10 Best Things to Do in Downtown LA

Known for its street art and superb dining scene, the Downtown LA Arts District is a trendy foodie hub. Formerly an industrial zone, old warehouses now house swanky restaurants, design-minded boutiques, and studios for creative professionals. Park your car and take some time to explore – the center of activity is around Traction Avenue and 3rd Street.

Visit the free-admission Institute of Contemporary Art or do a gallery walk punctuated by breaks in the area’s many coffee shops. Dine on seafood at a Michelin-starred kaiseki counter or discover Brazilian flavors you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in the city. Bookstore Hennessey + Ingalls will impress with its huge selection of books on art and design.

Officially the birthplace of Los Angeles, Olvera Street is the vibrant center of the city’s cultural heritage. Also known as El Pueblo, the area contains dozens of historical structures and several museums that reflect the diversity of the city from its founding in 1781 to today.

The Plaza de Cultura y Artes is a significant cultural institution in Los Angeles that celebrates the music, storytelling, and culinary arts of Latinx people in Southern California. The Italian American Museum and Chinese American Museum share the contributions of these communities to the city’s development and culture. The Mexican Marketplace is not to be missed, with colorful stalls selling handmade ceramics, unique leather goods, and authentic enchiladas.

The Broad might be the coolest free museum you’ll ever visit. This contemporary art space typically takes about an hour to peruse, with around 250 pieces from the collection of 2,000 post-war works on display at any given time. Think Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol. It’s home to not one but two of Yayoi Kusama’s infinity mirror rooms, which are so popular an item that you’ll need to reserve your spot in advance.

The museum’s app provides excellent audio guides for adults and kids alike (the kids’ guide is voiced by the inimitable LeVar Burton). Expect variety at The Broad, from intimate video installations to exhibitions spotlighting pop art pioneer Roy Lichtenstein.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall is said to have the most impressive acoustics of any venue in Los Angeles. Home to the LA Philharmonic, the concert hall hosts performances of all kinds, from Swan Lake and Rachmaninoff to indie rock bands and live renditions of popular film scores.

Designed by visionary architect Frank Gehry, the iconic twisted steel structure is worth a visit even if you don’t have the time or budget to attend a performance. Take advantage of the free self-guided audio tour (narrated by John Lithgow) to learn about the design and construction of this magnificent venue.

Occupying the same spot since 1917, Grand Central Market is one giant food court. The historic market has seen its share of gentrification over the years but still offers highly diverse and highly delicious breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Stalls under neon signs serve up local staples like breakfast sandwiches at Eggslut and Korean lunch sets at Shiku. Cuisine runs the gambit from pastrami sandwiches and fresh pasta to vegan ramen and Salvadoran pupusas. Choose your adventure, then chow down in the sunshine at the outdoor patio.

Gloria Molina Grand Park is a 12-acre green space and gathering space in Downtown LA. Music, dancing, and food trucks are staples of this civic park which hosts free year-round community events and celebrations.

Stretching three city blocks from City Hall, the grassy hillside park has plenty of spots to picnic. The park is a popular meeting space and parents often bring their children to play in the park’s fountains. Take a break from your downtown explorations and do a little people-watching from the friendly pink benches in this urban oasis.

Angels Flight is a historic funicular railway in the Bunker Hill district. Often called “the world’s shortest railway,” it shuttles passengers up and down the steep hill between Hill Street and Olive Street. It was built in 1901 to provide Bunker Hill residents easy access to the shopping and business districts below. Riding in the sloping, counterbalanced cars, passengers are taken on a brief journey to a bygone era.

After more than twenty years out of commission, Angels Flight was restored and reopened in 1996 due to its historical and cultural significance. The distinctive orange-and-black railcars have appeared a number of times in film and television, including in an iconic montage from La La Land.

Music and pop culture fans will have a blast at the Grammy Museum. Showcasing the 50-year run of the Grammy Awards, the museum has exhibits on music history and Grammy-winning artists accompanied by showbiz artifacts. A rotating featured artist exhibit puts the spotlight on icons like Katy Perry and Bruce Springsteen.

Expect to see memorabilia from the likes of Michael Jackson, Elvis, and the Rolling Stones. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to pick up a guitar and form their own band and get an insider’s look at the studio recording process. The museum is located in the LA Live entertainment complex amongst restaurants, bars, and a movie theater.

LA’s Chinatown is both a star of the silver screen and of the city’s food scene. The neighborhood is known for its mix of affordable restaurants offering East and Southeast Asian staples and trendy spots like Howlin’ Ray’s, which serves Nashville hot chicken to long lines of Angelinos. Satisfy your sweet tooth with almond cookies or strawberry cake from local favorite Phoenix Bakery. As for nightlife, Chinatown has breweries and cocktail bars aplenty and hosts block-party-style events in its Central Plaza.

Wandering lantern-lit streets visitors will find specialty shops, contemporary art galleries, and the small-but-free Chinese American Museum. Exhibits range from the history of Chinese immigration to the Taiwanese roots of bubble tea.

The Last Bookstore is not actually the last in Los Angeles, but it is certainly the most beloved. This spirited independent bookshop sells new and used books, and a number of bookish art installations make it a delight to explore. It’s housed in an old bank building and has a classic charm, with huge floor-to-ceiling columns and books lining antique wooden shelves.

The vast selection spans every conceivable subject. On the ground floor, visitors can grab a cup of coffee and relax into a squishy armchair while they page through a new read. The second floor has a collection of rare volumes and a labyrinthine section of one-dollar books.