It’s expected for out-of-state vacationers to immediately hike to the Hollywood sign or take a stroll down the Venice Beach Boardwalk, but there’s so much more to explore in the hustle and bustle of Downtown Los Angeles! I’ve lived just a few minutes away from DTLA for my entire life, but it’s always a brand new adventure scoping out the lively streets and filming locations of the city—especially after the sun goes down! My friend Bea was kind enough to join me on this mini trip, so shout out to her for taking these awesome photos! If you’re in a time crunch, I suggest you follow this curated list to nine iconic (and mostly FREE) spots in DTLA—all of which are walking distance from each other!
1. City Hall
(200 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Completed in 1928, Los Angeles City Hall may appear to be a dull government building, but the 32-floor masterpiece has seen its fair share of the big screen, with features in L.A. Confidential (1997) and Gangster Squad (2013)! Through many hours of youth council meetings, I’ve partially learned my way around City Hall, and I’d like to share my favorite spot with you: the observation deck! With two elevator trips and a short staircase, you’ll find yourself on the 27th floor, overlooking the never-ending sea of buildings and cars as far as the eye can see! Though the 360 view of Los Angeles is absolutely breathtaking, I always find myself staring at the impressive skyline… When you’re up there, the buildings almost seem close enough to reach out and touch!
2. Grand Park
(200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Right across the street from City Hall is Grand Park, a 12-acre tract with several green lawns, an abundance of vibrant pink benches, and a gigantic fountain with a shallow splash pad for children! Busiest on weekday afternoons, local families enjoy relaxing picnics as business people grab coffees during their lunch breaks at the on-site Starbucks! Grand Park hosts weekly food truck gatherings and occasional swap meets, which attract hundreds of eager Angelenos! If you’re a major 90’s rom-com fan, you’d remember the scene in Pretty Woman (1990) where Richard Gere and Julia Roberts are at the fountain shortly before they cop a squat under a tree, which was also filmed at Grand Park!
3. Angels Flight
(356 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013)
Avoid the unbearable 153-step stairway of Bunker Hill with the recently reopened Angels Flight! With a railway spanning just under 300 feet, the infamous orange and black twin cars, Olivet and Sinai, transport you up and down the steep climb for only 50 cents with a valid Metro pass! Fun fact: The bench that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel perched on, gazing across Los Angeles in 500 Days of Summer (2009) is literally right next to Angels Flight at the fenced off Angel’s Knoll!
4. Grand Central Market
(317 S Broadway St, Los Angeles, CA 90013)
Whether you’re craving ramen, tacos, burgers, Pad Thai, omelets, pizza, pupusas, fried rice, sausages, bread, barbeque, sticky rice, or practically anything… Grand Central Market is the place to be! This vast food hall offers such a wide selection of ethnic foods I’m seriously overwhelmed every single time I come here for a quick lunch! For you movie buffs, see if you can spot Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone sharing a meal together at Sarita’s Pupuseria in La La Land (2016)!
5. The Last Bookstore
(453 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013)
Just a few blocks away from Grand Central Market is California’s largest used and new book and record store: The Last Bookstore! This hidden Downtown gem is a perfect stop for all ages, as their catalogs range from picture books about the ABC’s to vinyl from decades ago! This space offers an interactive, Instagram-worthy book display upstairs, including a genius labyrinth that’ll seriously blow your mind! To make this place even better, there’s an art gallery on the second floor that showcases local artists’ talent! What most people don’t know is that the flashback scene from Gone Girl (2014) where Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike are surrounded by bookshelves was filmed at The Last Bookstore!
6. ‘Hotline Bling’ Hallway
(123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
This trendy Little Tokyo neon hallway (which obviously looks WAY cooler at night) has been dubbed the ‘Hotline Bling Hallway’ because of its similar vibe to the background in Drake’s music video! I randomly stumbled across this piece a few months ago when I was out late with some friends, but we didn’t have time to stop for photos! I’d definitely recommend visiting this spot when it’s dark out because the neon lights will be much more vibrant—and there’ll most likely be less of a crowd!
7. Japanese Village Plaza
(335 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
The next block over is the Japanese Village Plaza, a simple shopping center decorated with cultural lanterns and bamboo wishing trees! There are usually local street performers singing, dancing, and storytelling in the plaza during the day as visitors munch on foreign snacks and take photos with the red and white lanterns! My favorite shop in the plaza is Mikawaya, an ice cream mochi shop that is to-die-for (You should definitely try the mint chip mochi)! All around the Japanese Village Plaza are amazing ramen restaurants (My go-to’s are Mr. Ramen and Daikokuya) that’ll leave you sooo bloated you can hardly walk!
8. Olvera Street
(845 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
A historic monument of Los Angeles that maintains a rich Mexican heritage, Olvera Street is ALWAYS packed with ancient adobes, festive piñatas, and restless travelers searching for meaningful souvenirs! All along the street is a busy trail of kiosks selling chicarrones, blanket bags, and spiritual knick knacks! Here’s a little movie history for you: In Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005), Bogota, Columbia is substituted with the courtyard of the Avila Adobe at Olvera Street! Oh, and promise me you’ll get yourself a chocolate-filled churro at Mr. Churro if you ever find yourself nearby!
9. Union Station
(800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
And finally, the last stop of our adventure through DTLA is Union Station! The largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States, Union Station first opened its doors 78 years ago, and it continues to be the main railway station in Los Angeles! With express buses to hot spots like Dodger Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl, Union Station also provides direct routes to Riverside, San Pedro, Anaheim… The list goes on and on! Not to mention, Union Station is a very popular filming location, with the likes of The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Pearl Harbor (2001), and Blade Runner (1982)—so you just might run into a production crew in the middle of your travels!
And that’s a wrap! I hope you’ve enjoyed our digital journey through some of DTLA’s best no-cost offerings, and maybe I’ve even convinced you to make your way over to the city to experience these awesome spots in real life! Feel free to leave your thoughts on my picks for must-see DTLA destinations in the comments section below, and follow my blog for more lifestyle posts!
Aliiissa 
Love your picks of top DTLA spots to visit!
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