Although 2025 has spelled doom for longtime legend Pantry Cafe, the rooftop paradise Cabra, and the crispy flavor of Tokyo Fried Chicken, there’s still time to have one last drink, one last dance, or one last bite to eat at a few Downtown L.A. staples before they close their doors for good.
Tokyo Fried Chicken featured on KCal 9 – photo courtesy TFC
Let’s Get Smashed!
This weekend marked the final blow for Lucha VaVOOM at The Mayan. The long-running spectacle, a wild mix of burlesque and Mexican wrestling, held its final show shortly after the iconic Mayan music venue and nightclub announced it would be closing its doors at the end of September. The Mayan nightclub known for its striking architecture is still offering a chance to get smashed at the temple for a few more weekends.
Photo courtesy of Lucha VaVoom
The Mayan nightclub known for its striking architecture is still offering a chance to get smashed at the temple for a few more weekends.
Speaking of ancient relics, the Globe Theater’s (1913) marquee on Broadway suggest it will be reopening in the days to come.
Saved by the Yell!
Photo courtesy of Cole’s French Dip
When DT Weekly first broke the news of Cole’s plans to dip, the announcement of its closure sparked a massive show of community support led by DTLA Insider and LA in a Minute, followed by a slew of local mainstream media outlets from coast to coast.
The days that would follow would see long lines of people wrapping around the block, all eager to have one last taste of history.
For generations of Angelenos, a trip to the iconic Cole’s French Dip was a rite of passage. Cole’s and its 106-year-old French Dip received such a generous show of support it extended its closing date to mid-September.
Turning off the Lighthouse
Downtown may never forgive Boston Beer Company for announcing the closure of Angel City Brewery, which not only led the way for the Arts District’s rebrewvination but also stood as a lighthouse illuminating the entry to the Arts District. It seems the company has decided not to renew the brewery’s lease when it ends in April 2026. While the future of the brewery is uncertain, there is still plenty of time to enjoy a beer on-site.
Photo courtesy of Truly
Boston Beer Company could still redeem itself by sending us a map of which local bars still carry their brews.
Truly LA, which replaced the empty parking space at Angel City Brew with wine-inspired spritz, will be winding down its operations to Fridays and Saturdays by December before being repurposed for rental use only—until it finally cheers.
Also joining the list of closures in the Arts District, downtown is preparing to say its last goodbyes to Father’s Office, which is set to close its doors on September 5.
Saying Goodbye to the Old Guard
Downtown grandparents Pacific Dining Car, now reduced to ashes due to multiple fires over the past three years, Pantry, closed following labor disputes and a decision by the Richard J. Riordan Trust, and The Palm, without its character or its caricatures, also shut its doors in 2025. All lived past the dear old age of 100 and have sadly passed on in 2025.
Photo Courtesy Ballers
But there is the next generation born on the horizon for Downtown L.A., with a widely shared press release recently announcing Baller’s pickleball-based social club set to replace the former Macy’s store at the Bloc. Expected to open next summer, Ballers will feature 18 pickleball courts, five indoor golf simulators, and two soccer fields.
TabL M newly opened at The Bloc – photo DT Weekly
Plenty of eateries are still going strong in that arena, headed by the complimentary bubbly welcome at Joey, the firefly happy hours of Hatch Yakitori, and the newly opened Lebanese flavor of TabL M, now located in the far northwest corner.
When one rooftop closes another one opens.
Delphi Hotel’s new rooftop – photo by DT Weekly
As the new owners of The Hoxton are figuring out what they can do to replace the recently shuttered Cabra on its poolside rooftop, the Delphi Hotel has reopened its rooftop venue with a sophisticated palette of whites and neutrals, a departure from the former Standard’s stark red and white. With a focus on lounging, live jazz, and cocktails, the new rooftop offers a more relaxed vibe than the DJ-driven dance floors for now, but the magnificent nighttime views of Downtown remain.
Little Tokyo is joining the Historic Core, Civic District, and South Park with a brand-new farmers market every weekend at JACCC. Speaking of the Social District, the neighborhood also has a new spot, The Wine Station, located at Hope and 12th Street.
So, while we’re losing some of our favorite places, it seems Downtown L.A. isn’t just a place for farewells. It’s also where the party’s just getting started.
