DOWNTOWN’S TOP DESIGN

A tour though some of the city’s best new spots for great style.

BY CAROLE DIXON

Downtown Los Angeles is undergoing another design renaissance and construction boom—the spaces, multiple concepts, and budgets seem limitless. Check out these new and enduring sites to experience some of the top urban talents.

✦ For design inspiration and shopping, Row DTLA has welcomed a colorful Joybird showroom for contemporary furniture. Other top draws (besides Michelin-starred Hayto and Pizzeria Bianco) are Reform, Morrow Soft Goods, and A+R.

✦ Probably the most ambitious hospitality design project ever to hit the city, Moxy and AC Hotel features Level 8, with an array of entertainment venues by twins Jonnie and Mark Houston, known for beloved transportive concepts. Guests of the 37-story, 700-plus-room property can indulge in an adult playground, including a French Japanese–inspired steakhouse, rotating carousel bar with a skyline view, and nightlife venue with the duo’s signature speakeasy-style entrance.

✦ The Trust Building on “gallery row” will hold another dining concept by Jose Andres later this year but you can visit the contemporary (by appointment only) Swing Street Gallery.

Founded as an atelier by artist and designer Guerin Swing and fashion guru Molly Swing, this is a new meeting place for curators, collectors, and art lovers.

✦ The 24th oor of the Ritz-Carlton has four new concepts helmed by Kevin Luzande of Cabo’s celebrated farm-to-table Acre. Corteza leans in to the seafood-rich Baja coastline. Leña is an Argentine-inspired steakhouse. The Agave Library offers premium mezcal and tequila. And Volante is an eight-seat chef’s table.

✦ The Conrad Los Angeles, constructed by the legendary Frank Gehry and designed by U.K.based Tara Bernerd, holds several Jose Andres dining concepts, but the restorative 7,000-square-foot spa should not be overlooked. After an ayurvedic treatment, wave-table massage or dosha balancing, enjoy a few hours of lounging on the rooftop pool deck in a cabana with a city view and a snack.

✦ Speaking of taking a dip, there are many reasons to check out the L.A. Proper Hotel, designed by Kelly Wearstler, but how about a swimming pool in your suite? The 35-by-12foot indoor pool in the 7th oor Pool Suite is an original amenity from the building’s YWCA past. Now it is surrounded by Portuguese-inspired marble and stonework plus a handcrafted ceramic tile mural by local artist Ben Medansky.

✦ With a new West Hollywood location, Hauser & Wirth from Zurich was the rst major gallery to open in the Arts District and remains a top destination for rotating contemporary shows, a bookstore, and Manuela for patio dining.

✦ If you want to see the retrospective of legendary graf ti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, the “King Pleasure” exhibit featuring over 200 works is open at The Grand LA through July.

✦ Hotel Per La (formerly NoMad) has undergone a recent ground- oor, light-and-airy spring refresh with plenty of oral fabrics, as well as a new aperitivo hour 4–6 p.m. daily in the bar-lounge, next to the agship Per L’Ora, where spatchcock chicken, beef tartare, and crab cakes are signature orders.