DTLA Activities, Restaurants, Bars & Things To Do
Things to do in Downtown Los Angeles: bites, restaurants, drinks, architecture, street art, museums, coffee, shops Arts District activities, date ideas & more.
Last updated August 6, 2025
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Downtown Los Angeles is a place I love and is often the area I stay in when I visit whether for football games, catching up with friends or working with clients on their dating photos.
As someone who went to USC, DTLA was the first major city I spent significant time in as a young adult, and the diversity, grit, and culture are something I miss dearly.
In a city that is so spread out and so dependent on vehicles to get around, I like to be efficient with my travels so I can do, see and taste as much as possible when I am not working.
Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time on the West Side and sorely miss warm winter afternoons on the beaches, but there is something about downtown that keeps luring me back.
Downtown Los Angeles Containment Zone, Map
The containment zone, which endured curfews and lockdowns for two weeks was largely between the 110, 10 and 5 freeways. Areas nearby were also impacted during this time.
Unfortunately, the area has received a lot of bad press, and many restaurants and bars have closed either during the pandemic i.e. Bäco Mercat : ( or more recently during the curfews and lockdowns earlier this year. Bars and restaurants operate on a thin margin, and closing early, closing unexpectedly or losing staff can be the nail in the coffin for many businesses.
I have been thinking about writing a piece about my Los Angeles recommendations for quite some time, and my recent visit there last week helped me accelerate the effort after seeing many places struggle.
Downtown Los Angeles Recommendations
Before you look up reviews, check out maps or begin to bookmark locations, I highly recommend watching this documentary: City of Gold. It’s about Jonathan Gold, LA Times food writer who passed away in 2018. You get to see Los Angeles through the food and cultural lens that is vital to appreciating the food that arrives at your table.
His focus was on lesser-known restaurants and immigrant-owned places - he was simply the best.
Below is a range of recommendations from restaurants, bites, a few bars, and activities to explore on your next visit to downtown Los Angeles and a few recommendations nearby.