Los Angeles/Downtown

Los Angeles is a city of diverse cultures, and many of them are showcased in and around the city's Downtown. While Downtown L.A. has been considered primarily a business and manufacturing hub for the last several decades, its long-heralded revival has really gained some traction as new restaurants, retail chains, boutiques, and trendy hotels open at a rapid pace. Some highlights for the visitor in Downtown include Grand Central Market, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Olvera Street, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and some unique and stunning examples of American and international architecture sprinkled throughout.

Bounded by a rough triangle formed by the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) on the south, the Harbor Freeway (CA-110) on the west, and the Los Angeles River on the east, the Downtown area encompasses several neighborhoods that are remarkably varied in character.

The Historic Core lies east of Hill Street and west of Main Street between 3rd and 9th Streets, and was the undisputed center of the city for the first half of the 20th century, with the old theatres along Broadway and the old banks along Spring Street. Following the white flight to the suburbs after World War II, the district became a vibrant center of Latino culture. Today, while the area is a little sketchy, a significant amount of redevelopment has occurred here and the neighborhood has many superb examples of early 20th century architecture, including a high concentration of movie palaces along Broadway. South of Pershing Square, the Historic Core overlaps with the Jewelry District, noted for its many jewelry stores. To the north of the Historic Core is the Civic Center complex, which stretches west along Grand Park between 1st Street and the Hollywood Freeway (US 101).

To the west of the Historic Core, sitting between 1st and 8th Streets, are overlapping Bunker Hill and the Financial District, an area that was leveled in the 1960s for the many skyscrapers and plazas that were built here. Because of the numerous office buildings, this area can feel rather sterile in character, but it does hold the grand public library, a pair of major contemporary art museums and the Music Center, which includes Walt Disney Concert Hall. South of this is the rapidly gentrifying southwest corner of Downtown, labeled by developers "South Park," home to the convention center, L.A. Live, and the Crypto.com Arena, as well as many new hotels and high-end residential developments.

The southeast side of Downtown is more gritty industrial in character. Infamous Skid Row sits east of Main Street and west of Alameda Street between 3rd and 7th Streets, and is generally deemed a place to be avoided, especially if alone and/or at night, due to a large homeless population, though the Greyhound bus terminal is here. Further east, between Alameda Street and the Los Angeles River, is the Arts District, a neighborhood of old industrial buildings converted to lofts, breweries and studio spaces. South of Skid Row, roughly between Main Street and Central Avenue, is the Fashion District, a nexus of the West Coast apparel industry with its numerous manufacturers and wholesale stores.

The north side of the Downtown area is home to a few colorful ethnic and historic neighborhoods. Little Tokyo, a cultural center for Japanese Americans, is centered around the intersection of 1st Street and Central Avenue. On the north side of the Hollywood Freeway, across Alameda Street from the Union Station complex, is El Pueblo, the site of the original settlement of Los Angeles and today a Mexican-themed district with some historic structures centered around touristy Olvera Street. Spreading to the north is the sprawling Chinatown district, centered along North Broadway and housing many Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurants and shops. Union Station, Los Angeles' main railroad terminal, is located here.

Downtown LA is simultaneously the hub of the freeway network, road network, commuter rail network, subway / light rail network, and bus network in the region, and thus very easily accessible. Parking lots are also plentiful, though rising steadily in price.

Downtown LA can be accessed directly via the Pasadena Freeway (SR-110), the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10), and the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5 and US-101). Just outside Downtown LA, these freeways connect to the Golden State Freeway (I-5), the Hollywood Freeway (US-101), the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10), the Harbor Freeway (I-110), and the Pomona Freeway (SR-60).

Drive your car to a parking lot and go by foot from there. Downtown isn't that big and quite walkable, and there are plenty of Metro buses and DASH shuttles (see below) to shorten the walk. Some people are partial to parking at any one of the lots around the Music Center or Civic Center, in roughly the area bounded by Grand to Spring and Temple to 2nd. Pershing Square has good parking central to many attractions. On the south side of Downtown, the Convention Center has a large parking garage, although it is near the Staples Center and spaces will be in high demand on game days.

Union Station, the main train station for Los Angeles, is located on the edge of downtown, with transfers available to the B and D line subways, Metro, or DASH buses. Four Amtrak lines terminate here, providing direct service from as far as Seattle, New Orleans, and Chicago. Union Station is also the hub of the Metrolink interurban heavy rail system, linking Los Angeles with the Inland Empire, Orange County, Ventura County, and the Antelope, San Fernando, and San Gabriel Valleys.

If your point of origin is within the urban and suburban areas of Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, or San Diego Counties, you may be able to avail of the growing commuter rail network known as Metrolink to visit Downtown LA. Six of the seven Metrolink commuter rail lines terminate at Union Station in Downtown LA's El Pueblo district. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at each station, and fares are determined by time (peak or non-peak hour, weekday or weekend) and distance:

• The San Bernardino Line runs 34 trains on weekdays between Downtown LA and the eastern suburbs (the "Inland Empire"), running through the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, and San Bernardino County. There is also limited weekend service, and terminating in Downtown San Bernardino.
• The Riverside Line runs 12 trains on weekday rush hours between Downtown LA and the eastern suburbs (the "Inland Empire"), running through the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, and Riverside County, and terminating in Downtown Riverside.
• The 91 Line runs 8 trains on weekdays between Downtown LA and the eastern and southeastern suburbs (the "Inland Empire"), running through the Orange and Riverside Counties, and terminating in Downtown Riverside.
• The Orange County Line runs 20 trains on weekdays between Downtown LA and the southeastern suburbs, running through Orange and San Diego Counties, and terminating in Downtown Oceanside. There are 4 trains a day on the weekends. Check if the Pacific Surfliner's schedule and stops work for you.
• The Ventura County Line runs 20 trains on weekdays between Downtown LA and the northwestern suburbs, running through the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County, and terminating in Ventura's Montalvo neighborhood. Most trains don't go all the way to the end of the line.
• The Antelope Valley Line runs 24 trains on weekdays between Downtown LA and the northern suburbs, running through the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys, and terminating in Downtown Lancaster. There are 6 trains a day on the weekends.

For those visitors coming from within Los Angeles County, local subway and light rail service may be the best option to get to Downtown LA. Five of the six subway and light rail lines in the Metro Rail system terminate in Downtown LA at either Union Station or 7th/Metro Center.

• The  B  Line and  D  Line subway routes cut across Downtown, making four stops: Union Station, Civic Center, Pershing Square, and 7th/Metro Center. The Red Line continues northwest to Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, while the Purple Line continues west to Mid-Wilshire.
• The  A  Line and  E  Line cut across Downtown along the Regional Connector, sharing five stops: Pico Station in the South Park/Convention Center area, 7th/Metro Center in the Financial District, Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station, Historic Broadway station near the Civic Center and Historic Theater district, and Little Tokyo/Arts District.
  • The A line brings riders from South L.A. and Long Beach to the south. From Little Tokyo, it makes two more stops downtown, at Union Station and Chinatown, then continues north and east toward Northeast Los Angeles, Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.
  • The E line brings riders from Santa Monica, Culver City, South L.A., Exposition Park, and the University of Southern California, then continues into East Los Angeles.

7th Street/Metro Center is the junction of all four rail lines that meet in Downtown LA: the A, B, D, and E. Union Station is served by the A, B, and D lines, but not the E.

Most major intercity bus carriers that serve L.A. stop in Downtown: Greyhound has a bus terminal at 7th St and Decatur in Skid Row, while Megabus, Flixbus, and BoltBus stop at Union Station. From within Los Angeles, Metro buses radiate out of Downtown to many of the city's neighborhoods. Metro buses going to/from downtown are numbered 1-99 (frequent local routes with multiple stops, orange colored); 300s (limited routes at peak commuting hours only, orange colored); 400s (express routes, blue colored); and 700s (Metro Rapid routes w/ limited stops and frequent service, red colored). There's also the frequent Metro Silver Line, which operates along busways to/from El Monte, East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, Harbor Gateway, and San Pedro. Additionally, many of the other transit agencies of the broader Los Angeles area provide some sort of express service into Downtown.

• 34.05514-118.233141 Greyhound Los Angeles bus station, (Patsaoras Plza/Union Station) 801 N Vignes St (Buses board at Bay 8 at Patsaoras Plaza opposite side of tracks from Union Station), ☏ + 213 629-8401.  (updated May 2021)

Downtown LA is not directly served by an airport, but can be accessed via public transportation from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX ^IATA) in Westchester and Bob Hope Airport in Burbank.

From LAX, there are two relatively frequent public transportation options to Downtown LA: the FlyAway Bus and Metro Rail. The FlyAway Bus^{[dead link]} is the most direct and convenient option, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week between Union Station and LAX, stopping outside each terminal (be sure to take the Union Station-bound bus, or you'll end up far from Downtown). The Metro Rail option is cheaper, but also much slower and requires several transfers: first you must board the free LAX G-shuttle to the Aviation/LAX station on the Green Line, then take a Norwalk-bound Green Line train to Willowbrook station, then transfer to a Los Angeles-bound Blue Line train. The Blue Line ends in the Financial District at 7th/Metro Center, where you can connect to the Red and Purple Lines. Metro Rail trains run from 4AM until about 1AM everyday.

Bob Hope Airport is served by three rail lines, The Metrolink Ventura County Line runs on the weekdays. During evenings or on weekends, take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train (the last Amtrak train departs the airport at 9:13PM daily). Both of which use the Burbank Airport-South train station within walking distance from the main terminal building. The third rail line is Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line. Take the free shuttle to the Burbank Airport-North Station. For any train, use the ticket vending machines on the platform to purchase a ticket to Union Station. Alternatively, take the shuttle to North Hollywood station and then the Metro Red Line subway to Downtown.

Downtown is one of the few areas of L.A. that one can reasonably cover on foot.

Metro is the most extensive transit system in the region, operating buses, subway, and light rail across Los Angeles County. All major streets have at least one (and in some cases, several) bus lines running daily. Additionally, Downtown LA is served by four Metro Rail lines; see the Get in section above for details on individual lines and stations.

In addition to Metro is DASH, a shuttle service run by the L.A. Department of Transportation, which is handy for when your feet get tired or to better expand your travel area. It has several convenient routes that whisk you to almost all of the worthwhile spots Downtown. DASH buses run every 5-10 minutes weekdays 6AM-9:00PM, and every 10-15 minutes 9am to 6pm on the weekends. A ride costs 50 cents (25 cents for seniors) and pamphlets are available from most Metro stations (Union Station, 7th/Olive) and convenience stores Downtown. Click here for more information on Downtown DASH routes, including real-time bus tracking

Metro operates a bike share system, with numerous stations scattered across the Downtown area. Single trips are $3.50 for 30 minutes of use (credit or debit card required), or you can load a monthly pass onto a TAP card for $20 which gives you free rides shorter than 30 minutes and $1.75 for every thirty minutes after that.

• 34.050556-118.2394441 Little Tokyo. Los Angeles' Japanese district features numerous attractions, restaurants, and shops geared towards the local Japanese-American population or those who take an interest in Japanese culture. The district is centered along 1st and 2nd Streets between Los Angeles and Alameda Streets.  
  • 34.0496-118.2392 Japanese American National Museum, 100 N Central Ave, ☏ +1-213-625-0414. Tue, Wed and Fri-Sun 11AM-5PM; Thu noon-8PM. A museum devoted to the Japanese-American experience, with a particular emphasis on the Japanese internment camps of World War II, including numerous artifacts and historic photographs. Besides the permanent collection, the museum also holds changing exhibits on Japanese-American art and history. $12 adults, $6 students/seniors/youth 6-17, free for children 5 and under; free admission Th evenings 5-8PM.  
  • 34.04887-118.24043 Japanese Village Plaza. A bustling urban mall with traditional Japanese architecture and lanterns.  (updated Aug 2016)
  • 34.05031-118.242144 Weller Court. A pedestrian shopping mall with a view of City Hall up the street and a monument to astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, who perished in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.  (updated Aug 2016)

• Downtown Art Walk. A monthly celebration of Downtown's art scene, this self guided tour of local art galleries and museums is held on the second Thursday of every month. 
• 34.05065-118.2386655 Geffen Contemporary, 152 N Central Ave. A branch of MOCA tucked away inside a former warehouse in Little Tokyo, regularly used to host large installations too big to be housed in the MOCA on Grand. Same opening hours and shared tickets as MOCA on Grand.  * 34.044252-118.2599216 Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), 919 S Grand Ave, ☏ +1-213-624-1201, toll-free: +1-800-624-1200. Gorgeous campus of FIDM and ongoing free exhibits make this a pleasant way to kill a couple of hours.  
• 34.044736-118.2645497 Grammy Museum, 800 W Olympic Blvd (entrance on Figueroa St), ☏ +1-213-725-5700. Sun Mon 11AM-5PM, Tue closed, Wed–Fri 11AM-5PM, Sat 11AM-6PM. History of music, with listening posts. Adult $18, senior/military $15, ages 5-17 and students $12, ages 4 and under free.  (updated Nov 2023) ^{[dead link]}

• 34.050526-118.2478348 Bradbury Building, 304 S Broadway. Built in 1893, the Bradbury Building is one of Southern California's most remarkable architectural achievements. Behind its modest exterior lies a light-filled Victorian court that rises 50 ft (15 m) with open cage elevators, marble stairs and ornate iron railings. The building has been a set for many movies, perhaps most notably the conclusion of Blade Runner. Visitors without business in the building are allowed into the lobby and up to the first landing of the staircase.  

• 34.0536-118.2439 Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N Spring St (enter on Main St). Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM. Completed in 1928, this towering Art Deco building is the center of the city's government, housing the mayor's office and the city council meeting chambers, and was the city's tallest building for nearly forty years after it was built. An observation desk on the 27th floor offers a marvelous view of Downtown; you'll have to check in at the security desk at the entrance, and they'll give you directions to the observation desk. On the way up admire the spacious rotunda on the 3rd floor and the "Hall of Mayors" on the 26th floor. Free.  (updated Apr 2015)
• 34.053-118.24510 Los Angeles Times Building, 202 West 1st Street. Art Deco classic. No longer owned by the LA Times as of 2024. No interior tours available.  (updated Aug 2026)
• 34.045764-118.25374211 St. Vincent Court, 7th St, between Broadway and Hill. A tranquil hideaway tucked in the heart of the Jewelry District.  

• 34.045912-118.25273912 The Theater District. The Theater District along Broadway had fallen into serious disrepair for decades, with most of the theaters being occupied by swap meets selling discount jewelry, electronics and $2 socks. Fortunately, most of the architecture and marquees remain, and are being renovated and turned into glorious destinations once again - starting with an Urban Outfitters and the Ace Hotel.  

• 34.043056-118.2672221 Crypto.com Arena, 1111 S Figueroa St. Home to three of LA's pro sports franchises; Lakers (NBA), Kings (NHL), and Sparks (WNBA), plus many concerts, shows and conventions.  
  • LA Lakers, Crypto.com Arena. Do they need an introduction? They are the most popular basketball team in the city. Prices are very high (the most expensive ticket in the NBA) but you will rarely be disappointed with the beautiful Crypto.com Arena. 
  • LA Kings, Crypto.com Arena. LA's hockey team - One of the NHL's brightest young teams with stars like Anže Kopitar and Quinton Byfield. A fun hockey experience and a great, affordable way to experience Crypto.com Arena. 
  • LA Sparks, Crypto.com Arena. LA's women's basketball team - they especially need your support! A good, inexpensive family outing and a chance to be shown that women are just as capable of dazzling the crowd with their athletic prowess as men!! 

A number of music, theater, and convention venues are in Downtown Los Angeles.

• 34.0397-118.272 Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S Figueroa St (Between 11th and Pico two blocks west of the 110 Freeway), ☏ +1-213-741-1151. varies. Los Angeles' main venue for conventions and expositions, it is where Anime Expo and the Los Angeles Auto Show are held.   ^{[dead link]}
• 34.0444-118.2673 Peacock Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Ct (Between Figueroa and Georgia). varies. Built in 2007, it is Los Angeles' premier venue for rock concerts and awards shows.  

• 34.04523-118.26554 Conga Room, 800 W Olympic Blvd, ☏ +1-213-745-0162, fax: +1-213-745-8771. A nightclub at L.A. Live specializing in Latin music.  
• 34.04541-118.2530175 Clifton's (Clifton's Cafeteria, Clifton's Republic), 648 S Broadway. One of the inspirations for Disneyland, Clifton's is a bar, restaurant, and nightclub themed after the woods of California, full of taxidermy, fake plants, strange artifacts, and comfortable seating, with a multi-story design organized around a dancefloor with an enormous hollow fake redwood in the middle of it.  (updated Feb 2026)

Downtown's shopping districts are sights in themselves.

• 34.034204-118.2512641 Fashion District (near the convergence of Spring St and Main St). The area is largely a manufacturing and wholesale showroom center, with hundreds of retail shops carry cheaply made and priced goods catering to budget shoppers and the large Latin-American community that work in the area. It's being injected with a dose of young trendy brands like Acne, Oak, and Aesop, mostly centered around 9th & Broadway, but still a good spot to stock up on cheap basics like socks and t-shirts, or, for the DIY crowd, hit one of the numerous huge fabric stores that stock just about every type of fabric, lace, and general bric-a-brac imaginable.  
• 34.04761-118.2360652 Arts District. The Arts District houses a plethora of unique clothing, houseware and knick-knack boutiques, amidst a rapidly evolving area.  
• 34.040614-118.2499063 Flower District, 766 Wall St. The cheapest place to buy flowers in the city, it's where most of the florists get their supply. Come very early for the best selection. Two huge warehouses spread across both sides of Wall Street (the Original Los Angeles Flower Market and the Southern California Flower Market). $1 admission Sa, $2 admission M-F.  
• 34.046659-118.2538014 Jewelry District. Wonder where all of those West Coast Rappers get their bling bling? Well, if they are frugal, they get it in the Jewelry District. Bounded by Olive-Broadway and 6th-7th, it is conveniently close to Pershing Square (parking and Red line access).  
• 34.038044-118.2551645 Santee Alley (Fashion District) (between Santee St and Maple Ave, starting on Olympic Blvd). A bustling outdoor flea market crammed in an alley, home of knock off designer labels and impossibly crappy jewelry. Come here for interesting atmosphere, or to buy cheap socks.  
• 34.047731-118.2498216 The Last Bookstore, 453 S Spring St – Ground Floor (at 5th St (near Pershing Square Metro station)), ☏ +1-213-488-0599. Mon-Thu 10AM-10PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-11PM, Sun 10AM-9PM. California's largest used/new book and record store in downtown LA. In a downtown LA loft totaling 22,000 ft² (2,000 m²), it has over 250,000 used and new books and 10,000 records for sale on 2 floors with a yarn gallery, arts and rare book annex and a small art gallery. Events like book reviews, book signings and open mic nights are held here as well.  (updated Mar 2016)

• 34.05086-118.248951 Grand Central Market, 317 S Broadway (LA Metro Red or Purple lines to Pershing Square Station), ☏ +1-213-624-2378. 8AM–9PM daily. Food hall with stands to eat different types of food or buy seafood, spices, beans and peas, liquors and more. Very charming and lively place. Full of locals and tourists. Parking garage entrance 308 S Hill St ($5.50 min, $25 max).  (updated May 2026)
• 34.046397-118.262922 The Original Pantry Cafe, 877 S Figueroa St, ☏ +1-213-972-9279. Wed-Fri 7AM-3PM, Sat Sun 7AM-5PM. The Pantry boasts that it has never closed or been without a customer since it first opened in 1924 (want proof? The front entrance has no lock on it). However that tradition unfortunately ended due to Covid-19. Come here on any morning and you will see a line stretching around the block; the wait is worth it, and the fast service will have hot plate of food in front of you within minutes of sitting down. Best place for breakfast after midnight. It is owned by former mayor Richard Riordan. Cash only.  (updated May 2024) ^{[dead link]}
• 34.048899-118.2383513 Señor Fish, 155 S. Main St, ☏ +1-213-265-7544. 11AM-9PM daily. Not really authentic — it's sort of a variation on Baja-style Mexican — Senor Fish downtown does just one thing well, but they do it better than anyone. Luckily, that one thing is an important thing: grilled fish tacos. Grilled, not fried. Their Shrimp Taco is amazing as well.   ^{[dead link]}

• 34.049068-118.2513324 Perch, 448 S Hill St, ☏ +1-213-802-1770. Great rooftop setting on the 15th floor of a building, a nice place for a sunset meal, snack, drink, and to lounge with good company. French bistro style. 21+ after 9PM.  
• 34.041883-118.2551475 Wood Spoon, 107 W 9th St, ☏ +1-213-629-1765. Tue-Fri 11AM-3PM, 5PM-10PM, Sat noon-3PM, 6PM-11PM, closed Sun-Mon. Features Brazilian-inspired dishes that are different from what most American restaurants serve as "Brazilian". Rice, beans and plantains are in use, but entrees such as a Brazilian-inspired pot pie and cinnamon water will be new to most diners. Jacqueline, the very gracious chef, will usually make the rounds once the kitchen closes and can tell some very interesting stories about her life after coming to the States. $10-20 per person.   ^{[dead link]}

• 34.047755-118.2547236 Cicada, 617 S Olive St (between 6th and 7th Sts), ☏ +1-213-488-9488. Wed-Fri 5:30PM-9PM, Sun 6PM-9PM. Situated in the beautiful Arts Deco Oviatt Building, Cicada deftly blends elegance of design and superior Italian fare. A chic bar is upstairs, complete with marble dance floor. A perfect place for special occasions, a fine meal before the theatre or just any excuse to be dazzled, both by the atmosphere and the cooking.  

• 34.042699-118.264097 The Palm, 1100 S Flower St (across from the Staples Center), ☏ +1-213-763-4600. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30AM-3PM; dinner: Mon-Thu 3PM-10PM, Fri 3PM-11PM, Sat 5PM-11PM, Sun 5PM-9:30PM (open Sun at 4PM on Lakers/Clippers evening game days, Sun at 3PM on Lakers/Clippers afternoon game days). The Palm is a casual white tablecloth restaurant with a mix of Italian, seafood and great steaks. Check out the collection of caricatures on the walls too.  

• 34.039316-118.2324711 Blue Bottle Coffee, 582 Mateo St (at Willow St). Daily 7AM-6PM. Popular and excellent spot for coffee in the arts district.  (updated Apr 2016)
• 34.046037-118.250422 Spring For Coffee, 548 S Spring St (at 6th St), ☏ +1-213-337-0936. Mon-Fri 6:30AM-8PM, Sat 7AM-8PM, Sun 7:30AM-5PM. Small coffee shop with sidewalk tables and delicious coffee.  
• 34.033519-118.2298533 Stumptown Coffee, 806 S Santa Fe Ave (at 7th Pl), ☏ +1-213-337-0936. 7AM-7PM daily. Straight out of Portland, one of the newest coffee roasters to LA.  

• 34.051-118.2454 The Edison, 108 W 2nd St #101, ☏ +1-213-613-0000. Wed-Fri 5PM-2AM, Sat 7PM-2AM, closed Sun-Tue. Housed in what was once Los Angeles' oldest power plant, this 1920s-themed lounge is a stunning reuse of the structure, even down to preserving the old generators, giving the place an industrial steampunk vibe. Besides the amazing decor, absinthe and craft cocktails are available and the place often puts on burlesque and live music shows, in keeping with its classical vibe. Dress code enforced. $10 cover charge.  (updated Apr 2015) ^{[dead link]}
• 34.042941-118.2552325 Broadway Bar, 830 S Broadway, ☏ +1-213-614-9909. Tue-Fri 5PM-2AM, Sat 8PM-2AM Sun-Mon closed. Dark, popular spot featuring a bar in-the-round and a second floor smoking balcony.  
• 34.040596-118.2591336 Club Mayan, 1038 S Hill St, ☏ +1-213-746-4674. Great singles spot downtown! Dress code is enforced. Be sure to check out the annual Lucha Vavoom (lucha libre and burlesque).   ^{[dead link]}

• 34.04493-118.256267 Golden Gopher, 417 W 8th St, ☏ +1-213-614-8001. Tue-Fri 5PM-2AM, Sat-Mon 8PM-2AM. Ms. PacMan + Jukebox + Classiness. Also sells alcohol to-go.  
• 34.050726-118.2496758 La Cita, 336 S Hill St, ☏ +1-213-687-7111. 10AM-2AM daily. Curious mix of Latinos and hipsters.   ^{[dead link]}

• 34.05277-118.247469 Redwood Bar, 316 W. 2nd St. Hip little dive with a goofy but fun nautical theme. Live music, pub food.  (updated Nov 2017)

• 34.049753-118.24589910 La Costeña Bar, 271 Main St, ☏ +1 213 680 9455. 1PM-2AM daily. No frills dive bar with lots of cool decor inside. Tropical Mexican design with micheladas and margaritas, very cool place.  (updated Sep 2026)

Downtown has a plethora of hotels catering primarily to business travelers. While most others have tended to stay further west, the last couple of years have seen the addition of some hipper hotels catering to younger crowds.

The large number of business hotels can be used to your advantage if the timing is right; try for deep discounts on weekend stays.

• 34.050739-118.242611 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown, 120 S Los Angeles St, ☏ +1-213-629-1200, fax: +1-213-622-0980. Featuring spacious rooms, modern decor, and a variety of amenities in Little Tokyo. $110+.  

• 34.047899-118.2582742 Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, 711 S Hope St, ☏ +1-213-488-3500, toll-free: +1-866-716-8130. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.  

• 34.041494-118.2568793 Ace Hotel DTLA, 929 S Broadway, ☏ +1-213-623-3233, fax: +1-213-623-6163, enquire.dtla@acehotel.com. Opened early 2014 in the historic United Artists building that was built in 1927 for what was then a maverick film studio. Includes free Wi-Fi and air-con. Terrace Suites are 633 ft² (58.8 m²) and include a private kitchenette, private terrace; some have Ace x Rega RP1 turntables and acoustic Martin Guitars. From $199.  
• 34.045481-118.263874 Figueroa Hotel, 939 S Figueroa St, ☏ +1-213-627-8971, toll-free: +1-800-421-9092. For those looking for something unusual, Figueroa Hotel provides Moroccan styled luxury. Mystic and beautiful, this is where Cirque Du Soleil hosted their premiere party of Varekai.  
• 34.049693-118.2401915 Miyako Hotel, 328 E 1st St, ☏ +1-213-617-2000. A downtown Japanese hotel offering classic comfort accommodations, meeting rooms, and a health spa with Shiatsu massage, close to attractions.  
• 34.045581-118.2667936 Ritz Carlton, 900 W Olympic Blvd, ☏ +1-213-743-8800. This high-rise hotel is one of the newest in downtown, with stunning views from the upper floors. It's across the street from LA Live, the Convention Center, and the Staples Center. From $450.  

The area bounded by 3rd Street, 7th Street, Alameda Street and Main Street is often referred to as "Skid Row" or "the Nickel" and has one of the largest homeless populations in the United States. The Greyhound Station is here, but the area is unsafe for pedestrians regardless of the time of day.

• 34.05283-118.251911 Indie Desk, 333 S Grand Ave Suite 3310, ☏ +1 213-634-7485. 9AM-6PM Mon-Fri. A coworking space if you need easy access to a desk and internet access, short term or long term. $20/day, $125-225/month.  

• Hollywood – Center of the motion picture and entertainment industries
• South LA – Despite its rough reputation, this neighborhood south of downtown is worth a visit for its museums, the University of Southern California, and the space shuttle Endeavour.
• Wilshire District – Northwest of downtown, the Wilshire district is home to Koreatown, as well as attractions that include the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Peterson Auto Museum, and the world-famous La Brea Tar Pits.
• Northwest LA – Northwest of downtown, this area is home to Dodger Stadium and the massive Griffith Park and its world-famous observatory.
• East LA – The Eastside of LA is home to several neighborhoods that date back as far as the late 19th century and includes Heritage Square, a historic collection of old buildings moved from other parts of LA. The Eastside is east of downtown.
• Gateway Cities – The Gateway City of Huntington Park borders downtown to the south.
• Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway (110 Freeway) (starts at the intersection of the CA-110 and the US-101, heading north from that junction). Drive the Parkway, a National Scenic Byway that runs for 9.4 miles (15.1 km) between Downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena. The Parkway passes from the skyscrapers of Downtown, through Chinatown into the Arts-and-Crafts style neighborhoods of South Pasadena and ends in Pasadena at Colorado Blvd, home to the famous Rose Parade. There is also a bike path that runs along the LA River, roughly the same route. 

Sacramento ← Northwest L.A. ←	N  S	→ East LA → Santa Ana
Santa Monica ← Wilshire ←	W  E	→ East LA → San Bernardino
Pasadena ← Montecito Heights ← Becomes ←	N  S	→ South L.A. → San Pedro
Santa Barbara ← Northwest L.A. ←	N  S	→ END
Santa Monica ← Northwest L.A. ←	W  E	→ East LA → Barstow
END ←	W  E	→ East LA → Riverside

Pasadena ← Highland Park ←	N  S	→ South L.A. → Long Beach
North Hollywood/Koreatown ← Westlake ←	N/W  S/E	→ END
Santa Monica ← Expo Park ←	W  E	→ East L.A.
San Pedro ← South L.A. ←	S  E	→ East L.A. → El Monte