This June, as we celebrate Pride Month, we want the world to know, Downtown Los Angeles isn’t just a concrete jungle; it’s a vibrant kaleidoscope of culture, history, and pure, unadulterated joy. From iconic stages to architectural marvels, here’s 10 Great Places to be proud of in Downtown Los Angeles.
Featured photo Keri Freeman, Realtor & Publisher of Downtown Weekly Los Angeles – Photo by Christian Benard
1. The Music Center: DTLA’s Grand Stage for World-Class Performance Art
The cultural heartbeat of DTLA, The Music Center is a grand campus on Bunker Hill encompassing the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum, and Ahmanson Theatre. It’s where world-class legends of performance theater, cuisine, and even dancing community members collide, hosting everything from ballet, opera, and Broadway plays to outdoor pop-ups where community members take pride in learning everything from disco to the two-step.
LA Dance Project – Photo Courtesy Music Center
Fun Fact: The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the oldest venue at The Music Center, has one of the largest stages in the United States and was once home to the Academy Awards for 33 years.
2. Walt Disney Concert Hall – The Sound of Perfection
Walt Disney Concert Hall – Photo by Keri Freeman
An architectural marvel designed by Frank Gehry, this iconic hall adjacent to the Music Center is celebrated globally for its stunning design and acoustic perfection as home to the LA Phil. Its curved stainless steel exterior is instantly recognizable and stands as a symbol of DTLA’s daring and innovative spirit, responsible for thousands of proud photographic moments of brides, grooms, proms, and added artistic expression.
Fun Fact: The unique exterior of the Walt Disney Concert Hall is made of over 6,000 stainless steel panels, resembling silver sails, and was initially designed to play off the bowed cornice of the nearby Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
3. Grand Performances: Free Ticket to Music Under the Stars
California Love – Symphony at Grand Performances
This annual summer series takes pride in offering community members free outdoor music and dance performances under the stars. Members take pride in VIP seating and complementary refreshments, while others gather around with picnic treats brought from home. Over the years, Grand Performances has become a beloved staple and downtown tradition.
Media partnership with Grand Performances
Fun Fact: Grand Performances, established in 1986, is Southern California’s largest presenter of free performing arts programs and operates out of Two California Plaza on Bunker Hill.
4. LA Social District – Downtown’s Most Entertaining Urban Lifestyle Hub
Beyond the entertainment complex, the Social District, formerly known as South Park, thrives as one of DTLA’s most dynamic residential neighborhoods, characterized by its modern high-rises and diverse offerings in hospitality, from entertainment to fine dining. In just a few short years, the Social District has managed to rebrand itself with added lighting, parklets, floral landscaping, innovative waste containers, night lights, community events and a new mascot, ‘Pico the Dog.’
Innovative waste containers with new Social District branding
The district represents the successful urban living transformation of downtown, significantly shaped by the people of downtown and the dedication and vision of community leaders fundamental to the district’s ongoing success, like its CEO, Nolan Marshall III, who constantly advocates at City Hall and leads a positive effort to promote economic vitality, improve public spaces, and foster community engagement for all.
Fun Fact: Before leading the South Park BID, Nolan Marshall III served as Chief Engagement and Solutions Officer at the New Orleans Business Alliance after previously serving as the CEO of Downtown Vancouver, (Canada) highlighting his extensive experience in urban economic development and community revitalization.
5. L.A. Live & Crypto.com Arena – the Pride of Downtown’s Social District
Dubbed by DT Weekly as the entertainment capital of the world, these combined sites host Crypto.com Arena’s LA Lakers, Clippers, and Sparks, along with the Kings, plus major concerts and private events, the Peacock Theater at LA Live, and a long list of hospitality destinations—from hotels to famed eateries—that draw global attention.
LA Live at night – Photo Courtesy LA Live
Fun Fact: Crypto.com Arena is the only arena in the NBA shared by two teams (Lakers and Clippers), and L.A. Live’s development cost an estimated $2.5 billion, transforming a significant portion of downtown into a premier entertainment destination.
6. Apple Tower Theatre – The Epitome of Rejuvenation
The meticulously restored historic Tower Theatre is a breathtaking example of preserving architectural heritage while embracing modern commerce. Once abandoned and eroded by the winds of time, it’s now a beacon of architectural preservation and modern commerce for the world’s most valuable tech company, Apple Inc., which undertook the job of fully revitalizing the theater in the summer of 2021.
Rendering courtesy Apple Tower
Apple brought in teams of preservationists and a literal task force of local artisans and craftspeople. Using innovative 3D laser scans and forensic paint studies, special attention was given to replicating the original colors and textures found in the old theatre.
Gone forever is the theater’s seating, along with the cherub-filled ceiling mural, now replaced by a minimalist, clear blue-cloud compilation high above rows of display centers. Yet, the brass railing and the grandiose staircase remain, making Apple Tower one of the world’s most elaborate technology stores. Apple also included a seismic upgrade.
Fun Fact: The Tower Theatre was the very first movie theater in Los Angeles specifically built to show “talking pictures,” opening in 1927 with a silent film but wired for sound from the start.
7. Grand Central Market – A Century of Global Flavors
This historic downtown landmark, dubbed by DT Weekly as “the Culinary melting pot of Los Angeles,” offers a diverse array of food stalls from across the globe. Its vibrant atmosphere and community feel make it a beloved institution and a delicious representation of DTLA’s diverse flavors.
Fun Fact: The building that houses Grand Central Market, opened in 1917, includes one of the first reinforced concrete buildings ever erected in Southern California, dating back to 1905.
8. Luxury Living Skyscrapers: Elevating the DTLA Skyline
DTLA’s skyline is increasingly defined by its stunning luxury residential skyscrapers. Amongst the clouds, within their lofty spaces and plush penthouses, iconic structures offer an elevated lifestyle with unparalleled amenities and breathtaking views. These modern marvels are more than just homes; they are vertical communities boasting rooftop pools, state-of-the-art appliances, communal spaces, and concierge services, all catering to a sophisticated urban clientele seeking convenience, comfort, and a vibrant city experience in the comforts of home.
DTLA Insider – photo courtesy Media Moussavy
These modern marvels reach to the sky, making DTLA one of the most breathtaking places to live in the world. They are showcased daily by local realtor extraordinaire Media Moussavy, creator of DTLA Insider, ranked in the Top 1.5% of all realtors in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal and Real Trends. Say what you will about DTLA, but you’ll never get tired of a Downtown view.
Fun Fact: Many of DTLA’s luxury living skyscrapers incorporate advanced seismic engineering, allowing them to sway slightly during an earthquake rather than resist the force—a design feature that ensures both safety and the comfort of residents during a seismic event.
9. US Bank Tower and 71Above – DTLA Top Chef and Angelic Views
The iconic US Bank Tower stands as the most prominent feature of the DTLA skyline. Its crowning jewel, 71Above, helmed by Chef Javi Lopez, offers unparalleled panoramic views of the entire city, providing a literal high point to appreciate the vastness and beauty of Los Angeles while dining with the sunset with exquisite service and remarkable cuisine.
Shown here: Lemon Chitarra – courtesy Chef Javi Lopez
Fun Fact: When completed in 1989, the US Bank Tower (then Library Tower) was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River, standing at 1,018 feet tall. While some might argue its counterpart, the Wilshire Grand, is taller, others take pride in knowing the US Bank Tower sits at an elevation of 350 feet on Bunker Hill, while the Wilshire Grand begins at an elevation of 290 feet. This nearly erases the 80-foot difference in elevation and solidifies the US Bank Tower as the tallest building, despite the Wilshire Grand’s approximately 295-foot spire. This fact becomes noticeable when observing the Wilshire far below its reach while dining at 71Above.
10. DTLA Weekly and Downtown News: The Voices of Our Vibrant City
These vital local newspapers serve as the essential voice of the DTLA community. They provide critical news, insights, and a platform for residents and businesses, fostering a strong sense of local identity and keeping the community informed and connected.
Fun Fact: Local newspapers like Downtown News have helped to establish long-existing entities for our town’s tourism, local charities, development, business sector and old-guard industries, while DT Weekly focuses on diversity, arts and culture, hospitality, social issues, small business, and grassroots community efforts. Both newsprint publications help shape DTLA’s revitalization, providing their own sources as unique historical record. Thanks for reading!
