A culture of creativity. A culture of diversity. A culture of grit and glamor. Downtown LA’s culture is reflected in the grandeur of the Beaux-Arts and Art Deco architecture. Iconic sites like Union Station and the Biltmore Hotel and the much-filmed Bradbury Building with its open cage elevators and ornate iron work, are a still integral nod to a storied past.

Multicultural diversity makes Downtown LA a lively destination for anyone looking to add something different to their day. A visit to brick-paved Olvera Street, the birthplace of Los Angeles, puts you in the middle of marketplaces, mariachi bands and celebrations. It was also recently named one of the country’s top-five “Great Streets” by the American Planning Association. For both food and shopping, dropping in on historic Chinatown and Little Tokyo is always rewarding.

Have a closer look at history at these spots:

Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
506 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071
Website | Yelp it 

Olvera Street
Website | Yelp it 

Little Tokyo
Website | Yelp it 

Chinatown
Website | Yelp it 

The Bradbury Building
304 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Website | Yelp it 

Central Library
630 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90071
Website | Yelp it 

You can feel it in the air. You can see it on the streets. GQ has called downtown Los Angeles “America’s next great city” and “the cool capital of America.” It was once a place just to work and then head home to some other part of the vast Los Angeles area. Now it’s a place to play, dine and, most significantly, live.

A revival takes on many forms. A revival of arts and culture began with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. An entertainment revival with LA LIVE and the abundance of options it provides on a nightly basis. This has led to an increase in dining options, both fine and casual. Star chefs and restaurateurs Josef Centeno and Bill Chait are among those who have made downtown a showcase for their skills and styles.

The right energy is here. The right people are here. It’s the right time to live here.

Home to the food-truck phenomenon. A melting pot of cultures and cuisines. DTLA has some of the most creative and exciting culinary minds anywhere. From the new cool of Bestia, Perch and Faith & Flower, award-winning chef Ray Garcia’s modern Mexican at Broken Spanish or the legendary and affordable Philippe’s (arguably the creator of the French Dip sandwich), the choices are varied and amazing.

When it comes to varied, there is nothing like the renovated Grand Central Market. Long home to food stands of differing quality, it’s now a showcase of stunning foods in a casual, bustling atmosphere. Eggslut, Belcampo Meat Co. and Sticky Rice are part of the new wave, while Ana Maria and Sarita’s Pupuseria retain the charm of original setting.

Some smaller, but still dynamic, new spots include Rice Bar, a Filipino take on fast casual, modern Austrian fare at BierBeisl Imbiss and a unique twist on southern comfort food at Osso featuring the soon to be legendary fried chicken

Here’s a little more info along with a few more places you might like:

Bestia
2121 E. 7th Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90021
Website |  Yelp it 

Bottega Louie
700 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Website |  Yelp it 

Grand Central Market
317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Website |  Yelp it 

Osso
901 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Website |  Yelp it 

Simbal
319 E. 2nd St. Suite 202, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Website |  Yelp it 

Beir Beisel Imbass
541 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
Website |  Yelp it 

Rice Bar
419 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
Website |  Yelp it 

Broken Spanish
1050 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90015
Website |  Yelp it 

Petty Cash
712 Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles, CA   90021
Website |  Yelp it 

The bars of Downtown Los Angeles are varied and exciting. Some have found creative ways of taking advantage of existing locations and turning them into something unexpected. Located inside a former power plant, The Edison has exposed brick walls and a 1920s vibe. The Crocker Club is in what was a classic bank building, and a big part of the charm is the club inside the safe-deposit vault. The speakeasy-style of watering hole is on the rise in DTLA. A great example is The Varnish, which is carefully hidden behind Cole’s, another claimant to the creation of the French dip sandwich. And if you’re hoping for a quality bite to eat along with your drink, the newly opened ERBar in the Arts District has a kitchen run by James Beard winner Matt Molina.

Here are some cool places to relax:

The Edison
108 W. 2nd St. #101, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Website | Yelp it 

The Crocker Club
453 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
Website | Yelp it 

The Varnish
118 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
Website | Yelp it 

Golden Gopher
417 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
Website | Yelp it 

Perch
448 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
Website | Yelp it 

ERBar
1936 E. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90021

Once home to warehouses and artists’ lofts, the Arts District has become a landing site for food, drinks and a crackling energy flowing from galleries, studios and media-related companies. There are photo ops everywhere you look. Or you could just come to relax with a coffee, experience the food-truck scene or have a seat in one of the many creative eateries. And if you needed another reason to visit, there is the Angel City Brewery. Along with great beer choices, they offer tours and an impressive calendar of events that even includes runs and yoga.

Downtown LA’s districts are impressive in size and options. The Jewelry District is the second largest in the world. The Flower District is the main destination for designers and florists. The center of the West Coast apparel industry is the Fashion District. Fashionistas of all ages and types descend on this creative center. Not to be forgotten is the Wholesale District, featuring fresh fish and a daily influx of produce. The districts of Downtown Los Angeles are vital to its economic growth and creative growth.