CULTURE AND COOL: THE MUSIC CENTER, THE ARTS DISTRICT, L.A. LIVE, AND DYNAMIC DINING

Downtown Los Angeles has undergone an eye-popping renaissance. Historic art deco structures share the streetscape with glass-clad towers, and celebrities have snapped up lofts in century-old buildings. The arts thrive along Grand Avenue as well as in the hip Arts District. Peacock Place is sports central; Chinatown and Olvera Street are fun cultural excursions; to the southwest, Exposition Park offers a trio of major museums.

Grand Avenue

The heart of L.A.’s performing arts scene and the site of its most dramatic architecture, Grand Avenue lives up to its name. Four venues on Bunker Hill make up the Music Center. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is home to LA Opera, the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum host theatrical productions and architect Frank Gehry’s spectacular Walt Disney Concert Hall is the home of the LA Philharmonic. Opposite is the 12-acre Grand Park with ongoing programming.

Bunker Hill

Not far from the Ahmanson Theatre is the postmodern Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. A short walk south on Grand is The Broad museum, a stunning edifice funded by and housing the contemporary art collection of philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad. Angels Flight is a vintage funicular that climbs to California Plaza from Hill Street. The Bunker Hill Steps rise five stories at the U.S. Bank Tower. Across the street is the art deco-style Central Library.

Olvera Street

The city’s origins date back to 1781 and the building of El Pueblo de Los Angeles, a historic monument that comprises 27 buildings along the festive pedestrian concourse Olvera Street. The city’s oldest building, Avila Adobe is here, along with Mexican restaurants, mariachi bands, and merchants selling arts, crafts, and food. Across the street is Union Station, the largest railroad passenger terminal in the western United States; a few blocks away is L.A.’s oldest restaurant, built in 1908, Philippe the Original

Chinatown

Chinatown is the destination for dim sum—and dining at foodie meccas such as Howlin’ Ray’s for Nashville hot chicken—or browsing for clothing and home goods. Cultural highlights include the ornate Thien Hau Temple. Dodger Stadium is a short drive away, as is San Antonio Winery, which offers tours and tastings.

Arts District

To the east of emerging hipster ‘hood Little Tokyo is the Arts District, with its myriad murals, shops, and markets, the Hauser & Wirth gallery, a bevy of breweries, and lauded restaurants such as Bavel, Manuela, and Brera—not to mention Damian from world-renowned Mexico City chef Enrique Olvera.

Peacock Place

The Peacock Place entertainment complex includes the Peacock Theater, several night spots, and a dozen restaurants, including Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, Katsuya, Savoca, and Tom’s Watch Bar, all facing a massive plaza lined with LED screens. It adjoins the Crypto.com Arena, home of the Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, and Kings and host to top pop acts. The Grammy Museum honors musicians with videos, artifacts, and exhibits.

Exposition Park

South of downtown is Exposition Park, site of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum—home of USC Trojans football and twice host of the Summer Olympics—as well as the California African American Museum, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and California Science Center, which has a 3D IMAX theater and the NASA space shuttle Endeavour.

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: The Broad museum; rose clove chocolate donuts at Bavel; Union Station interior; ROW DTLA shop.