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Bunker Hill originally referred to the residential neighborhood above old Downtown Los Angeles (then centered on Main Street and Broadway). In the 1950s and later, the residences were torn down, and the music center and some of LA's tallest skyscrapers were constructed here. This article contains destinations in an area bordered by the 110 Freeway, the 101 Freeway, Hill Street and 7th Street.
See
[edit | edit source]Arts
[edit | edit source]- 1 Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 250 S Grand Ave, ☏ +1-213-626-6222, info@moca.org. Mon Wed Fri 11AM-6PM, Thu 11AM-8PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-5PM, Tue closed. The permanent collection is fairly interesting, but the changing exhibitions can be more hit or miss. The museum has no 'traditional' art, so bring an open mind. As of 1/11/2020 admission is now free to everyone.The gift shop is fun for at least 20 minutes of wonder and awe. Free.
- 2 The Broad, 221 S Grand Ave, ☏ +1-213-232-6200. Tue-Wed 11AM-5PM, Thu-Fri 11AM-8PM, Sat 10AM-8PM, Sun 10AM-6PM, Mon closed. A newer contemporary art museum built to house the collection of billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad (pronounced "brode"). Opened in September 2015, the museum has a collection of almost 2,000 pieces of postwar and contemporary art, with some of the most famous names of modernism represented (Warhol, Lichtenstein, etc.). The building is a spectacular example of architecture, with a honeycomb-like exterior and visitors entering the third floor exhibit galleries via tunnels through a concrete "vault" that holds most of the museum's collections. Free; entry by timed ticket only, advance reservation recommended. Special exhibitions require fee.
Architecture
[edit | edit source]- 3 Angels Flight. Historic funicular railway $1.50.
- 4 Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W Temple St (between Grand Ave & Hill St), ☏ +1-213-680-5200, info@olacathedral.org. Mon-Fri 6:30AM-6PM, Sat 9AM-6PM, Sun 7AM-6PM (hours extended to 7PM during daylight savings time). This large and austere cathedral, dedicated to Saint Vibiana, is the head of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It was opened in 2002 at a cost of nearly $200 million, replacing The Cathedral of St Vibiana which was heavily damaged in the 1994 earthquake.
- 5 Los Angeles Central Public Library, 630 W 5th St, ☏ +1-213-228-7000. Mon-Thu 10AM-8PM, Fri Sat 9:30AM-5:30PM, Sun 1-5PM. The huge central library, completed in 1926 and refurbished in the 1990s, is a remarkable Art Deco structure surrounded by a pleasant garden with pools and fountains. Inside is a monumental rotunda with elaborate murals and decorations, while most of the stacks are housed in the newer Tom Bradley Wing on the east side of the building, with its glass-roofed atrium. The library almost always has a public exhibition going, usually showing off local art or historical artifacts.
- 6 2nd Street Tunnel (between Hill St and Figueroa St). A somewhat obscure but very recognizable landmark is this tunnel, built in the 1920s beneath Bunker Hill and lined with glossy white tiles that bathe the tunnel in a soft glow. If you don't recognize it from one of the many films shot here (Blade Runner, The Terminator, Independence Day, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and many, many others), chances are you've seen it in at least one of the dozens (possibly even hundreds) of car commercials that have made use of its unique lighting scheme. The Figueroa Street entrance is the more attractive (and recognizable) one; the tunnel looks considerably grittier on the other side.
- 7 U.S. Bank Tower (Library Tower), 633 W 5th St (across 5th St from the downtown central library), ☏ +1 213-683-1000. Daily 9AM-11PM. At 73 floors and 1,017 ft (310 m), this was for a time the tallest building in the Western United States. And while it has been surpassed in height by the Wilshire Grand tower, it still dominates the Los Angeles skyline. It used to have an indoor and an open-air observation deck, the OUE Skyspace, on the 70th floor, with a glass slide on the outside between floors 70 and 69, but it has been permanently closed since 2020. Note to photographers: the building's security personnel will try to discourage you from taking pictures of this building if you're on the grounds of the tower, but as long as you are standing on a public sidewalk you may legally take as many pictures of the building as you like.
- 8 Wilshire Grand Center, 900 Wilshire Blvd (Wilshire and Figueroa). Completed in 2017, this skyscraper has claimed the title of tallest building in Los Angeles, owing to the tall mast atop the structure. A sail-shaped roof tops the building, which is brightly illuminated at night. A hotel occupies most of the building, with the top four floors holding restaurants and bars including a rooftop bar perched on the 73rd floor.
Do
[edit | edit source]Music and live theatre
[edit | edit source]- 1 Music Center and Disney Hall, 135 N Grand Ave, ☏ +1-213-972-7211, general@musiccenter.org. Impressive music hall architecture, with public tours available most days. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is open to the public Christmas Eve day with almost round the clock performances by amateur cultural arts groups. The Walt Disney Concert Hall has daily tours; check website for schedules.
- 2 Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S Grand Ave. varies. One of four halls of the Los Angeles Music Center, it is where the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale perform.
- 3 Ahmanson Theater, 135 N Grand Ave, ☏ +1-213-628-2772. varies. One of four halls of the Los Angeles Music Center, it is the primary venue for theatrical runs in Downtown Los Angeles.
- 4 Mark Taper Forum, 135 N Grand Ave, ☏ +1-213-628-2772. varies. The most intimate of the four halls of the Los Angeles Music Center, it serves as Los Angeles' venue for experimental theater.
- 5 Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N Grand Ave. varies. One of four halls of the Los Angeles Music Center, it serves as the venue for the Los Angeles Opera and Dance at the Music Center.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 1 Engine Co. No. 28, 644 S Figueroa St. Mon-Fri 7:30AM-10PM, Sat Sun 11AM-10PM. Comfort food at its best. A restored actual fire station that churns out great meatloaf, fried chicken and lemonade, all in an elegant atmosphere with great service.
- 2 Kendall's Brasserie, 135 N Grand Ave (at the Music Center), ☏ +1-213-972-7322. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30AM-2:30PM (also Sat-Sun 11:30AM-2:30PM on matinée performance days at the Music Center); dinner: Tue-Sun 5PM-close (seating closes 1 hour after final performance). Great French menu at a perfect location to catch any of the great evening programs at the surrounding venues. Whatever you order, do not miss their French Fries! Mains from $15.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 3 Nick and Stef's, 330 S Hope St. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30AM-2:30PM; dinner: Mon-Sat 5:30PM-9:30PM. Fantastic steak house, run by the Patina restaurant empire. If you like beef, this is some of the best in town, with a glass-enclosed aging room where you can view the meat as it ages. Try the dry-aged Ribeye, it will make your head spin. They also have 12 kinds of potatoes on the menu. Not sure why, but they're all good. In the Wells Fargo Center, across from MOCA. [dead link]
- 4 Water Grill, 544 S Grand Ave (the Old Bank District), ☏ +1-213-891-0900. Mon-Thu 11:30AM-10PM, Fri 11:30AM-11PM, Sat 5PM-11PM, Sun 4PM-10PM. Excellent seafood and service. Perhaps a bit pricey, but elegant and wonderful.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Alcohol
[edit | edit source]- 1 Elevate Lounge @ Penthouse, 811 Wilshire Blvd, ☏ +1-213-623-7100. Excellent views of the city.
- 2 Gallery Bar, 506 S Grand Ave (inside the Millennium Biltmore Hotel), ☏ +1-213-624-1011. Upscale cocktail lounge. House drink is the Black Dahlia cocktail, named for the famed victim of the notorious murder, who was last seen wandering through the hotel. [dead link]
- 3 Library Bar, 630 W 6th St (entrance on Hope St between 6th and 7th Sts), ☏ +1-213-614-0053. Mon-Fri 3PM-2AM, Sat-Sun 7PM-2AM. An upscale pub style bar with a floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall library that houses a wide range of literary classics, while playing great music from Jim Hendrix to The Who. Knowledgeable bartenders offer an extensive beer selection and cocktails that are both classic and innovative.
- 4 The Rooftop Bar @ The Standard, 550 S Flower St (at 6th St). Daily noon-1:30AM. This unique bar offers a hipster hangout with excellent views of the city from thirteen stories up. Wear warm clothes during cold weather, and be prepared for drink prices in the $10+ range for mixed drinks. Don't forget to try the waterbeds or even jump in their pool for a swim.
- 5 Seven Grand, 515 W 7th St (2nd floor), ☏ +1-213-614-0737. Mon-Wed 5PM-2AM, Thu-Fri 4PM-2AM, Sat-Sun 7PM-2AM. Popular whiskey bar owned by the owner of the Golden Gopher and Broadway Bar.
- 6 Spire 73 at Intercontinental Hotel Downtown, 900 Wilshire Boulevard 73rd Floor (near the 7th Street/Metro Center subway station), ☏ +1 213 688-7777. Tue-Sun. Tallest open air bar in USA at the top of the Intercontinental Hotel Downtown Los Angeles in the Wilshire Grand Building. Bar and Restaurant with amazing views of Los Angeles at about 1,000 ft (300 m) high. Cover is $20.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]
Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 1 The LA Hotel Downtown, 333 S Figueroa St, ☏ +1-213-617-1133, fax: +1-213-621-1505.
- 2 Omni, 251 S Olive St (at California Plaza in Bunker Hill), ☏ +1-213-617-3300. The jury for the OJ Simpson trial in 1995 was sequestered here. Convenient to MOCA, Disney Concert Hall, upscale Noe Restaurant and Bar is onsite.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 3 Hilton Checkers, 535 S Grand Ave (adjacent to the Central Library and the Millennium Biltmore in the Financial District), ☏ +1-213-624-0000, toll-free: +1-800-445-8667. AAA Four diamond, renovated 1920s luxury hotel. Weekend packages are offered.
- 4 Millennium Biltmore, 506 S Grand Ave, ☏ +1-213-624-1011, biltmore@millenniumhotels.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. The grand-daddy of all downtown hotels, with its gorgeous lobby and fancy restaurants.
- 5 The Standard, 550 S Flower St, ☏ +1-213-892-8080. Trendy hotel with designer rooms and a bar and swimming pool on the roof. There is also a West Hollywood location.
- 6 , 404 S Figueroa St, ☏ +1-213-624-1000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Recognizable from various movies it has appeared in.
