A Day in Downtown LA
Have some time to kill in the DTLA (downtown Los Angeles) area? Check out some of my favorite spots below!
Hotels
InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown: Modern, luxurious, and relatively new, we had a great stay at this property. We stayed in a suite, which was nice and large with a bonus of a huge bathroom, heated toilet and all. There are multiple places to eat within the property, and since it's the "tallest (US) building west of Chicago," the views are spectacular. There is also a pool and a club lounge.
Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles: It feels like traveling back in time the moment you step into this property. A lot of old Hollywood vibes, this hotel is a photographer's dream. We stayed in a junior suite, which was gorgeous. The rooms are more old school elegance than modern. Bonus for any Taylor Swift lovers: she filmed parts of the "Delicate" music video here!
Sites to see
The Broad Museum: A quick walk from the DTLA hotels, this museum is a must-see of modern and quirky art. A big hit for Instagram influencers, some of the more popular exhibits include Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrors room and Robert Therrien's Under the Table.
Tips:
- Tickets are free, but reservations are required. This place sells out quickly, so book your spot online as soon as possible. Tickets are made available on the first of each month for the following month (i.e., on December 1 at noon PT, tickets for January will be made available). The first tickets are at 10 am. If you aren't able to grab a ticket in advance, there is a waitlist queue line you can try on the day of your visit.
- The Yayoi exhibits (there are two) require a different reservation that you can reserve once you're inside the building on the day of your visit. The signup kiosk for the Infinity Mirrors is to the left on the ground floor where you enter the building. Head there first and register for a time slot. You'll receive a text letting you know to head to the exhibit when your viewing time is coming up. After signing up, I'd head straight for the third floor to see the second Yayoi exhibit where there is a line queue.
- Check out the online map to plan out what you want to see. Almost all the exhibits are on the third and first floors. Floors are accessible via the escalator or elevater (located behind the escalator on the left side.)
- Arrive early for your time slot as the line starts to form quickly.
The Last Bookstore: This shop is a booklovers dream. It's easy to spend hours in the place with room after room of books and creative book art. Unfortunately, I visited on the weekend, and the store was insanely busy. The crowd did not take away from the experience, and my family had a great time discovering all the nooks and crannies.
Spots to visit still on my list
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Central Library
OUE Skyspace LA
Eats
Most of my food adventures in DTLA have involved the two hotels listed above, however, Perch LA is one of my all-time favorites! Take an elevator to the top of the building to enjoy some yummy food, great views, and a very romantic atmosphere.