Believe it or not, the history of Los Angeles as a city began right here, in what is currently Downtown LA. In 1781, 44 settlers from modern Mexico established a permanent settlement, naming the new community El Pueblo de la Reina de los Ángeles. Some 200 years later, this historic neighborhood is thriving with economic vitality.

Many of the original 19th and early 20th century buildings now serve as housing for 88,000 current residents and local, independent businesses dot every street corner. Combined with the incredible walkability of the neighborhood, a true sense of community has flourished and created a small-town community within a big city environment. Despite only constituting 1.4% of the city’s land area, DTLA’s businesses generate a staggering 40% of the city’s sales taxes. Additionally, DTLA accounts for 19% of citywide employment at a density almost 14 times greater than the citywide average of jobs per square mile.

Simply put, there is nowhere else like Downtown LA in Los Angeles. Visitors, residents and prospective residents can all spend all day exploring without ever having to leave the neighborhood - which means less time in LA traffic and more time in the LA sun. There’s truly something for everyone with restaurants, events, sights, live performances, and a true small-town community. Downtown LA is an epicenter of activity with over 100 new restaurant and bar openings over the past couple of years and an average of 8 – 10 million visitors per month. Plus, with the expansion and upgrade of Metro services with the addition of three brand new stations in DTLA, it’s easier than ever to come check out the neighborhood.  

Downtown Los Angeles offers a diverse array of activities for visitors no matter what your interests are. Discover contemporary art at MOCA or The Broad Museum and listen to the LA Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Dial into LA’s hottest food scene from the iconic Grand Central Market to the largest collection of Michelin-starred restaurants in the city.

Wander around and enjoy the large variety of farmers markets, free concerts, and block parties before stopping into unique stores like The Last Bookstore or The Library Store. For a list of weekly events, be sure to sign up for This Week in DTLA or check out our special events calendar here.

There are a number of diverse neighborhoods within Downtown LA, each offering something unique. The heart of Downtown LA, the Downtown Center district, includes Bunker Hill and the Grand Avenue cultural corridor, the Financial District, Jewelry District, and 7th Street Restaurant Row. Additionally, on the north end you can find Chinatown, to the east the Arts District and Little Tokyo, to the south the Fashion District and South Park, to the west the Financial District and Bunker Hill, with Historic Downtown LA right in the middle.  

With so much going on, it’s easy to plan a day out and about in DTLA, for up-to-the-moment information on all of the happenings in DTLA, check out our Instagram here, our events page, and be sure to sign up for our weekly insider email This Week in DTLA here. For personalized recommendations on what to do based on your interests, send a line to our resident DTLA expert, Johnna, at askjohnna@downtownla.com.

The DTLA Alliance is a coalition of over 2,000 property owners in the Downtown Center district of Los Angeles. For over 25 years, our organization has been at the forefront of revitalizing DTLA with a commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the Downtown Center. The Downtown Center is a bustling commercial, residential, and cultural hub in the heart of the city which includes Bunker Hill and the Grand Avenue cultural corridor, the Financial District, Jewelry District, and 7th Street Restaurant Row.) From 24/7 safe and clean operations to a range of economic development and marketing programs, community events, placemaking and advocacy initiatives, the DTLA Alliance helps a vibrant community of business leaders and local merchants, artists and entrepreneurs, residents, workers, and visitors, reach its full potential.