The 10 Best Places To Eat And Drink In The DTLA Arts District

LA River
LA River | © joey zanotti/Flickr
K Santos

The burgeoning Arts District is one of Los Angeles’ most talked-about neighborhoods. The District, east of Downtown, was originally a vineyard before emerging as the post-WWII industrial center for factories, shipping facilities and railroads. Many structures from this era have been preserved and rehabilitated into commercial and residential buildings. In amongst them are exciting food and drink locations. Our favourites are listed here.

Angel City Brewery

Bar, Pub Grub

Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles
© Kate Santos
Angel City renovated an 8,000-barrel brewery in Alpine Village before relocating to the Arts District in 2010. The indoor/outdoor bar space quickly became an Art District staple. Always armed with a great set of rotating drafts, the bar is accompanied by multiple cornhole sets, dart boards and classic board games including Uno and Connect Four. Outside, a series of alternating food trucks provides savory treats, or you can BYO food and have a picnic. Drink and think once a week during their killer Tacos & Trivia Tuesdays.

Resident

Bar, American

Maximum minimalist‘ architect Jacek Ostoya collaborated with friends to develop Resident, a music venue that evokes East Austin’s beer garden vibes. With legendary band booker Duncan Smith bringing in talented acts, like Sarah Neufeld (the violinist from Arcade Fire) and recently, the California theatrical lo-fi rock band Nobunny, moody muses are in top form. Drink craft beer, listen to unique music and enjoy a little bit of Texas hospitality.

Mumford Brewing Co.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly place with Jenga, pizza deliveries and take-home craft brew growlers, look no further than Mumford Brewing Co., situated between Little Tokyo and the Arts District. More intimate in size than neighboring breweries, this place is also the perfect date night spot. Or skip the going out altogether and call the bar to have some of your favorite craft beers delivered outside to your car.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Mumford Brewing Co. 416 Boyd St, Los Angeles, CA, USA, +1 213 346 9970

Arts District Brewing Co.

Restaurant, Bar, Pub, American

©Kate Santos
©Kate Santos
Arts District Brewing Company has it all: a growing list of craft brews on draft (12 rotating beers from local breweries and the brewery’s own six styles), fantastic culinary options from Fritzi (try the Forbidden Rice dish – winter squash, smoked blue cheese and hazelnuts over a bed of black rice and quinoa) and a large outdoor seating area (pups welcome!). Originally a beloved electronics store called Crazy Gideon’s, this building is massive, minimalist and also features multiple dart boards, a huge collection of Skee Ball games and a large projector for local sports games. Hop by next door for Fritzi’s full menu, which features, among other things, wood-fired rotisserie-style chicken.

Pizzanista!

Pizzeria, American

Pizzanista!’s commitment to quality is obvious. They use an expansive variety of fresh vegetables you won’t find at most pizza places. Although LA has a fantastic vegan pizza scene, there’s not a lot of places where you can also bring along your Meat Jesus-lovin’ friends for $2 slices. And, if you order take-out, you’ll receive one of their custom-designed delivery boxes, featuring The Clash puns and original Mike Gonzales designs.

Bread Lounge

Bakery, American, Dessert

Bread Lounge, Los Angeles
© Daniel Zemans/Flickr
This simple yet fantastic bakery sells hundreds of baguettes a day. Using only three ingredients, the entire process, from wild yeast to the final product in your hands, takes about 24 hours. So think about that when you’re standing in line for 15 minutes. You can also eat lunch here with a South American inspired ‘Almoço’, Balkan Borek or a Greek-inspired ‘Aegean’ quiche. Also, if that baguette tastes familiar, that’s because a ton of great Arts District restaurants use Bread Lounge’s signature breads.

Café Gratitude

Restaurant, Vegan

Café Gratitude, South Santa Fe Avenue
© Watashiwani/Flickr
A vegetarian/vegan-friendly huge, diverse menu featuring fresh, organic ingredients and culinary twists like coconut bacon and blackened jerk tempeh make Café Gratitude the quintessential California foodie destination. With a Detox Market and a healthy happy hour, this cafe lives up to their mission of making eating clean easy. Don’t miss the fresh-pressed juices, California wines or the Kombucha Arnold Palmer Spritzer.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Coffee Shop, Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee is like the aesthetic-driven East Bay coffee phenomenon, focused on freshness. This minimalist Arts District outpost is no different. Come in for a high-powered pour over and stay for the brewing classes and some of the ‘hella good’ cookies.

Urban Radish

Market, Grocery Store, American

A neighborhood is only as good as their local go-to grocery store. If that’s true, then the Arts District really lucked out with Urban Radish, a grocer that does it all. Whether you need an event catered, want to see some live Wednesday night jazz, or just sample a variety of specialty cheeses, they’ve got you covered. Pro-tip: If you purchase booze from the market, you can drink it at this joint, sans corkage fee. Same rules apply for food.

Pie Hole

Restaurant, American

Organic vegetables and cold-pressed juices might be the common diet in this neighborhood, but no meal is complete without a homemade pie. Pie Hole tries hard ‘to provide the greatest possible pie experience known to man’, and with pies flavors like Mexican Chocolate and Earl Grey, they’re well on their way to accomplishing that goal.
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article