Downtown / LA Metro (7)

The Public House at Angel City Brewery

The Guide to Craft Beer in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles

02/11/2016

Discover Los Angeles

The revitalized Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles is one of the most exciting neighborhoods in L.A., with new lofts, galleries, restaurants and shops opening at an incredible pace. Joining this renaissance are new breweries and gastropubs, making the Arts District another craft beer hub along with Torrance and Redondo Beach in the South Bay. The Downtown L.A. craft beer boom isn’t limited to the Arts District - the adjacent Little Tokyo neighborhood is home to Boomtown Brewery and Mumford Brewery, while Dry River Brewing and Indie Brewing Company are crafting beer in nearby Boyle Heights on the other side of the L.A. River. Read on for our guide to craft beer in the Arts District.

Downtown L.A. viewed from the Arts District

A Visual Walking Tour of the Arts District in Downtown L.A.

11/04/2015

Esther Tseng

Not sure what to do in downtown Los Angeles?  Stop by The Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles, one of the hottest neighborhoods in the DTLA area. From the area’s beginnings as Jean-Louis Vigne’s vineyard to an orchard growing mostly oranges and grapefruit, by the late 1800s it became an industrial center for railroads and manufacturing. Eventually, the railroads gave way to the trucking industry and industry moved to other L.A. County areas like Commerce in order to build larger buildings to accommodate their growing businesses.

In the 1970s, artists braved dangerous conditions and began to occupy the area’s dilapidated buildings, having been priced out of areas such as Venice and Hollywood. Eventually, they opened art galleries and began to develop these buildings themselves, thereby preserving a big part of L.A.’s industrial history.

The area again underwent another downturn in the 1990s before being saved by Joel Bloom and his supporters, who officially renamed the area the “Arts District.” Today, it is home to many creatives, including those in green technology, architecture and entertainment. Read on for a visual walking tour of this burgeoning urban oasis.

Redwood tree and atrium at Clifton's

Clifton's Cafeteria: The Story of an L.A. Icon

09/21/2015

Elina Shatkin

How magical would it be to instantly trade the sidewalks and steel of an urban downtown for a woodland utopia? Clifton's spanned 16,000-square-feet of faux redwoods, frolicking forest creatures, scenic murals, a brook babbling with limeade and a 20-foot waterfall cascading over artificial rocks. To say that Clifton’s was unique is like saying LeBron James is a pretty decent basketball player. Imagine a larger-than-life diorama designed by Walt Disney on a Pine Sol-fueled bender. Simply put, it was unlike any other restaurant in Los Angeles.

Hotel Normandie lobby

Hotel Normandie: The Story of an L.A. Icon

08/11/2015

Sandi Hemmerlein

Situated only three miles in each direction from Downtown L.A. and the Miracle Mile, Koreatown has become a historic, cultural and entertainment destination, marked by the revival of architectural icons like the Hotel Normandie

Lobby of the NoMad Los Angeles

The 3-Day Weekend Getaway Guide to Los Angeles: Day 1

12/19/2012

Discover Los Angeles

The 3 Day Weekend Getaway Guide to Los Angeles begins in Downtown L.A., which has experienced an incredible renaissance that includes world-class cultural attractions and venues, acclaimed restaurants, vibrant nightlife and a thriving gallery scene.