Where to Eat Before an Event in Downtown L.A.

Located in L.A.’s Fashion District (and relatively close to theaters and arenas), Dama’s lush, tropical vibes will make you feel like you’re on an island vacation. Luckily, the food is equally as transportive: from “Top Chef” alum Antonia Lofaso, the Latin and Caribbean-inspired menu is loaded with everything from seafood tostadas to croquettes and paella. But if you’re in a rush, stick with the small plates menu, which is expansive enough to build a full meal around. 

The Downtown sibling to the Silver Lake original, Pine & Crane specializes in casual Taiwanese fare — everything from pan-fried pork buns to dan dan noodles. The light-strewn indoor-outdoor space is great for large groups (note: they only accept reservations for parties 12 and up) but fitting for a small gathering as well. And the best part is that it’s an easy walking distance to Crypto.com arena and L.A. Live.

Badmaash has been serving up Instagram-worthy Indian fare with a Canadian POV since it opened in 2013. A mix of traditional Punjabi dishes and non-traditional mashups like the now-iconic chicken tikka poutine and chili cheese naan, it’s a solid choice for lunch or dinner (and is open late enough for post-event munchies as well). The small, lofty space is perfect for a quick meal before a show, and is also walking distance from museums like the Geffen, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Broad.

Blink and you’d almost miss this natural wine bar, shop, and restaurant, located inside Cognoscenti Coffee at the Level Building. Here, you’ll find some of the most expertly curated organic wine selections in town, which pair up nicely with daily changing dishes like fire-roasted piquillo peppers, a rotating selection of tinned fish, and standbys like pizza and pasta, for good measure.

Ray Garcia, the chef behind critically-acclaimed hits like Broken Spanish and B.S. Taqueria, opened this modernist-looking restaurant in the Walt Disney Concert Hall with a seasonally evolving, globally-influenced menu in 2022. There are tasting menu options for those with more time on their hands, but à la carte may be up your alley if you’re catching a show within the hall or nearby. Choose from items like a springy asparagus risotto or the heftier vadouvan-spiced lamb shank with chickpeas and snap peas, and do save time for the yuzu entremet for dessert.

This crowd-pleasing restaurant, pâtisserie, and gourmet market specializes in everything from Italian food to French pastry, and it’s the ideal spot to bring together a diverse set of tastes right before a big show. Where else can you order a club sandwich, cacio e pepe pasta, braised short ribs, and a box of French macarons? Complement any dish with a wine list stacked with French and Italian selections, naturally.

What began as a pandemic pop-up promptly rooted itself within this sprawling indoor-outdoor space in the Arts District in 2021, serving up puffy square-edged pizzas and plenty of wine to go along with it. From Tuesday to Thursday, you can snag the Nonna Pack deal, which features two pizzas, a Caesar salad, and a bottle of wine for $75. Pro tip: Stop by after your event and dance it out at their attached Italo-disco themed cocktail bar and club, The Let’s Go! Disco, just next door.

This Arts District classic is known for its natural wine list and a killer burger, but it’s also a prime late-night destination, thanks to a large back patio and extended weekend hours. Everything from IPAs to frozen palomas to micheladas are on offer, plus a Tuesday-Sunday happy hour from 4-6 p.m., making this a no-brainer anytime you’re downtown before a big event.

Treat this vibey downtown spot as your new Arts District living room: the 4,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor space is big enough for your whole crew, but also perfect for a leisurely afternoon sipping wine and eating oysters with two or three friends as well. The menu changes seasonally, but features classics like a burger and fries, French onion short rib, escargots, and a country pâté. The destination-worthy wine list features 80 rotating bottles, largely biodynamic, as well as many wines by the glass.

The cornerstone of any reasonable L.A. diet is tacos, and this place serves up some of the city’s best. Two service industry vets opened Sonoratown in 2016, as a tribute to the small border town where co-owner Teo Diaz-Rodriguez grew up, and to commemorate the history of nearby Chinatown, which was home to early immigrants from the Sonora region during the Gold Rush. Known for its take on northern Mexican specialties like carne asada, you don’t want to miss anything served on one of their legendary flour tortillas, including braised beef head, spicy chorizo, and tripe.  

No reservations; more info here.