DTLA City Tour

Los Angeles' DTLA scene has come a long way in the last 10 years. Native Angelenos avoided this area for a long time. The catalyst was Staples Center with the Lakers, Kings and Clippers starting play there in 1999. More businesses are opening up shop breathing life and culture back into the scene. This past weekend, I decided to curate a DTLA city tour for my boyfriend who, for a native Angelino, surprisingly has spent little time in the area. There are many wonderful and unique things to see Downtown but if you are looking for a fun, mostly thrifty, excursion in DTLA, this is the tour for you! So here is my guide for how to spend the perfect day in DTLA!

Angels Flight - Morning

If you haven't taken a ride on Angels Flight since it re-opened, stop reading this and head out now! The ride fare is only $1 but the feelings really touch on a childlike nostalgia for the simpler things. The Historic Landmark was just recently opened again in early September of 2017. It had been closed on and off for the better part of the last decade to continue the efforts in improving the safety design of the mechanics. Now it is back and better than ever!

Grand Central Market - Breakfast

After your quick ride on Angels Flight, cross the street and head into Grand central for a cup of coffee and some brekkie. Standing in line for things is always a drag but do yourself the favor and do it once for Eggslut's popular brioche breakfast sandwiches. The food comes out quickly once you order and its worth the wait! If Eggslut is old news for you then there are a host of other amazing restaurants! You really can't go wrong - there's almost every style of cuisine to choose from and every one of them is good.

Bradbury Building - Mid Morning

The next stop on the list is again across the street! Find the world famous Bradbury Building, one of downtown's most famous landmarks and known for being featured in Blade Runner. I've written about the Bradbury Building before, putting it on my list of '7 Totally Free and Alternative Things to do in LA' which you can read HERE! This building is one of my favorites, not only because of its beauty and history but also for its serene atmosphere inside.

The Last Bookstore - Early Afternoon

The Last Bookstore is only a couple blocks down Broadway from the Bradbury. It's a treasure trove of great finds! The biggest attractions here are the impossible Book Tunnel and Horror Book Vault. Those are worth the trip but you should not ignore the rare book room, their surprisingly vast record collection, and the several independent vendors upstairs. So go and get lost in the stacks of this LA gem!

Arts District - Afternoon

In the afternoon, I always need a pick-me-up. The arts district is the perfect area to knock several items off the list! Get your coffee fix at Blacktop Coffee and peruse around some of the unique stores that the Arts District has to offer. Personally, I love going to Apolis and House of Woo.

Smorgasburg - Late Afternoon

Catch an Uber or Lyft to Smorgasburg on the other side of DTLA near the Arts District. An increasingly popular outdoor dining/shopping market that happens every Sunday. It sits on a five-acre parking lot near old warehouse spaces and is slowly becoming the next burgeoning DTLA scene. Smorgasburg is also the home to several local goods vendors worth checking out.

Skyspace Observation Deck - Late Afternoon

The Skyspace Observation Deck is one of my favorite places in LA. It's best known for having the glass slide attraction but it's also the tallest open air observation deck in LA. The view shows a very different perspective of LA, one tourists typically don't associate with this town. You can see just about every part the city from Santa Monica to Griffith Park to Palos Verdes. It comes at the price of $35 (glass slide ride included). I'm just a sucker for tall buildings.

Perch - Happy Hour/Dinner

End your night sipping cocktails or eating dinner at the most beautiful rooftop deck in DTLA (I'm a sucker for ornate tile decor!) It's about two blocks away from the US Bank Building and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Perch is not a 'kept secret' by any means. Much like Eggslut, it's fantastic and everyone knows about it. If you're hungry, your best option is to put in a reservation, but remember to do it several days early! If you just want the rooftop view, the cocktail bar is for you! You'll end your perfect day in DTLA the right way. My adventures in DTLA are far from over! Tell me about some of your favorite places downtown in the comments section!