Where to Eat In Downtown L.A.

When the surroundings are as dazzling as the Disney Concert Hall, the restaurant within has to make a statement. Enter Asterid, from Angeleno native Ray Garcia. After closing his Alta California-focused Broken Spanish during the pandemic, Garcia’s latest celebrates the diversity of Los Angeles cuisine in dishes like sunchoke rosti with sunflower creme fraiche, yellowtail with melon and cucumber, and lamb shank with charred eggplant puree. It’s a vibrant space both inside and out, sitting along the grandeur of Grand Avenue next to The Broad, Moca, and the new Frank Gehry-designed Conrad Hotel.

Chef Junya Yamasaki opened his pristine Arts District restaurant as an evolution of the seafood truck he ran during the pandemic, and soon thereafter, the accolades started rolling in, and with good reason. The quiet hum and serene aesthetic of Yess, combined with the kitchen’s precise, progressive Japanese cuisine, amount to a transportive dining experience. Yamasaki is meticulous about sourcing top-notch local and seasonal ingredients, from mackerel caught in the Santa Monica Bay to porcini mushrooms he forages himself, and his dedication makes Yess feel uniquely representative of the food ecosystem of greater Los Angeles.

This modern bistro tucked into a corner of the bustling Arts District features subtle twists on traditional and familiar French classics. Chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George met while working at Alain Ducasse’s Blue in Bangkok, and they combine their fine-dining chops with a playful attitude evident in dishes like moules frites, with the mussels carefully deshelled before it hits the table, or the highly snackable gunpowder baby shrimp. With refined service and an airy vibe, consider Camphor for your next date night.

Just steps from perpetual hot spots Damian and Bestia, Kodō brings a minimalist vibe to this ultra-hip pocket of the Arts District. But don’t let the sleek and serene decor fool you: Kodō is full of energy, thanks to chef Yoya Takahashi (Hamasaku). Part izakaya, part cafe and sake bar, you’ll find everything from drinking snacks like charcoal-grilled skewers to beautifully prepared sashimi and sushi, seaweed salads, and somen with sea bream. Plenty of cocktails, natural wines, beer, and sake abound. This will be the house restaurant for the eight-room Kensho Rykn hotel when it opens later this year.

“Top Chef” star Stephanie Izard opened a West Coast outpost of her wildly successful Chicago restaurant in the heart of the Arts District, where she blends boldly flavored dishes with seasonal L.A. ingredients. With huge arched windows, blonde woods, white furniture, and enough plants for a community garden, G&G perfectly captures that Southern California vibe. On the menu, things like goat tartare; grilled corn with spiced caramel, cotija, and tajin; chili-crunch chicken thighs with pickled kumquat and sweet potato noodles; and sweet-and-sour beignets. There’s an entire vegan menu, too.

Seeing the L.A. skyline from 71 floors above is indeed one of the sexiest things about this stunning restaurant atop the U.S. Bank Tower building. The tallest restaurant in Los Angeles, it’s a stunner, and the perfect place to watch the glow of the sunset play off the brass sculptures inside. The curved room offers a perch for every mood: lingering dinners for two, post-work drinks with friends, and nightcaps before the evening ends. Executive chef Javier Lopez offers a tasting menu, and you can sip a cocktail named for the L.A. neighborhood you love (or are admiring from above).

Enrique Olvera’s first Los Angeles restaurant has everything we’ve come to expect from the Mexico City chef: gorgeous food that’s as much about Los Angeles as Mexican tradition; a space that’s sultry and colorful, with a gorgeous outdoor space filled with murals and plants as thick as a rainforest; cocktails made with small-batch Tequila and mezcal you won’t find everywhere else. Look for dishes like Baja clams with salsa macha, a vegetarian pipián verde with mushrooms, and an elote tamal topped with toasted ants. Dessert is not to be missed.

Imagine you’re on a beautiful island, sipping a daiquiri and nibbling on ceviche and empanadas. When you open your eyes and realize you’re in a former banana warehouse in DTLA, simply take another sip and lean in. Part of the Market South complex (shared with Rossoblu), Dama is colorful, chic, and almost entirely outdoors, making it a perfect spot for balmy summer nights — or any time you want to feel swept away.

ERB has everything: One of the best patios in the Arts District, if not all of Downtown Los Angeles; a Matt Molina-designed menu of excellent burgers and fries, flaky biscuits, taquitos, and more; cocktails that change regularly but are never less than exceptional; and a wine list curated by owners of Silver Lake Wine (partners in the venture). Whether sitting under the neon “My that’s better” sign at the bar or under the canopy out back, it always feels like a party here.

David Chang’s Chinatown-adjacent spot sprawls across a massive indoor and outdoor space, with a cool, slick atmosphere fitting of the New York import. The flavors span from Korea to Italy to Southern California. Delicious small and large plates change regularly, with the exception of mandatory essentials like bing with cultured butter and caviar, crispy rice with shrimp, and the smoked bo ssam or boneless chuck short rib that feeds a group.

This former Arts District warehouse is now a vortex of motorcycle culture, tattoos, coffee, food, cocktails, and beer. An import from London, the menu for the 325-seat restaurant and cafe features everything from a full English breakfast to fried chicken and waffles, kale salads to pulled pork sandwiches, pasta, steaks, and more. Welcoming to all, there’s even a retail shop for all your (new or existing) moto needs.

After hooking diners at places like Melody, Little Prince, and Employees Only, this once-roving pizza pop-up, known for its rectangular focaccia-style pies, has found a permanent home in a colorful, greenery-filled Arts District spot. In addition to cheesy square pizzas with seasonally changing toppings, there are raw-bar dishes like oysters and crudo, whipped eggplant dip, and salads. Cocktails, non-alcoholic sips, and natural wines add to the fun.