Downtown Los Angeles, aka DTLA, is LA’s central business district as well as a diverse residential neighborhood. Wedged between the 10, the 110, and the Los Angeles River, this urban hub is a bustling business center by day and vibrant metropolis by night. Downtown’s districts, including the Arts, Banking, Civic Center, Fashion, Jewelry, Theater, and Toy districts, are named after what takes place there currently or historically.
Once considered primarily a business and manufacturing hub, this historic neighborhood has undergone a transformation over the past couple of decades into a hip, lively, and creative area. With it, the renaissance has brought cultural attractions, trendy restaurants, budget-friendly shopping, and major-league sports.
In addition to the convention center, an entertainment complex called L.A. Live, and the Staples Center, high-end residential developments and new hotels have been a large part of DTLA’s resurgence. Gleaming high-rises sit next to architectural landmarks, like the Bradbury Building and the city’s 1781 birthplace, El Pueblo de Los Angeles. Defunct industrial buildings have re-emerged as luxury condos, lofts, and studios, as well as co-working spaces and shops, attracting thousands of new residents.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
1. Commuting in Downtown LA
DTLA is the city’s transit hub, easily accessible by freeway, Metrolink commuter rail, Los Angeles Metro Rail subway/light rail, and bus. Major Metro stations in the district include Civic Center/Grand Park station, Pershing Square station, 7th Street/Metro Center station, Pico station, and Little Tokyo/Arts District station. Located on the edge of downtown, the historic Union Station is the main train station for Los Angeles, with transfers available to the red/purple line subways, Metro, or DASH buses. Four Amtrak lines provide service to Union Station from as far as Seattle, New Orleans, and Chicago.
Greyhound has a major bus terminal on Seventh and Alameda at the edge of Skid Row, an area predominantly inhabited by the homeless community. All major streets have at least one (and sometimes several) Metro bus lines running daily. Metro also operates a Bike Share system. DASH shuttle service also has several convenient routes throughout Downtown. Luckily, DTLA is one of the most pedestrian-friendly urban neighborhoods in the city, with plenty of parking.
2. Where to eat in Downtown LA
Where locals eat brunch on Sundays
Redbird
114 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Bring a bunch of people to sample Redbird’s plethora of New American shared plates, like the carrot cake babka with walnut and cream cheese glaze or blueberry lemon empanada. This East 2nd Avenue eatery’s patio was made for brunching. Afterward, explore the Ahmanson Theatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and The Broad art museum, all conveniently located nearby.
The best coffee shop to work remotely
Stumptown Coffee Roasters
120 E 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
The Downtown Arts District outpost of Portland’s Stumptown Coffee Roasters resides in a 7,000-square foot warehouse. Enjoy the aroma of beans being roasted onsite as you work. Choose from the full espresso bar, drip coffee, or brew-by-the-cup selection paired with a pastry. They also have cold brew on draft, and you can even fill up a growler to go.
The best take-out spot for when you don’t feel like cooking
LA Café
639 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
via LA Café 
via LA Café
Whether you’re in the mood for breakfast, lobster mac and cheese, or a surprisingly good vegan burger, LA Café’s massive menu has your back, with 24-hour delivery to boot!
Late-night eats for when you’ve had one too many
Cole’s French Dip
118 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
You haven’t had a french dip until you’ve had one from Cole’s French Dip, the self-proclaimed inventor of the sandwich. The public house offers braised pork, roast beef, turkey, braised lamb, and pastrami versions, but only the roast beef and pork are available from 10pm-1am. Top it off with a slice of housemade bourbon pecan or banana cream pie.
3. Where to drink
The dive bar where everyone knows your name
Hanks’ Bar
840 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Hanks’ Bar is the definition of a dive bar, complete with friendly bartenders, large round leather booths, gin bottle light fixtures, and checkerboard flooring.
Where to drink outside
Broken Shaker
416 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
The Freehand Hotel’s Broken Shaker is giving The Rooftop at The Standard Downtown LA a run for its money as far as Downtown pool deck bars are concerned. We featured the tiki bar on our Guide to the Best Bars in LA. Enjoy a tropical drink and spectacular views of the city from atop the Commercial Exchange building.
Where to get cocktails on a first date
The Edison
108 W 2nd St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Your date may think you’re going to murder them when you bring them to the sub-basement of LA’s’ oldest power plant for craft cocktails and a burlesque show. Now an industrial-style speakeasy, The Edison invites you to travel back in time. Keep in mind that “innovative, sophisticated and cultured attire is highly encouraged” after 9pm—which means no flip flops or sandals, athletic wear, excessively torn or baggy jeans, or even short-sleeved t-shirts!
4. Things to do in Downtown LA
images via ROW DTLA 
Boutiques
THE BLOC is a very LA-sounding “outdoor lifestyle center” located off Pershing Square in the Financial District. Here, you can shop casualwear at Uniqlo, browse luxury gifts at Please Do Not Enter, or see a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse. Head over to The Small Shop for vintage accessories. Browse the labyrinth of new and used titles at The Last Bookstore. The multilevel space is California’s largest used/new book and record store and is decorated with local art. When you need a snack, walk over to FIGat7th’s food court, which features Downtown outposts of Sprinkles, Mendocino Farms and Pazzo Gelato. The open-air shopping mall also has chain retailers like Zara, Target, Starbucks, and Morton’s Steakhouse.
The Fashion District supplies much of the West Coast’s apparel industry. The area just south of Skid Row is largely made up of manufacturers and wholesalers, but some brands, such as Acne, Oak, and Aesop are cropping up around 9th and Broadway. If you can sew, go knock yourself out at one of the many giant fabric stores, like Michael Levine. Bargain hunters can find incredible deals on costume jewelry, hats, jeans, knock-offs, shorts, socks, suits, sweats, tees, and ties in the bustling Santee Alley. The outdoor flea market is crammed between Santee St and Maple Ave, starting on Olympic Blvd.
A rather new addition to the Fashion District, ROW DTLA offers retail outlets, pop-up shops, office space, and dining. Shop swimwear at COAST by COAST, global interiors at A+R, hard to find brands and sneakers at the impossibly cool Bodega, and emerging eco-friendly brands at Galerie.LA.
Stock up on beautiful blooms for cheap on Wall Street in the Flower District. In the Jewelry District, a massive emporium of more than 500 fine jewelry merchants, designers, and manufacturers await at St. Vincent Jewelry Center. Shop designer timepieces, diamonds, gems, pearls, platinum, and gold and silver baubles with wholesale price tags.
Theaters
Once lined with sad marquees, The Theater District along Broadway is finally seeing a revival. Catch a movie, musical, or theater production at the Los Angeles Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Globe Theatre, and the Theatre at Ace Hotel, which is housed in the landmark 1927 United Artists building.
Home to four of LA’s pro sports franchises: Lakers (NBA), Kings (NHL), Clippers (NBA), and Sparks (WNBA) the Staples Center anchors a convergence of cultural attractions on Downtown’s south end and also plays host to many headliners. Adjacent, the L.A. Live complex includes the Microsoft Theater and the Grammy Museum. Formerly known as Nokia Theatre, the Microsoft Theater hosts award shows, concerts, and other live performances, while the Grammy Museum houses music artifacts like Michael Jackson’s glove and Elvis’s sheet music.
Bunker Hill’s Grand Avenue is home to another collection of performing arts venues. The Los Angeles Music Center is comprised of the striking Walt Disney Concert Hall, where the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale perform, as well as Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theater, and Mark Taper Forum.
Finally, the vintage Regent Theater is a part indie rock club, part pizzeria, and part cocktail lounge, which makes it a great place to catch a show.
Farmer’s Markets
DTLA has a farmer’s market for every day of the week. Formerly known as the historic LA Terminal Market, the five-acre open-air 7th Street Produce Market sells fresh fruits and veggies Monday through Saturday. Hundreds of local vendors participate in ROW DTLA’s Smorgasburg, the country’s largest weekly open-air food market.
On Sundays, shop fresh produce, flowers, and artisanal foods at the Historic Downtown Farmers Market. Pershing Square hosts its farmers market on Wednesdays. FIGat7th has one on Thursdays, while the Bank of America Farmers Market takes place on Fridays, as does the Eagle Rock Farmers Market.
Located in the Flower District on Wall Street between 7th and 8th Streets, The WALL Farmers Market is fun for the whole family with live music, farm-fresh produce, and artisan foods, plus pickleball, face painters, aerialists!
While it’s more of a marketplace than a farmer’s market, the historic Grand Central Market is a Downtown landmark. This European-style food hall is located on the ground floor of the iconic Homer Laughlin Building. Sample LA’s cuisine of carnitas and agua fresca alongside trendy eateries like Sticky Rice and SoCal standbys like Wexler’s Deli. Stock up on seafood, spices, produce, and more at this charming and lively marketplace.
Parks
Grand Park offers an urban oasis and views of Music Center all the way down to City Hall. Rest your tootsies or stroll along to explore the fountain, event lawn, and more. Not to be confused with Grand Park, Grand Hope Park is in front of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) campus. Along with a mosaic clocktower, trees, fountains, sculptures, and walkways, Grand Hope is one of the only parks in Downtown with a playground. Visit this verdant refuge after a trip to the Fashion Institute’s Museum.
Surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bakeries, hotels, and other local businesses, Pershing Square Park serves as Downtown’s central public space. Decked out with monuments and statues, this Spanish-inspired plaza hosts concerts, gatherings, political rallies, and public celebrations throughout the year. The square features two playgrounds, a place to play chess, an amphitheater, and a designated pet area.
5. Top-rated places in Downtown LA
Opened in 2015, The Broad’s honeycomb-facade houses 2,000 pieces of contemporary art by artists such as Jean‐Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Jeff Koons. Admission to the Grand Avenue museum is free, but you do have to purchase tickets to see special exhibitions, such as Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors.
Formerly located in Santa Monica, the Institute of Contemporary Art now sits on the edge of DTLA’s Arts District. The ICA exhibits the work of local, national, and international contemporary artists but does not have a collection of its own.
Nestled near Walt Disney Concert Hall, the sandstone-clad Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) exhibits and collects modern art. It’s worth a visit just to explore the gift shop. Plus, admission is free.
Ride nearly 1,000 feet above Downtown on the OUE Skyspace Skyslide. The 45-foot glass-encased slide goes from floor 70 to 69 on the outside US Bank Tower. Look out over the city from the open-air observation deck.
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