Things to do
The Broad Contemporary Museum
The Broad is a contemporary art museum on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles and a museum not to be missed! General admission is free, however you do need a reservation to get in.
Grand Central Market
This European-style food hall has been operating on the ground floor of the iconic Homer Laughlin Building since 1917. Even if you’re not there for the food, it’s worth a trip; people from all corners of L.A. mix and mingle among rows of spices, produce and vintage neon signage. Of course, if you’re hungry it’s a great place to get cheap pupusas, carnitas tacos and aguas frescas, as well as food from handsome, trendy eateries like Sticky Rice, Belcampo, Horse Thief BBQ, Eggslut and G&B Coffee.
OUE Skyspace LA
Skyslide - YEP... its a slide in a skyscraper! Skyslide, accessible with an additional ticket, is an outdoor glass slide suspended 1,000 feet above Downtown Los Angeles. Tip: Skip the morning hours and wait for the typical marine layer to burn off for the best visibility.
The Museum of Contemporary Art
The main branch of L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) houses thousands of artworks crafted from 1940 until now. Spend half an hour or an entire afternoon absorbing contemporary pieces from lesser-known artists, punctuated by sightings of Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock works. If you plan your visit for a Thursday night between 5 and 8pm, admission to MOCA Grand Avenue is on the house.
GRAMMY Museum
Wind your way through four floors of rock star memorabilia, film clips and interactive exhibits (belt your heart out in a fake recording studio!) at this 30,000-square-foot museum on the L.A. Live campus, which attempts to cover all the major music genres. A state-of-the-art, 200-seat Clive Davis theater is also the site of exclusive performances and events.
L.A. Live
L.A. Live is an entertainment venue located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to Staples Center, it is the home of the Microsoft Theater, Regal Cinemas and various bars, hotels and restaurants, like the towering JW Marriott, WP24 and SBE’s swanky Katsuya. The area is jam-packed almost every night of the week (especially pre-Lakers, Clippers and Kings games) with tourists and locals alike.