Top 25 Must-See Attractions in Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles possesses an authentic cultural vibe that is unparalleled in any other city. It represents a dynamic blend of historical and contemporary elements, culminating in a distinctive atmosphere. Within this vibrant area, skyscrapers coexist alongside historic buildings, and museums share their locales with movie theaters.

Exploration in Downtown LA offers unexpected discoveries at every turn. You may encounter a striking mural adorning a building’s façade, a museum dedicated to American music, or a funicular railway. While numerous suburbs across the United States hold their own charm, Downtown LA stands out as one of the most exhilarating destinations. DTLA is distinguished by its diversity.

Here are twenty-five remarkable activities to engage in while visiting Downtown LA, each offering a unique and captivating experience.

1. Oue Skyspace

When visiting Downtown LA, it is advisable to enjoy the panoramic views from the Oue Skyspace Observation Deck.

This observation deck is located on the sixty-ninth and seventieth floors of the US Bank Tower. It is an iconic structure that has appeared in numerous films, ranking as the ninety-second tallest building in the world, standing over a thousand feet tall.

Ascend in the elevator and step out onto the glass-walled terrace for breathtaking, three-hundred-sixty-degree views of the city. The sensation of standing on the edge of a precipice is exhilarating. Consider visiting during the daytime for uninterrupted views of Downtown LA, stretching toward the distant San Gabriel mountain range, or at night, to witness the city illuminated by countless lights.

Get tickets: OUE Skyspace LA Skyslide Combo Entry Ticket

2. Skyslide

If the impressive height of the Oue Skyspace does not induce an adrenaline rush, the Skyslide certainly will.

The Skyslide is a forty-five-foot-long waterpark-style slide that extends from the Oue Skyspace in the US Bank Tower. Its transparency allows for remarkable views as you descend, revealing the street below, the sky above, and the entirety of downtown surrounding you.

This exhilarating experience is ideal for those wishing to “fly” over Downtown LA without the need for a helicopter.

3. Grand Central Market

Grand Central Market serves not only as a venue for purchasing fresh produce but also as a destination to experience some of Downtown LA’s finest street food.

Established over a century ago, this historic market opens seven days a week from early morning until ten in the evening, acting as a bustling hub of the city.

Visiting on an empty stomach is advisable, as the array of culinary offerings is extensive. The market features everything from Mexican dishes and traditional Japanese cuisine to sumptuous seafood, classic American burgers, and barbecued ribs. With numerous breakfast options, coffee stands, and dessert counters, Grand Central Market guarantees a satisfying experience.

4. LA Live

LA Live is a vast entertainment complex situated in Downtown LA. If events are not occurring at LA Live, then they are likely happening elsewhere.

More than a single building, LA Live resembles a city within a city, encompassing its own streets and plazas over an impressive five and a half million square feet.

Visitors can indulge in a variety of activities, including movie screenings, theatrical performance, concerts, dining at various restaurants, or enjoying a drink at one of the bars. Additionally, visitors can opt for a rejuvenating spa experience at the Ritz Carlton Spa, detailed further below.

5. Grand Park

Grand Park serves as the twelve-acre green space at the heart of Downtown LA and offers a tranquil retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle.

On warmer days, visitors can cool off in the public splash pads or engage with the interactive water jets. Enjoy a picnic on the grass while indulging in a book.

Additionally, Grand Park hosts numerous events, including daytime and evening music and theatrical performances, alongside various food festivals throughout the year.

6. Escape Room LA

Do you possess the wit to solve a series of clues within a limited timeframe? If so, the Escape Rooms LA offer an exciting challenge.

Being the largest escape room facility in the city, it presents five unique mysteries to unravel.

Engage your deductive skills in the 1940s-themed Detective Room, or unravel the enigma of an ancient civilization in the Cavern. Conquer the challenges posed by the Alchemist, awaken the phantom in the Theatre room, or seek a lost Mayan treasure in the Pyramid. The question remains — will you succeed promptly?

7. Nickel Diner

Nickel Diner offers a selection of diner-style meals presented in an elegant, vintage atmosphere. Fans of the TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” may recognize this establishment.

The diner’s interior evokes a bygone era, transporting patrons back to the 1940s, while the only noticeable change lies in the menu prices, which are slightly higher than the five-cent suggestion of its name.

Savor classic favorites like Mac and Cheese, or opt for a modern twist such as Stuffed Avocado with Quinoa. Regardless of your choice, ensure you indulge in a maple-glazed bacon donut.

8. Grammy Museum LA Live

If you enjoy the Grammy Awards and have a passion for music, the Grammy Museum is an essential destination during your visit to Downtown LA.

Situated within the entertainment epicenter of LA Live, the Grammy Museum features four floors of exhibits celebrating all facets of the music industry, alongside historical artifacts from the fifty years of the Grammy Awards.

Visitor engagement is encouraged through opportunities to create music using electronic instruments and record live performances.

9. The Ritz-Carlton Spa

Devote some time to self-care at the Ritz-Carlton Spa, which infuses the opulence of Hollywood into Downtown LA. Relax and sip champagne while receiving pampering service fit for a star. Enjoy a variety of treatments, including manicures, pedicures, and facials, or indulge in a luxurious twenty-four-karat gold body shimmer.

The spa’s exquisite surroundings encompass eight thousand square feet of the hotel’s luxurious space, ensuring a memorable experience.

If a full treatment does not suit your schedule, consider their lunchtime rejuvenation sessions, offering an hour of relaxation along with a Bento boxed lunch.

10. Helicopter Tour

Whether during daylight or at night, one of the most thrilling ways to view Downtown LA is from the sky. Experience breathtaking aerial perspectives during a helicopter flight, capturing stunning images suitable for social media.

Ascend and soar over the city at an altitude of around a thousand feet, enjoying awe-inspiring views of the skyscrapers, and take note of the helipads atop each one.

Helicopter tours also include sights of the Hollywood sign and parts of the California coastline, broadening the visual experience beyond the urban landscape.

Suggested tour: Los Angeles at Night 30-Minute Helicopter Flight

11. DTLA Club Crawl

A fantastic way to enjoy a night out while avoiding long club lines and entry fees is by participating in a hosted Club Crawl.

Upon meeting your host at a designated location, you will be granted VIP treatment. Displays of your Club Crawl wristband allow immediate entrance to events, bypassing queues. Relish the night on the dance floor, accompanied by drinks until it’s time to transition to the next club.

This experience is ideal for solo travelers seeking connections or for those wishing to meet fellow revelers within the city.

12. Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo is a historic district within Downtown LA that offers a distinctly Japanese ambiance. Since the early twentieth century, this area has attracted Japanese migrants and visitors alike. It is an excellent place for sightseeing, shopping, or dining.

Engage in retail therapy at the Japanese Village Plaza Mall, housing shops filled with authentic Japanese products and a terrace adorned with classic lanterns. Furthermore, visitors can explore the Japanese American National Museum, the pagoda-style Little Tokyo Watchtower, or the Friendship Knot statue. Delight in a variety of Japanese-inspired cuisine, including noodles and traditional Shabu Shabu soups. Explore the Nijiya Market stalls or rent a karaoke booth for an entertaining evening.

This vibrant district so embodies Japanese culture that you may even forget you are in Downtown LA.

13. Angels Flight Railway

The Angels Flight Railway stands as one of Downtown LA’s most significant landmarks, operating since 1901.

This twin-railed funicular track, which transports over a million passengers annually, connects Grand Avenue and Hill Street. It provides a steep yet short ride in a tramcar-like carriage, lasting merely a few minutes.

Those who ride the Angels Flight Railway should not miss acquiring a souvenir return ticket as a memorable keepsake.

14. Museum Of Contemporary Art

The artistic spirit is alive in Downtown Los Angeles, as illustrated by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) occupying two distinct locations in the area—one on Grand Avenue and another in Little Tokyo. There is also a branch in West Hollywood.

You need not enter the Grand Avenue building to appreciate art, as its façade is adorned with a massive mural that reflects elements of the artist’s life. Visitors will find numerous exhibitions that provoke thought, along with permanent collections and rotating presentations that will captivate art lovers.

15. Cliftons

At Clifton’s, patrons can enjoy a cocktail, coffee and cake, or traditional American cuisine in an imaginative setting. Marketed as both a bar and cafeteria, it aims to be a cabinet of curiosities, and it delivers.

The interiors resemble a fantastical forest complete with trees and wildlife. Stuffed animals including deer, bears, buffalo, and even a lion observe diners with glassy eyes. Ascend to the upper floors to find Polynesian-themed décor in the tiki bar, inclusive of a DJ situated in a boat and hula dancers.

The exceptional highlight of Clifton’s is an enormous redwood tree containing a fireplace within its expansive trunk. This establishment is indeed a sight to behold.

16. Staples Center

Attend an exciting football, ice hockey, or basketball game or experience a live concert at the Staples Center. This expansive arena accommodates around twenty thousand attendees and spans nine hundred and fifty thousand square feet.

The Staples Center is the home venue for several major sports teams in LA, has hosted world-class boxing events, and is renowned as the selected site for the Grammy Awards. The venue has seen an array of acclaimed artists, from Barbara Streisand to Bruce Springsteen to the Black Eyed Peas, perform to record-breaking box office success since its opening.

17. Santee Alley Flea Market

The Santee Alley Flea Market is located in the Fashion District of Downtown LA. This pedestrian-friendly alley is lined with open-front stores offering a variety of products, ranging from accessories to fashion apparel and footwear.

Operating seven days a week from nine-thirty in the morning until six in the evening, it bustles with activity, drawing crowds of shoppers on a daily basis. The market is an excellent destination for gift or souvenir hunting.

Don’t forget to sample the famous hot dog from the Alley Dog food stand or feast on fire-grilled chicken from El Pollo Loco.

18. Regal Cinemas, LA Live

If you don’t spot any celebrities during your time in Downtown LA, you can still enjoy stellar performances by top actors in the latest films at the Regal Cinemas in LA Live.

This cinema complex boasts fourteen screens, including the Regal Premiere House, which is dedicated to first-night openings of the most anticipated blockbusters.

For an innovative cinematic experience, try the 4DX, featuring moving seats that vibrate, air and water effects, fog, strobe lights, and bubbles. It creates a sensation of engagement, making you feel as though you’re part of the film rather than merely being a spectator.

19. Music Center

The Music Center in Downtown LA comprises a collection of venues dedicated to live artistic performances ranging from classical music concerts to operatic, dance, and theatrical productions.

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, which accommodates over three thousand attendees, serves as the home of the LA Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Ahmanson Theater, inaugurated in 1967, has hosted numerous world premieres over the years.

The Mark Taper Forum provides a more intimate setting for showcasing innovative and provocative dramatic performances.

Additionally, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is an architectural marvel, resembling a fantasy of stainless steel on the outside while being acoustically remarkable on the inside.

20. Wells Fargo History Museum

Long ago in the United States, making a money transfer was often achieved via stagecoach. Wells Fargo, originally a company transporting everything from gold bullion to livestock and mail, has evolved into one of the leading financial and banking institutions in the country.

The Wells Fargo History Museum presents a captivating glimpse into the Wild West era, featuring an Express office with an operational telegraph, a stagecoach, and the impressive twenty-seven-ounce gold Challenge nugget.

Located within the Wells Fargo Center on Bunker Hill in Downtown LA, the museum opens its doors from Monday to Friday.

21. FIGat7th

FIGat7th is the premier shopping destination in Downtown LA. This open-air mall spans three floors and offers over three hundred thousand square feet of retail space, creating an ideal environment for shopping enthusiasts.

The mall comprises thirty-five retail outlets carrying globally recognized brands. Additionally, there are more than twenty eateries and coffee shops available, catering to diverse culinary preferences, ranging from Italian gelato to Greek dishes and Spanish octopus.

The mall also hosts art exhibitions, fun-filled events, workshops, and a Farmers Market every Thursday.

22. Villains Tavern

Located on Palmetto Street in the arts district of DTLA, Villains Tavern is a lively bar characterized by its art nouveau decor and distinctive cocktails.

Enjoy beverages such as Belladonna or Voodoo Vixen while taking in the bar’s colorful collection of vintage bottles and soda siphons. Step out onto the open-air patio to enjoy live music performances ranging from Johnny Cash to gypsy jazz.

23. The Counter

The Counter offers a unique twist on the traditional burger restaurant concept. Diners can choose to sit at a table or at the counter amid modern decor and large screens showcasing major sporting events.

Instead of a standard burger and cheese, patrons are encouraged to customize their burgers with an array of ingredients.

Options for vegans and vegetarians are also available, and the restaurant proudly serves the meat-free Impossible Burger.

24. Exchange LA

Dance the night away across four floors of the Exchange LA nightclub, set within a renovated historic building that once served as the LA Stock Exchange.

This twenty-five thousand square foot venue features renowned American DJs, hosts televised events, and provides a runway for fashion shows. Additionally, there are intimate VIP areas and chill-out spaces for whenever the festivities become overwhelming.

Please note, entry is restricted to guests aged 21 and older, so ensure to bring identification.