Sure, the first thing everyone thinks of when the phrase “Valentine’s Day” comes up is snuggling with that significant other in your life, or maybe a romantic candlelight dinner for two at the coziest of restaurants. But there are times we want to get together with our BFFs – or, perhaps we don’t have someone special in our lives at a particular moment in time – and celebrate alongside the cute kissing couples socializing across the city.
The following suggestions represent our picks when you want to plan a GALentine’s Day with the girls in Woodland Hills.
Grab a Coffee at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Conveniently located in Topanga Village at 6316 Topanga Canyon Boulevard Suite 1100, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf offers the perfect backdrop for you and the gals to gather, gossip and catch up on all the news of the neighborhood. Enjoy the finest-quality coffee and tea while admiring each other’s Gucci handbags and fashionable footwear, whether it’s the Original Ice Blended beverages that have made the shop famous or the deliciously-flavored latte and espresso drinks. You and the girls can grab an Americano before heading to Topanga Mall for a serious fashionista expedition, or indulge in a seasonal treat like the Midnight Mocha Cookies & Cream Ice Blended drink after visiting Costco. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is dedicated to sourcing the best ingredients by selecting only the top one-percent of Arabica beans and top hand-plucked whole tea leaves, the coffee freshly-roasted in small batches daily and the tea hand-blended under the direction of a tea master.
Brunch at Leo & Lilly
Leo & Lilly, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 3 pm and from Saturday to Sunday 8 am to 4 pm, brings hearty, filling, healthy and affordable dining to the Woodland Hills scene, thus presenting a great choice when you want to do some casual dining with your besties. Here, European and Mediterranean flavors are fused to create health-conscious, unique and delicious dishes, the restaurant specializing in fresh, organic and top-shelf ingredients served with flair. Everything is made on-premises, and all of Leo & Lilly’s meats and seafood are hormone-free, sustainable and/or grass-fed and free-range. While there, this GALentine’s season, don’t miss their Veggie Burger, Ben’s French Toast and Portobello Benedict.
Pamper Yourself at Best Face & Body
Nothing – and we mean absolutely nothing – says a “girl’s day out bonding” like a trip to the local spa, and in Woodland Hills, no one does it like Best Face & Body Day Spa. Located at 5303 Comercio Lane, Best Face & Body will whisk all your tension and worries away, all while your besties in the next few rooms over are soaking up the same experience. When you’re done, you can all talk about the incredible European facials, LED light therapy, glycolic peels, oxygen therapy facials, diamond peels and micro-current lifting that will have you recommending this spot to all the discriminating ladies in your neighborhood. Open Tuesdays from 10 am to 6 pm and Wednesday through Saturday 9 am to 6 pm.
Go Shopping at Local Boutiques
Okay, maybe we were a bit overzealous in our previous suggestion with regard to a spa visit being the consummate girls bonding activity – of course, there’s also a woman’s favorite pastime, shopping at local boutiques…and Woodland Hills has plenty of those.
Some of our top suggestions for shopaholics and sexy fashionistas alike include Bobbi Rocco at 4913 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, offering the latest in tops, dresses, outerwear, bottoms, swimwear and more; Elle A. at 22890 Ventura Boulevard, a contemporary women’s clothing boutique located in the heart of the Valley offering a vast variety of styles for any occasion; Apricot Lane Boutique at 6256 Topanga Canyon Boulevard #1210, an independently-owned-and-operated business that works tirelessly to make sure women of all ages are offered flattering, timeless and fun clothing and accessories that are of high quality and affordable – from that perfect date night dress to a comfy and casual outfit; and, finally, Varga at 6250 Topanga Canyon Boulevard #1580, a charming boutique-style store inspired from eras of the past, dating all the way back to the 1950s – a mix between old-fashioned décor and fashion-forward pieces has made Varga one of a kind on Woodland Hills’ coveted fashion scene. Definitely add these places to your GALentine’s Day in Woodland Hills for you fashionista gals!
Visit a Wine-Tasting Room or Go on a Wine Hike
This is a unique way for you and the girls to enjoy a GALentine’s afternoon or evening out, especially if you’re wine enthusiasts, and there’s no better place around town than Malibu Wines & Beer Garden, located at 23130 Sherman Way in West Hills. Open Sunday through Thursday 12 pm to 7 pm and Friday and Saturday 12 pm to 9 pm, Malibu Wines & Beer Garden is the latest concept to spring out of the popular Malibu Wines Tasting Room, this new location in West Hills serving Semler and Saddlerock label wines and a variety of local and regional craft beer. If you and your besties never went on a wine hike before, you’re in for something special – contact the business for more information.
Looking to bring your girlfriends together for a day or night of fun? GALentine’s Day in Woodland Hills is the perfect opportunity to gather in one space – or several – for a special (and love-filled) celebration. With the responsibilities of everyday life, it can be challenging taking time out to catch up with your closest friends, but the aforementioned spots leaves you no excuse to avoid re-establishing your “BFF” status with the girls.