Arts District Los Angeles: What to See, Eat, and Do

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The Arts District is the most creatively active neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles. What was an industrial zone of warehouses and loading docks fifteen years ago is now home to galleries, restaurants, breweries, and studios — without losing the raw architecture that gives the neighborhood its character. Here is what to see, eat, and do.

Galleries and Art Spaces

  • Hauser & Wirth — A global gallery in a converted flour mill complex. The courtyard garden and rotating exhibitions make it worth a visit even if you are not an art buyer. Free admission. The on-site restaurant Manuela is excellent.
  • Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA) — Focused on emerging and under-recognized artists. Always free. Smaller and more intimate than MOCA or The Broad.
  • Charlie James Gallery — One of the neighborhood’s original galleries, focused on socially engaged contemporary art. Free and walkable from most Arts District spots.
  • Human Resources Los Angeles — An artist-run space hosting experimental performance, video, and installation. The programming is unpredictable in the best way.

The Murals

The Arts District has one of the densest concentrations of street art in the country. No formal tour is needed — walk the blocks between Traction Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue, and between 1st Street and 7th Street. Highlights include:

  • The alley between Traction and Hewitt (the most photographed corridor)
  • The ROW DTLA building exteriors along 7th Street
  • Anderson Street walls south of 4th

New work appears regularly. What you see today will not be the same in six months.

Where to Eat

  • Bestia — The restaurant that put the Arts District on the dining map. Italian, high-energy, hard reservation. Book two weeks out.
  • Damian — From the same team, Mexican-inspired. The lamb neck tacos and mezcal list are the draws.
  • Manuela — Southern-inflected, farm-driven, inside Hauser & Wirth. The fried chicken is the anchor of the menu.
  • Wurstküche — Exotic sausages (rattlesnake, rabbit, pheasant) plus Belgian fries and craft beer. The outdoor patio is big enough for groups.
  • Pizzanista! — New York-style slices with a skate-culture sensibility. Quick, casual, affordable.
  • Zinc Cafe & Market — All-day cafe with one of the best patios in the district. Good for morning coffee, lunch, or an afternoon work session.
  • Rossoblu — Bologna-meets-LA Italian in a dramatic warehouse. The tortelloni en brodo is one of the best pasta dishes in the city.

Coffee

  • Blue Bottle Coffee — The warehouse conversion that helped launch the third-wave coffee aesthetic. Single-origin pour-overs done with care.

Drinks

  • Arts District Brewing Company — Local craft brewery in a former warehouse with a full kitchen. Large space, family-friendly during the day, lively at night.
  • Everson Royce Bar — Patio bar with craft beer, natural wine, and rotating food trucks. The default meeting spot for neighborhood regulars.

Work and Create

  • Spaces at 777 S. Alameda — Coworking in one of the neighborhood’s largest converted warehouses. Day passes available.
  • Apex Photo Studios — Professional photo and video production spaces. Multiple stages with equipment rental.

Shopping

  • ROW DTLA — A complex of restored industrial buildings with retail, dining, and events. The weekend markets are worth timing your visit around.

Getting There

The Arts District is bounded roughly by the LA River to the east, Alameda Street to the west, 1st Street to the north, and 7th Street to the south. Street parking is available but limited on weekends. The nearest Metro station is Little Tokyo/Arts District on the Gold Line.

For the full directory of Arts District businesses, see our DTLA listings.

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