Things To Do
Lounge Ohjah
For those staying at the Miyako, you have a hidden gem of a Karaoke lounge RIGHT in your hotel! This is a spot I've been going to for years, and one that's just oozing charm. While small, Ohjah dispenses wall-to-wall good vibes, and is certain not to disappoint. The adorable Japanese bartender will toast the bacon in your Bloody Mary, and chop fresh ginger for your Moscow Mule (I've sincerely seen both of those things happen there), all while the rich Chinese tourists get bottle service around you, and mudde their way through some offbeat ballad. I'd recommend this spot even if you staying clear across town, but being down the hall...you have no excuse not to go!
Camphor
If you're hankering for a moderately-upscale but generally unfussy French joint -- with a light Southeast Asian twist -- look no further. Really wonderful spot, and a short walk from accommodations near the wedding venue
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
If you find yourself staying near the venue, you're also but a tailfeather-shake away from the Geffen. The more-industrial outpost of MOCA -- Museum of Contemporary Art, for the philistines -- The Geffen has a reliably colorful and perhaps even esoteric collection of modern art for you to feast your moveable little eyes on (think Matthew Barney walking around scraping the walls with an 8lb chunk of sulfur, but in a good way)
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
If you're looking for a gut-punch of California flora, art, and culture, trot your little tush over to the Huntington, in Pasadena. A library, museum, art gallery, and botanical gardens sprawling across a 200-acre estate, the Huntington is -- sincerely -- not to be missed (...for Los Angeles locals and out-of-towners alike)
Baroo
If your autumn trip to Seoul was thwarted again this year -- been there -- fret not, because Baroo is here to service all your Korean food needs. Formerly a crowd-favorite pop-up, Baroo now has its own brick and mortar in the Arts District, and delivers a pretty remarkable tasting menu of all Korean dishes (and some deliciously niche soju cocktails). While not 'dirt cheap' exactly, this spot has a pretty reasonably-priced prix fixe that is super duper worth the visit. Highly recommend.
Olvera Street
An aggressively-charming cobblestone promenade in the center (or, near-center) of downtown Los Angeles, Olvera Street is a nostalgic romp through a vision of old-world Mexico. Vendors, shops, restaurants, parades, and cultural celebrations maintain this hundred year old monument as a bright, dynamic, and joyous spot to visit (while still going heavy on kitsch, don't worry)
Chado Tea Room
This one's real cute. Chado is a place for proper daytime tea-service, that also has hundreds of outstanding loose-leaf teas you can buy in bulk. Think cucumber sandwiches and adorable little petits fours from here to Timbuktu. Great spot to hit up with kids, and basically across the street from the folks staying in LIttle Tokyo!
Night + Market Song
If a funky, vibrant, iconically-LA Thai dinner spot is speaking to you, you may want to pop by Night + Market Song. So long as a hefty dash of spice doesn't turn your colon inside-out, this Silver Lake stalwart is a must-visit for fans of Southeast Asian fare, or frankly for any foodies in general
Grand Central Market
A bustling indoor vendor and restaurant market a mere stone's throw away from the venue, Grand Central Market is a downtown Los Angeles staple. Get an egg sandwich at Eggslut, get a sausage at Berlin Currywurst, some Thai food at Sticky Rice, and just generally live your best urban Rom Com Act-2 fantasy
Lasita Rotisserie & Natural Wine
Another favorite spot of ours, Lasita is an all-around bop. The staff are as friendly as they are knowledgable, and there's nary an underwhelming dish on the menu. This unassuming-yet-funky-cool Filipino joint in Chinatown is a spot that appeals to just about everybody, and is a short journey from the wedding venue. Casual, but with a classy flourish, Lasita is a 10.
Japanese Village Plaza
For those who are wont to indulge an insatiable kawaii fantasy, by all means stroll through Little Tokyo's Japanese Village Plaza. A densely-curated, one stop shop commercial plaza, the 'JVP' will have you clad and festooned with every Ghibli/Sanrio/Pokeverse trinket you could ever want -- AND you'll be properly caffeinated with whatever boba tea preparation really gets you goin'. In short: it's a damn cute time.
The Broad
What started as one person's personal modern art collection, The Broad is now is now an international tourist destination (largely for the architecture and its Instagrammable, colorful fare). With a 'free with RSVP' ticket that plops you right in the middle of downtown's cultural center, the Broad is a fun stop to hit whilst bopping around downtown, and can be seen in a cool 30 minutes - leaving plenty of time to take copious photos of the Walt Disney Concert Hall next door, so long as you don't burn your retinas off from all those reflective panels...
The Museum of Jurassic Technology
What may very well be the most obscure place on planet earth, the Museum of Jurassic Technology is something that very sincerely defies explanation. A 'museum' with a twist, the MoJT is a curated celebration of the arcane, and the downright 'weird'. Despite being deeply and intrinsically niche, this is a spot that I would truly recommend to everyone. Not something to be missed.
The Wolves
For a 'come for the space, stay for the space' kinda joint, The Wolves is an immersively-cool cocktail spot that has a sturdy list of signature drinks, and is most certainly worth experiencing for the ambiance alone. Have a seat, sip a drink that has cedar wood smoke infused in it somehow, and thrive in the diffused light from the stained-glass overhead - I mean, come on, why the hell not?
Dan Sung Sa
If you're desperately in the mood to wait for 49 minutes in a crowd of young Koreans and disaffected hipsters to get into a dimly-lit restaurant in a strip mall plastered with weirdly anachronistic wood paneling, and menus etched into wood blocks...your moment has come. In all seriousness, this cult favorite Korean street food place is kind of incredible. It'll be a wee bit out of the way from the venue, out in Koreatown, but Dan Sung Sa just never disappoints. The food is shockingly affordable, and it's a great place for groups. Order 10 different types of skewers, try the 'cheese corn' (trust me), get a frosty mug full of Hite and lean in. It's a good time...
Amoeba Music
For the film and music lover, Amoeba is a regional California retail chain -- with cousins in San Francisco and Berkeley -- whose reputation precedes it, on the west coast. With a dizzying collection of records, tapes, CDs, Blu-rays, and merchandise, your inner 20th Century self will go full Augustus Gloop in this sprawling media paradise.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
If your inner child is mid-squeal reading this, just from looking at the photo, I think a sojourn to Sky Zone might be a thing, for you. A massive warehouse-sized playground where you can heave your body around wall-to-wall trampolines, this spot will be a cardio workout with giggles - and obviously a choice destination for kids/families. The Van Nuys / Alhambra locations will both be roughly equidistant from downtown.
Arts District Brewing Company
For those who like their beer bars with a hint of amusement park, Arts District Brewing is a fun one-stop shop for drinks, arcade-style games, axe throwing (?) and a bustling crowd. Saisons and Skee-Ball abound here.
Angel City Brewery
...similarly, Angels City Brewery --a 3 min. walk down the road -- is a massive indoor brewery in the arts district, but slightly more art gallery than amusement park. Though it also has a giant-ass indoor slide and dedicated food trucks...so figure that one out.
EightyTwo
While we're talking about arcade setups, I'd also be remiss not to mention Eighty Two. One of Los Angeles' original proper Barcades, Eighty Two has grown to be a sleek, stylish cult classic -- with a full bar, lovely outdoor patio, and games ranging from the truly vintage to the more-or-less modern. The crowd's always rowdy and having a grand ol' time, and I think so shall you, if you choose to visit.