Los Angeles Downtown Guide

Updated: October 06, 2008

Los Angeles? downtown--there was a time when it was not much more than a dubious ghost town after the workday ended. This has all been steadily changing for years with the ongoing crop of cool bars, destination restaurants and luxury lofts. Los Angeles? downtown is indeed experiencing a renaissance.

On this page:Attractions, Restaurants, Nightlife, More Nearby Hot Spots.

Attractions

  1. 1 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Olvera Street
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    Olvera St and Cesar Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

    The heart of historic (and Hispanic) L.A. featuring a hodgepodge of restaurants and commemorative shops.

  2. 2 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Grand Central Public Market
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    317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (map)

    A city landmark since the teens, this hectic, delightful market shows no sign of flagging.

  3. 3 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended MOCA Grand Avenue
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    250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

  4. 4 4 Star Rating: Recommended Walt Disney Concert Hall
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    111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

  5. 5 3 Star Rating: Average NOKIA Theatre LA LIVE
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    777 Chick Hearn Court, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (map)

  6. 6 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended STAPLES Center
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    1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (map)

    A state-of-the-art venue for concerts, basketball games and more.

  7. 7 3 Star Rating: Average Cathedral-Our Lady-The Angels
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    555 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

  8. 8 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Richard Riordan Central Library
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    630 W 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (map)

    A city block's worth of books housed in a magnificent building.

  9. 9 Los Angeles Conservancy
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    523 W 6TH St Ste 826, Los Angeles, CA 90014 (map)

    Get inside information on architectural gems from passionate volunteers.

Restaurants

  1. 10 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Water Grill
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    544 S Grand, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (map)

    One of the best seafood restaurants in L.A., hidden in landlocked downtown.

  2. 11 3.5 Star Rating: Average Blue Velvet
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    750 Garland Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (map)

    Downtown L.A. gets some cutting-edge cool with this hot spot of modern cuisine and noir-ish, romantic city views.

  3. 12 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Noe Restaurant & Bar
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    251 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

    Innovative fusion cuisine and glossy decor bring destination dining to the Omni.

  4. 13 3.5 Star Rating: Average Cafe Pinot
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    700 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (map)

  5. 14 4 Star Rating: Recommended Patina Restaurant
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    141 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

  6. 15 4 Star Rating: Recommended Zucca Ristorante
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    801 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (map)

    A luxe Italian bistro offering traditional, simple fare.

  7. 16 3.5 Star Rating: Average J Restaurant & Lounge
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    1119 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (map)

  8. 17 4 Star Rating: Recommended Pacific Dining Car
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    1310 West 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (map)

  9. 18 4 Star Rating: Recommended Ciudad
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    445 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (map)

  10. 19 4 Star Rating: Recommended R-23 Japanese Cuisine and Art Gallery
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    923 E 2nd St Ste 109, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

    Once a railroad loading dock, now a hip downtown hideaway for those who like it raw.

Nightlife

  1. 20 3.5 Star Rating: Average Seven Grand
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    515 W Seventh St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

    Cocktail-spot visionary proffers one of the largest whiskey lists on the West Coast at this Financial District landmark.

  2. 21 2 Star Rating: Below Average Club 740
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    740 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

    Former theatrical venue gets re-created as one of downtown's largest and most upscale dance clubs.

  3. 22 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Broadway Bar
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    830 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014 (map)

  4. 23 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Golden Gopher
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    417 W Eighth St, Los Angeles, CA 90014 (map)

  5. 24 4 Star Rating: Recommended The Edison
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    108 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

    Downtown's lounge-life evolution continues in a historically refurbished, turn-of-the-century boiler room.

  6. 25 3.5 Star Rating: Average Redwood Bar & Grill
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    316 W Second St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

  7. 26 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Veranda Bar at the Figueroa Hotel
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    939 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (map)

    Old Angeleno style makes this hotel bar one of L.A.'s best-kept secrets.

  8. 27 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Gallery Bar
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    506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

    Nestled in the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel, honey-colored chandeliers and hand-painted ceilings create the perfect setting for sipping Scotch.

  9. 28 3.5 Star Rating: Average Roof Bar at the Standard Downtown
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    550 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (map)

    Sip and dip at this chic poolside lounge that sits atop downtown's hippest hotel.

More Nearby Hot Spots

  1. 29 4 Star Rating: Recommended Clifton's Cafeteria
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    648 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014 (map)