The Best Things to Do in Downtown L.A. with Kids

Downtown Los Angeles is an underrated part of the city when it comes to visiting with kids. I see a lot of tourists choose the Santa Monica Pier, the beaches, studio tours, etc. when they come to L.A. with their children, but few people talk about downtown L.A. I highly recommend that you include at least a day in this part of the city – there’s so much to see and do. DTLA is a thriving, diverse and intriguing section of this historical city, and it deserves to be on your itinerary!

Quick Tips for Downtown L.A. with Kids:

• Choose one place to park that is centrally located and walk or rideshare the rest of the day.
• If you’re staying somewhere else in LA, take the metro into downtown.
• Wear comfortable shoes – you’ll walk a lot.
• Bring your appetite – you could easily spend the whole day eating!
• Have an itinerary but be flexible because you’ll come upon so many interesting things.
• Stick to the well-traveled areas, there are some parts of downtown that you shouldn’t wander into.
• If you’re looking for things to do with teenagers in particular, check out my post on The Best Things to do with Teens in Los Angeles

Things to do with in Downtown L.A. with Kids :

Angel’s Flight:

The Angel’s Flight funicular is a designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM). It is well over 100 years old, it’s been featured in tons of movies and TV shows, and it’s a great ride. Kids will love this “old-timey rollercoaster” (as my daughter referred to it) that takes you from Grand St. up to the Water Court (and back down again) where you can catch great views of the city and sometimes an outdoor show around the fountains. It’s a slow ride, costs a dollar each way and it’s a fun way to experience L.A. History.

Grand Central Market:

While I’m including a “where to eat” section in this post, Grand Central Market deserves its own section because it’s so much more than a place to eat. My grandmother used to take the street car downtown to shop here in the 30s and 40s! The market has been seriously updated in recent years, with fancy food stalls offering everything from vegan ramen to raw oysters on the half shell. But it still retains its old-style charm and even some of the original stalls. Even if you decide not to eat here, you should walk through. Grand Central Market is everything wonderful, diverse and delicious about L.A., all contained in one huge marketplace.

Grand Park:

A more recent addition to L.A., Grand Park is a fabulous family-friendly spot for picnics, playing in the fountain and interacting with the great diversity of Los Angeles families. There seems to always be something going on – a festival, a concert or some other event – and it’s a great photo spot as well. This park is very wheelchair accessible.

The Los Angeles Central Library:

Perhaps libraries don’t figure in that often on your travel itinerary, but if you’re in DTLA with kids, you need to stop here. As one of L.A.’s most interesting architectural buildings, this art deco HCM is almost 100 years old. The L.A. Central Library offers free tours of the buildings and gardens, and often hosts festivals and family events. The children’s section is comfy and large and has a packed schedule of reading activities for all ages.

Union Station:

Walking into Union Station is like taking a step back in time. Also an architectural landmark, this building retains its 1930s vibe. If you’re visiting California, this is a great place to catch the Pacific Surfliner train down to San Diego or up to Santa Barbara for a weekend getaway, but it’s also just a fun place to visit. You’ll recognize its vast ticket hall from all kinds of movies – from Blade Runner to The Way We Were – and it’s a great place to get a bite to eat and people watch.

Olvera Street/El Pueblo Historic Monument:

The birthplace of Los Angeles or La Placita, as many Angelenos call it, is the bustling Mexican marketplace just north of Union Station. When I was a child, this was my favorite place to go in L.A. because I loved to snack on taquitos and drift through the endless shops selling toys, souvenirs and traditional Mexican items. You can take a free tour most days of the week to learn about the history of this unique downtown area, or you can just wander around and enjoy. There are often Aztec Dancers or other performers in the plaza, and there’s a historically significant Siqueiros mural on one of the walls. This is also a great place to buy souvenirs!

Chinatown:

L.A.’s Chinatown has gone through several incarnations and, although the first Chinese people came to Los Angeles in the 1850s, it has only been at its current location since the late 1930s. Filled with antique shops and restaurants, Chinatown is a fun spot for souvenir shopping. They offer historical walking tours, which are worth it if you have older kids, but my favorite thing to do here is eat. (You will not be surprised by this if you’ve read any of my other posts!) If you have adventurous eaters, try having Dim Sum for lunch. You will not be disappointed. More on that later in this post.

Little Tokyo:

In keeping with the cultural adventure that is Downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo is a Japanese haven where you can potentially spot Manga cosplayers or feast on some of the best ramen in the city. A great time to visit is in the summer, during the Nisei Week Festival. If you are up for some deeper culture, check out the Japanese American Museum. It is child-friendly and tells the intense history of Japanese Americans through photographs and artifacts. Little Tokyo has great shops to get souvenirs or hard-to-find Japanese food items. Make sure you stop at Mikawaya for the original mochi ice cream.

The Music Center Plaza:

Just up the hill from Grand Park is the Music center Plaza, home to the L.A. Opera, the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre. In between these buildings is a large open air plaza with lots of seating, a few cafés and a great fountain with alternating pop-up streams. This is a great place to take a break, let the little ones run around, maybe play in the water and catch some of the best views in the city.

Museums to visit in Downtown L.A. with Kids:

You know your kids best, so it’s up to you to decide if your children will be interested in visiting any of the many DTLA museums. There’s plenty to do here without a museum visit, but I’ll list some good ones in case you have a child with a particular interest in any of these.

The Broad:

The Broad Museum is one of the newer museums in Los Angeles, and I highly recommend it for families with young kids because it’s FREE! Okay, not just because it’s free, but if you’ve got little ones who end up not being able to handle the museum experience, it’s nice to know that you didn’t spend money on a ticket. There are some great pieces in this museum as well as temporary exhibits. They do weekend workshops for families that are more hands-on and would be a great choice for younger kids. While there is no admission fee, you should still book ahead online to reserve a spot both for general museum entrance and for the family workshops.

The Museum of Contemporary Art:

It may seem like an unusual idea to take younger kids to see contemporary art, but I think they really connect with the shapes and colors. A chance to create some of that art is always fun for little hands. One of the great draws of MOCA is it’s FREE Sunday Studio – a drop in program for families that has a different theme each time and is a hands-on experience geared towards younger kids.

The Japanese American National Museum:

I already wrote about this one in the Little Tokyo section, but it’s worth another mention. On the smaller side, this museum won’t take you too long to see; and the rich but heartbreaking history of Japanese Americans is artfully told through its displays. They have guided tours, and they offer special programs for children.

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM):

This might not sound like a likely museum to take your kids, but each year FIDM showcases an exhibition on movie costumes and one on TV costumes. Kids will love seeing some of the Hollywood designs they recognize from their favorite shows and if you’ve got a child who’s interested in fashion and design, this is the place for them! Oh, and admission is FREE.

**If you’re interested in other Los Angeles museums with kids, check out my post on the Getty Center.

Unique Downtown L.A. Experiences:

A Show at the Disney Concert Hall:

The Disney Concert Hall – the ultra-shiny, can’t-miss Frank Gehry wonder that sits right on the corner of Grand and 1^st– is home to the L.A. Philharmonic, which puts on special concerts for kids. Check their website to see what’s on while you’re visiting. It’s a fun venue during kid-friendly programming.

The Revolving Lounge at the Top of the Bonaventure Hotel:

Most kids are already fascinated by this all-mirrored, round hotel that makes up part of the iconic L.A. skyline. The best part of it is riding the outside glass elevators up to the 35^th floor and having a snack/drink/dessert at the Bonavista Lounge. This casual restaurant revolves 360 degrees to give you one of the best views in the city. On a clear day you can see the ocean, the Hollywood sign, the Santa Monica mountains and the whole city at your feet. Watching the sunset from up here is a great way to end your day in downtown L.A. **Tip: It takes over an hour to make a whole revolution, so if you’re not planning to stay that long, ask for a table that is facing west to get the best views.

The Last Bookstore:

As someone who forces her family to visit bookstores everywhere we travel, I can confidently say that this is The. Best. Bookstore. In. The. World.  That’s right – I said it. And no, I haven’t been to every single bookstore in the world, but I’m going to stand by my statement. Visit it and see! The Last Bookstore is a converted bank building where you can get lost meandering through old vaults and tunnels filled with books. Kids absolutely love it, and probably won’t want to leave. It’s also a great place to find cheap used books and records.

Tea at the Biltmore:

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel is another HCM in downtown. It was built in 1923 and hosted the first Academy Awards shows in its ballroom. It’s lavishly decorated, and if you have a child that loves to go to tea (like I do) this is the best L.A. spot to do it.  If you can’t go to tea, it’s worth a walk through the lobby to see the historic photos and take a peek into the tea room and ballrooms.

Dim Sum in Chinatown:

If you’re from Los Angeles, you know that the best Chinese food is found far from Chinatown. But if you’re visiting from somewhere else, you’re most likely not going to drive out to the San Gabriel Valley, and there are great options right downtown. If you’ve never had dim sum, it can be an intimidating experience. It’s basically snacks that are brought around on carts and you choose what you like. It’s priced by plate. Don’t be afraid to ask what it is and don’t be afraid to try something new! Dim Sum is lunchtime food, so you have to go during the daytime. Try Ocean Seafood for a great Dim Sum experience.

Dodger Stadium Tour:

This iconic stadium is located just north of Chinatown, about 15 minutes away from downtown. For the sports fans in your family, they offer a behind the scenes tour of the stadium, with trips to the press box and onto the field. It’s reasonably priced – $20 for adults, with discounts for military, seniors and kids. If you’re there on a game day, you have to try the world-famous Dodger dog!

DTLA Film Locations walking tour:

L.A. is the movie capital of the world, and downtown is a prime filming location. I honestly can’t remember the last time I went there and didn’t see at least one production in progress. If your family is into movies and Hollywood, take a walking tour of the most famous filming locations downtown. It goes from old, old Hollywood – some of the first movies made in L.A. – to recent blockbusters. You’ll also visit some amazing buildings and places that are used frequently for film. 

Eating in Downtown L.A. with Kids

This section is tricky because I could write 20 pages on great eating in L.A. But I will try to focus on a few family-friendly choices with lots of variety for kids (that won’t break the bank). That narrows it considerably.

Grand Central Market:

I’ve already mentioned this, but I’ll give a little more detail. The food here is not inexpensive, but it’s good quality and it’s a fun locale. If you have super indecisive kids, or kids who get overwhelmed by too many choices, this may not be the place for you! There are dozens of stalls with just about every variety of food you can imagine: Mexican, Salvadorean, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Deli, Seafood… you get the picture. It can get pretty crowded, but I’ve noticed that it’s not that hard to find a seat, since people are always moving.

Philippe’s the Original:

This is an L.A. staple where my family, like many others, has been eating for generations. It’s known for the French Dip sandwiches -which come in a variety of meats and are delish! It’s super casual; there are multiple lines along the counter. Try to know what you’re going to order before you get up there. They also serve a traditional breakfast. Tip: Don’t go before a Dodger game, it gets crazy crowded.

Cielito Lindo:

This food stand has been selling taquitos on Olvera Street since my parents were kids! Their crunchy taquitos and avocado sauce are a staple of my childhood. You can get just a snack of a few taquitos, or a whole meal with rice and beans. They serve other food, but I’ve honestly never tried it. **Note: Taquitos here are what are called rolled tacos in many other places – meat rolled up in a corn tortilla and fried.

The Original Pantry:

Another L.A. classic, the Pantry has been serving breakfast to Angelenos since 1924. This is the place to be if you’re looking for big, beautiful, fluffy pancakes. It’s still reasonably priced, it never closes (I’m serious – it’s open 24/7, 365 days a year), and the portions are big. Prepare to stand in line, but it’s worth it for this little slice of L.A. History.

Bottega Louie:

If you’re looking for a more upscale breakfast or brunch, please try Bottega Louie. This is probably my favorite breakfast downtown. It’s a huge, open dining room that includes a little market area where they sell their macarons and other confections. The menu is fairly eclectic, with dishes like Shaksuka and Croque Madame. I always order the Smoked Salmon Benedict, but I also always order Lemon Ricotta Pancakes for the table, because they are just that good. I went on their website as I was writing this, and realized that they’re open for lunch and dinner, too. I’m going to assume the food is just as good as it is at breakfast, but obviously I wouldn’t know!

Rakkan Ramen:

There are plenty of places to get good ramen in Little Tokyo. In fact, there’s a place down the street from this one that regularly has a line out front. I’m guessing you don’t want to stand in line when you’re eating with little ones! The ramen at Rakkan is excellent. It’s a smaller, unassuming restaurant and it caters to families. They have booster seats, and they have a simple kid’s ramen on the menu that’s basically broth with noodles and comes with a side of crispy chicken.

**A note on food allergies: All of the restaurants mentioned in this post were accommodating to my daughter’s peanut allergy. At Grand Central Market there are multiple food stalls, but the four that we visited were very clear on their ingredients and whether or not she could eat there.

Try a Food Tour:

If you’re really looking to get the DTLA eating experience, try a food tour that will take you to some of the above-mentioned places and more. No waiting in lines, and you’ll have a guide to tell you about the history and culture as you feast on the best the city has to offer! Book here:

Transportation

If you’re staying downtown, I highly suggest that you leave your car (if you have one) in the hotel parking the whole time you’re in downtown. You can walk, rideshare or use public transportation all over the downtown area.

The Metro gold line has stops in Little Tokyo, Union Station and Chinatown.

If you’re coming from elsewhere in California, try taking the train! It’s a beautiful coastal ride, and you can catch it coming from north or south of L.A.

Some last words on Downtown L.A. with Kids:

I read a lot of travel blogs and magazines (surprise!), and I often see people say that L.A. isn’t very kid-friendly. I whole-heartedly disagree with that, having been a kid in L.A. and going there often with my own kids. Don’t let some opinions deter you from bringing your children to Los Angeles if this is somewhere you want to travel – there is so much to see and do! Are there homeless people? Yes, just like in every big city in the U.S. Are there some unsafe neighborhoods? Yes, just like in every big city in the U.S. But on the whole, L.A. is tourist and child friendly.

Stay tuned for more posts on visiting Los Angeles with children, and check out my post on L.A.’s Getty Center with Kids.