The Guide to Mid-City Los Angeles
Chris Burden - "Urban Light" (2008) at LACMA | Photo: Discover Los Angeles
Photo: The Grove
Break Room 86 | Photo: Houston Hospitality
From the bucket-list museums of the Miracle Mile to bustling Koreatown and the historic Original Farmers Market, the Mid-City neighborhoods offer so much to visitors in a relatively compact area. As the name suggests, this area is ideally located for exploring further afield in Los Angeles, with neighbors including Beverly Hills, Century City and Hollywood.
But here we’ll focus on an itinerary specifically for Mid City, where you can take in countless cultural treasures, dining delights, retail destinations, and historic concert venues and nightspots. In neighborhoods considered highly diverse even by LA’s famously cosmopolitan standards, your visit will take your head and heart much further afield than geography suggests, from Indonesian shopping to Ethiopian cuisine; local farm produce to French-inspired baking; and international car culture to 6,000 years of global art.
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The diverse cuisines of Mid-City will take you on a global culinary journey from sunrise till the wee hours.
This unique K-town café is a converted house that's reminiscent of a bright European cottage with antique furniture and a vintage tea cup collection.
An LA classic, Du-par's has been serving their legendary Buttermilk Hotcakes at The Original Farmers Market since 1938. The pies are nearly as famous and are baked fresh daily.
Multiple varieties of freshly baked bagels with double-whipped cream cheese shmear are the thing here, with toppings like spinach Florentine, country sausage, and cheesy hash brown.
This grab and go deli has your morning eats covered with hearty, flavor-drenched East Coast breakfast sandwiches and heavenly hash browns.
Come for the famous Huevos con Chorizo Breakfast and you’ll likely return for equally delish pizza, sandwiches, salads and more.
Specializing in breakfast and lunch, Honey Bee’s is a compact, bustling eatery crafting American and Salvadorean comfort cuisine: pancakes, pupusas, waffles, French toast and more.
Fuel up at this hip neighborhood café specializing in authentic Belgian waffles and La Colombe coffees – founded by a couple who really did meet at a bar!
Honoring LA’s diversity and the international background of its family owners, the all-day menus include made-to-order coffee and pastries from the city’s best bakers.
Queue up for James Beard Award winner Margarita Manzke's pastries in the morning; then dine on husband Walter's French-inspired cuisine in the evening.
The Anaya brothers’ combined 60 years of experience are evident in some of the freshest, tastiest and most authentic Mexican food anywhere – and all at amazingly affordable prices.
This K-town stalwart offers several Lunch Boxes, including marinated short rib, beef brisket, spicy pork, or dark chicken meat with salad and assorted house specials.
This long-running, family-owned pupuseria serves traditional Salvadorean dishes from soft and fluffy pupusas and yuca frita to sopa de res and carne asada in an unpretentious setting.
Located at the El Rey Theatre, El Cartel offers authentic Mexican dishes including a renowned range of tacos, presented and served with rare pride.
As its name implies, Gus’s specialty is raved-about Southern spicy fried chicken (not to be confused with Nashville hot chicken), hand-battered and made to order, in a rustic dining room.
Hit up the weekday lunch buffet (champagne brunch on weekends!) at this Miracle Mile staple serving ample portions of Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern fare.
One of 15 Ethiopian eateries, boutiques and thrift stores on a one-block eponymous strip, Little Ethiopia Restaurant offers authentic communal dining where utensils are strictly optional.
Southern comfort food elevated with a modern, healthful flourish, My 2 Cents is the creation of James Beard-nominated chef Alisa Reynolds and her pastry chef sister, Theresa Fountain.
Inspired by the iconic Meyers Manx dune buggy and '60s SoCal beach culture, the café serves all-day brunch and "Mindful" Meyers Bowls to guests with or without Petersen Museum admission.
As the late, great Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold put it, “Tacos like mom used to make, unless mom happened to be Mexican. Soulful as hell.”
Serving tacos in the traditional Sonoran style, cooked over mesquite wood, this local chain is named for a small 19th century community of Mexican immigrants in Downtown LA.
Cozy Japanese-fusion gem distinguished by extensive menu, easy-going service, and charmingly casual ambience (including outdoor seating). Generous portions of both food and personality!
James Beard Award-winning chef Kevin Bludso serves up massive platters of smoked meat in a casual setting with communal picnic tables and flatscreens tuned to all the games.
Open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, Canter’s has served classic deli fare to Angelenos for more than 90 years. The adjacent Kibitz Room is legendary for its jam sessions.
Located at the historic SAG-AFTRA Plaza, Descanso features the signature Plancha dining experience, great Margaritas and two open-air patios.
Seen in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, this landmark has been serving Angelenos since 1931 - the #1 Combo and Blended Fruit Margaritas are musts!
The Academy Museum's signature restaurant features Executive Chef Jun Oh's contemporary cuisine and movie-inspired cocktails.
Named a James Beard America's Classic, Guelaguetza has earned acclaim for its Oaxacan cuisine and is beloved as a cultural center with a performance stage and boutique market.
Run by the Martinez family, originally from Oaxaca, Leo’s is renowned for its al pastor tacos and stays open till 2am (3:30am on Friday and Saturday).
Izakaya serving authentic Japanese sashimi and sushi, bee bim bap, bowls, tempura and teppanyaki; all complemented by a curated selection of sakes.
BTS's favorite KBBQ in LA specializes in gopchang (cow’s small intestine) - the Yang Daechang Combo includes raw garlic (to cook), and bubbling kimchi stew.
The famed Seoul-based steakhouse is renowned for its singular focus on Certified Angus Beef prime ribeye, showcased in the signature Daedo Cut with ribeye roll, cap and strip.
The expansive menu offers spicy pork belly, Wagyu beef ribeye, unmarinated short ribs and incredible banchan (20+ bowls!) in a contemporary setting.
The acclaimed 45-day dry-aged beef is served with shared apps like Giant Beef Tartare Sushi. Level up with the Tomahawk Steak for two - available aged or dry-aged bone-in ribeye.
The standard-bearer of KBBQ in LA and America, Park's BBQ is famous for serving high-end meats like the Ggot Sal ("flower meat") featured in the Taste of Wagyu.
Explore the world-class cultural attractions on Museum Row in the Miracle Mile, along with nearby institutions and vibrant galleries.
Housed in the reimagined May Company building, the Academy Museum is America’s largest institution devoted to the cinematic arts, sciences and artists.
Often overlooked among its more famous neighbors, the museum showcases craft with a focus on process and materials; and public programs for all ages and abilities.
Renowned as the world's richest Ice Age fossil site, this active archeological dig displays mammoths, saber-toothed cats and dire wolves that lived and died right here.
The largest art museum in the western U.S., LACMA’s 120,000 pieces include pre-Columbian works, a significant collection of Islamic art and modern expressions.
In this car-centric city, in a neighborhood designed for autos, this stunning collection celebrates the artistry, industry and culture of cars of all eras.
Located at Pan Pacific Park, the museum was founded in 1961 by Holocaust survivors and is the oldest museum of its kind in the United States.
Housed in a former Masonic temple, the Marciano Art Foundation presents rotating exhibitions of its contemporary art collection, which numbers over 1,500 works.
Founded by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Museum of Tolerance was designed as an interactive space to inspire action - its centerpiece is the immersive Anne Frank exhibit.
Flagship gallery showcases the best of contemporary and emerging artists, with a focus on graffiti and street art creators, plus a stellar gift shop with exclusive items and collectibles.
Opened as Blum & Poe in 1994, BLUM is renowned for championing Japanese and Korean postwar contemporary art. BLUM hosts lectures, performances, screenings, and an annual art book fair.
This K-town hidden gem was founded in a one-bedroom apartment in 2010 and now boasts a roster of artists that have exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Whitney Biennial and Frieze.
Founded in 1986, the Fahey/Klein Gallery is devoted to the fine art of photography, mounting two-person exhibitions every two weeks that span a wide range of genres and diverse photographers.
This 8,000 square-foot contemporary art gallery presents monthly solo and group exhibitions with a focus on emerging art and thematic group shows.
Along with emerging artists, Roberts Projects represents mid-career and established artists of international recognition, such as Betye Saar, Kehinde Wiley and Ed Templeton to name a few.
Shop till you drop at The Grove, one of the most popular retail destinations in the country; the adjacent Original Farmers Market, a beloved gathering spot since 1934; and the latest streetwear on Fairfax.
Dancing fountains and a throwback trolley enhance this bustling shopping, dining and entertainment experience, including Apple, Coach, Nordstrom, cinema and 20 eateries.
Adjacent to The Grove but a world away, this beloved gathering spot founded in 1934 today comprises over 100 gourmet grocers, specialty retailers and international dining.
Located in one of LA’s last black-and-gold Art Deco buildings, Hexi is a unique mini-mart/café/boutique that promotes Indonesia through artisan goods and culture.
Popular shopping center featuring more than 70 stores, including the sprawling Galleria Market and Kitchen Plus, a hidden gem restaurant supply store with an inventory of 15,000 items.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle at Mid-City's green spaces and spas.
Located on Wilshire Boulevard just east of Fairfax Avenue, this city park is home to several cultural attractions and has open spaces and landscaped areas for walking and picnicking.
Located across the street from The Grove, the 28-acre Pan Pacific Park is one of LA's most popular, family-friendly parks and a great spot for a picnic.
Options at this K-town day spa include a Himalayan Salt Room, Charcoal Room, Red Mud Room and Jimjilbang, a traditional Korean spa amenity that features a space for co-ed pampering.
Cool off and work out at this modest, family-friendly indoor community pool that’s just $1 for kids/seniors and $4 for adults. Clean, welcoming, and with just-right water temperature.
Open 24/7, this four-story traditional Korean spa offers hot and cold soaking tubs, five different mineral sauna rooms, massages, body scrubs, facials and mani/pedi.
When the sun goes down, the fun is just beginning in Mid-City! Whether you want to enjoy a pint o' Guinness or classic cocktail; take in a live performance, sing your heart out or dance the night away, Mid-City has you covered.
Housed in a former Firestone tire shop, this 15-barrel brewhouse features crushable beers and Chicas Tacos in a midcentury indoor-outdoor space.
Tequila and tacos are the thing at this narrow neighborhood cantina complete with red velvet curtains, Lucha Libre masks and bulls heads on the walls.
Nautical-themed bar dating to the 1920s features the $6 Wise Man Special (shot and a Tecate), rotating classic cocktail specials and the ever-popular Baseball Steak.
Owned by the same Irish family since 1970, Molly Malone's serves proper pints of Guinness and live music in an art-covered space.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, The Normandie Club is housed in the landmark Hotel Normandie, serving classic and modern cocktails in a stylish setting.
Opened in 1927, this dimly-lit time machine features an ornate interior that's appeared in Chinatown, Mad Men and more. Don't miss the Korean-style fried chicken!
Located at its present site on Fairfax Avenue since 1949, the “House of Irish Coffee” reportedly was the inspiration for the classic TV sitcom Cheers.
Traditional German restaurant and pub that features authentic fare, more than a dozen German beers on tap, a soccer-themed screening room and dog-friendly outdoor beer garden.
80s themed nightclub inside The LINE with DJs, an ice cream truck bar and private karaoke rooms for 15-20 people complete with vintage Atari consoles and bottle service.
Opened in 1971, this K-town staple hosts nightly karaoke that attracts celebs and industry folks to its funky ski lodge setting.
One of America’s first Black gay discos, this multi-storied club and concert venue has drawn the likes of Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Rick James to its dance floor.
The 1,238-seat theatre of the women-led, women-centered Ebell of Los Angeles nonprofit has hosted live music and lectures since 1927, including Amelia Earhart’s last public appearance.
LA’s only African American professional theatre, ERT stages award-winning productions plus music, dance and lecture series rooted in the African Diaspora experience.
A rare not-too-big, not-too-small concert venue (771 capacity), the 1936 art deco El Rey hosts red-hot touring acts and legacy legends, with prime Mexican eats at the adjacent El Cartel.
Intimate 1937 venue with excellent acoustics (designed as a recording studio), imaginative bar food, and prior performers including Stevie Wonder, Tom Waits and Gwen Stefani.
Every Friday and Saturday, Quentin Tarantino's revival theatre, the New Beverly Cinema, screens cult classics at midnight, often featuring his personal prints.
Live jazz, blues and soul on Tuesday to Saturday, with a lively Sunday Jazz Brunch.
The Dude would surely approve of this no-frills, retro bowling alley that's remained nearly unchanged since it opened in 1954. Featuring 39 lanes, arcade games and a cozy bar.
10,000 square-foot subterranean venue with a sleek design, seasonal menu of shared plates, and 13 state-of-the-art private karaoke rooms that can accommodate 2-50 guests.