Since Mike and I were both born in Southern California, you’d assume we were familiar with all things Los Angeles and Hollywood. Our family is spread out throughout Orange, San Diego, and Riverside Counties, so surely ventured to Downtown LA during our younger days. Well… it’s pretty much been the complete opposite! I had only been to Los Angeles when getting picked up from LAX – and most people even avoided that chore.
Fast forward 15 years…. Downtown Los Angeles is now one of our go-to weekend getaway spots! To kick off 2020, we actually went to Downtown LA every weekend for a month. We kept going because there is just so much to do in this area. This blog highlights our 10 favorite things to do in Downtown Los Angeles without breaking the bank.
1. CODA night at Walt Disney Concert Hall
This is one of the best events we’ve attended in Downtown LA. If you’re under the age of 40, you should sign up to create a free CODA account. On CODA nights, $20 will get you exclusive tickets to the LA Philharmonic, complimentary wine in the Garden before the show, and an opportunity to meet other young LA Phil fans. On the night that we went, CODA hosted an after party at a nearby Italian restaurant with more free alcohol and free food! Best $20 we ever spent.
Tip: get there early because wine lines get long! There is food for purchase, but we recommend eating beforehand since there are so many delicious restaurants nearby.
2. Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market is our favorite place to eat while in Downtown Los Angeles. It’s a super fun environment with food from all over the world. It’s also the perfect place for a group of people. You can have totally different food options but still eat together. Usually, Mike grabs a breakfast burrito while Annabel (our local Downtown LA friend) and I head to the Salvadorian Pulpuseria. Mike and I finish with a chocolaty dessert while Annabel picks up some sour candy. As a true food lover, the only bad thing about Grand Central Market is that it’s hard to narrow down which food choice I want to order!
Prices are very reasonable at Grand Central Market (probably the most reasonable in Downtown Los Angeles). Our next blog will focus on our favorite restaurants in Downtown LA because listing those would make this blog wayyyy too long!
3. Angels Flight
If you’re a fan of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, you’ll recognize this funicular right away. If you’re like us and haven’t seen the movie, it’s still an awesome experience. We recommend taking Angels Flight uphill to avoid climbing the 153 stairs. It’s a fun, picturesque ride that really does save time in the long run. It cost $1 each way and closes at 10:00 pm, so plan ahead!
4. Downtown Los Angeles Last Bookstore
The Last Bookstore is an awesome, free experience in Downtown Los Angeles. It’s flooded with visitors and locals with a unique selection of books of all genres. But, most people aren’t there to read – they’re there to find all the hidden gems within the store.
Head upstairs to explore all the nooks and crannies this seemingly-never-ending store has to offer. There is a book tunnel with a line of people waiting to take photos, the final wall of the bookstore, and more. The most unique thing about The Last Bookstore is a pathway where various artists have shops with their work available. There is something for everyone, and these artists produce some truly unique work. Pick up a fun postcard to send friends back home or a vintage phone…. you really never know what you’ll find.
5. Grand Park
Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles completely took us by surprise. We had no idea that this beautiful, expansive park was right in the middle of the city. They often have free concerts or city-wide events at Grand Park. This time, we stumbled into the Women’s March. They had motivational speakers and musical acts all day along with food trucks and free events for kids. Grand Park is a great free activity to explore. It’s a fun combination of peaceful greenery and a vibrant city vibe.
6. Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels
I’ve said this in multiple blogs and social media posts – cathedrals are a great representation of cultural architecture in whichever city you visit. We visit cathedrals across the world and highly recommend doing so even if you’re not religious. Each cathedral we’ve visited has told a story of that city and the people of the city.
Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels in Downtown LA is no different. This is the most modern cathedral we’ve visited. It was partially created to rebrand Downtown LA as a vibrant, young, innovative, and culturally-relevant city center. The cathedral has a unique design compared to the more historical approach you would find in Europe. We spent about 45 minutes looking through the main cathedral and the underground mausoleum. The stark white marble and modern design kept us there for a while. Just outside the cathedral, you’ll find beautiful murals and a garden/park area with animal statues.
7. Santa Monica Pier (only pay for transportation!)
Ok… so this isn’t in Downtown Los Angeles, but how can you visit California without taking a trip to the ocean? Santa Monica is a 45-minute to 1-hour drive from Downtown LA without traffic. Once you get there, you’ll also pay for parking. We knew we wanted to enjoy some beers on the pier, so none of us wanted to drive. After checking the price of an Uber/Lyft, we also didn’t want to pay for rideshare! So, we ended up taking the Metro down to Santa Monica Pier. It’s a really easy ride and only costs $1.75 for a 1-way ticket.
Ok… so this isn’t in Downtown Los Angeles, but how can you visit California without taking a trip to the ocean? Santa Monica is a 45-minute to 1-hour drive from Downtown LA without traffic. Once you get there, you’ll also pay for parking. We knew we wanted to enjoy some beers on the pier, so none of us wanted to drive. After checking the price of an Uber/Lyft, we also didn’t want to pay for rideshare! So, we ended up taking the Metro down to Santa Monica Pier. It’s a really easy ride and only costs $1.75 for a 1-way ticket.
Tip: in order to take the Metro in California, you will need to purchase a TAP card. It’s only $2, and you can save it for your next trip. Don’t lose it though, or you’ll have to purchase another one.
Once you’re at Santa Monica Pier, you can go on all the fun rides, eat food on the pier, or just enjoy the views and company, which is exactly what we did. If the weather is good, you can rent a bike and take the bike path down to Venice Beach. We didn’t do it on this trip, but we will on the next one!
Instead, we decided to catch a football game at downtown Santa Monica. Downtown Santa Monica is a short walk from the pier and has tons of restaurant options, bars, and shopping.
8. Venice Beach
Take the Metro to Santa Monica and rent a bike to get to Venice Beach on the cheap. Once you’re at Venice Beach, you can spend a whole day exploring the ocean, muscle beach, local artists, and beach-side shops. Our must-sees at Venice Beach are the muscle beach area and free-for-all graffiti zone (aka Venice Public Art Walls). Both of these are so unique to Venice Beach, that you have to see them while you’re there!
Muscle Beach is in countless movies and competitions. You’ll find people of all athletic abilities working out right on the beach, soaking in nature.
Venice Public Art Walls is a place where it’s legal to graffiti. What you see one moment might be gone within the hour. We love that this artwork constantly changes and gives a creative opportunity for artists experimenting with a new style.
9. Live Music
Downtown LA is full of live music. From traditional venues like The Wiltern to street bands, there are nearly unlimited ways to enjoy music while you’re in Downtown LA. We ended up enjoying live music each night we were in LA in all different venues: Walt Disney Concert Hall, Grand Park, Grand Central Market (totally unexpected and amazing band!), The Wiltern, The Forum, and others along the way.
Look up your favorite band and see if they are playing in Downtown LA anytime soon. Make that the reason for your next visit!
10. DineLA
DineLA happens twice per year throughout Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Restaurants offer a set menu price that is heavily discounted from their regular pricing. DineLA’s website organizes the options by type of food, price, and time of day. Annabel, Mike, and I took advantage of DineLA by eating at one of Downtown LA’s best steak houses, Nick & Stef’s. We opted for the creamy mushroom soup and N+S Burger. At first, we felt lame ordering a burger from a steak house, but LOOK AT THIS THING. Definitely on the list for delicious food in our next blog.
If you’re like us and had ignored Downtown LA until now, we hope that you’re more open to the idea and have 10 fun things to do while you’re in town. If you are already on your way to Downtown LA, we hope you soak up all it has to offer! For more tips and a free long haul flight guide, click here to subscribe!