Top 8 Places to Visit in Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles was known as a no go area years ago, noted for its crime and rampant homeless situation. But after living in L.A, I found the DTLA to be vibrant and fun – with great street art, cool nightclubs and amazing restaurants. 

The Broad

The Broad is a contemporary art museum consisting of 250 contemporary works of art in an incredible 120,000 square footage of gallery space. Admission to the museum is free but tickets are required through an online reservation. The most popular work of art (and most Instagrammable spot) is the Infinity Mirrored Room which requires a separate reservation. Up to two individuals can enter the space at a time for 45 seconds. 

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Angel’s Flight

Angel’s Flight Railway, opened in 1901, is the world’s shortest railway located in Downtown Los Angeles. The classic orange and black furnicular cars (Olivet and Sinai) can be seen in many films and TV shows like the musical La La Land and the third season of Amazon Prime’s Bosch. The one-way ride costs $1 and is a great place to grab a few pics. 

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The Grand Central Market

Grand Central Market is a European-syle iconic food hall built in 1917. It’s a great place to grab a quick bite after visiting the Broad. Therefore you should take a ride on Angel’s Flight to get from the Broad to the Market. Some of my favorite places to eat are Eggslut, Ramen Hood and McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream.

Bradbury Building

After a great meal at Grand Central Market, take a quick walk across the street to the Bradbury Building. Bradbury Building is the oldest commercial building still standing in Los Angeles. The 1893 Victorian iron work was most famously seen in the Bladerunner. The building is free to visit but limited to just the lobby. Visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

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The Last Bookstore

A short walk from the Bradbury Building is The Last Bookstore. This bookstore is the largest independent bookstore in California that sells new & used books and vinyl records. It even has a coffee shop and small art gallery. It has so many cool book sculptures and hidden nooks – you can even buy thousands of books for $1 each.

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Disney Concert Hall

Disney Concert Hall is an iconic building designed by Frank Gehry and home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra. It offers free daily audio tours.

OUE SkySpace

OUE SkySpace is California’s tallest open-air observation deck with a 360 degree view of Los Angeles. It is a family-friendly attraction and has an outdoor glass slide (Skyslide) that is 45 feet long. 

Echo Park

Right outside of Downtown Los Angeles, is the beautiful Echo Park. Echo Park is a quirky and cool neighborhood with a sense of charm. You can feel its charm in the numerous walkable cafes, thrift shops and hidden spots. In addition, it is home to the Dodger’s Stadium ( highly recommend catching a game) and Echo Park Lake, where you should take a swan pedal boat ride.

If you happen to be in Echo Park around July, I highly recommend checking out the Annual Lotus Festival and Dragon Boat Race. However on any other day, you should take a stroll on the path around the lake or lay in the grass and have a picnic.

Right around the corner from Echo Park Lake is another great park Elysian Park – specifically known for the secret swing. The secret swing is a great place for a scenic view of Los Angeles and the surrounding mountains. I would avoid going to the area alone as it’s pretty secluded and there can be some sketchy characters.

The climb to the secret swing is pretty steep and slippery (around 5-10 minutes depending on how fast you climb). Please be careful on the way down as it is really easy to slip and fall (I know from first-hand experience). To find the swing type in “Secret Swing Angels Point Elysian Park” in Google Maps where the directions will take you to a lookout are where you can park for free.

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