Guidebook for Los Angeles
Entertainment & Activities
Eightytwo
707 E 4th PlClassic video games, pinball, patio and a FULL BAR.
XLanes
333 Alameda StBowling just a short walking down 3rd Street
Yes it's another brewery, but they also have places to hang and play games. It's kind of a scene and they have something going on every night. Check out their calendar.
104 locals recommend
Arts District Brewing Company
828 Traction AveYes it's another brewery, but they also have places to hang and play games. It's kind of a scene and they have something going on every night. Check out their calendar.
Arts & Culture
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N Central AveWorld class modern art museum
East West Players
120 Judge John Aiso Steastwestplayers.org
Check them out, something every week
Formerly a flour mill. The place is HUGE and free. An easy walk up San Pedro and East on 3rd. Has an excellent art bookstore also. If you're feeling like having a fantastic meal, try Manuela inside. But it's not cheap.
122 locals recommend
Hauser & Wirth
901 E 3rd StFormerly a flour mill. The place is HUGE and free. An easy walk up San Pedro and East on 3rd. Has an excellent art bookstore also. If you're feeling like having a fantastic meal, try Manuela inside. But it's not cheap.
Japanese American National Museum
100 N Central AveBecause you are in Little Tokyo after all...
If you don't already know about this place, then you should go see it ASAP. Make sure to check out the "hidden" park space behind it, and also take the walkway that literally goes up and over the building.
1063 locals recommend
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand AveIf you don't already know about this place, then you should go see it ASAP. Make sure to check out the "hidden" park space behind it, and also take the walkway that literally goes up and over the building.
Drinks & Nightlife
HUGE brewery entertainment space - check their calendar for nightly events.
179 locals recommend
Angel City Brewery
216 S Alameda StHUGE brewery entertainment space - check their calendar for nightly events.
Great bar and comfort food, live music EVERY night, NEVER a cover. Skyline view from the patio. Easy walk from my place.
15 locals recommend
The Escondite
410 Boyd StGreat bar and comfort food, live music EVERY night, NEVER a cover. Skyline view from the patio. Easy walk from my place.
Leather booths, a fantastic cocktail program and good small bites, and a back patio with a fire pit.
8 locals recommend
Here & Now
300 S Santa Fe AveLeather booths, a fantastic cocktail program and good small bites, and a back patio with a fire pit.
Blue Whale
123 Astronaut Ellison S Onizuka StClassic jazz nearly every night.
It's a little over a mile walk through the Arts District - DON'T walk south to 5th Street and over, walk UP to 4th then down Santa Fe to Mateo - place has great nightly events, wine programs, excellent food, and comfy leather booths in the bar, as well as a HUGE back patio/yard with a bocce ball area and heatlamps. Feels like you're at your friends house. Or drive, they have a parking lot.
48 locals recommend
Everson Royce Bar
1936 E 7th StIt's a little over a mile walk through the Arts District - DON'T walk south to 5th Street and over, walk UP to 4th then down Santa Fe to Mateo - place has great nightly events, wine programs, excellent food, and comfy leather booths in the bar, as well as a HUGE back patio/yard with a bocce ball area and heatlamps. Feels like you're at your friends house. Or drive, they have a parking lot.
More than just a bar. Check it out. Live music, sprawling patio. You'll appreciate it.
83 locals recommend
Villains Tavern
1356 Palmetto StreetMore than just a bar. Check it out. Live music, sprawling patio. You'll appreciate it.
Food Scene
Hands down the best one stop dining experience. A Los Angeles institution since 1917. Just go.
968 locals recommend
Grand Central Market
317 S BroadwayHands down the best one stop dining experience. A Los Angeles institution since 1917. Just go.
Classic gastropub with American & Asian food, including sushi, plus a large beer selection & a patio. A Little Tokyo standard since 1935.
36 locals recommend
Far Bar
347 1st StreetClassic gastropub with American & Asian food, including sushi, plus a large beer selection & a patio. A Little Tokyo standard since 1935.
Stunningly gorgeious bi-level French brasserie with a patio serving classic fare & cocktails all day. Worth a look inside, even if you don't eat there.
34 locals recommend
Le Petit Paris
418 S Spring StStunningly gorgeious bi-level French brasserie with a patio serving classic fare & cocktails all day. Worth a look inside, even if you don't eat there.
Glamorous rooftop setting, handcrafted cocktails & grand views of the city overlooking Pershing square. Good for brunch too
786 locals recommend
Perch
448 S Hill StGlamorous rooftop setting, handcrafted cocktails & grand views of the city overlooking Pershing square. Good for brunch too
Guisados
1261 Sunset BlvdEasily the best tacos in DTLA.
The original french dip sandwich in L.A. Since 1908. There is NOWHERE else in L.A. you can get a cup of coffee for .45 cents.
100 locals recommend
Philippe The Original
1001 N Alameda StThe original french dip sandwich in L.A. Since 1908. There is NOWHERE else in L.A. you can get a cup of coffee for .45 cents.
Parks & Nature
If you have a chance, check this place out, it's an oasis in the city. From the L. A. Conservancy website: The most unexpected part of the JACCC lies hidden behind the Center Building: the James Irvine Japanese Garden, also known as Seiryu-en, "Garden of the Clear Stream." It is a quiet, lush oasis in the middle of the city, designed by landscape architect Takeo Uesugi and created by numerous volunteers. So many nurseries and individuals in the community donated plants for use in the garden, Uesugi had a difficult time figuring out how and where to integrate them all into the careful composition. The garden's stream starts as a turbulent waterfall and slows as it descends, representing the struggles and experiences of the Issei and Nisei. It becomes a gentle brook and ends in a quiet, shallow pond, evoking the resolution of differences and peaceful integration into American culture.
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
244 San Pedro StIf you have a chance, check this place out, it's an oasis in the city. From the L. A. Conservancy website: The most unexpected part of the JACCC lies hidden behind the Center Building: the James Irvine Japanese Garden, also known as Seiryu-en, "Garden of the Clear Stream." It is a quiet, lush oasis in the middle of the city, designed by landscape architect Takeo Uesugi and created by numerous volunteers. So many nurseries and individuals in the community donated plants for use in the garden, Uesugi had a difficult time figuring out how and where to integrate them all into the careful composition. The garden's stream starts as a turbulent waterfall and slows as it descends, representing the struggles and experiences of the Issei and Nisei. It becomes a gentle brook and ends in a quiet, shallow pond, evoking the resolution of differences and peaceful integration into American culture.
Because it's as close to something like "wide open spaces" as you're going to find in DTLA.
283 locals recommend
Grand Park
200 N Grand AveBecause it's as close to something like "wide open spaces" as you're going to find in DTLA.
It was once L.A.'s "Central Park", and soon it will be redesigned yet again, but for now it's a great place to people watch in the heart of the bustling historic core.
93 locals recommend
Pershing Square
532 S Olive StIt was once L.A.'s "Central Park", and soon it will be redesigned yet again, but for now it's a great place to people watch in the heart of the bustling historic core.
Free self-guided audio tours of Walt Disney Concert Hall are offered by the Music Center most days. All tours are an hour long and begin in the Grand Avenue Lobby of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Tours run daily from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.*
No reservations are required.
The last tour of the day is at 2:00 p.m.
1063 locals recommend
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand AveFree self-guided audio tours of Walt Disney Concert Hall are offered by the Music Center most days. All tours are an hour long and begin in the Grand Avenue Lobby of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Tours run daily from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.*
No reservations are required.
The last tour of the day is at 2:00 p.m.
Essentials
Nijiya Market
2130 Sawtelle BlvdProduce, alcohol, basically a small market with all you'd need.
Specialty supermarket for Japanese goods and also basic household staples.
16 locals recommend
Marukai Market
123 Astronaut Ellison S Onizuka StSpecialty supermarket for Japanese goods and also basic household staples.
Shopping
If you don't feel like make my coffee, they have it. And pastries in the morn, and affordable sandwiches and salads for lunch. Bonus is that all proceeds go to the neighbors who operate the cafe/store: the Downtown Women's Center.
MADE by DWC Cafe & Gift Boutique
442 San Pedro StIf you don't feel like make my coffee, they have it. And pastries in the morn, and affordable sandwiches and salads for lunch. Bonus is that all proceeds go to the neighbors who operate the cafe/store: the Downtown Women's Center.
Especially along 3rd Street between Alameda and Santa Fe - plenty of places to find unique stuff and spend money.
297 locals recommend
Art District
Traction AvenueEspecially along 3rd Street between Alameda and Santa Fe - plenty of places to find unique stuff and spend money.