Downtown L.A.
Photograph: Unsplash/Jordan Rubin

A guide to Downtown Los Angeles

Get to know Downtown Los Angeles with the city center's best restaurants, bars, attractions, hotels and more
Michael Juliano
Advertising

Downtown Los Angeles has been swept up in a cultural resurgence unlike any other in L.A.’s recent history. The city center snapped out of decades of decline and—though it’s far from perfect—become a bona fide modern metropolis. Downtown is a worthwhile destination for tourists and locals alike, whether to check out the museums and cultural institutions atop Bunker Hill, restaurants and bars in the Historic Core or concerts and sporting events in South Park. Though its old, beautiful buildings and contemporary skyscrapers may never steal the global spotlight from the Venice beachfront and faded glamor of Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles is quickly becoming the city’s heart.

Though many major venues in Downtown L.A. are temporarily closed, we’ve updated our guide with some of the restaurants, bars and attractions that are still open for service.

Upcoming events in Downtown Los Angeles

Rooftop Cinema Club
Movies

Rooftop Cinema Club

  • price 2 of 4
The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for another season of screenings to LEVEL in Downtown L.A. Known for excellent film choices...
Downtown
Olafur Eliasson: OPEN
Art

Olafur Eliasson: OPEN

  • price 2 of 4
This spectacular exhibition from the Icelandic–Danish artist brings a new series of optical installations to MOCA’s Little Tokyo location....
Little Tokyo
Smorgasburg LA
Things to do

Smorgasburg LA

Every Sunday you can find dozens of food vendors at this market at ROW DTLA, with a mix of much-loved pop-ups and future foodie stars. Look out for this...
Downtown Arts District
Renegade Craft Fair
Shopping

Renegade Craft Fair

Any crafter worth their weight in cashmere yarn knows that Renegade Craft Fair is the fair all other fairs aspire to. Held in urban epicenters around the...
Chinatown