Los Angeles’ Arts District is one of the most lively and eclectic neighborhoods in the city. Previously an industrial center, the Downtown Los Angeles area was taken over by artists in the 1970s who converted the rundown warehouses into vibrant art galleries and studio spaces. A few decades later, community activist Joel Bloom helped shape the neighborhood into the thriving Arts District we know today.
Whether you’re interested in free gallery spaces, breweries, Michelin-starred restaurants, or arcades, you’ll find that the L.A. Arts District packs a punch within its three square miles. Lucky for us, the neighborhood is extremely walkable, with many of our favorite destinations located right next door to each other. Scroll to the bottom of this article for a handy map to help you plan your visit.
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Coffee and breakfast in L.A.’s Arts District
1. Bread Lounge
Start your day with a coffee and freshly-baked pastry on the outdoor patio at Bread Lounge. They stock a dazzling selection of croissants, danishes, and Jerusalem bagels, plus excellent vegan breads.
📍 Location: 700 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA
2. Manuela
If you want a more sit-down breakfast experience, Manuela is a popular brunch restaurant in L.A. that shares a space with the famous Hauser & Wirth art gallery. The ample menu is devoted to sustainability and local ingredients, but don’t limit yourself to breakfast, because they continue to pull out the stops well through the dinner hour.
🍽️ Reservations: Manuela
📍 Location: 907 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA
Restaurants in L.A.’s Arts District
3. Bestia
Find this stylish Italian restaurant inside a converted L.A. warehouse in the Arts District of Los Angeles. It’s one of the neighborhood’s most popular restaurants, renowned as much for its sleek industrial design as for its famous roasted bone marrow antipasti.
📍 Location: 2121 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA
4. LA Cha Cha Chá
This popular rooftop restaurant is outfitted with thriving succulents and string lights to make your open-air dining experience all the more memorable. Whether you opt for a flavorful taco plate or the chiles rellenos, you’d be remiss not to top off your meal with one of their refreshing tequila-centric cocktails.
🍽️ Reservations: LA Cha Cha Chá
📍 Location: 812 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA
5. Camphor
Camphor stands out for its creative incorporation of South and Southeast Asian cooking techniques to bring a fresh perspective to classic French dishes. Perhaps that’s why it earned a Michelin star last year.
🍽️ Reservations: Camphor
📍 Location: 923 E 3rd St #109, Los Angeles, CA
6. Bike Shed Moto Co.
Bike Shed Moto Co. is a haven for motorcyclists in L.A., boasting a fascinating 15,000-square-foot industrial space with a bustling restaurant. Their menu features all the best comfort bar food including hearty breakfast burritos, colorful buddha bowls, and massive burgers, much of which is vegan-friendly.
🍽️ Reservations: Bike Shed Moto Co.
📍 Location: 1580 Industrial Street, Los Angeles, CA
7. The Factory Kitchen
This bustling Italian restaurant in L.A.’s Arts District has earned a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand designation since 2019. The menu is dedicated to hearty Northern Italian cuisine, including favorites like house-made seafood ravioli and Ligurian focaccina with Crescenza cheese.
🍽️ Reservations: The Factory Kitchen
📍 Location: 1300 Factory Pl, Los Angeles, CA
8. AFURI Ramen + Dumpling
Japanese food lovers will be blown away by the specialty Yuzu Shio ramen at AFURI. The famous dish is made using a reduction of chicken broth, dry fish, dry konbu seaweed, and yuzu citrus to create a delicate layering of umami flavors that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
🍽️ Reservations: AFURI Ramen + Dumpling
📍 Location: 688 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA
9. Wurstküche
Adventurous eaters will certainly want to make a trip to Wurstküche to cross some items off their foodie bucket list. This lively German beer hall is a self-proclaimed “purveyor of exotic grilled sausages,” meaning you’ll find juicy favorites like bratwurst and kielbasa alongside more unique combinations… yep, we’re talking about the mythical rattlesnake, rabbit, and jalapeno sausage.
🍽️ Reservations: Wurstküche
📍 Location: 800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA
What to do in L.A.’s Arts District
10. Hauser & Wirth
Hauser & Wirth is a famous contemporary art gallery in the Arts District of Los Angeles where you can see superb rotating exhibitions for free. It’s located within a converted flour mill, which also houses the popular on-site restaurant Manuela and a public garden.
📍 Location: 901 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA
11. Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (ICA LA)
ICA LA is another cutting-edge, free art gallery located in a 12,700-square-foot industrial space in DTLA. They are famously committed to making contemporary art accessible to all, meaning you’ll enjoy free admission and a special focus on underrepresented local perspectives.
📍 Location: 1717 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA
12. ROW DTLA
This “city within a city” is a must-visit during your day in L.A.’s Arts District. Whether you’re there to do a spot of shopping at their many specialty retailers, or you just want to stuff your face at the weekly Smorgasburg food market, make sure you leave plenty of time to explore.
📍 Location: 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA
13. Smorgasburg
We’re lucky to enjoy the largest food market in the country every single Sunday at ROW DTLA. On any given weekend you can lose yourself among over 100 different food vendors serving local and international flavors. This goes without saying, but be sure you show up with an empty stomach.
📍 Location: ROW DTLA, 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA
14. EightyTwo
If it’s games and entertainment you seek, look no further than L.A.’s pioneering arcade bar EightyTwo. With 55 different vintage pinball and arcade games, plus a 3,000-square-foot patio space, we wouldn’t blame you for spending all your loose quarters here.
📍 Location: 707 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, CA
15. Sixth Street Bridge
The Sixth Street Viaduct, also known as the Sixth Street Bridge, is a modern marvel and widely-recognized landmark in the Arts District. It underwent a groundbreaking seismic remodel in 2022, but its previous iteration made famous cameos in movies like Grease, Terminator 2 and 3, Anchorman, and The Dark Knight Rises.
📍 Location: E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA
16. Two Bit Circus
Two Bit Circus is your ultimate destination for carnival-themed fun, with everything from old-school video games to cutting-edge VR escape rooms. If you get worn out from beating noobs, you can recharge at the full-service bar and cozy lounge area.
📍 Location: 634 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Bars and nightlife in L.A.’s Arts District
17. The Obscure
Enter an enchanted realm like something straight out of a fantasy novel at The Obscure. In the fairytale-like setting, you’ll embark on a guided journey, sipping on house spirits and cocktails from award-winning bartenders. You’ll also feel your creativity stoked as you discover stories and live-art throughout the intimate venue. And don’t miss The Rising Sun—a southern-inspired al fresco café—where you can dine before or after your drinks!
🍸 Tickets: The Obscure
📍 Location: 1356 Palmetto St., Los Angeles, CA
18. Max Karaoke
Little Tokyo houses some massively popular karaoke bars, and it’s hard to beat the tried-and-true Max Karaoke. Rent a karaoke room for any-sized group and belt out your favorite tunes, available on state-of-the-art karaoke equipment in 14 different languages.
🎤 Reservations: Max Karaoke
📍 Location: 333 S Alameda St #216, Los Angeles, CA
19. Death & Co
Regarded as one of the best cocktail bars in Los Angeles, Death & Co. serves a meticulous 25-item cocktail menu in a lavish subterranean lounge. If you can get a table in the main room of the modern-day speakeasy, you’re in for a real treat from the expert bartenders.
📍 Location: 818 E 3rd St, Los Angeles
20. Arts District Brewing Co
Bring a group to max out on the entertainment at Arts District Brewing Co., the ultimate party spot complete with skeeball, darts, ping pong, and axe throwing courtesy of Hatchet Hound. The 15-barrel brewhouse produces a superb menu of diverse beers (we’re partial to Las Perlas, a German-style Kölsch; and Traction, a fruit-forward IPA), but they also serve a full cocktail and food menu.
📍 Location: 828 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA
21. Everson Royce Bar
Everson Royce is more than just a popular cocktail destination; in fact, you should show up hungry to indulge in their crowd-favorite hamburger or grilled spare ribs with pear miso glaze.
📍 Location: 1936 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA
22. Angel City Brewery
This brewery in the Arts District is a neighborhood watering hole that goes far beyond its popular craft beers (although you won’t want to miss the famous annual avocado kolsh release). They also host numerous highly-attended events every single month, including karaoke, art shows, yoga, and food pop-ups.
📍 Location: 216 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA