Food/coffee within a 5-min walk
Convenient and delicious options within a block or so.
Huge menu for lunch, desserts, and coffee drinks. Often hopping with people from all over town.
288 locals recommend
Urth Caffé
459 S Hewitt StHuge menu for lunch, desserts, and coffee drinks. Often hopping with people from all over town.
Bavel
500 Mateo StZinc Cafe & Market and Bar
580 Mateo StreetAll vegetarian, incredible courtyard with olive trees
Eightfold Coffee
555 Mateo StreetVerve Coffee Roasters
833 S Spring StGirl & the Goat
555-3 Mateo StreetBar/venue and food with outdoor seating under dramatic bougainvillea-covered warehouse.
36 locals recommend
Resident
428 S Hewitt StBar/venue and food with outdoor seating under dramatic bougainvillea-covered warehouse.
The Factory Kitchen
1300 Factory PlChuy's Tacos Dorados
1335 Willow StreetAwesome tacos. Buy one get one free on Tuesdays!
The Rising Sun
1356 Palmetto StreetCute little New Orleans-style beignet and breakfast place.
Tatsu Ramen
Best food in or near Arts District
Delicious indoor-outdoor restaurant inside Hauser & Wirth arts complex. Opens into the courtyard of a large former mill.
52 locals recommend
Manuela
907 E 3rd StDelicious indoor-outdoor restaurant inside Hauser & Wirth arts complex. Opens into the courtyard of a large former mill.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
5915 Franklin AveBest ice cream—and tons of vegan options too.
Yangban Society
712 South Santa Fe AvenueScrumptious Korean “cafeteria” with tucked away courtyard
All vegetarian. Great bar. Beautiful courtyard line with olive trees.
85 locals recommend
Zinc Cafe & Market and Bar
580 Mateo StreetAll vegetarian. Great bar. Beautiful courtyard line with olive trees.
Groundwork Coffee Co.
150 N Larchmont BlvdSmooth, delicious local coffee
AFURI ramen + dumpling LA
688 Mateo StreetYour favorite Tokyo ramen joint, now in LA
Angel City Brewery
216 S Alameda StHuge selection of freshly baked breads and bagels, sandwiches too. Cute little patio.
52 locals recommend
Bread Lounge
700 S Santa Fe AveHuge selection of freshly baked breads and bagels, sandwiches too. Cute little patio.
Little stand selling hot taiyaki! It's just outside the grocery store near the parking garage.
Little Tokyo Taiyaki
333 South Alameda StreetLittle stand selling hot taiyaki! It's just outside the grocery store near the parking garage.
Daikokuya
327 1st StRamen shop. Expect a little crowd at peak hours.
Okonomiyaki, Japanese "pancakes" are feel-good food, filling, and delicious. It was such a treat to have this open near us a few years back.
Chinchikurin
350 1st StOkonomiyaki, Japanese "pancakes" are feel-good food, filling, and delicious. It was such a treat to have this open near us a few years back.
Marugame Monzo
329 E 1st StFresh, homemade udon <3
Things to do
LA Boulders
1375 E 6th StAward winning climbing gym!
Excellent large book store specializing in design and art books
18 locals recommend
Hennessey + Ingalls
300 S Santa Fe AveExcellent large book store specializing in design and art books
The Good Liver
705 Mateo StWonderfully curated global home goods store.
Two Bit Circus
613 Mateo StGiant, fun arcade and game spot with food too
Hauser & Wirth
901 E 3rd StLegendary arts complex in an old industrial mill.
Groceries and other essentials
This is the closest large grocery store—and it's got parking.
58 locals recommend
Little Tokyo Market Place
333 S Alameda StThis is the closest large grocery store—and it's got parking.
This is a small grocery with high quality options of most everything you'd need. Lots of vegan/vegetarian alternatives too. They also have great sandwiches. Does have parking—just tell the valet you're headed to Grow.
20 locals recommend
Grow the Produce Shop
C 300 S Santa Fe AveThis is a small grocery with high quality options of most everything you'd need. Lots of vegan/vegetarian alternatives too. They also have great sandwiches. Does have parking—just tell the valet you're headed to Grow.
Little Tokyo Pharmacy
402 East 2nd StreetSmall, local pharmacy with helpful staff. Walkable.
Clean, convenient gas station. Usually has good prices. Whatever you do—avoid the one on Alameda and Cesar Chavez. It's always extra expensive!
Shell
2005 East 4th StreetClean, convenient gas station. Usually has good prices. Whatever you do—avoid the one on Alameda and Cesar Chavez. It's always extra expensive!
Beloved old-time hardware store owned by the same family for decades. Great selection of common and unique items.
Anzen Hardware
220 1st StreetBeloved old-time hardware store owned by the same family for decades. Great selection of common and unique items.
Great little convenience store that's walkable—just across 4th street near Pie Hole.
The Corner Store
716 Traction AvenueGreat little convenience store that's walkable—just across 4th street near Pie Hole.
Concentra Urgent Care
Closest urgent care.
Wonderful neighborly farmer's market in quaint, tree-lined South Pas. Thursdays 4-8p. Take the metro train directly to the farmer's market—or drive and find street parking.
48 locals recommend
South Pasadena Farmers' Market
920 Meridian AveWonderful neighborly farmer's market in quaint, tree-lined South Pas. Thursdays 4-8p. Take the metro train directly to the farmer's market—or drive and find street parking.
Bring any clean container and refill it with everything from flours, oils, snacks, pantry essentials, spices, teas. You name it, they likely have it.
re_ grocery
5046 York BlvdBring any clean container and refill it with everything from flours, oils, snacks, pantry essentials, spices, teas. You name it, they likely have it.
Salon on the corner. They’re great for all hairs and genders, and specialize in textured hair. Want a barber? Try Grit LA across the street. www gritlosangeles dot com
Virgo
513 Molino StreetSalon on the corner. They’re great for all hairs and genders, and specialize in textured hair. Want a barber? Try Grit LA across the street. www gritlosangeles dot com
Hanks Organic
661 Imperial StreetFresh artisanal grocery store
Traveler advice
Getting around
The DASH bus will take you to downtown for free
They stop next to Barker Block. Parking downtown can be a little rough.
Getting around
Be smart when going through Skid Row
Skid Row is roughly between Central-Los Angeles and 4th st to 9th. Be aware that you'll encounter many people living on the streets in this area. There's a lot of great community to be had in Skid Row as well and we've volunteered in the area in the past.