community of Santa Monica, this charming inn boasts many rooms with ocean views, fireplaces and/or jetted spa tubs. The finely crafted historic inn offers visitors to the Los Angeles area a relaxing haven by the sea. Guests enjoy the fabulous complimentary amenities including a bountiful breakfast and afternoon wine and hors d'oeuvres.

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A recent $30 million renovation has made this iconic Santa Monica hotel even more luxurious and impressive. Within walking distance of Santa Monica Pier, and a short drive from Rodeo drive, the Getty and Malibu, the Hotel Shangri-La is ideally located. Sweeping ocean views, a gourmet restaurant, an elevated pool and cabanas and a rooftop bar complete its "air of playful exclusivity."

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L.A.'s finest family-friendly hotel is also a great choice for anybody looking for comfortable accommodations, an A-1 Santa Monica location, outstanding service, and a wealth of first-rate facilities. Loews isn't exactly beachfront -- it's on a hill less than a block away -- but the ocean views are fabulous. Immediately upon entering, guests are wowed by the dramatic atrium lobby with its playful SoCal style, which serves as a great backdrop for the spectacular ocean views. The guest rooms have an inviting, contemporary style in light, earthy colors. But the best news is still the top-rated facilities, which include an excellent heated pool, plus the fitness center and spa with a state-of-the-art gym, yoga and Pilates classes, health and fitness counseling, and full slate of spa and salon services. The restaurant Ocean & Vine offers California farm-to-table cuisine and expertly paired wines to match. The Papillon Lobby Bar is a classy spot for a drink.

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The Ritz Carlton at Marina Del Rey is located near Venice Beach and Malibu, and offers easy access to the numerous attractions in the surrounding area. This picturesque waterfront hotel offers luxurious accommodations, and facilities like a 24-hour fitness center and a spa. Indulge yourself in a stylish setting and an ambiance that never ceases to pamper you!

Description:

Luxury gets top billing at this oceanside inn. The setting is picturesque, the rooms are amazing, and the service is warm and enthusiastic. For those looking for a beachfront experience, this is a perfect getaway destination. Step into rooms with balconies, fireplaces (in most) and your own private soft-sided Jacuzzi tub. Sliding glass doors open to an uninterrupted view of the ocean and the sound of waves can lull you to sleep at night.