Residents work, live, eat, shop, and play here. Tourists from all over the world come to see the iconic landmarks and world-renowned contemporary architecture. Whether you are a local or a visitor, this list will help curate a wealth of experiences that have made DTLA the hotspot it is today, preparing for the NBA All-Star 2026, FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl LXI, and the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
Eat
Ettore Vino e Cucina, now the largest sit-down restaurant at LA’s Original Farmers Market, is a collaboration between Osteria Mamma, the cherished family-owned Italian restaurant in Hancock Park, and Ettore, a boutique organic winery in Mendocino owned by Ettore Biraghi that uses the scientific Purovino method to eliminate sulfites from its wine. When Filippo Cortivo, the co-owner of Osteria Mamma, arrived in Los Angeles decades ago, the Original Farmers Market was one of the first places he visited. From that moment, his dreams began to swirl with the idea of opening a restaurant one day at the historic landmark. “I love everything about this business,” Cortivo continued. “Two pleasures of life are drinking and eating: good food and wine.”
Enter the lobby of the US Bank Tower, a 1,018-foot skyscraper on West Fifth Street, and take the elevator to the 54th floor. A second elevator escorts guests to the 71st floor where the doors open into 71Above, a dining experience like no other in Los Angeles. On many occasions, the first words from diners’ mouths when they see the view is, “Wow.” 71Above is a place where people go to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions. According to general manager Alex Hasbany, oftentimes, there are four to five proposals a week, and sometimes that many in one night.
Levain Bakery owners Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald began baking at their first shop on 74th Street in New York City in 1995. The friends and running mates aimed to create a great place to work, be part of a community, and bake and share delicious breads and pastries. They had no expectations beyond the original 74th Street location. The Larchmont bakery’s menu features six signature cookie flavors: chocolate chip walnut; dark chocolate peanut butter chip; dark chocolate chip; oatmeal raisin; two-chip chocolate chip; and coconut caramel chocolate chip. It offers a vegan, gluten-free chocolate chip walnut cookie (a version of the bakery’s most popular item) and its seasonal springtime treat, the lemon cookie topped with sweet lemon chips.
Settecento
“Settecento” means 700, the number of the building that houses the new Italian restaurant and latest culinary effort from Global Dining Inc. Settecento owner Lucian Tudor explained that his newest concept blends traditional dishes of Italy with a modern touch. Executive Chef Francesco Angri and Pizzaiolo Mario Orsini have jumped on board to curate a menu that is described as an ode to Italy’s vast culinary heritage: “Standouts include a truffle and mushroom pasta which brings out the earthy flavors of Northern Italy, seafood linguine and Sicilian caponata which takes you on a flavor expedition to the South, and wood-fired pizzas, which stand as a proud emblem of Italian tradition.”
Flouring LA’s signature cakes are floral forward, using organic natural edible flowers from local farmers because, as owner Heather Wong said, “they are the easiest thing to make anything look pretty.” Last year, Wong opened her small shop – it is less than 500 square feet – in the historic SooHoo Leung Building on Hill Street. “It has been awesome to make miracles out of this tiny space,” Wong said. “It proves you don’t need a lot of room to be creative.”
When Anthony Wang started conceptualizing his first restaurant, Firstborn, he had two conversations with himself. The first was his realization that his knowledge of Chinese food was limited. Feeling humbled, he made an effort to learn more. Wang’s second conversation centered on authenticity. One of Wang’s goals is to show people the broad scope of what Chinese food is. It is Zhajiang oxtail and fried Chongqing chicken. It is sweetbreads, which can be a tough sell: deliciously soft, deeply rich and luxurious, with ragu made of pig’s feet, a recipe inspired by Pierre Koffmann, a French chef in the U.K.
Café Gratitude challenges the stereotype that plant-based cuisine is limited or boring. One quality that sets Café Gratitude’s menu apart from other vegan cuisine is its emphasis on whole foods. Another advantage is location and having access to California produce. Yet possibly the biggest reason customers gravitate toward Café Gratitude is the transformational aspect. Affirmations appear on the menu (customers have to read affirmations when they order), and customers and staff are presented with a question of the day (its version of the soup of the day), which invites them to focus on being grateful.
Stay
Los Angeles Athletic Club hosts as many parties and events as it has rooms. This is a very fun place to stay. The iconic Beaux-Arts hotel has accommodated LAAC members for more than 100 years. Hotel amenities include fitness and pool facilities, spa services, a basketball court, game room, racquetball courts, fitness classes, and a pilates and yoga studio. Some guests can join the Breakfast Club, where the room rate includes a $50 daily breakfast credit.
Located at South Spring Street and West 4th Street, the citizenM hotel is walking distance to the Broadway Theater District and Little Tokyo. The brand claims to have hotels in every city’s sweet spot. Some of its best attributes are its XL king-size beds, unlimited free Wi-Fi, and 24/7 food and drinks at canteenM bar. Plus, guests can control the room’s lights, blinds, and TV with an app or tablet.
Since 1923, celebrities from President John F. Kennedy to The Beatles have checked into The Biltmore. Some call it a living legend in the world of hospitality and credit its opening with putting Los Angeles on the map as a coveted metropolitan destination. The hotel played host to the first Academy Awards held in the Crystal Ballroom, and it was designated a Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Monument in 1969. Sites to see are The Rendezvous Court, the Music Room, and Indoor Roman Pool.
It is “the suite way to escape,” according to its website. Level hotel aims to be an urban sanctuary in the sprawling mecca. Planning a bachelor/ette weekend or special family getaway? The 18,000-square-foot Penthouse at South Olive encompasses 13-foot floor-to-ceiling windows with 360-degree views, 4 bedrooms, a personal theatre, rooftop pool, and expansive entertaining spaces.
Stile Downtown Los Angeles by Kasa is all about hi-tech: The tech-enabled rooms offer self check-in at 4 p.m. and 24/7 guest support by text and phone. One guest raved, “The pool and wine bar are amazing and so fun. The room was totally dreamy and so comfy!!” Which is just what the hotel ordered: soft furniture and plush accents. After a long day discovering LA, guests are invited to wind down, relax, and enjoy the skyline views at Sauced, the rooftop wine bar.
With its roots in East London, The Hoxton has landed in DTLA. The 174 hotel rooms feature chevron wood floors, statement headboards, and House of Hackney, a British luxury interiors and lifestyle brand. Its two restaurants are Cabra from Chef Stephanie Izard on the roof overlooking Broadway, offering Peruvian-inspired, sharable dishes and Moonlark's Dinette serving American diner classics.
Just across the street from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Conrad is located in a building designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry, with interiors by studio Tara Bernerd & Partners. There are 305 luxury guest rooms spanning 25 floors, a rooftop terrace with private pool deck, and the Conrad Spa offers hyper-personalized treatments plus an infrared sauna, quantum harmonic therapy and recovery cabins.
Play
ROW DTLA is renowned for its diverse culinary offerings, but it is also the ultimate destination for shopping everything Japan-inspired. 3sixteen sources premium Japanese-milled denim (for those who appreciate the durability and artistry behind Japanese textiles); Hightide offers a selection of planners, office essentials, and lifestyle accessories, and its rotating exhibitions and workshops celebrate Japan’s creative culture; KINTO’s collection of Japanese tableware, teaware, and lifestyle goods transforms everyday moments into mindful rituals; and ARJ LA offers a range of artisanal tableware, home décor, and lifestyle pieces that merge East and West.
General admission is free at The Broad museum, where visitors can stroll through featured installations such as “Expansive Presentation of Jean-Michel Basquiat.” Works by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol are also featured in the third-floor galleries. As the museum celebrates its 10th anniversary, plans were announced for its expansion. The new building will increase gallery space by 70% and is scheduled to open in 2028.
The Music Center, the third largest performing arts center in the U.S., is where residents and tourists go to the theater, or four to be exact: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. “Swan Lake” arrives at Dorothy Chandler in June, “Life of Pi” is playing at the Ahmanson, “Hamlet” storms into The Mark Taper Forum this month, and La Phil will present the music of “Gershwin & Strauss” at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The campus also includes beautiful outdoor spaces such as Jerry Moss Plaza, The Blue Ribbon Garden and Gloria Molina Grand Park.
Under executive director Jonathan Markowitz Bijur’s leadership, Rediscover has made it possible for 14,000 kids a year to tinker with recycled materials at its two locations. It also promotes child-centered maker education in L.A. schools. During the summer, the centers flip into camp mode. “It is a room full of kids and lumber and recycled materials and power tools, and over the course of the week they turn it into big ideas,” he explained. One year the kids created a roller coaster that they could actually ride. Then they take everything apart to reuse.
Secret Walls produces competitive live art events around the world and at home at its Secret Walls HQ campus in Koreatown. According to its website, the campus is the central hub of all things SW, featuring regular event programming, artist residencies, the city's only black and white mural yard, and educational workshops. SW has been bringing creatives together via high-energy paint battles, workshops, and community events since 2006.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are set to perform at A Roots Picnic Experience on June 8 at Hollywood Bowl.
During the summer months, music fans flock to the city’s outdoor amphitheaters: Hollywood Bowl, The Ford, and The Greek Theatre. In July at The Ford, The Pharcyde & Friends Live will perform a concert commemorating the 30th Anniversary of their second album, “Labcabincalifornia.” Brad Paisley, Pink Martini, and Teddy Swims are a few of the artists on tap for The Greek, and Hollywood Bowl is always bursting with talent, from Halsey and Ricky Gervais to Mariachi USA and Earth, Wind & Fire. A Roots Picnic Experience on June 8 welcomes the legendary Roots crew returning to the Bowl for the second year in a row. Guests include Lil’ Kim, Method Man & Redman, DJ Quik, Raekwon, E-40, Goodie Mob, Havoc of Mobb Deep, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
DTLA Art Trail maps out iconic and historic installations. As you walk around and discover these outdoor gems, take some time to have a snack or grab a drink along the way. It is a great way to learn about public art in the art capital of L.A. On these self-guided walking tours, each route offers bite-sized adventures in under an hour. Grab a phone and follow the easy-to-use visual map, packed with collection highlights. Tap on the images to to read the story behind each piece and meet the artists who brought them to life.