A weekend in Downtown LA: Top sights, rooftop pools, and sceney hotels





From the outside, Downtown Los Angeles doesn’t seem to come with the same shine as nearby touristy hotspots. It doesn’t have the beaches of Santa Monica, the Hollywood sign of WeHo, or even the hipster flair of Venice Beach, but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular as a must-visit staycation destination. Especially if you’re a movie buff looking to celebrate the silver screen over Oscars weekend.
“Downtown is 100 percent overlooked by tourists,” Alex Inshishian, program manager at the LA Conservancy and born-and-raised Angelino, says. “There's a lot of great treasures in Downtown—and history—and just a lot of fun stuff to see.”

Specifically, Ishishian points to the neighborhood's storied past within the entertainment industry and the tours the conservancy puts on so you can come and learn more about it too.
“In Downtown, it's all about Broadway. That was our main commercial district in the early 1900s,” he says. “It runs from about Fourth Street to Olympic, about six or so blocks. There are 12 movie palaces just on those six blocks, more than anywhere in the United States. When people think of Broadway, they probably think of New York,” Inshishian explains, “but if you wanna see a historic theater on Broadway, you want to come to Downtown Los Angeles.”
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Every single Saturday, the LA Conservancy puts on Broadway walking tours, taking guests through the fabled movie theaters. And, as he notes, these aren’t your average multiplexes. These are 2,000-seat icons built to showcase Hollywood’s best hits in the golden era of filmmaking. It’s the ideal thing to do on a staycation over the last weekend of March, just before the Oscars air on Sunday, March 27, so you can bask in the past, present, and future of film.
“There are millions of people getting on planes, spending hours and hours flying here, renting a car, figuring everything out, just to see all the wonderful things we have in Los Angeles. And so, for all the people that are living 15, 20 miles from Downtown, all you have to do is get in your car,” Ishishian says. “ It's very easy for us to see all this. It's just wonderful to see people down in Downtown Los Angeles.”
In this edition of the Weekender, instead of commuting by Downtown, we’re stopping, staying, and celebrating its A-list status as a city unlike any other. Here’s where to explore, dine, and stay for an award-worthy getaway.
—Stacey Leasca, SoCal’s Senior WeekEnder Guide
Editor’s Note: For the latest on Covid, visit the official California COVID-19 Information Page.
Things to do
Do a little location scouting at these top spots to explore in DTLA.

Head out on a Los Angeles Conservancy walking tour
See the best and brightest that Downtown has to offer by heading out on a walking tour with the conservancy. Tour options include the Art Deco Tour, which takes guests to some of the city’s most gorgeous buildings decked out in ‘20s and ‘30s architectural style, the Past Meets Present Tour, which walks guests through a National Register Historic District in Downtown where you can learn how an abandoned bank transformed into The Last Bookstore, and of course, the Broadway Historic Theater and Commercial District Walking Tour, which will allow you to see all those gorgeous theaters, including walking onto their stages to feel those performance vibes for yourself.
Make Union Station the “it” destination
A train station might not strike you as the first place you’d want to visit on a staycation, but trust us, a visit to Union Station isn’t always about skipping town. This gorgeous landmark also offers access to cultural events, delicious dining spots, and personalized tours. For movie buffs, there’s a major bonus: Union Station was not only the home of the 2021 Oscars Ceremony, but it was also the filming location for hundreds of films, including Bladerunner, Catch Me If You Can, and The Dark Knight Rises.

Go for a ride down Angels Flight
The little funicular that could, Angels Flight is yet another Downtown film backdrop to visit. The tiny cable car has helped people up and down one of the neighborhood's most challenging hills since it opened in 1901. It’s a charming spot to snap an Instagram picture and pay homage to the world’s shortest railway. In case you’re wondering where Angels Flight had its star turn, you can spot it in several flicks, including The Muppets, 500 Days of Summer, and La La Land.
Listen to the soundtrack of your favorite flicks at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Sure, the dialogue in movies matters, but they couldn’t deliver the same emotional punch without a swelling score. Lean into this often overlooked piece of movie magic by taking in a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. There, you can hear the epic masterpieces put together by the LA Philharmonic, including Maestro of the Movies by conductor John Williams who performs at both the hall and the Hollywood Bowl.
Step into the glitterati with a visit to The Broad
Yes, Downtown is a historic area with a rich past. But it also has a very bright present and future, and nowhere is that more apparent than The Broad. This famed museum, which houses works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Roy Lichtenstein, is now home to Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room—"The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away." The experience allows guests to step into a mirrored room filled with thousands of shimmering lights that could rival the flashbulbs of any red carpet. (Advanced reservations are required.)
Spots to eat and drink
Be part of the who’s who at these delicious Downtown venues.

Start your day with Maru Coffee
Maru Coffee is not a spot to come if you’re looking for a quick grab-and-go cup. (There are plenty of other places for that.) Maru is a place for coffee purists. Here, you can set the pace for your day by taking your time, watching the masters create some pour-over perfection, then sipping your decadent brew sourced from coffee-bean meccas like Colombia, Ethiopia, and El Salvador. And hey, once the caffeine hits your bloodstream, you can always jump back into vacation overdrive.
Pack in as much flavor as possible at Badmaash
This Indian gastropub, created by Pawan Mahendro and his sons, is the spot to go if you’re chasing new flavors. The restaurant specializes in innovating on old classics to make them feel fresh, with dishes like onion bhajjia (aka onion fritters) dredged in a spiced chickpea batter and served with tamarind chutney, and Chicken Tikka Poutine, which is masala fries topped with cheese curds, beef gravy, and tandoori chicken tikka with cilantro.

Have an easy-going dinner at Bar Ama
When wine lists and fine-dining flourishes stress you out, and you’re just looking for a comfy place to dive into chunky guacamole, savory Tex-Mex queso, fried fish tacos, and squash blossom fritters, come to Bar Ama. This casual eatery is a comfort-food dream, especially with its “super nacho hour,” aka its version of happy hour with drink specials and towering plates of nachos smothered in queso, salmorejo, crema, and avocado. Hot tip: If the weather is nice you can always ask to sit on their patio, open Friday and Saturday nights, for an extra special night out.
Put on your finest for a night at Orsa & Winston
Tap that “awards gala dinner” vibe by booking a table at Orsa & Winston. This Michelin-starred restaurant serves both Italian and Japanese-inspired fare, like Binchotan-grilled sea bream, squid-ink pasta, and bay scallops. Since it’s a rotating tasting menu that changes daily, the dishes are anyone’s guess. But that just means you can come back and dine over and over again and always get something new
Score a sweet treat at Fat & Flour
End your DTLA day with a visit to Grand Central Market to pick up a sweet treat at Fat & Flour. The bakery specializes in pies of all varieties, including decadent slices of apricot blackberry bourbon pie, lemon blood orange meringue, plus the most luscious brownies you’ve ever tasted. If it becomes a nightly stop on your staycation, we wouldn’t blame you.
Places to Stay
Have your people call my people to meet at these Downtown hotels.

For a historical stay, Hotel Figueroa
From the street, Hotel Figueroa looks like any old accommodation, but once inside, it’s obvious this is not your average spot. First there’s the stunning restaurant with a fourth wall entirely open to a pool—an LA-style secret garden. Then there’s the pool itself. Surrounded by lush greenery and massive cacti, the pool simply shimmers. Notice its unique shape? Rumor has it the women of Hotel Fig made it coffin-shaped as a way to symbolize burying the patriarchy. Finally there are the rooms. With mid-century furnishings, stunning painted tiles, and chic artworks on every wall, it’s a stay unlike any other.
For the social scene, The Wayfarer
The Oscars are basically one big meet-and-mingle with the ultimate “in” crowd, and The Wayfarer offers that on the regular. This ultra-cool hotel is the ultimate place to mix, mingle, and make up for lost social time, especially on its rooftop bar and restaurant, or inside at Lilly Rose, a dimly lit bar that’s perfect for a dirty martini or two. Guests can also try the hotel’s Gaslighter Social Club or its restaurant, The Kitchen, for more dining options. Then, check into one of its rooms or suites, each decked out to resemble your dream city loft with the punchy black-and-white decor to prove it.

For an unbelievable view, The NoMad Hotel Los Angeles
The NoMad Hotel, which sits in the very center of the Financial District, was once the home of the Bank of Italy. Though the tellers may be gone, the Italian style remains in the hotel’s chic accommodations. Each room is painted a rich royal blue, accented with gold fixtures and deep wood furnishings, plus nap-worthy soaking tubs. Still, make sure to take at least a little time to explore common spaces beyond your room because the rooftop pool comes with 360-degree views of the city skyline and makes for an epic sunset spot.
For the movie buffs, The Biltmore
Calling all film fanatics! The Millennium Biltmore is your dream come true. The hotel has been featured in too many blockbusters to list here, including Ocean’s 11, Fight Club, and even Ghostbusters. Though it’s undoubtedly photogenic—with its baroque architecture, carved stone pillars, and massive chandeliers at every turn—it’s also an excellent place to lay your head at night after a day of adventure. Lavish suites in Biltmore’s signature crimson and gray colors are positioned around massive picture windows overlooking the city below, so you can stargaze (both the celestial kind and the celebrity kind) right from bed.
For a great workout, The Los Angeles Athletic Club
Are we actually suggesting you stay at The Los Angeles Athletic Club? The gym? In a word, yes. See, there’s a boutique hotel hiding in the top three floors of this 12-story private club building. Naturally, guests can participate in all the activities downstairs, from squash games to basketball, workout classes to weight room sessions. There is one catch: Guests must be enrolled in the Olive Club membership to stay in the hotel, which means a one-time $25 membership fee is included in your charges. But it’s worth it for the deluxe rooms clad in leather and plaid furnishings, plus all the fitness perks you can handle.
Weekend plans. Shared.
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