The Downtown Los Angeles Shopping Guide

The Bloc is a spectacular open-air destination located in the bustling 7th Street Corridor that links the Financial, Fashion, Jewelry and Theater districts of Downtown LA. Completed in 2016, the $160-million transformation of an indoor plaza brought forth the 496-room Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, a redesigned Macy’s, and a luxury office tower.

Conveniently located across from the 7th Street Metro Station, The Bloc features thoughtfully curated local boutiques, artisans, premier retailers and eateries, and seasonal events like SPARKLE DTLA. The Bloc also boasts Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, featuring the latest blockbusters, cult classics, and cocktails and bites served seat-side.

Described by Vogue as a "game changer," the 15,000 square-foot Dover Street Market is an industrial-chic, multi-brand boutique featuring designer collections from Gucci, Balenciaga, Raf Simons, Sacai, and numerous Comme des Garçons brands.

Boston's streetwear cult favorite, Bodega opened its LA outpost at ROW DTLA in 2018. Spanning 8,000 square feet, the "sneaker speakeasy" is hidden behind an unmarked, half-closed warehouse door. Along with Bodega's latest collabs and limited edition collections, the first floor features new and throwback kicks from global brands like adidas, Nike and New Balance; and a pop-up shop that recently showcased Vault by Vans. Up past the mezzanine lounge, the top floor hosts streetwear and luxury brands for men.

While shopping at Bodega, be sure to stop by Pizzeria Bianco for some of the best wood-fired pizzas in LA.

Located at Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo, Japangeles was founded by LA native Roy Kuroyanagi in 2010. Featuring mashups of LA lifestyle and Japanese culture, the shop's bestselling katakana designs include Coach jackets, hoodies and T-shirts. Recent collabs include the LA Clippers and Lexus.

The Last Bookstore has something for every reader's tastes. This large, multi-level temple to the written word includes new and vintage tomes, a section dedicated to comic books, and so much more. There's even a music section, in case you need a soundtrack for your reading time or just want to find something on vinyl. Head upstairs for photo ops in the artfully maintained Labyrinth Above the Last Bookstore. In addition to the ample and eclectic stock, The Last Bookstore frequently hosts events, so visiting bookworms will want to keep tabs on the store's calendar for signings and talks that coincide with your trip.

Located across from Union Station, Olvera Street is an old school, Mexican themed shopping and dining center. It was built in 1930 and conceived to look like an imagined Los Angeles of its small town past. Olvera Street was designed for tourists and is still one of L.A.'s most popular destinations, but it's also a local treasure. Vendors sell everything from candy to gorgeous leather bags. There's a lot of history inside Olvera Street, as some of the shops are family-run businesses with stories that go back several generations. Olvera Street isn't just for shopping - the food options range from sit-down dining to more casual spots and include local favorites like the taquito stand, Cielito Lindo. Olvera Street also hosts Day of the Dead and Virgen de Guadalupe celebrations, as well as the holiday favorite, the Blessing of the Animals.

Spanning 100 blocks, the L.A. Fashion District is filled with surprises and fun to explore. If you want a taste of what the area has to offer - one that you could handle in an afternoon instead of days - then head to The Santee Alley. This marketplace fills two blocks with over 150 shops, but it's easily accessible with stores geared more towards average shoppers than those in the fashion business. You'll find small spaces filled with low-priced, on-trend goods for women and men, adults and kids. The clothing and accessories that line window displays and spill out onto the sidewalk are eye-catching, but you'll want to do some digging as you never know what you'll find. The Santee Alley is located between Santee Street and Maple Avenue, from Olympic Boulevard to 12th Street.

From the car, the Jewelry District looks much like the rest of Downtown L.A. with its collection of big buildings. Venture inside the California Jewelry Mart, Western Jewelry Mart or St. Vincent Jewelry Center and the bling will hit the corners of your eyes. There's a lot to see - you could spend hours checking out the stones and baubles inside St. Vincent Jewelry Center alone. If you're hungry, stop by St. Vincent Court, an alley behind the building that looks like a quaint village street filled with cafes.

Located at Far East Plaza in Chinatown, Now Serving is the brainchild of Ken Concepcion, former chef de cuisine at Wolfgang Puck's CUT; and his wife, Michelle Mungcal. The bookstore carries a mix of new and used cookbooks, with about one-third of the inventory devoted to previously owned or out of print books. The cookbooks are organized in sections - the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Mediterranean, central and northern Europe, pastries and baking, beverages, and general food writing and references. In addition to books, Now Serving offers gourmet kitchen tools like Japanese knives, new and vintage cast iron pans, and chef apparel. Now Serving also hosts frequent author events and book signings.

Weird Beers is the place to go when you're stocking up on brews and snacks for your temporary digs in Downtown L.A. This small 7th Street shop is really easy to miss, so keep your eyes on the lookout for it. The selection goes beyond its name. You'll definitely find some "weird" beers, maybe even some nerdy ones like Ommegang's Game of Thrones line, but you'll also find strange meads, fun snacks and more fuel for your room party.