Nextination
  • Home
  • About me
    • Contact
  • My World Map
  • CATEGORIES
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
        • Berlin
      • Greece
      • Helsinki
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Malta
      • Netherlands
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Sweeden
      • Turkey
        • Istanbul
      • UK
    • América
      • Belize
      • Honduras
      • Mexico
      • United States
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Emirates
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Uzbekistan
  • Shop
    • Print Shop
    • Presets
  • EspañolEspañol
  • EnglishEnglish
  • EspañolEspañol
  • EnglishEnglish
  • Home
  • About me
    • Contact
  • My World Map
  • CATEGORIES
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
        • Berlin
      • Greece
      • Helsinki
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Malta
      • Netherlands
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Sweeden
      • Turkey
        • Istanbul
      • UK
    • América
      • Belize
      • Honduras
      • Mexico
      • United States
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Emirates
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Uzbekistan
  • Shop
    • Print Shop
    • Presets
  • Subscribe
  • 0 Cart
    No products in the cart
Nextination

Inspiration for Traveling

Nextination

Inspiration for Traveling

AmericaUnited States

 LA Guide: What to do and see in Downtown Los Angeles

By Esther 7 m read
Los Angeles

 LA Guide: What to do and see in Downtown Los Angeles

Hi Nextinationer,

If you are thinking or planning your next trip to Los Angeles, then you need to read this post. Discover what to do and see in Downtown LA.

I will tell you why Downtown is one of the areas in Los Angeles that you can not miss. In my case, before going to LA, people told me not to go to Downtown. They told me that it is ugly, dangerous, and it has nothing to see among other things.

What was my surprise when I saw that none of these things were true. A few years ago, Downtown LA was worse but the LA City Council is making a lot of changes to help Downtown looking better and new hotels, restaurants and some of the most fashionable rooftops in LA are now opening here.

The first three nights in Los Angeles we stayed in a hotel that was in Downtown. This way we could move easily through all the places of interest that are located here.

In Los Angeles, the car is completely necessary if you want to move from one place to another, but one day we decided not to use the car at all and we visited all the places we wanted to visit in Downtown just walking around.

Let’s see what are those places that you should visit and what you can do in Downtown LA:

    1. Breakfast at The Exchange or Poppy + Rose. Two of the trendiest places in Downtown.
    2. Visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Famous for its architecture -Frank Gehry was the architect- and for being the headquarters where the great Gustavo Dudamel directs the Philharmonic of the city of Los Angeles. Some scenes of movies and series have been filmed here as: Fracture, Iron Man, Get Smart, Shark, Life of Mars, Brothers and Sisters, etc. There is the possibility of visiting inside. We made it and discovered that it has a very nice terrace above.
    3. Go to the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Los Angeles, newly built, since the previous one was damaged in an earthquake in 1994 and it was decided to build a new one.
    4. Admire the architecture of the LA City Hall.
    5. Visit the contemporary art collections at The Broad Museum. This museum hosts around 2000 pieces, including pieces by Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. It is free entry and it has a  great architecture. Located just in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
    6. It is essential to visit the MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art that houses American and European art after the 40s.This museum has three buildings in the city and one of them is in front of The Broad museum. 90% of the museum’s pieces are gifts offered by important private collectors as well as gifts from artists. It houses about 6000 pieces.
    7. Ride the funicular Angel´s Flight that originally opened in 1901 but has been restored. It consists of two cars that go up and down in opposite directions and are called Sinai and Olivet. Angel´s Flight is the title of a famous 1931 oil painting by Millard Sheets that hangs as part of the permanent collection at the Los Angeles Museum of Art. It shows two young women in a funicular. Here have been shot several scenes of movies and television series such as Lalaland, the Muppets, The Saint, the 2017 movie, and also some video games.
      The Last Bookstore Los Angeles
      The Last Bookstore Los Angeles
      Bradbury Building Los Angeles
      Bradbury Building Los Angeles
      Angel´s Flight Los Angeles
      Angel´s Flight Los Angeles
      Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles
      Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles
      Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles
      Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles
      The Broad Los Angeles
      The Broad Los Angeles
      Angel´s Flight Los Angeles
      Angel´s Flight Los Angeles
      Bradbury Building Los Angeles
      Bradbury Building Los Angeles
      Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles
      Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles
    8. Grab a bite at Grand Central Market. This place was totally unexpected. It has lots of food stalls and it is full of neons. Here,  you will find one of the best Mexican food stalls. You know that California is full of Mexicans so once here, in LA you will eat the best Mexican food outside of Mexico. I recommend you to try the tacos, they were delicious. We paid less than 10 dollars for two full plates of tacos and two beers. You can also find here some Chinese food, Filipino food, hamburgers, Italian food among many others while other stalls sell spices, fruits, etc. as in any other market. Click here for more info. It opens from 8 am to 10 pm eleven days a week. (for American standards it is so late!).
    9. Try one egg sandwich at Eggslut, one of the stalls inside the Grand Central Market. I recommend you go to breakfast or mid-morning. The buns are great.
    10. Visit the Bradbury Building, the oldest building in Los Angeles. It opened in 1893 and it really is a unique treasure. Its Victorian atrium, open grating elevators, marble staircases and iron railings make this place one of the most photographed ones in Downtown LA. It is currently an office building commanded at that time by Lewis Bradbury, a millionaire of the mining industry, to George Wyman. It is really an architectural landmark. This building has appeared in several movies and television series and in several music videos too: Cher, Justin Timerlake, Janet Jackson, etc. Some of the famous films that were filmed here were Blade Runner, 1982 and Mission Impossible among others. This building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. I totally recommend it, the architecture is simply spectacular. Location: 304 South Broadway with West 3rd Street.
    11. Buy a book at The Last Bookstore. This huge bookstore in downtown Los Angeles will amaze you. Here, you can find the book you are looking for as it is the largest new and used book store in California. You can click in the Website. One of the most photographed place here, it is the tunnel of books on the second floor. The books here have a very good price and usually they have many offers. It is a mandatory stop in LA for all book lovers.      
    12. Have an ice cream in Little Damage. Simply delicious.
    13. Enjoy the Downtown Art Walk. Enjoy the self-guided tour “Art Walk” that takes place every second Thursday of the month from 6-9 pm, as well as guided visits to the galleries, local murals and street art. It is about creating economic opportunities for artists, galleries, micro businesses and young people. This “Art Walk” on Thursday brings together thousands of art lovers. It is organized by Spring Arts Collective that is inside The Last Bookstore so you can ask for information here or by clicking on this link.
    14. Have lunch or coffee and try one of the delicious sweets at Bottega Louie, located in the Brockman building. Once inside, you would feel like in Paris or Rome. The restaurant is beautiful with white and grey marble floors, high ceilings, white and shiny walls and golden details. In the bakery. you find all kinds of sweets and macaroons. After the bakery, there is the bar, and although everything has a lot of French air, this restaurant is really Italian and it has delicious pizzas. You should try the brunch here. I loved this place and it is not surprising that it has become one of Downtown’s most touristic sites.
      This area has experienced a rapid expansion of bars, restaurants and apartments since 2012. It is part of the LA project to rehabilitate and reform the entire Downtown.
    15. Watch a game at Staples Center. It is one of the most modern and luxurious venues in the world, famous for hosting two NBA teams: Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers and hosting the annual Grammy Awards ceremony. Some concerts have been held here: Mariah Carey, Shakira, Adele, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. Here, it took place Michael Jackson’s funeral in 2009.
    16. Go to Rialto Theater dating from 1917. It was declared a Cultural Historical Monument by the City of Los Angeles in 1989. It comes out in one of the scenes of the movie Lalaland that if you have not seen before going to LA, you should watch it. In 1930, an Art Deco-style neon sign was installed here and, at that time, it was one of the largest Theaters in Broadway. It was closed in 2010 to the public. Now, it is going to be restored and it will be reopened in the near future.
    17. Some of the murals you can not miss while in LA are in The Bloc: Abstract Wall and Sumi Ink Muralen West 8th St with South Flower St.
    18. Before sunset, go up to OUE Skyspace to see Los Angeles from above. It is the highest observation deck in California and offers a 360 degree panoramic view of the city of LA. As a curiosity, I must say that it has a 14-meter-long outdoor slide and goes down from the 70th to 69th floor. From here you can enjoy a beautiful sunset and then you can try one of the Californian wines or sip a cocktails in The Skyspace bar. Or if you prefer, read the next point.
    19. Finish the day by having a cocktail in one of these two rooftops bars: You have several to choose from. I recommend: Perch, the terrace of the ACE Hotel Downtown, the rooftop of the Standard hotel – one of the most trendy ones – or the Broken Shaker – one of the most beautiful ones.
    20. You can choose to do a Tour during your stay in LA. There are several: Art Deco, Historic Downtown and several more. They usually runs on Saturdays at 10am but there are some tours that runs two days. For more info click here.
      LA Mural
      Grand Central Market LA
      Grand Central Market LA
      Grand Central Market LA
      Grand Central Market LA
      LA Mural
      Los Angeles Mural
      Los Angeles Mural
      Grand Central Market LA
      Grand Central Market LA
      Grand Central Market LA
      Grand Central Market LA
      Grand Central Market LA
      Grand Central Market LA
      Bottega Louie LA
TIP
Although I really recommend you visiting Downtown, you need to keep in mind that Downtown LA can be quite bleak at nightfall, so it is better to come during the day and leave after sunset. Unfortunately there are many homeless people on the streets and some with serious mental problems. Although it is not really dangerous, it is best to avoid any awkward situation.

Read also:

  • 10 murals you can not miss while in LA
  • 3 weeks road trip along the US West Coast

I invite you to read my future posts about this trip where I will tell you all we did and visited. I will also give you recommendations and I will discover you some hidden places.

 If you have any questions or questions, you can send me an email or write it in comments.

If you want to see more pictures of my travels, since here I only put a few, do not hesitate to follow me in my Instagram clicking here. and subscribe to the blog here:

Thank you so much for reading me.

If you liked the post Pin it!

Los Angeles

signature

Share this article

0
Esther
I believe in pursuing your dreams, in doing what you love every moment of every day, and in inspiring others to do the same. Because life is what you're living, so make the best of it!
  • previously

    previously

    best "Instagram Spots" in Bali
  • up next

    up next

    Discover Rovaniemi: Arctic Light Hotel

Post navigation

Previous PostPrevious best “Instagram Spots” in Bali
Next PostNext Discover Rovaniemi: Arctic Light Hotel
You Might Also Like
Exploring Wynwood´s Neighbourhood in Miami
 Where to travel to escape winter
2019 recap and resolutions for this 2020
Miami Beach Travel Guide
3 weeks Road Trip along the US West coast
 10 murals you can not miss while in Los Angeles

What do you think? Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet.

Language

  • EspañolEspañol
  • EnglishEnglish

ABOUT ME

I believe in pursuing your dreams, in doing what you love every moment of every day, and in inspiring others to do the same. Because life is what you're living, so make the best of it!

Saber más

Exclusivo para suscriptores

“Suscríbete a mi Newsletter y tendrás acceso a contenido premium, mapas personalizados, sorteos en destinos increíbles alrededor del Mundo, y mucho más.”

“Subscribe now to my Newsletter and you will have access to premium content, maps, giveaways in incredible destinations around the World, and much more”

Recent News Slideshow

EuropeSpain

Mallorca Travel guide: Discover the East part of the island

AsiaUzbekistan

 What to see in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan

AsiaUzbekistan

Uzbekistan: Bukhara travel guide. Includes map of locations.

My Instagram Feed

Having a tropical state of mind today. 🌴 Physic Having a tropical state of mind today. 🌴 Physically I’m working from home, mentally I’m in a tropical place surrounded by palm trees everywhere.  Happy Monday to all!
Better latte than ever. ☕️ Better latte than ever. ☕️
Thinking about my days in Marbella a couple of wee Thinking about my days in Marbella a couple of weeks ago. Best place to recharge my batteries for this 2021! Have you been to Marbella? This place has become my happy place in the last year. Plus it reminds me a lot to LA. Can’t wait to publish a blog series about Marbella and surroundings. What do you think? Would you be interested? 
🇪🇸
Pensando en los días que pasé en Marbella tan sólo hace un par de semanas. ¡El mejor lugar para recargar mis baterías para afrontar  este 2021! ¿Has estado en Marbella?  Este lugar se ha convertido en “mi lugar feliz” en el último año.  Además, me recuerda mucho a Los Ángeles.  Quiero publicar una serie de blogs sobre Marbella y alrededores. ¿Os gustaría ?
Are you a morning person or a night owl? I used to Are you a morning person or a night owl? I used to be a night owl but nowadays I prefer to wake up early although I need to put quite a few alarms before that 😝. What about you? 
🇪🇸
¿Eres una persona madrugadora o más nocturna?  Yo solía ​​ser nocturna pero hoy en día prefiero despertarme temprano. Eso sí, antes necesito ponerme bastantes alarmas 😝. ¿Y tú?
“Learning English doesn’t have to be boring” “Learning English doesn’t have to be boring”

Hola Nextinationers, 
Si me seguís por aquí desde hace un tiempo, sabéis que he viajado por casi todo el mundo. Gracias a mi conocimiento del inglés he podido moverme sin problemas en la mayoría de los países, ya que es el idioma universal. Ahora que estoy de vuelta en Madrid y que no podemos viajar debido a la pandemia, estoy usando el inglés cada vez menos por lo que he decidido apuntarme a clases online de inglés en @skyenges una de las academias más grandes de Europa. 

A día de hoy con la pandemia no me siento segura yendo a una academia presencial de idiomas por lo tanto lo que me encanta de @skyenges es:
 
- Las clases online con un profesor particular, tú mismo eliges el horario que más te conviene y puedes estudiar 24/7. 
- Cuenta además con un club de conversación gratis para todos los alumnos que personalmente fue una de las cosas que más me gustó porque pienso que ésta es una de las mejores maneras de aprender un idioma. 
- Tienen además más de 115 cursos de inglés para adultos, entre ellos clases para perfeccionar la pronunciación y quitar el acento que a mí es una de las cosas que más me interesan.
- También ofrecen cursos para niños.

Os invito a hacer una clase de prueba gratuita y usando mi código nextination os regalan además 2 clases  al comprar un mínimo de 8.
En mi bio podrás encontrar el link de acceso. 
¿Qué tal se os da el inglés?

🇬🇧 
Hello Nextinationers,
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I´ve traveled almost all over the world. Thanks to my knowledge of English I have been able to move without problems in most countries, since English is the universal language. Now that I am back in Madrid and that we cannot travel due to the pandemic, I am using the English less and less so, I’ve decided to take some online classes at @skyenges , one of the largest academies in Europe. 
#ad #skyeng
Not all your storms come to disrupt your life. Som Not all your storms come to disrupt your life. Some come to clean your path. ~ 
Due to the huge snowfall we had last weekend in Madrid, we can not go out and we are somehow stuck at home bc the streets are still full of snow and ice. How is your week going? 
🇪🇸 
No todas las tormentas llegan para perturbar tu vida.  Algunas vienen a limpiar tu camino. ~ 
Debido a la gran nevada que tuvimos el pasado fin de semana en Madrid, no podemos salir y de alguna manera estamos atrapados en casa porque las calles todavía están llenas de nieve y hielo. ¿Cómo va tu semana?
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Nextination

Inspiration for Traveling

Copyrights © 2018 Esther García Sagrado. Todos los derechos reservados | Aviso Legal |Política de privacidad |

Got it! Este sitio web utiliza cookies, tanto propias como de terceros, para recopilar información estadística sobre su navegación y mostrarle publicidad relacionada con sus preferencias, generada a partir de sus pautas de navegación. Si continúa navegando, consideramos que acepta su uso. This website uses cookies, both its own and those of third parties, to collect statistical information about your browsing and to show you advertisements related to your preferences, generated from your browsing guidelines. If you go on surfing, we will consider you accepting its use.