MoBro

I'm trying to convince my family to visit downtown, when we are in L.A. next month.
Somehow, they always squirm out of my suggestion to go there.
I need to create an enticing list of things to see in a half-day of relatively easy walking, and a great place to eat dinner.
Maitaitom, suggestions for a great restaurant for four adults? (I know you recently wrote about an Italian one you like best, but I can't find its name.)
Would like to see Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall, for one thing.

sf7307

The Italian restaurant is Maccheroni Republic, and it is wonderful and very moderately priced. The squid ink pasta is fantastic.

Take a ride on Angel's Flight, and walk through the Central Market.

maitaitom

Here are some ideas for things to do and places to eat DTLA ...

Dining ... (a couple of favorites)

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/mac...-angeles-ca-2/

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/man...os-angeles-ca/

DTLA sights include ...

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/ang...y-los-angeles/

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/gra...t-los-angeles/

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/cat...s-los-angeles/

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/wal...l-los-angeles/

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/gra...k-los-angeles/

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/the-broad-los-angeles/

Biltmore Hotel
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/22568-2/

MoBro

Thank you, sf, that's the one!

maitaitom, I appreciate all the links and will take them with me. Thanks!

I am determined to get to DTLA this visit. Wish me luck. hahaha

We have tickets to see John Williams perform with the LA Philharmonic in the Hollywood Bowl. We are really looking forward to our first concert there.

sf7307

Despite having lived in California for 45 years, we went to the Hollywood Bowl for the first time a couple of years ago. What a treat!

5alive

Bookmarking this. I also remember downtown LA when it really wasn't very nice and would like to see the transformation.

Christina

I lived in LA for many years in the 70s and 80s, and don't remember the downtown then as being "not very nice" exactly. As with any urban center, sure, there were areas that had nothing of interest to a tourist sightseeing, and had some poor or street people, but that's nothing new. I would go down there to go to the main Library on weekends, as they had an excellent sheet music collection, and that's a beautiful building. And I would think most typical tourists would enjoy a visit to Olvera St, the center of where the city started. I would always take visitors there. Now, they have many more interesting museums in that area, I can't imagine someone not thinking there would be anything of interest. It really depends what someone is interested in, there are both Chinese and Japanese American museums, for example.

https://www.downtownla.com/explore/e...ultura-y-artes

I don't know any special restaurants.

MoBro

Thanks, Christina. I put Olvera Street on my list, and copied that link.

sf, our DS just purchased a condo in the Hollywood Hills, close to the Hollywood Bowl. Through their HOA, they get FREE tickets to Hollywood Bowl hosted concerts. I guess the Bowl provides the complimentary tickets, to minimize noise and traffic complaints from neighbors.
The other night, they had 5 free tickets to see Flamenco guitarists play with the philharmonic and they loved it.
Our tickets to John Williams are not free, however.

5alive

Christina--I appreciate a lot of your insights on this board, and I respect your opinion.

Just for clarity... In Los Angeles, I was there for work; I was not a tourist. It just was not a vibrant downtown core compared to the other cities I had been. I liked many other things about living in greater Los Angeles--the Southland as it was also called.

I am glad to see the downtown LA area has changed. I'd like to see it some day.

maitaitom

I worked downtown in the early to mid 80s. I saw a guy get shot across the street from my office and once nearly stepped on a guy who'd been killed in my parking lot (no kidding). I laughed at people who bought condos downtown thinking they were crazy. Fast forward a little more than three decades. Yes, L.A. (like most large American cities) has a homeless problem. However, DTLA has transformed into a vibrant area we visit often, especially to dine. The Arts District, while still a little gritty, has certainly become more gentrified (arguments can ensue about gentrification), and has some of the best restaurants I have ever dined anywhere are located there. LA Live is a cool area (Grammy Museum, concerts and hotels with some great rooftop bars). The Grand Central Market (once again the gentrification issue is raised) is always crowded with locals and tourists, alike.

My list of L.A. things to do in an above post just touches the tip of the iceberg of things to do in DTLA and its environs. Unless you want to play Whack-A-Mole at the Santa Monica pier or wade through a bunch of Star Wars characters in Hollywood, I think DTLA has much more of interest for a tourist. Take a day trip to the beach, check out Hollywood (if you must) and stay downtown or in America's favorite city, Pasadena Just one locals' opinion.

Jean

To the list of DTLA sights, I'd add...

Union Station for its architecture. The same architect designed the building in which the Grand Central Market is located, the L.A. City Hall, the 1932 Memorial Coliseum, the Fire Dept.'s Engine Co. 28 on Figueroa Street (now a restaurant of the same name), a couple of buildings still standing in the city's historical core (approx. South Spring and Broadway Sts), and the master plan for the campus of USC. The train station is "across the street" from Olivera Street as well as the Chinese American Museum.

The Central Library, also for its architecture, murals and public art as well as rotating exhibits of photos, art and artifacts on the theme of Los Angeles.

The Bradbury Building (near the Grand Central Market) for its architecture which you can view only from the ground floor.

Other museums in DTLA: the Geffen Contemporary Museum, the Japanese American National Museum, MOCA, the Broad (advance tickets required) , the Grammy Museum, and probably one or two I'm forgetting. There's a Wells Fargo Historical Museum with an original stagecoach and other artifacts, but I haven't visited it so have no idea whether it's worth a stop.

One of the great historic restaurants in DTLA is Cole's, where the French dip sandwich was invented. It's in the old Pacific Electric building on East 6th Street. 110 years and counting.

maitaitom

"DTLA is Cole's, where the French dip sandwich was invented."

or was it Philippe's ... the debate rages on ...

Jean

Team Cole's, ever since I worked in DTLA in the early '70s. Philippe's was too far to walk to on a lunch hour...

Dukey1

Help! What happened to that recent thread about hotels in DTLA?

Jean

Dukey1, it's still there. I can't copy a link on my phone, but the last post was on Aug. 20.
​​​​​​​

Dukey1

Thanks, jean, I will try harder to find it

janisj

Los Angeles hotel, which area?

(just click 'View by State')

MoBro

Reporting back, after our trip to L.A. last week. Our son has moved to the Hollywood Hills, which is a whole new area for us to explore.

We stayed at the Elan Hotel, and liked it a lot. Stylish little place, with great service and good prices. Breakfast included, and also an evening wine reception.

We did not make a trip downtown. Once again, I didn't get a chance to wrangle everyone to go down there. We had a good excuse, though, since DS was moving out of his old apartment, so we helped every day, by making our car trunk available for moving final stuff.

We ate dinner at Mercado Los Angeles again, which we like a lot. Los Angeles Reservations ? Cocinas y Calaveras
Really good guacamole, and I loved my steak tacos. DH went rogue and ordered seared scallops (at a Mexican restaurant??), but they were awesome. Only complaint about the place is the noise level is very high.

For our last evening, we were taking DS's friends to dinner and we ventured over to NoHo. Ate at the Federal, which has awesome burgers. Upcoming Events and Specials - The Federal NoHo

Most fun we had was attending the Hollywood Bowl performance of the LA Philharmonic, with John Williams. Steven Spielberg made a guest appearance-- the first time he's ever done that. Williams has performed there many times since 1978.

It was absolutely magical, hearing Spielberg relate his stories of working with Williams. Favorite part: watching the finale of ET on the big screens, introduced by Spielberg with music conducted by Williams. Truly a fabulous experience.

Near the end of the show, they played a Star Wars theme, and the kids in the Bowl waved their light sabers in time with the music. Really fun.

sf7307

That sounds like a great trip!!

MoBro

Thanks, sf. It really was.

And preceded by four fun nights at the San Diego marina, where DH attended a conference. And I got to relax. An old friend picked me up and we went to Balboa Park for a walk and lunch at the lovely Mexican restaurant there. A place with memories for me & DH, going back to his Air Force days, in the early 70s. https://www.cohnrestaurants.com/theprado

We had our best dinner at Eddie V’s at the seaport village area. Expensive seafood. But worth it. Best gulf shrimp dish I’ve ever had. https://m.eddiev.com/menu-listing/dinner

Also had a pretty good dinner at the Fish Market. Nothing extraordinary, but the location is nice. https://www.thefishmarket.com/menu/

We took the ferry to Coronado and ended up having dinner at the hotel Del’s Sheerwater oceanside restaurant. It was very good, but lots of LOUD helicopters and fighter jets flew overhead the entire time, around 5pm to 7pm. Made me wonder about how those sounds annoy wedding parties there. https://hoteldel.com/restaurant-coronado/sheerwater/

On our drive day to LA, we took our time and stopped in La Jolla, then went for an early dinner at another old favorite, The Crab Cooker at Newport Beach. We never miss an opportunity to eat there.. http://thecrabcooker.com/main-courses/