What is Downtown LA REALLY like in 2024?

[@leeszikiat7953]

DTLA is unfairly thrusted a reputation that city officials forced it to have. If the city never instituted a “containment zone” for the poor and the desperate, it would not have the reputation it has among the general public. You can clearly see it’s trying to reinvent itself, and we should all root for a better downtown that continually develops into an urban neighborhood that it should be.

[@mrxman581]

It was on a huge upswing for years until Covid hit. It's only now returning to it. However, the work from home scenario continues to impact DTLA more than other areas, but it's improving. Same is true for the LA Metro.

[@mrxman581]

It was on a huge upswing for years until Covid hit. It's only now returning to it. However, the work from home scenario continues to impact DTLA more than other areas, but it's improving. Same is true for the LA Metro.

[@PlayWaves1]

They need to take more drastic steps to revitalize it.

[@seyi8206]

I feel like Fairfax/Melrose/Beverly Grove are that happy medium that you're looking for. Very, VERY walkable, lots of bars, restaurants, shops around, and that "West Coast" vibe of low-rise living.

[@knightsorder]

So true - and I live in Sydney oz

[@nick-guillory]

VERY true. Lived in that area when I lived in LA and LOVED It.

[@ladyrose3285]

Don't forget your homeless that can come up to you and punch you as you were leaving these places that you say are "coming back to life" the bars, restaurants, shops 😁😁

[@nick-guillory]

@@ladyrose3285 but that happens everywhere……

[@ralphjohnson3202]

​@@nick-guilloryNo it doesn't. It only happens in places where it's allowed to go on .

[@chilicrisprichie]

Thanks for being open and positive about downtown. there is a LOT of work that needs to be done here, but there's also a lot to explore, experience, enjoy, taste, drink, etc. and it's fantastic in terms of walkability (as you mentioned), access to public transit, and living car-free.

[@chilicrisprichie]

And for next time, check out South Park-there's a tiny little park next to Pine & Crane on Grand that's a nice respite. Also the park at FIDM is beautiful and has a good amount of people (not tons, but more than Grand). LA State Historic Park is sprawling and could def use more trees, but it's nice, and it's connected to Chinatown where there's always something cool to see.

[@LABoyko]

DTLA was a complete ghost town 35 years ago. The positive change was facilitated by the conversion of office buildings to residential housing. As the residential population grew, businesses serving those residents revitalized the microeconomy, bringing with it cleaner, safer streets, fun energy.

[@treygarvey]

The positive change was facilitated by the building of Staples Center and later L.A. Live. Once those were completed, everything started to fall in place.

[@DiegoHorchata]

And it is still a ghost town. Homeless everywhere

[@robertjamesonmusic]

@@DiegoHorchata a Ghost Town wouldn’t have people everywhere like you’re suggesting.

[@DiegoHorchata]

@@robertjamesonmusic people, normal people like you and me are flying form it. I live around.

[@mrxman581]

​@@robertjamesonmusicGood one.😂

[@mlabmb]

Why is it so empty? It's not like other major cities downtowns where there's people all over the place.

[@SA-hz1rs]

lol miami is a GHOST TOWN

[@Mac-po1sr]

I would not say it's empty but Downtown L.A is not exactly a commercial zone like most cities downtowns. It's more of a manufacturing, wholesale and shipping hub.

[@mlabmb]

@@Mac-po1sr humm, I get it. It's just so different from what I was expecting for a major city. The downtown looks lifeless and not exciting to go.

[@igamingmp1526]

People working in offices probably

[@SA-hz1rs]

@@mlabmb i just a video on downtown miami Nobody is outside Nobody. It looked scary

[@stevenstanley3157]

Great video, but you kind of missed my favorite part of DTLA which is the Historic Downtown. I love the old buildings, height limit and all, and imagining what this part of LA was like in the 1930s to 1950s/60s when movie palaces and department stores and then elegant hotels made it a busy urban hub where people actually went to shop, for entertainment, etc. (You missed the Bradbury Building, for one.) Still, a great walking tour that didn't require my walking anywhere!

[@inthegreatwide]

I am so, SO glad that you ended the day not hating on downtown. I lived there for the first 5 years I was in LA (going on 13 now) and I LOVED it. It still holds a special place in my heart and it is so widely misunderstood.

[@mrxman581]

Very true, and only misunderstood by those not from LA.

[@MarkPineOpinion]

It looks better than I thought it would look. That was an excellent tour.

[@danlilly1790]

I usually visit LA 1X/year. Arriving on Amtrak at 0600 in the morning, I've learned DTLA is a pretty sleepy place. It feels like it kinda grinds itself to start the day instead of NYC which is just BAM! hit the ground running. They've definitely spent a lot of $$$ improving it over the last 20-30 years, and it shows. To see the vitality of LAUPT (Union Station) is heartening. LOTS of art everywhere which always leaves an impression on visitors. I like it as a neighborhood.

[@knightsorder]

its a different vibe

[@mr.williams7911]

Great video. I haven't been back to Los Angeles for over 20 years. Nice to see the City again.

[@glamdawling]

I used to LOVE hanging with my friends in DTLA before the pandemic going to restaurants, pool bars, the movie theater, etc. I visited briefly after and nothing was the same.

[@mrxman581]

It's slowly coming back to where it was before Covid. Many large cities have experienced the same problems.

[@gninenine]

I grew up in LA (central / west of the 110). I spent a lot of time in DTLA in my early 20’s and have lived in both Philly and Boston and can say that DTLA is not that much different, for better or worse. I think the perception that DTLA is SO bad comes from when people think of LA they think the west side and that gives people the impression that DTLA isn’t like a normal urban area, like it’s somehow going to be better. As for the violent crime, it’s mostly homeless people fighting over territory. That’s not good but people aren’t getting jumped walking home with groceries. Overall I think LA gets a bad rap but I think that is mostly due to tv and movies setting “land of milk and honey” expectations for tourists/ transplants.

[@daves1420]

Lived in downtown for 8 years now. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else in LA. Almost everything I need is a quick walk from my place - groceries, bank, gym, restaurants, shopping. The parks I use often but not for lying around in the grass. Those parks host a lot of fun events like concerts, parties and music festivals throughout the year. Also, I didn't see much from the Historic Core on your video... it's where Grand Central Market is located and where a good part of downtown residents live and hang out. My loft is in a converted historical building from 1912 with restored original architecture and the halls are covered in marble. The gritty urban feel here brings in a certain type of person that makes it feel like you're hanging out with like minded people who have a similar vibe to you. So I'm all about Downtown Los Angeles. Btw, don't think many people living here call it DTLA.

[@jeffreyvalentyn6815]

Spring street is full of awesome historic architecture

[@knightsorder]

You must be in your 20's to enjoy the grit

[@mrxman581]

Well said, and I completely agree. The opening of the three new subterranean stations in June 2023 have made visiting DTLA way more convenient and practical.

[@blacksilverchair3315]

Poor you. 😢

[@Lyndon-cs7ib]

I'm glad it is not crammed with too many people all over the place. That way it can remain cleaner. You have to realize that LA is very spacious in land area over 4 thousand square miles (LA county really Los Angeles all connected) NYC is over 300 hundred square huge difference. Parts of LA can definitely draw the huge crowds or special events

[@MarioTheGoose]

30 years ago, the media did not even call the area as Downtown LA. It was always called Civic Center. It was a horrible place where the sidewalks were boarded up at 6pm and those few people remaining were running for the exits. Now that over 100,000 additional people live here, it is quite livable and in fact one of the fastest growing population centers in SoCal.

[@mrxman581]

Probably the best walkable neighborhood with the best public transit access. It has more metro rail stations and lines than any other neighborhood in LA.

[@Wichamp59]

Dtla might not be as great as downtown SF or downtown SD but it’s definitely the most improved part of LA. I hope it continues to trend in the right direction

[@redpillmale6518]

Great as poop SF?? All your globo cities suck.

[@danielr3661]

Downtown SF is dying

[@guess438]

Only 4k homeless in DTLA now. lol. 😊

[@SA-hz1rs]

@@danielr3661 so is miami

[@danielr3661]

@@SA-hz1rs LMAO, go to brickell and tell me if it is dying, miami is booming

[@dbowe4415]

So I live in DTLA and will say that while the amount of crime is probably accurate, the types of crimes that typically happen are not the worst. It's mostly cars getting broken into, homeless folks fighting each other, or someone stealing from a store. A quick look at Crime Mapping will show the majority of crimes are not as heinous as one may think. But after living in multiple parts of NYC before LA, I can say that I was VERY prepared to live in DTLA and love it down here lol. The walkability in the neighborhood is just excellent compared to much of the city and there are so many really solid restaurants and bars. The nightlife scene is legit as well, definitely not pretentious for the most part. That said, I agree the park scene isn't as robust downtown as many would like.

[@morganhumphrey5587]

Are there many shops and are police around for help and is their nature and restaurants and amenities close by and are there lots of black people like me

[@johnshollenberger2337]

I like to go to Olvera Street, Chinatown and Little Tokyo.. I'm old school. I can take Metro Link from SB Station, then hang out. If I want to, I hop on the Red Line, go to Hollywood, hang out at Hollywood and Highland, come back get a IPA at Union Station then home. Nice video.

[@dtlaking333]

DTLA and LA is one of those places either you're going to love it or hate it. I love living in LA

[@CaptainBaseball]

IT IS GTA 5 LOS SANTOS !! So much memories with this city. I love it. :D

[@anthonymontes7454]

If you want to explore another spot with Downtown/Big city vibes outside of DTLA, I'd highly recommend checking out Koreatown as well! Very energetic and thriving district with tons of good restaurants, food halls, shopping centers, culture, etc.

[@steamymemes7946]

I went to little tokyo at around 11pmish and even tho everything was already closed, there were still a pretty decent amount of people walking around in the village. Can’t wait to go back to LA once Metro finishes their LAX project

[@excalibur2024guy]

What to do in Downtown LA. Take an Expo line train to the 7th and Metro station. Have breakfast at The Pantry (located at 9th and Figueroa), visit The Last Bookstore near 5th and Spring, then take a bus westbound on 5th and get off at Grand Ave to find the Central Library. Then return to 5th and Grand and take a 76 or 78 bus to Alameda and Cesar Chavez and visit Olvera Street. Then cross Alameda and go to Union Station. Get on a Red line train back to the 7th and Metro and take an Expo line train back to Culver City.

[@mrxman581]

You can take Metro to all those places if you want to. Pershing Square Station is only a couple of blocks from the Central Library. Historic Broadway station is a few blocks from the Last Bookstore, etc.

[@excalibur2024guy]

@mrxman581 yes but the Pantry menu changes a bit after 11am.

[@knightsorder]

your good but I live in sydney oz....you travel hints aRE great

[@harveyschwartz6789]

Liked the downtown farmers market area-got a massage there at one of the stalls, the 'schemata' or rags clothing district and the Sunday Smorgasburg on the five-acre Alameda Produce Market site.

[@Purrlow]

Another great video. loving the review of a different area of LA…hope you do more areas

[@MichaelMartello]

thank you!

[@stevenjohnson8736]

since u live in L.A have u thinking about becoming a HOLLYWOOD movie star 😃

[@jazzcatjohn]

You missed Broadway, the most NYC of streets in LA. You were right there, one block from Pershing Square and if you walked out the other side of Grand Central Market you would have been there.

[@billmurray4206]

Downtown LA is my spot. Lived there 2.5 years; its a historical treasure with a lot of character; some of my fav aspects are proximity to Little Tokyo, the Arts District, the Fashion District and Santee Alley and Chinatown; the Last Bookstore and centrality to metro trains going to Pasadena, Long Beach, Venice Beach and Hollywood ❤☀️

[@Teisteafeitader]

Every time I go to L.A. Grand Central Market is a must go Best donuts and also Tacos , as well as Pupusas there and yes ! Feels like being in a market back in Spain Glad to see that DTLA is getting better

[@gumerzambrano]

Please try tacos from the street. Much better than a bougie market

[@ladyrose3285]

@@gumerzambrano And how well do those tacos from the street taste after being handled by someone who has no hot and cold running water and soap before handling the tacos? 🤔🤔

[@Shawn666Hellion]

Ive been to downtown LA many times never had any issues,i always had a good time,definitely like to hit up random places to eat and shop at

[@mrxman581]

Me too.

[@roncenti]

Thank you for not trashing DTLA like so many do. I moved downtown last November (23) just to experience something different (for awhile) and totally fell in love with it. Like any place, once you are used to the confusion and the not so clean spots and the unhoused (who have been totally harmless in all encounters), you discover the beauty. The people are fascinating and so much more friendly than where I lived before in the Burbank area. I can just walk out of my building and have a coffee at 25 different coffee shops within half a mile. My biggest fear was the noise but it took 2 days to get used to it and I sleep like a baby even with Police and Fire sirens all the time and old 1920 windows that do not shield you from noise. The panic I encounter online about DTLA keeps people away and if more people would enjoy this area then it would be maintained better. It is 20 times better than it was 2021. At night though it looks a little different. But I will find out because I want to start going out to bars again and that means walking home at night.

[@MichaelMartello]

Loved the walkability of it! Jealous you can walk everywhere.

[@roncenti]

@@MichaelMartelloDownside is that it is difficult to invite friends. Where do they park? and it costs money.

[@mrxman581]

​@@roncentiHave them take the LA Metro.

[@mrxman581]

DTLA was on a huge upswing until Covid put the brakes on it. Only now is it starting to get back to 2019 vibe. Same thing is happening with the LA Metro.

[@trexinvert]

8:58 Hey, not so fast. Did you go upstairs and see all those little art gallery rooms? This little book store is amazing. Except there are no bathrooms, so you can only sit and read for so long. However, a half block away is the Spring Arcade Building. It's a massive "retail" tunnel that goes right through a big vintage building with cafes and stuff. It spans from Spring St. to Broadways St. Enjoy.

[@christiank8189]

Another great video! I moved to LA from Berlin, Germany and I also sometimes miss the urban vibe of a big city. I hope that the upswing of DTLA continues.

[@eeeveee9176]

moving back to CA in May. after living in texas for 2 years & i cant wait 😁

[@RobertLee-g3w]

Welcome back I moved to Houston Texas in 2013 to 2016 I was there 3 years I moved back to California Houston was too hot, and rain, and flood a lot. But the cost of living was great. But I moved back to Los Angeles, miss the weather and family and friends.

[@eeeveee9176]

@@RobertLee-g3w yes it's cheaper in texas but thats about it. family & friends matter more

[@mrxman581]

Welcome home. A lot of exciting stuff has been happening like new subterranean Metro stations in DTLA, construction of three new museums (Space Shuttle, Lucas, new LACMA), LAX People Mover, and connecting to LA Metro K Line in 2024/2025. And, the first section of the extension of the D line will open in 2025 to LA Cienega.

[@bhuvanordhruv]

@@mrxman581Are there new businesses

[@lawrencexander6187]

@@RobertLee-g3w Houston sucks, it’s so humid, and carbon monoxide from cars in Texas worsens my allergies.

[@rexx9496]

DTLA is the only part of LA that feels like it has a soul. I no longer live in LA moved a decade ago, but I first "discovered" DTLA back around 2009 when it was on the upswing.

[@mrxman581]

And that upswing continued until Covid hit for 3 years and the change of people working from home. But it's been picking up again in the past 6 months. It will take a little longer to fully recover.

[@mikiewifnoe360]

What I notice about videos talking or showing an area is that we usually see more of the head walking around than the area. You have a good mix.

[@lovelyla85]

People definitely go to the parks in LA. I go to Elysian park often and it’s usually very festive

[@user-mrfrog]

Good video! Despite the rough edges, still a lot of nice spots in LA. Salut du Québec !

[@alexanderschwarm7755]

Michael posts and the for a few minutes I feel like I'm listening to a friend share his day 🙉

[@dante340]

Great video! Downtown is far from perfect, but it has definitely improved a LOT since the early pandemic years. Gotta give credit where it's due

[@mrxman581]

Exactly, right.

[@malcorub]

I live in San Diego but just started working for a DTLA company where I neeed to go to office 2 consecutive days per month. I'm excited to explore it a little better.

[@ttopero]

If you break down DTLA as a cluster of neighborhoods to revisit individually, now that you’ve done a “survey” tour, I think you’ll enjoy each area more, especially if meeting & hanging out with people. That’s my experience as a regular visitor from Denver. I still check out the smaller cities along the beach & west LA, but DTLA has a unique vibe for the region, an authentic grit that has a certain polish LOL

[@mrxman581]

Indeed. Little Tokyo, Arts District, Historic core, South Park, Bunker Hill, Chinatown, and LA Live.

[@kevinakakp9120]

My first time visiting DTLA was in November of 2021. It was quite, not a lot of traffic, some nice skyscrapers, big wide streets. Im not surprised it’s not the main destination for most of the regions people since LA has so many districts spread out around the large busy region.

[@mrxman581]

True, but you also visted during Covid. Many people were working from home, too, so much less people in DTLA during that time.

[@DieYuppiieSkum]

I do miss the old DTLA on how the way it used to be in the 1990s and 2000s, while traveling there as a child and a teenager. Though, there was still crime and homelessness rampart.

[@SeaBassTian]

Definitely caused flashbacks of visiting DTLA in 2022. I stayed at Checkers hotel right by Pershing Sq which was still under reno so not much to appreciate back then. I did however eat at Eggslut at GCM, walked up Bunker Hill to the WDCH, I felt like I was on the Upper West Side a bit. I even took the Metro to a concert at the Wiltern and also to Hollywood and LACMA. I was impressed by the urbanism. However, when I wanted to visit CVS a short walk East. I started to feel like I was in Times Square in the 70's, once beautiful old buildings in state of disrepair and plenty of ne'er-do-wells acting up. While I enjoyed my stay, I don't think I'd live there.

[@MichaelMartello]

I feel the same way

[@SeaBassTian]

Not to mention that nice new buildings that they're putting up are ridiculously expensive. The Figueroa Eight looks gorge but I don't wanna pay $3200 for a 1 bedroom. Great video, BTW!

[@danlilly1790]

Is Checkers the hotel with the small but spectacular rooftop view and hot tub? Has an elephant motif?

[@mrxman581]

All of DTLA was on a huge upswing for years until Covid hit. It's still recovering from its effects and improving.

[@mrxman581]

​@@SeaBassTianAgreed. I actually looked into buying a unit in a beautiful old office building that had been converted to condos. The price wasn't too bad, but the HOA fees were crazy at around $800-$1,000 a month.

[@flubadubdubthegreat1272]

Thanks for making this video, I'm visiting la for the first time to see some friends and now know a bit more about where I'll be staying lol

[@greggould4275]

I co-founded a gallery on Spring (Between 7th & 8th back in 2005, and it is still going strong. I lived above it for many years. Things were really going places up until about 2008, then it was a slow decline, but, during Covid and the current state of things are really dicey. I moved away, but, I hear plenty from friends who still live there. The openings still sell and bring crowds alright, but, wow, its an adventure going down there now. Oh, and I'd highly suggest 'The Edison' - a great bar - it is in the Higgins Building - the first building in LA. to have electricity, and the Edison is in the basement where you can still see the Edison coal generators. Many years ago, they'd open up during Artwalk, and you could get 1913 stile martinis at 1913 prices (it was about 1 dime, though of course, the class was much smaller in those days!)

[@scottg.g.haller3291]

If you like wandering around bookstores, you should venture into the Central Library! It's a wondrously restored old building with more recent wings, and besides lots of books there are galleries and displays for some edutainment.

[@mrxman581]

Yes! It's an amazing historic building and resource with a wonderful underground atrium.

[@TheAnabevilaqua]

I lived in OC and now I live in DTLA and I will not charge for nothing. It is the best!

[@mrxman581]

Very cool. Best walkable neighborhood in all of LA.

[@no_soy_rubio]

Was there 18 months ago and it was a pure Tent City. Back next week so looking forward to seeing how much it's changed. I think the stats for DTLA are skewed by Skid Row. Strange how nobody goes to the park in LA, I was just at Dolores Park in San Francisco and it was full of people

[@gumerzambrano]

We go to parks just not in DT. Most people go to their nearest park or big ones like Griffith

[@geographyjawade6655]

Last visited downtown LA back in 2017, wanna visit again soon

[@janethernandez724]

Wow! Okay, Congratulations on your 177,000 steps! Okay now, at marker 7:47 "What I mean when I say that no one really goes to the parks in LA" while you were walking through Grand Park, I am guessing you were at Grand Park on a Saturday or Sunday; I went to jury duty at the Stanly Mosk Courthouse not far from the park, closest to the big fountain and that park was busy with many people when I was there, I stood in line at a coffee shop for a lunch/snack people taking part in exercising in the lawn area, and one of those days I was there, they had food trucks lined up and people were lining up to purchase their meal or snack, keep in mind my jury duty was during the weekdays and there are other government buildings surrounding Grand Park, which means a lot of the people I saw during jury duty were government employees as well as those like me who had to take care of business in DTLA Monday through Friday. It would be nice if people showed up to Grand Park on the weekends, unless there is some type of special event going on. We love the Grand Central Market and Little Tokyo too! I agree, Matcha beverages taste good in DTLA! When you have the chance, may I suggest that you check out the top observation deck at City Hall, it's free to see a 360 view of Los Angeles on a clear day or partly cloudy/sunny day! It takes more than one elevator to get to the top! I enjoyed this video and looking forward to more! Peace. ☮🤗

[@MichaelMartello]

That’s good to know! Food trucks are a great way to attract people to a park lol. I do wish it had more of a weekend vibe as well.

[@mrxman581]

​@MichaelMartello It's not busy on weekends (unless there is a planned event) because there aren't residential buildings close by.

[@gumerzambrano]

@@MichaelMartello as someone that has lots of food trucks as nearby I wouldn't go all the way to DT for a food truck but that's just me

[@treygarvey]

Stop by Macarthur Park if you want to visit a park that Angelenos actually visit.

[@eu9910]

Pershing Square has always reminded me of Union Square in SF. It has a ton of untapped potential but it’s so bland at the moment.

[@mrxman581]

About half the park is under construction right now.

[@nik257]

Thanks for the share! I loved hearing your opinions!

[@markuserikssen]

Interesting video! It's kind of weird to see that the heart of such a giant city is not really the heart where people go to, except for a few spots maybe. It feels so... empty? But I'm impressed by what I've seen. It looks very neat.

[@mrxman581]

The area is still recovering from the effects of Covid and the ongoing work from home scenario. It was on a huge upswing until Covid hit. It's slowly picking up where it left off in 2019. That goes for LA Metro, too.

[@gumerzambrano]

As a local I rarely go to DT. Only place I like going to is Little Tokyo. Other than that there's not much to do. Truly different than basically every other city when it comes to their DT DT San Diego is much better

[@cami_ille]

Honestly, LA area is so big that there's not a reason to go to DTLA when there's a lot of different "downtowns" in LA area/SoCal depending on the neighborhood. The only reason I've gone in that area personally was for the convention center and even that was a hassle when there's more convenient convention centers in like Anaheim and Long Beach.

[@Chris.Davies]

So nice to see the better side of LA, after being bombarded by doom & gloom videos. FYI, in Korea, just about every pedestrian overpass is: A) Completely covered B) Walled in glass C) Has glass elevators at each end, and... D) Stairs for able-bodied people And there are a lot of them. Often you don't need an overpass however, because you can enter the subway cross the to exit on the other side, and take the escalator up to ground level. Or, instead of a subway station, there's an underground shopping center under the road, which allows you to do the same thing, using escalators.

[@Fatmouse25]

Little Tokyo is definitely the gem. Support the small business there, its keeping life afloat in dtla. Theres also chinatown but is more of a daytime thing, within chinatown theres a thai night market.

[@Supremmo]

From my experience if you know where you're going and walking someone, no one will bother you. I remember there was a woman who was a Scientologist who was trying to get me to go inside their building and I just walked quickly from her.

[@trencher]

Great video, Michael!

[@MichaelMartello]

Thank you Philip!

[@knightsorder]

bookstore was 10/10@@MichaelMartello

[@chicuelo7239]

Hi Mike, I love your videos as always. Could you give us the exactly spot you visited at the end of the video I am in love with that view from Downtown and I would like visit it in my next trip to LA

[@IsaacTrumbo]

You should check out LA Historic Park in Chinatown.

[@mrxman581]

He wasn't that far. He could have hopped on the A line at the Little Tokyo station to the Chinatown station and walked half a mile, and he would have been there.

[@s0tojr]

Great vid man 👍 Hope you enjoyed the recommendations and view spot

[@MichaelMartello]

I definitely did!!

[@trexinvert]

You missed a few spots that "might" change your whole perception: 1.) The "rest" of the arts district. It looks like you only "touched" upon the north west section of the arts district. You missed the rest of it. On the east side(next river and train tracks) is the ultra gentrified Santa Fe and Mateo St. Between 4th and 6th Street Bridge. I personally hate that area, because there is no free parking around. I prefer a bit more south to the 10 frwy, where that cool coffee shop, Etiquette is located and plenty free parking, but some homeless. 2.) Also, south west arts district is Row DTLA. Need I say more. Again, super gentrified but with massive fortresses of 5 to 10 story converted warehouse and titanic old factory bldgs. 3.) Then on the northern triangular tip of the DTLA along Alameda/Spring and Main St. past Union Station have Chinatown and the LA historic Park area. There are a few cool microbrews(Highland Park Brew, Homage Brew, Angeleno Wine, Apotheke mixology). 4.) Then with a less than 1/4 mile walk over the Main St bridge its my favorite area. The San Antonio Winery and the Brewery Arts lofts(don't miss the little cafe Barbara's Brew inside there). Well, I guess you've only just begun to explore DTLA. I also forgot to mention the Union Station and Olvera St are, a bit touristy bit there is the old LA vintage feel. Plan your route and use the gold line to get around.

[@ny2phillyholloway592]

Not the district 12 vibes! Absolutely loved the walking tour of DTLA. Wish the city parks were used and appreciated more as they are a vital part of city life. Great video Michael!🍎💚

[@MichaelMartello]

🤣thank you!

[@mrxman581]

Agreed, but many events are scheduled at Grand Park. This was probably filmed on a weekend. During the week you see more people having their lunch and walking around. There aren't as many residential buildings around this park. A lot of office building and entertainment venues.

[@deucefly1062]

Pershing Square used to be a green park but it was changed to a concrete park in the early 90's to make it less desirable for the homeless.

[@mrxman581]

Not true. It changed, most dramatically, when they added the 5 story underground parking in the 1950s. The on and off ramps for the parking access now takes up about 1/3 of the parks footprint. The current renovation will reduce that to recover some of the park space.

[@deucefly1062]

@@mrxman581 Yes true. I lived in L.A. 30 years ago and I vividly remember going to Pershing Square days after it re-opened as a concrete park. Sure, the underground parking was placed in the 50's but the street level park as you see it today was constructed in the 90's.

[@mystikrebel1089]

regardless the crime stats but that guy playing the trumpet sums up the creative vibe of LA I feel watching the video . Being from a Hindu background I also checked on the hindu temples around in LA which are totally beautiful also. Overall LA and the rest of CA is the place I will visit soon..

[@pandakeeper]

I wouldn’t want to live there but I spent two Christmas Eves there hanging out with friends and walking all over. Way back in the day, like 2010s I used to go to clubs, festivals and galleries there. I spent NYE there going into 2020. It gets so hot and humid in the summers and it’s still dirty.

[@kokygonzalez]

I live and work in downtown, wouldn’t live anywhere else.

[@TimothyHalleran]

I love your authentic journalism. The media has portrayed cali in a bad light but in your videos dtla looks very pleasant lol!

[@schonkable]

You make DTLA look like a beautiful place. I watched another video that took place entirely on Broadway and it made DTLA look depressing.

[@mrxman581]

There are a lot of great places on Broadway. Yes, it was effected by Covid and working from home, but it's on the upswing again as it was before Covid. Grand Central Market and the Last Bookstore are on Broadway. You also have all the beautiful restored movie theaters on Broadway. Many of them have special events, show movies, and concerts. The Tower theater was restored by Apple and converted into their flagship store for the LA area. The opening of the new metro station on Broadway last year has made a positive effect by bringing more people to the historic Broadway district.

[@Lucretciela]

People in LA don't go downtown for the park, we go to Griffith Park, there you will see people laying in the sun, picnics, hiking, running, etc... We also have the beach.

[@matty6878]

lots of development needs to be had (please, fix traffic congestion and make it just more walk-able in general) but that just means this big city has much to look forward to.

[@josephmendoza4884]

I think the biggest flaw of DTLA is that it’s very car-centric. Unlike NYC or Chicago or even San Francisco and San Diego, DTLA is designed without people in mind DTLA has giant gaping streets with 4-5 lanes with very slim sidewalks. As a pedestrian you can’t help but feel unwelcome in DTLA there are even spots where you weirdly feel like you shouldn’t be there because cars dominate the scene and crosswalks take forever. Through my time living near DTLA there was nothing to do other than eating at restaurants or drinking at bars all the while other cities pedestrians enjoy parks, public lounge areas and other amenities.

[@icecactus11]

Finally a normal down to Earth video

[@cjstanley1]

Pershing Square is getting a makeover, which will change that area's vibe.

[@michelleharrell8452]

No tents of homeless people. Wow. I am surprised. No closed stores or boarded up buildings with lease signs. Next time I see that channel's person I am going to ask him to come down here film this area. Cause this a much cleaner LA. Most of CA cities seem to be for sale or for lease. This isuch a switch. Thankyou for the truth.

[@BayBrimsta]

Newsom's efforts are actually paying off. LA looks great homeless is down and plenty of new shops and restaurants.

[@keirenle]

You are very brave. If I go to a city where locals do not hang out, I know I should not as well.

[@SaskiaTheBoss]

DT LA is like Timesquare NY, state inhabitants usually avoid it & leave it as tourists attraction

[@charlesdowthomson]

Your not bad looking but came here to see the city and listen to your insights...

[@tonyktown]

Happy medium? Lol, just asked those of us who live in places like mid-City, Silverlake, Los Feliz, Echo Park, K-Town, Virgil Village, Westlake, Hancock Park, East L.A..etc about that "happy medium". Any of us will tell you it's a little bit of heaven in itself with our little surburban like hideaways.. I live 2.3 miles just west of DTLA. I love the energy of DTLA, I go often and I NEVER drive to downtown, I walk the mile from my home to the red line train, at 1.75 it's a bargain. Once downtown I can walk to all the place you mentioned and then some and not have to worry about parking issues. Check out some of the areas I mentioned, especially Los Feliz/Silverlake/Echo Park. It might make you retink the idea of living near downtown. Cheers!

[@SouthParkMack]

How does someone do a piece on DTLA without visiting L.A. Live and South Park?🤷🏽‍♂️

[@carlosmariscal17]

FINALY! you made my day, thank you. hugs and kisses 😉

[@BliBlaBlu0815]

Great video. What parking options do you recommend near Pershing Square or in the Arts District?

[@ranjon9104]

Loving the new content

[@michaelmacleod6517]

Your vids are making me want to move back. Not that I don't want to already.

[@hello-lb3vf]

Driving to DTLA: 🤮 Taking the Metro or cycling to DTLA: ✅

[@mrxman581]

You can take your bike on the LA Metro. There are also bike lockers outside of some Metro stations where you can safely store your bike. So take the Metro and bike.

[@mrxman581]

A truer depiction of DTLA today. Good job. BTW, you should have taken the LA Metro. There are stops within easy walking distance of all the places you visited. Check out the LA Live area, Olvera Street, Chinatown, and Exposition Park on your next trip and use the LA Metro this time.

[@georgemcdowell8302]

Good content! I remember a different DTLA during the '50's & '60's when City Hall was the tallest building with an observation deck & Pershing Square was a safe place to walk. The Biltmore Hotel is a landmark across the street which was where Presidents stayed. There was a slight deterioration until after The Staples Center & L.A. Live opened with subsequent high rise apt. developments. Driving into DTLA isn't as bad as finding an affordable parking spot. Catching public transportation is encouraged but not many will use it on account of safety concerns. There were once trolleys, electric, & diesel powered buses taking riders to the heart of DTLA at 7th & Broadway. The DASH bus runs throughout DTLA & I believe the fare is still 25 or 50 cents. I would use DASH whenever I was on jury duty to go to lunch at historic Clifton's Cafeteria on Broadway at 7th. L.A. was developed for the automobile as the city grew & public transportation was left as a last resort which is sad. Nobody walks in L.A.

[@mrxman581]

Not really true for the most part. DTLA had been going through a huge upswing for years until Covid hit. It's still suffering from its effect, but it's improving. I've started seeing active construction cranes again. LA Metro is also going through a similar recovery.

[@chryXantho]

If you are in the City area of an Australian city like Sydney, there are a lot more people around than compartively to LA, which surprised me. I wonder where everyone is? Are they at home? In office buildings? it just seems eerily quiet in that park too! I hope you find some areas that fill that lonely feeling - I know what it's like.

[@ronniebishop2496]

My friends lived in Raseda so I went to sunset and then highland grounds in Hollywood. But my best time was Beverly Hills, at a jam session. All kinds of people. The guy at the door knew what he was doing, he heard my accent and knew right away what to do. However a guy from Syria at the door had set me way back away from the stage and I heard the other guy ask him why and didn’t hear his answer, just who in the hell are they??? Get them up and put him, pointing to me over by the stage. lol. It’s the accent I’m telling you. lol 😅 20 minutes later a beautiful lady was seated next to me. Was it by design? It should have been. 😅

[@gridley]

Lots of odd contradictions about DTLA. In some ways it's better now than in the past. Apartments or condos that didn't exist over 10-30 years ago---better-income housing in urban cores has been added to lots of US cities. But in other ways, DTLA was better decades ago. Foot traffic on some of its sidewalks in the 1930s-40s was the heaviest on the West Coast. Then during the next 30-40 years DT got slammed by suburbanization. Just the opposite for San Francisco. SF for the past 60 years has done quite well. But it's now experiencing the same things DTLA has gone through previously---eg, crime-blight, major stores closing, companies leaving, vacant space.

[@d-lo811]

Downtown LA is laaaaaaame as fuck. It has so much potential but unfortunately it's just not there.

[@RickySterling]

I’m a giant rough looking man. I’ve been followed multiple times in Pershing Square. I wouldn’t recommend living downtown to anyone at this point.

[@mrxman581]

Pershing Square is currently under extensive renovation. And more people live in DTLA than ever in the last 100 years.

[@LazloSon]

Should be in L.A. soon and looking forward to exploring more of the city than last time. Let’s hang out! Going to a comedy show at the El Portal theater and much more.

[@6cody5]

I remember just sitting in the break room of a building there eating my lunch and watching a guy out the window OD on something, act violently and start screaming and pacing, fall to the ground and start crawling, then get the ambulance called on by the purple shirt public safety people. Kinda interesting just watching people that exist in that city.

[@rwall3450]

I saw a very similar situation in Downtown Baltimore several years ago when I was sitting at a bar across the street from Camden Yards…..

[@JasonLA]

Love the video. Are you able to share where the sunset location is?

[@knightsorder]

You forgot alot of local people - use a bike to get around as well...

[@bamkablam]

I don’t go downtown as much as I would if it was safer. There are isolated pockets of really great attraction down there but the overall vibe is very discordant and unpleasant. I love little Tokyo and I like some of the offerings in the arts district, and the wholesale districts are very useful. That said, I do not go to downtown Los Angeles to meander. I go with the purpose, usually in my car, accomplish that purpose, and then depart for nicer locations in the city.

[@Kevine7001]

Last time I was there was there was early 2023 it was still kinda bad ..

[@mrxman581]

It's gotten better over the last 6 months and continues to improve.

[@Chilakilos]

La Cita Bar 🔥🔥🔥

[@GoogleUser-es5td]

What about the tarpits and the museums?