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Restored, historic library with Egyptian influenced architecture.

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The area

Address

Neighbourhood: Downtown

Downtown Los Angeles is a busy metropolis of towering buildings, bustling streets, and industrial warehouses. There is a distinct multiplicity of cultures here with a growing influx of business professionals and hipsters. Many call the evolution of Downtown over recent years gentrification. New lofts, bars, hotels and restaurants are popping up regularly. Downtown is home to some of the very best restaurants in the city leading the LA foodie scene, plus it is the location of cultural and sports venues including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Staples Center, and the Coliseum at the University of Southern California.

How to get there

Pershing Square • 5 min walk
7th St/Metro Center • 5 min walk

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Best nearby

We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.

Restaurants

2,607 within 5 kms

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See what travellers are saying

mmgsc100
Tampa, Florida130 contributions
Admission-free artwork
A beautiful building! I had the chance to visit recently, and while I couldn't check anything out (out of state) just looking around was a treat! Escalators take you to the various floors, which are organized by topic. The garden out front and the artwork inside was very nice to see in the middle of a large city - no admission charge! The rotunda was a surprise to me - I wasn't expecting it. Worth a walk-through, even if you can't take the time to read a book.
Visited September 2023
Travelled solo
Written 27 September 2023
knowsnyc
600 contributions
Do go in!
The building is huge and immaculate. There is a great shop on the first floor. Take the escalator up to 2. The rotunda has murals atop the walls and across the ceiling. Then turn left and enter the vast children’s room. More murals. A very friendly librarian answered all our questions. Recommend this.
Visited March 2024
Travelled with friends
Written 6 March 2024
YanJing Jiang
Shanghai, China25 contributions
A good library worth visiting
Los Angeles Public Library is one of the historical buildings in the Los Angeles, it has many kinds of books in the library. It also has a lot of audio DVD in it, too. The staffs and readers in the library are very nice and friendly. It is a good place to visit.
Visited March 2024
Travelled with family
Written 13 March 2024

These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5

437 reviews

Excellent

265

Very good

134

Average

31

Poor

4

Terrible

3

Traveler61248101142

1 contribution

Homeless Hub

Aug 2023 • Family

The library has pretty much any book you're looking for and the librarians are well-informed. However, the homeless have taken over the library, there is a terrible stench of BO and urine and the wooden private workstations are all taken up by the homeless taking naps. I do not recommend visiting alone if you're a woman, and if you decide to visit with children keep a close eye on them. Most of the homeless I saw were primarily men.

Written 11 August 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elina Michaelidou

London, UK709 contributions

Visited the library to see the rotunda

May 2023 • Couples

Interesting place to visit while exploring Downtown LA. The building has a long history and some nice bits of architecture. We visited it primarily to see the rotunda which was very impressive. To find it we went up to the second floor. We didn't have to register as guests, we just walked in. In addition, the escalators area had some nice installations hung from the ceiling and we even came across a few interesting exhibitions while we were there.

Written 27 July 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mmgsc100

Tampa, FL130 contributions

Admission-free artwork

Sept 2023 • Solo

A beautiful building! I had the chance to visit recently, and while I couldn't check anything out (out of state) just looking around was a treat! Escalators take you to the various floors, which are organized by topic. The garden out front and the artwork inside was very nice to see in the middle of a large city - no admission charge! The rotunda was a surprise to me - I wasn't expecting it. Worth a walk-through, even if you can't take the time to read a book.

Written 27 September 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

YanJing Jiang

Shanghai, China25 contributions

A good library worth visiting

Mar 2024 • Family

Los Angeles Public Library is one of the historical buildings in the Los Angeles, it has many kinds of books in the library. It also has a lot of audio DVD in it, too. The staffs and readers in the library are very nice and friendly. It is a good place to visit.

Written 14 March 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Izzy

12 contributions

Beautiful building with lots to do

June 2019

There's something for everyone in this building. The architecture, aesthetics and design of the building blow you away. There's something for everyone to do and each of the floors caters to a different audience. Take a stroll through the library and get lost. You won't be disappointed!

Written 4 May 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

knowsnyc

600 contributions

Do go in!

Mar 2024 • Friends

The building is huge and immaculate. There is a great shop on the first floor.

Take the escalator up to 2. The rotunda has murals atop the walls and across the ceiling.

Then turn left and enter the vast children’s room. More murals. A very friendly librarian answered all our questions.

Recommend this.

Written 6 March 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

crunch6

Northbrook, IL731 contributions

Take a tour of this iconic library, then read The Library Book!

Feb 2020

Make sure to take a tour of this amazing library with so much history. See the beautiful murals and the ceiling in the children's library. The gift shop has a great selection of items including The Library Book, which you should read after your tour.

Written 24 February 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KodoDrummer

Buenos Aires, Argentina70,623 contributions

A great place of learning

Aug 2019

We took a walk through sections of the library. It seems well organized and contains an excellent collection of books. Unlike many newer buildings, it is a beautiful older building, with elegant architecture.

Written 7 August 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tina Davidova

Tyumen, Russia18 contributions

Book lover's heaven

May 2019 • Friends

For me as a book lover it was just a dream <3 . The library was in my bucketlist and should be visited in any case :D

Written 2 July 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hliguori1

Las Vegas26 contributions

Inexpensive Parking

June 2014 • Friends

Local friends introduced me to the inexpensive parking facility at the Los Angeles Central Library,
It beats searching for parking and is a very short walk from to different attractions and local restaurants. This is perhaps a secret for the locals and something tourists might want to use as a safe parking alternative. Just park and enjoy LA.

Written 14 June 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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