Location: Downtown
Top Things to do in Downtown
10 Museums in Downtown That You Shouldn't Miss
Hollywood beckons to tourists who long for a brush with Tinseltown glamor. Tour movie studios, slip your hands into the famous prints at the TCL Chinese Theatre, or indulge in a celeb sighting at one of LA’s white-hot nightspots. Spot your favorite star while shopping at The Grove, or forget all about the famous eye candy as you take in the iconic artwork at The Getty Center. For a different type of star-gazing, peek through the telescopes at the Griffith Observatory.
Restaurants in Los Angeles
1. African American Firefighter Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
The African American Fire Fighter Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, conserving and sharing the heritage of African American firefighters.The Museum is housed at old Fire Station 30. This station, which was one of two segregated fire stations in Los Angeles, between 1924 and 1955, was established in 1913, to serve the Central Ave community.
2. Wisdome LA
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
SAMSKARA is an immersive art exhibition featuring works of transformational artist Android Jones. Samskara includes: - Full dome mapping projection show - Android Jones art gallery - Microdose VR experience - Interactive photo experience
Reviewed By juliannazzy - France, null
OMG!!! Was in LA for the weekend for work and was looking for fun things to do in the area and just randomly stumbled upon this place!! When do you normally just see giant domes lying around LA!? Lol had to come see what the deal was and wow! Packed with trippy/psychedelic art if you’re into that kind of stuff and the ending movie was incredible. Almost had to take a break because it was so intense!!! You lay down and get to see this whole 360 thing as if you’re there live in action. Craziness!
3. Japanese American National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 369 reviews
Museum dedicated to the history and culture of Japanese-Americans.
Reviewed By SFO45
JAMM has two primary exhibits: one on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and one on the Japanese experience in the US internment camps following Pearl Harbor. Both exhibits have extensive photographs and narratives. The museum is spacious and should not be missed if you are interested in these topics. It is located in Little Tokyo in LA.
4. Wells Fargo Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
The Museum is located downtown in the Wells Fargo Center on Bunker Hill. Exhibits depict the history and development of Wells Fargo Bank and the West since the company's founding in 1852. Highlights include an authentic 19th-century Concord stagecoach and a replica you can climb into, the Challenge nugget-largest piece of gold discovered in Southern California and historic maps of Los Angeles. Use touch screens to learn more about stagecoaches and communicate via telegraph with other Wells Fargo Museums. English and Spanish cell phone tours and a web app are available. Free guided tours are available for groups that book in advance. The museum store features a variety of Wells Fargo branded gifts, collectibles and apparel. Admission is always free.
Reviewed By Goldycat - Barcelona, Spain
Amazing little museum where kids can interact with things and there are little treasures from the western American world, like some furniture and an old stagecoach. It's free. For me it was a hidden gem in the middle of LA.
5. GRAMMY Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 869 reviews
The GRAMMY Museum® is an interactive space where all aspects of music are experienced, explored, and celebrated. We break down the barrier between artist and audience, telling stories of how music has shaped our collective identity and cultural understanding. By deconstructing the creative process, considering music makers through a broader social lens, and placing you in the creator role, our thought-provoking exhibits and programs showcase the storied legacy of music—the thread that connects us.
Reviewed By iwanderaroundtown - London, United Kingdom
From the moment you leave the lift on the fourth floor you are grated by two huge screens depicting some of the greatest Grammy moments of all time. For fans of the Grammy awards this is incredible. Moving through the rest of the floor there are displays and exhibits dedicated to music through the years, music and baseball and how they interact and a wonderful display of memrobilia from Michael Jackson, Witney Houston and many more. Move down to an exhibition about how people react to music taken and a video on how the pictures were put together, that person's chosen piece or pieces and their interactions with the Grammys. Yes the whole third floor is closed and yes it's a bit frustrating but it's very well advertised and we went anyway as the other floors are open. A great afternoon, well worth the visit.
6. FIDM Museum and Galleries
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By VickieW302 - Seattle, United States
An excellent museum, especially since one of the exhibits showcased costumes from the Academy Awards nominees. While you're clearly not allowed to touch any of the garments on display, you could see all the detail up close. I especially enjoyed seeing the Mary Poppins costumes that looked as if they're painted. So cool! Staff was exceptionally welcoming and gracious, which I don't usually get when visiting museums. Free admission was an unexpected plus! If you've got an hour or so, drop by. It's well worth it and then get lunch at the Grand Central Market, which is about a 5 minute drive.
7. Mrs. Fish
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Mrs. Fish Sushi • Art • Whisky A contemporary Japanese restaurant and bar located in downtown Los Angeles.
Reviewed By Maria2628 - Los Angeles, United States
Located at the basement of a building, murals of sea life while descending the stairs a perfect photo op. Doorman volunteered to take photos upon entering. Overhead an aquarium full of fishes starts at the bottom of the stairs all the way at the other end of the room. We sat at the bar and ordered the drink Otonano Amasa served in a bird shape glass with toasted marshmallows at the rear. This drink ,which name means Sweetness in adults, is delish another round is a must. The Farmers Market Tempura remains crunchy even after it cooled off. The sauce was to die for. My friend has the California 11 and Pork Gyoza. I taste the Gyoza it found it pretty good. But that marshmallows I just need to have another that I ask for another piece and was given several. It's chewy with a filling inside. Bar tender kept us entertained with friendly, funny banter. Our waitress even ask if we want our pictures taken and made suggestions for a good backdrop. I would suggest reservations at least a week in advance. Parking is expensive around the resto but you can park at a structure next to Biltmore Hotel for $6.50 till 10:30pm. Limited street parking free on Saturdays and Sundays at 515 S Olive St. which is a 2 -3 min walk. You can see the building where the restaurant is located from this spot. I thoroughly enjoyed the food, drink, ambience, staff and service of this venue. I highly recommend and would definitely be back.
8. Hauser & Wirth
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles is one of nine worldwide locations of Hauser & Wirth, the international gallery devoted to contemporary art and modern masters. A family business with a global outlook, Hauser & Wirth opened its Los Angeles location in March 2016 in the heart of the burgeoning Downtown Los Angeles Arts District. Occupying a former flour mill, Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles is a vibrant communal space that links art and architecture with a dynamic events program. In addition to supporting and collaborating with many local and international cultural organizations, nonprofits, and universities, the Los Angeles gallery fosters public dialogue with the arts through a range of activities that engage the city’s diverse population.
Reviewed By BDarst - Irvine, United States
This is worth a visit while in LA. The galleries are free and have rotating exhibits. This was my second time to visit the galleries and they had new exhibits that are world-class. The docents are very knowledgable and will answer your question. While we were there they just walked up to us and informed us of some of the aspects of art we were not aware of. There is a great gift shop and bookstore as well. Manuela's is an excellent restaurant inside the galleries I would highly recommend. make reservations. Parking is a little tough, there is valet you have to pay for but well worth it.
9. The Broad
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,712 reviews
The Broad is a new contemporary art museum founded by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. The museum is designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and offers free general admission. The museum is home to the 2,000 works of art in the Broad collection, which is among the most prominent holdings of postwar and contemporary art worldwide. With its innovative "veil-and-vault" concept, the 120,000-square-foot, $140-million building features two floors of gallery space to showcase The Broad's comprehensive collection and is the headquarters of The Broad Art Foundation's worldwide lending library. -- General admission to The Broad is free. Advance online reservations are available at the museum website and are highly encouraged in this busy period after the museum's opening. For visitors who want to ensure a specific date and time for their visit, and avoid wait times during busy periods, The Broad provides advance reservation of timed tickets online at no charge. Tickets have entry times beginning every half hour. Please note that advance online tickets often book up two to three months in advance. Advance tickets are not required. An onsite ticketing line is available at the museum every day except Mondays, when the museum is closed. Admission for the onsite ticketing line is first come, first served, based on availability. The wait time in the onsite ticketing line is 30 to 45 minutes on an average weekday, and 60 to 90 minutes on an average weekend. On holiday weekends, wait time in the onsite ticketing line can be up to two or three hours. The onsite ticketing line closes 90 minutes before the museum closes.
Reviewed By angyee12
it had a few art pieces of everything the non-connoisseur art-lover could think of. Loved it!!!! Yayoi Kusama, Koons, Hering, etc. besides, the architecture is beyond perfection.
