Downtown LA (affectionally known as DTLA) used to hold the reputation of dangerous and unsavoury. However in the last 15 years or so, it has under gone major gentrification and now is a vibrant and enthralling part of town with a strong art influence. It is littered with old 1920’s art deco buildings that now house art galleries, cafes, bookstores and the old lightbulb theatres that still put on shows today. DTLA is a completely different view of Los Angeles to the sun/surf picture of Venice Beach and Santa Monica or the neon flashing lights of Hollywood and certainly different to the glitz of Beverly Hills. It’s more creative and familiar with its community sensed farmers markets and local shops. Even with its brownstone buildings and narrower streets, it’s still very much LA and towering palms and healthy living are still gospel. However, even among the new green spaces and trendy hotspots, DTLA retains some of its old past. This is still the centre of the LAPD and it remains grungy and quirky without the cheapness that comes with selling out. It isn’t all newly minted sidewalks and there is still a heavily black homeless population. Like most of LA, the public transport is what I would call atrocious so dependent on where you are staying, catching a Lyft or Uber is almost unavoidable. In saying that, DTLA is one of the only areas on LA I actually genuinely liked, so here is what I recommend.
The Broad Art Museum
This art museum is a must for all contemporary lovers of art. It is a not a huge gallery but holds some really spectacular pieces including Andy Warhol, Picasso and Mark Tansey. The evident highlight when I visited was Yayoi Kusama’s infinity room, The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away. Incredible doesn’t really do this piece justice so if you can see it for yourself then do, or any of her other infinity rooms that are installed at various galleries around the world.
G&B Coffee/ Food Market
Good coffee can be hard to come by in the US but the guys at G&B Coffee in the Downton Food Market do it pretty well. With a good heaping of options to choose from, you can go from Nitro to cold brew, latte to espresso. It is all standing room or bar stools so its a pretty fast paced joint but good for experiencing some real LA locals. Its located in the food market so its definitely worth stopping by at lunchtime if you want to pick up some food at the same time.
Graffiti/Street art
DTLA is host to some epic street art and murals. Its on every street corner, wall and pavement. You just have to make sure to look down as well as up and side to side.
The Last Bookstore
This is more concept meets retail and its completely cool and wonderland-ish. When LA, the heat or the people get too much, lose yourself here. Its like Flourish and Blotts in the real muggle world, complete with towering arches of books and enough plushy armchairs to house all the Weasley’s.
Little Damage
LA is known for being a bit of an Instagram heaven. Little Damage is an ice cream joint famed for its black goth cones and unusual ice cream flavours on rotation. Flavours include Dark Cinns (a cinnamon bun flavour in the form of a dark grey), Unicorn Tears (bubble gum blue), Salted Covfefe and Avocado Dreams.
DTLA Flower Market
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love a good flower market so this one is no exception. It makes LA feel a little less unfamiliar when there are flowers and a buzzing market.
EggSlut
Actually these are kinda everywhere in LA but I put it here anyway because this is the one I went to and its rad and super yummy!
Grand Central Market
Because just like a flower market, food and produce markets are my jam in any city. For more reasons why check out this blog post.
Leave a Reply