What to Do in Downtown LA

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Los Angeles is huge, and there’s no doubt that there’s a ton to see and do. The good news is, that while yes, LA is extremely spread out, it’s more than possible to see a ton without having to fight your way through traffic or spend hours in the car.

In fact, a number of LA’s best tourist destinations are nestled right in Downtown. Whether you’re looking for cultural experiences, shopping, delicious food, interesting architecture, cool museums . . . you name it, it’s here.

It’s taken me a few years of living out here to figure out the top spots, so if you’re not quite sure what to do in Downtown LA, I’ve got you covered! These are all the best things Downtown LA has to offer.

Table of Contents

Grand Central Market

Ask anyone about DTLA and this is one of the first places that comes up. Does that mean it’s overrated or a tourist trap? Not at all.

In short, this is a historic market that’s been around since 1917. Although it’s dealt with some gentrification over the years, and plenty of locals will tell you “it’s just not the same anymore,” it’s still a really cool spot to visit during your time in LA.

And on the bright side, there are still a number of legacy vendors around, like Roast To Go, which has been selling tacos, burritos and more since the ‘50s, and China Cafe, which has been around since 1959 as well.

It’s also just great because there’s something for everyone. Apart from Mexican and Chinese, Grand Central Market has sushi, Korean food, Thai, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, ramen, and more.

On the bottom floor of the market, a lot of times there will also be vendors selling things like jewelry. This is a quintessential LA experience that everyone should have at least once! (317 S. Broadway)

If you’re looking for a way to try lots of different things, consider going on a food tour! This one includes a stop at Grand Central Market along with a number of other iconic DTLA spots.

dried mango in container with lit-up sign above that says "La Huerta Candy & Snacks" in Grand Central Market, in Downtown Los Angeles

Grand Central Market and the Last Bookstore

The Last Bookstore

I can never resist a bookstore, and The Last Bookstore is one of the best. This is another spot you’ve probably seen pop up on social media — It’s cozy, cute, and just fun to explore, even if you’re not looking to shop. They have all kinds of displays like a tunnel made of books, and a giant travel section that I always like getting lost in.

As much as I’ve tried to cut back on my shopping, books are my biggest weakness, and as the largest new and used bookstore in California, it is always hard to resist getting something here. The Last Bookstore’s used book section in particular has some great deals, making it way more tempting. They also sell records, comic books and art. (453 S Spring St. – Ground Floor)

Little Tokyo

Within Downtown LA is one of my favorite all-time pockets of LA — Little Tokyo.

In short, Little Tokyo is a great spot to get a little look into Japanese culture, right within Los Angeles. While it’s is a fairly small area, there are lots of shops to explore, and the Japanese American National Museum, which is really interesting if you’d like to learn more about the history of Japanese immigration in Los Angeles.

Unsurprisingly, Little Tokyo also has a ton of Japanese restaurants, including one I’ve declared my all-time favorite sushi restaurant, Sushi Gen.

A red Japanese-style tower is in the middle and goes to the top of the photo. A building is behind it. — *Little Tokyo*

Arts District

Right next to Little Tokyo is the Arts District, another really cool area of Downtown.

There’s lots of street art to explore, art galleries (Hauser & Wirth has a couple different exhibits, and they also have a great bookstore), and restaurants.

Angels City Brewery is an awesome space and is worth stopping in for a beer.

Olvera Street

This is another one of my favorite places in the city.

It’s a historic street that’s still home to a Mexican marketplace, and is such a hidden gem.

America Tropical Interpretive Center, the Avila Adobe and the Italian American Museum are all free and are great spots to check out if you’re interested in the history of the area.

They’re all small, so if you also plan to eat at one of the cafes or restaurants (which you definitely should), I’d just expect to spend an hour or two here in total.

A girl standing in the middle of a Mexican market with items surrounding her and a fountain behind her in Olvera Street, a historic marketplace in Downtown LA — *Olvera Street*

Items on display with papel picado, Mexican-style paper cut-outs hanging across in Olvera Street, Downtown LA — *Olvera Street*

MOCA

This is a free contemporary art museum in LA, that is also artist-founded.

There are two MOCA locations — The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Little Tokyo, which is open Thursdays through Sundays, and its main gallery located on Grand Avenue, which is open every day except Monday.

Chinatown

Right next to Olvera Street is another neighborhood reflecting LA’s diverse immigrant communities and history.

Chinatown Central Plaza is the main hub, and while a bit touristy, is really colorful and fun to walk around and take photos. You’ll see a lot of traditional Chinese architecture, with various shops and galleries throughout.

Unsurprisingly, there are a ton of amazing food spots in this area. I love Yang Chow for American-style Chinese food — the slippery shrimp and fried rice are both so good, and really bring me back to the style of Chinese food I grew up eating in New Jersey.

There’s also the Chinese American Museum, which costs just $3, and is a great place to learn about Chinese immigration in Los Angeles. The LA State Historic Park is also a gem, and has an awesome view of the Downtown skyline.

Keep in mind that things seem to wind down early here (the pandemic was pretty rough on this neighborhood, I think), so it’s best to get here earlier in the day before the shops and galleries close.

The entrance to what looks like a Chinese temple in Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles. — *Chinatown*

A doorway into a store in Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles, with many items visible and a lit-up "Open" sign. — *Chinatown*

Bradbury Building

This is a historical landmark that I haven’t yet had a chance to visit, but it’s high on my list, since I honestly can’t resist some cool architecture.

The Bradbury Building opened in 1893, and has shown up in a number of movies like “500 Days of Summer,” “The Artist” and “Blade Runner.”

From the outside, it looks like a 19th century Romanesque-style building. But the inside — with its open-cage elevators, iron railings, and marble stairs, is truly unique and beautiful — and free to visit!

It is actually still a functioning office building, and is open daily. With that said, you can’t wander around freely in all the areas of the building, but it’s very much worth popping your head in and checking out the lobby. (304 S. Broadway)

If you want to learn more, I’d suggest signing up for a walking tour. This option has great reviews and includes The Bradbury Building, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Union Station!

Visit Exposition Park + Museums

If you’re in the mood for some non-art-related museums, this is the spot for you. Right in Exposition Park, you can find both the California Science Center (which is free), the California African American Museum (also free!) and the Natural History Museum,

If you’re an LA County resident, the Natural History Museum is free Mondays through Fridays, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., otherwise, an adult ticket is $18, or $14 with a student ID.

I’ve visited the Natural History Museum a couple times and it has a ton of interesting exhibits featuring everything from animals across the world to a lot (seriously) of dinosaur bones. The architecture is also super beautiful, which makes it extra nice. Definitely give yourself at least a couple hours here — there’s a lot to see!

The Science Center is a little more geared toward kids, but I recently went with my husband, and we had fun, especially with the various interactive elements. Their main draw is the giant Endeavor rocket, that unfortunately won’t be back on display for a couple years, as they’re currently building a whole new wing of the museum to hold it. But even without seeing that, it was still cool.

The park itself is also really nice, especially thanks to its rose garden.

A sculpture in the Natural History Museum in Downtown LA — *Natural History Museum*

A dinosaur skeleton in the Natural History Museum in Downtown LA, with pink and purple lighting — *Natural History Museum*

St. Vincent Court

This is another little hidden gem tucked away in DTLA.

It’s a little alleyway that’s colorful, quirky, and has a number of cute cafes with a European vibe. It’s pretty small, so don’t expect to spend much time here, apart from checking it out and getting something to eat. (311 W. Seventh St.)

The Broad

You may have seen photos of the iconic Infinity Room floating around social media over the years — that’s here!

This is one of my favorite museums in LA, and definitely one of the coolest art museums, if you ask me. It’s also free! (Mostly — there’s typically an exhibit that requires a paid ticket, but I’ve always skipped those.)

You do need to make a reservation in advance, but I’ve been able to do it right before without any issue.

To see the Infinity Room exhibit, because of its popularity, it does require making a separate reservation, which is a little annoying, and I would definitely suggest doing this farther in advance if you’re interested in going. Tickets are made available the last Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. for the following month. Find out more here.

A woman stands in the Infinity Room exhibit at the Broad in Los Angeles — *The Infinity Room at the Broad, an art museum in DTLA*

Walt Disney Concert Hall

This building is right next to the Broad, and is another architectural gem in LA. Even if you’re not going to a show, it’s worth at least popping your head in. They even offer free tours.

Is Downtown LA safe?

Before you head off to your Downtown LA adventure, you may be wondering about safety, so I figured I’d quickly address it.

Downtown LA doesn’t have the best reputation, it’s true. However, I largely think it’s over-sensationalized, and in general, over-hyped.

As a woman, I wouldn’t want to be walking around alone at night, but I’d say the same about most major cities. In general, take the same precautions you’d take in any big city: be aware of your surroundings, be careful with your valuables, don’t walk down dark alleys, etc, etc.

With that said, car break-ins are a problem pretty much throughout LA.

So if you’re driving, do not leave anything visible in your car — anything you don’t need for the day, keep it hidden in the trunk, or better yet, just back at your hotel. (But again, that is advice that I literally just follow all the time.)

But apart from that I feel generally safe in LA, and safety isn’t something that should hold you back from experiencing all there is to see in this city.

If you’re looking for more ways to experience the best of LA, head to one of these guides next:

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