The Arts District is one of the most vibrant and hip areas of the city.
Located east of Downtown Los Angeles, the Arts District is one of my favorite daytime date destinations in the entire LA area! It’s undergone an amazing revitalization with cool galleries, breweries, restaurants, and hipster bars. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon or evening with someone special.
Getting There & Parking
The Downtown LA Arts District is located east of Alameda between 1st and 7th Streets, with most of the cool walkable areas at the north end of this map.
For the purposes of this article, I’m going to include Smorgasburg and the Row (in the lower left corner of the map) as part of the Arts District.
There is street parking, but it can be hard to find. I parked in a centrally-located lot at E. 3rd Street and Hewett St. The sign said “$3 parking” but that was misleading because it was $3 per hour with a $15 max. But, I paid anyway because I didn’t have time to look for scarce street parking. Some of the restaurants have valet parking.
The last time I went, I did find free street parking on Santa Fe Ave under the 1st Street overpass. We only had to walk a few blocks from there.
If you’re coming from the Pasadena area, you can take the Metro Red Line to the Little Tokyo / Arts District Station. It’s only a ten-minute walk to the Arts District from there.
And now, on to my list of things to do and see in the DTLA Arts District!
1. Hauser & Wirth Art Complex
For me, the centerpiece of the Arts District is the Hauser & Wirth art complex, located at 901 East 3rd Street. It’s a massive former industrial space from the 1890’s (the Globe Mills complex) which was restored into a cool art and restaurant complex in 2016. The industrial bare brick and massive iron doors have been preserved, creating a really unique vintage factory feel.
The art gallery contains about five or so large rooms that can accommodate massive installations or exhibits. When I went, they were featuring cool installations by Jason Rhoades (I won’t spoil it by telling you what all of the neon words mean, but maybe you can figure it out. Hint: it’s X-rated).
This type of art may not be everyone’s cup of tea (definitely not for kids due to the language and imagery), but at the very least it’s interesting for adults! The installations change every few months, so check their website to see what they have now. Other exhibits since then have included works by artists such as Cindy Sherman.
There is an open-air courtyard in the center, with a garden on one side where they grow herbs and vegetables for the restaurant, Manuela (see below). There are even live chickens!
I consider Hauser and Wirth to be in the most walkable area of the Arts District which includes Wurstkuche, Angel City Brewery, Arts District Brewery, 82 (arcade), Eat Drink Americano, Salt And Straw and other shops and restaurants. This is a great date area because you can walk from one attraction to another.
Manuela (at Hauser & Wirth)
Manuela is the on-site restaurant at Hauser & Wirth but it’s a worthy destination in itself, apart from the museum.
Serving New American cuisine, Manuela has an amazing indoor/outdoor ambiance featuring vintage styling with modern artwork. It’s a great date idea, and unlike most L.A. restaurants, it’s quiet enough for normal dinner conversation!
We really enjoyed the small plates and salad. The cornbread is a “must try”. The mains were good too, but the vegetable dishes seemed to be intended to be entrees, rather than sides, and were pretty rich with cream sauces. Next time, we’d probably order more of the small plates and only one entree. But everything was flavorful, including the “chocolate shroom” dessert, which was outstanding.
Tip: they have seating at a bar that looks into the kitchen. I like this type of seating for casual dates because you get to watch the chefs at work!
There is valet parking, or if you get (very) lucky, you might find street parking.
2. Fine Dining
The Arts District has some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. including several on the Los Angeles Times’ top 100 list. In true Arts District form, these restaurants are still casual (i.e., no dress codes) even though the food is top-notch. All of the restaurants below have great ambiance and are perfect for a dinner date.
Our personal favorite restaurant in the Arts District is Girl and the Goat. But these are more than worthy date destinations as well!
Girl & the Goat
Chef Stephanie Izard’s L.A. version of her classic Chicago restaurant is one of the hottest spots in town, and is fantastic for a date, both in terms of food and ambiance. We had brunch there and it was easily one of the best brunches I’ve ever had, and definitely the most creative. When we went for dinner, the food was flawless, as was the service.
The huge former warehouse space is adorned with plants and is bright and airy. The Girl & the Goat is probably my favorite restaurant in the Arts District. Although the music was a tad loud for both brunch and dinner, it’s an amazing place to bring a date!
The dishes are New American, but with some strong Asian influences (chili sauce, spices). There are some really innovative combinations going on, but more importantly, every dish we tried was delicious. The menu is designed for sharing. Any foodie will want to try it out with you!
Bestia
After Girl and the Goat, Bestia is our second-favorite high-end restaurant in the Arts District. It’s a Jonathan Gold favorite, ranking #17 on his list of top 100 restaurants in Los Angeles, and offers amazing Italian-influenced cuisine. Many folks who know restaurants in Los Angeles will rank Best at or near the top of their lists.
The atmosphere is what I call Arts District industrial chic: informal but hip. It’s almost always crowded and lively, so not great for quiet conversation. But if you bring a foodie here they definitely won’t be disappointed! The dishes are served family-style so be prepared to share.
Bavel
Bavel is the second entry by the folks who brought you Bestia, specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine. I love the ambiance with the open kitchen and plants hanging overhead.
It’s best to order family-style. Everything we had here was amazing, from the duck to the roasted cauliflower to the octopus. But, my favorite was the baba ghanoush and seasoned bread. I’ve never had bread like that before! It’s a solid dinner date destination.
Yangban Society
Drawing from Korean influences, the newly-renovated Yangban has a great date ambiance, with faux trees in the middle of the dining room. It’s dark and quiet enough for good conversation. The highlight dish for us was the fried chicken wings, but many dishes were superb.
The serving sizes are small, but that does allow a party of two to sample many dishes.
Cost for two was almost $300 when we went, so this place is pricey. This is not a good place to go if you are super hungry, but it’s a great place to take a foodie you want to impress.
Baroo
If you want to impress a foodie, consider taking them to LA Times’ 2024 Restaurant of the Year, Baroo, located behind Hauser & Wirth next to Father’s Office.
This is by no means a typical Korean restaurant, as many of the dishes are new inventions and do not correspond to any traditional Korean dishes.
They only have a set menu for $125 per person. When we went, it consisted of seven courses, but be aware that some of the courses are very small, only consisting of a few bites. We thought for sure we’d be hungry at the end of the night but amazingly even after a night of dancing at Clifton’s, we were still OK. That was probably thanks to the beef course.
Worst case, you could grab a brat at Wurstkuche afterward, which wouldn’t be a bad thing!
The service at Baroo was impeccable. Some might even find it overly doting; as soon as someone dropped a chopstick (which happened three times during our dinner to various tables), there was a server to pick it up.
The decor is what I call “Arts District Industrial”, melded with Korean flourishes. Unlike many high-end restaurants these days, it was quiet enough for normal conversation, happily.
If you’re looking for a culinary adventure with a foodie, this is a great date pick. If you’re hungry and looking for a large satisfying meal, look elsewhere.
Cha Cha Chá
Cha Cha Chá is a hip rooftop restaurant with really great date ambiance. With its second-story outdoor dining and overhead bistro lights, this place is hard to beat for romantic atmosphere. The Mexican dishes score highly on Yelp, as do their desserts. We prefer the food at Bestia, Bavel, or Girl and the Goat though. The flavors at Cha Cha Cha seemed more subdued to us. But if you’re not into spicy food, Cha Cha Cha might be perfect for you. Just be sure to make reservations!
Camphor
Located in the alley next to Eat Drink Americano and across from Hauser & Wirth, Camphor is a new addition to the Arts District Restaurant scene. They serve French food with Southeast Asian influences.
We liked the open ambiance, and the noise level was decently low compared to so many trendy restaurants in L.A. where you have to shout to your dinner date.
Camphor is a fine date destination especially if you don’t like spicy food (their flavors are mild). Our service was excellent and the desserts were killer (we’re considering coming here again just to try the bread pudding). Dinner was about $350 for us, so this place is pricey. 20% gratuity is included.
Other Fine Dining Options
Some other high-end food options in the Arts District include Zinc Cafe and The Factory Kitchen.
3. ROW DTLA
Just outside the official boundaries of the Arts District, at the former site of American Apparel on Alameda St., is ROW DTLA, a cool marketplace of restaurants and shops in an industrial setting.
The vibe is like a lot of the Arts District: retro, yet brand new.
If you’re in the mood for seafood, I’d recommend the Rappahannock Oyster Bar, the first West Coast location of this venerable East Coast seafood restaurant. The environment is light and airy, and the ingredients are locally sourced.
We love the New York Style pizza at Pizzeria Bianco.
You can also grab coffee at Go Get Em Tiger (look for the sign that says “gget”).
Kato: Michelin-starred cuisine at ROW
If you want to dine at a Michelin-star restaurant, Kato features a Taiwanese-inspired tasting menu and is probably one of the best restaurants in the Arts District. We went there for our anniversary dinner and really enjoyed it! The food, ambiance, and service are top notch. You definitely will impress by taking a date to Kato.
Pickwick Vintage Show at ROW
If you’re into vintage clothing, check out the monthly Pickwick Vintage Show there. Note, these are typically higher-end vintage items and much more expensive than “thrift-store” vintage. Regular admission is $10 (or $20 for early bird admission)
Or browse various clothing and housewares shops elsewhere in the complex.
Overall, The Row is a really cool space to wander around in. Unless there’s a major event going on (like Smorgasburg below), it can feel kind of empty; you’ll feel like you have a whole mall to yourself. This can be good if you want a quiet place to chill and talk on a bench or something.
Smorgasburg at ROW
Every Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM at ROW DTLA there’s a huge outdoor food marketplace called Smorgasburg featuring tons of gourmet food stands. Food lovers will have a blast here. Some of our favorites include Black Sugar Rib Co., Tacos 1986, and Jolly Oyster. Admission is free!
Obviously, this is a casual, not formal, date idea, as you’ll probably be eating at an outdoor bench. But, if you love having a wide variety of food to choose from, you’ll love Smorgasburg. Bring a hat on sunny days as there is not much shade.
4. Breweries
The Arts District is a great destination if you’re into beer and breweries!
Angel City Brewery
Keeping with the industrial theme that seems to pervade this area, Angel City Brewery is a huge two-level space located in a former cable factory. I really like the vintage industrial ambiance here (it used to be a cable factory that manufactured cable for the Golden Gate Bridge).
Grab drinks at the bar, then find a table. Or, play a game of Jenga or beanbags. If you’re hungry, there’s often a food truck outside. What more could you want in a brewery?
Arts District Brewing Company
Another great brewery in the area is the Arts District Brewing Company. Not only do they have a great selection of beer and awesome chicken wings, but they also have Skee-Ball! Need I say more? This place is one of the liveliest parts of the Arts District, perfect if you’re looking for fun with lots of other people around.
Father’s Office
Located just behind Hauser & Wirth is the Arts District location of Father’s Office, joining its other locations in Santa Monica and Culver City. In addition to their beer, they’re famous for their burgers, and for not allowing any substitutions of ketchup! Their chicken sandwich is also darn good.
Boomtown Brewery
Boomtown Brewery, which has a huge adjoining event space featuring live music and other performances, is another great brewery, although it is not walking distance from Hauser & Wirth. They sometimes have a food truck on site.
5. Casual Dining
Wurstküche
Wurstküche is an informal German restaurant specializing in sausages, Belgian fries, and beer. And oh are they good together! Their most notorious menu item is their rattlesnake and rabbit sausage, but rest assured there are plenty of other more traditional options. Of course, they offer an amazing selection of German and Belgian beers on tap! They have “picnic table” seating, so you may be sharing a table, but it’s all part of the fun. Wurstkuche is definitely not your typical hot dog joint! It’s an ideal spot for a casual meal after visiting Hauser & Wirth right down the street.
Everson Royce Bar
Everson Royce Bar has amazing food from former Mozza chef Matt Molina. Their burger is one of my all-time favorites. Their back patio space has communal dining but is great if you know what you’re getting into. Of course, they have a huge cocktail menu including non-alcoholic options! Highly recommended for great food and drinks, much better than what you’d expect at a bar.
Afuri Ramen + Dumplings
You’ll find the best ramen in the area at Afuri Ramen + Dumplings. Afuri opened its first restaurant outside of Japan in Portland in 2016, and now they are in the Arts District of L.A.! You order at touch screens and they bring the food out pretty quickly. I love the clean, modern, casual vibe.
Other Casual Options
Some other great informal but really good restaurants in the area include Eat Drink Americano, Zinc Cafe & Market, and Bread Lounge.
If you’re looking for dessert, head over to Salt and Straw for their famous ice cream flavors. There might be a line though!
6. Eighty Two (vintage arcade and bar)
Eighty Two is one of the few remaining places where you can play vintage arcade games and pinball machines! It’s not for everyone, but I was surprised at how many couples I saw when I went. Best of all, the arcade games still only cost 25 cents (using tokens). Pinball games cost 50 cents. They have a full bar, and there is no cover charge and no gaming minimum!
I was also impressed by their huge inner courtyard. You’ll have plenty of space to hang out over drinks after playing!
It’s within walking distance of many other Arts District attractions, so you can make this one of the places you check out during your visit.
7. Coffee!
There are lots of great non-chain coffee options within walking distance of Hauser & Wirth including:
Further to the south, there is Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
So, Check It Out!
As you can see, there’s tons to see, drink, and eat in and around the Arts District. The whole area has a cool vintage industrial feel that is really unique. I’d recommend a trip out there when you have a chance!
What are your favorite hangouts in the Downtown L.A. Arts District? Please leave a comment or question below! – Brian
More Date Ideas
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Ask Me a Question or Leave a Comment
This blog perfectly captures why the Downtown LA Arts District is an amazing date destination. With its vibrant atmosphere, creative spaces, and unique dining spots, it’s ideal for an unforgettable outing.