Downtown Los Angeles

L.A. is a city of diverse cultures and many are showcased close to downtown, including Grand Central Market, MOCA, Disney Hall, The Music Center, Olvera Street, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Natural History Museum, and the Japanese-American Museum. There is also some stunning American architecture.

Dining

 • Empress Pavilion: Chinatown. Most food is brought around on carts but there is also a menu.
 • Philippe's, Chinatown. A couple blocks from Union Station. Famous for their 'French Dip' sandwiches. But the real reason to go is the price and the pastrami. Place is mobbed on the nights of Laker's and Dodger's games, beware. Others enjoy Phillipe's for their double-dipped sandwiches (the beef is recommended), and their incredible lemonade.
 • Clifton's Cafeteria, Downtown. Since 1935, located on Broadway, serves cafeteria style food. One should experience the history, the food at affordable prices, and of course view the mountain theme.
 • Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet, Downtown. In continuous operation since 1908 and the REAL home of the French Dip.
 • The Pantry: Downtown. A 24 hour restaurant, located on 877 S. Figueroa, that has been around since 1924. The place is known for its great food and speedy service. Best place for breakfast after midnight. Cash only accepted.
 • Water Grill: Downtown. Very pricey, but elegant and wonderful.
 • Angelique Cafe, Fashion District (kinda). Great French food with real French people running the place. Lunch is their best meal.
 • Grand Central Market, Huge indoor bazaar of Central and South American vendors. Get fresh tortillas, huge Mexican papayas and tasty Tortas. On Hill and Broadway between 3rd and 4th (closer to 3rd). Conveniently near the Bradbury Building (unique architecture) and the Pershing Square Red line stop (Northeast access).
 • Traxx: Fancy-Schmansy restaurant in Union Station. Good food, pricey but the ambience of Union Station makes it worth a splurge.
 • Nick and Stef's: Fantastic steak house, run by the Patina restaurant empire. If you like beef, this is some of the best in town, with a glass-enclosed aging room where you can view the meat as it ages. Try the dry-aged Rib eye, it will make your head spin. They also have 12 kinds of potatoes on the menu. Not sure why, but they're all good. In the Wells Fargo Center, across from MOCA.

Get Around

Drive your car to a parking lot and go it by foot from then on. Downtown isn't all that big. And most likely a DASH shuttle has a stop where you want to go. If you MUST drive, park at the NE corner of Hill and 9th to check out the Fashion/Garment District. Incredible deals, great restaurants, beautiful architecture (check out the Orpheum and Eastern Columbia Buildings across from the lot). There is also Clifton's further up Broadway, The Arcade Building which, like many of the historic building downtown, is being converted into upscale lofts. 

Lodging

There are numerous residential hotels in the area. You may rent weekly or monthly here. It will be very economical. Some were clearly formerly glorious, but don't expect much in terms of cleanliness now. You will meet interesting people. The Alexandria was actually used by famous stars and has marble bathrooms. Some of the rooms were favorites of particular stars, and the door has a little plaque for that star. The stars probably won't mean anything to you unless you are old enough, but it is still kind of interesting, and most of the residents will be older than you as well. You can wander around the public areas. There is even laundry in the basement. Be prepared to use gallons of Febreeze of get lots of incense. You might want to bring your own mattress and bedding. The advantages would be price and being at the center of the transit system where you can get buses and trains to different places. Note that some would argue that no one in their right mind would stay at the Alexandria since it is used for film shoots depicting decrepit, sleazy plots. Other options include Checkers (Grand south of Fifth), or the Biltmore (at Pershing Square), or the Bonaventure (5th/Figueroa), or the Marriott (3rd/Figueroa- has a theatre in the basement), or the New Otani (Little Tokyo).

• Attractions

• Parking: Some people are partial to parking at any one of the lots around the Music Center or Civic Center in roughly the area bounded by Grand to Spring and Temple to 2nd. But Pershing Square has good centralized parking.

If you are checking out the Convention Center (only do if you are actually going to a convention there) consider parking there, although it is adjacent to Staples Center, which is a block from the Hotel Figueroa (check out the bar and the Moorish architecture), which is a block from the Pantry, which is, well you get the idea.
 

• DASH', A shuttle service run by LA Dept. of Transportation. When your feet get tired or to better expand your travel area use the DASH . It has several convenient routes that whisk you to almost all of the worthwhile spots Downtown. A ride currently costs a quarter and pamphlets can be had from most MTA stations (Union, 7th/Olive) and convenience stores Downtown (spotty weekend and after hour service though).