It’s that time of year. Various hues of pink are popping up everywhere and teddy bears with giant red hearts are propped against store aisles. Add to that, the scent of romance is slowly wafting into the air so you know it means Valentine’s Day is on its way. If you happen to be someone who has a special person in your life, then creating a memorable day is important; almost crucial. One of the best ways to do that is to make reservations for a wonderful dinner. If you’re in the LA area and looking for a perfect place for Valentine’s Day, I have the spot for you: Riviera 31, a new cocktail bar and lounge inside Sofitel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. Here’s why…

For this tasting, I invited my boyfriend along to see how the experience would be for a couple. To start off the night, I wanted to sample menu items that would unveil the restaurants best dishes that could be ideal for the holiday. The first choice was, of course, drinks. I ordered the Bardot ($15). It’s made with humani pisco, lemon juice, prickly pear puree, and merlot float served with a giant spherical rock. This was a little stiffer than drinks that I’m used to, and you can taste the prickliness of the pear as it lightly itches down your throat. It’s not too shabby. However, my boyfriend went with the waitress’ suggestion and ordered the Deneuve ($15). It’s made of Partida tequila blanco, grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, and hibiscus syrup served on the rocks. I loved this drink so much that I finished it before he got the chance. It was light and tasted like a grapefruit Jolly Rancher. What made it even more exciting is you can eat the flower affixed to the drink! Chewy, sweet, and tastes just like candy. If you and your date love to drink, they offer a Cocktail Bowl (4 drinks for $60) which lets you get more of what you want, should your drink be a little more pricey.

As we waited for the prix-fixed tasting tray to arrive, we nibbled at the small bowels of House Peanuts and the Truffle Popcorn. If you go to Riviera 31 on Valentine’s Day, I wouldn’t suggest eating too much of the popcorn. While it’s highly regarded, it may leave you with an unpleasant after taste. In spite of that, it’s good popcorn and it’s different from the typical bread a restaurant serves. When our tray arrived, I was ready to explore it! It had sample sizes of the Charred Brussel Sprouts ($7), Crispy Duck Skin Salad ($12), Roasted Garlic Mushroom Flatbread ($16), and Lobster Corn Soft “Tacos” ($12). The Brussel sprouts taste nothing like what your mother force fed you as a kid. They’re topped with sherry vinegar which gives them a tarty sweetness to blend with the charred herbs. The salad has a green farro and a poached egg underneath red wine vinaigrette. As the yolk drizzles onto the greens of the salad, it gives you a really nice and smooth taste. The flatbread may have two Valentine Day breath killers, garlic and mushrooms, but they come in moderation. The flatbread isn’t heavy and it tastes so delicious! It was my second favorite to the Brussel sprouts. The tacos are made of a polenta crepe, crème fraiche, and pickled radish with a lemon on the side. Squeeze the lemon atop the tacos for edible transcendence. Lastly, the mini crème brûlée Sweet Flight ($9) is a dessert lover’s dream! It’s three dishes of (get ready for this) praline, vanilla, and chocolate crème brûlée. My lord, it might as well be an aphrodisiac trinity. If some of the descriptions of the food seem a little highfalutin, don’t worry. All you need to know is that they are such great eats and they encourage the night between you and your date.

The last part that makes Riviera 31 a great Valentine’s Day resort (and really for any other day) is the entertainment. On Fridays and Saturdays, Niko and the Gipsys (The Gipsy Kings tribute band) play Spanish flamenco inspired music fused with a salsa funk that’s probably best described as a “get off you butt and dance” style of music. It’s fun and it’s inside the bar so it’s just a few steps away from where you dined.

I admire how easy it is to be affectionate within this bar and lounge, and how they promote passion to best inveigle a couple closer to one another. Riviera 31 is a lover’s oasis gently snuggled inside a luxury hotel. From the décor, food, and entertainment it’s clear that romance is so prevalent in a place like this that they should create their own word for it. Riviera31ism? Riveraistic? Not sure what to call it, but if either one of those happen to take off, I call dibs on them.

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Address: 8555 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 310-358-3979
Hours: Sunday to Thursday – 4:00pm – 12:00am, Friday and Saturday – 4:00pm – 2:00am
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