The Broad, a contemporary art museum directly across the street from Conrad Los Angeles, is getting a multi-million dollar expansion. Photo: Mike Kelley.
This native New Yorker quickly finds her footing and a whole lot to do, in downtown Los Angeles.
I have a confession to make. As a lifelong New Yorker, I haven’t learned to drive, yet. I’ve visited California a few times before-Carlsbad, San Diego, San Francisco; always wanted to visit LA, but was deterred by its vastness. Thankfully for my first visit ever to downtown LA, not driving (with the exception of getting to/from the airport, and a quick trip to the Sunset Strip, more on that later) wasn’t a problem. It’s relatively walkable! The city is rich with history, culture, dining, and hotels that can bring it all to you.
DTLA’s BEACON: CONRAD LOS ANGELES
Rest in comfort in spacious rooms with all the amenities at Conrad Los Angeles, just across the street from The Broad.
Not even two years old, Conrad Los Angeles has garnered quite the reputation not only in downtown Los Angeles, but worldwide, recently listed in 2023’s Travel & Leisure’s Top 100 Hotels. Situated in the heart of downtown on Grand Ave. this towering Frank Gehry designed gem features 305 luxury rooms (spacious bathrooms with flattering lighting, comfy beds that light your way when your feet touch the floor), and is next to its residential counterpart, The Grand (featured in DOWNTOWN’s Fall 2022 issue). Out my window, in the distance, I could see the HOLLYWOOD sign in the Hills.
At the Conrad Los Angeles, enjoy breakfast or cocktails at the Jose Andres restaurant, San Laurel.
The Conrad is also home to some stellar restaurants, including rooftop bar / Spanish restaurant Aqua Viva, and San Laurel, both from Michelin star chef José Andrés. At San Laurel, I enjoyed an incredible breakfast and views, including a rainbow that shone across the street that morning. A Hilton hotel. @ConradLosAngeles
THE BROAD and MOCA
The Conrad Los Angeles is perfectly situated in the middle of a cultural hub-across the street is The Broad Museum, a beloved DTLA museum that is getting a 100 million dollar expansion, as well as the (also Frank Gehry designed) Walt Disney Concert Hall, and LA Opera. The Broad’s permanent collection is free admission. thebroad.org. Just a couple of blocks down on the same side as the Conrad, is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). moca.org
I made time to catch up with an old college friend that moved to California. We dined at the quaint rooftop bistro/restaurant, Perch, located in the Pershing Square Building. Great food, atmosphere, views, loved the live jazz music, too. @perchlosangeles
All within a short walking distance from The Conrad, a visit to DTLA won’t be complete without a stop at the Grand Central Market, an ever-bustling emporium of international foods that has been around since 1917 and has landmark status. Every kind of food can be found-Filipino, Spanish, tacos, oysters, candy, donuts (SoCal’s The Donut Man’s has quite a rep for its Strawberry Donut) gourmet cookies and pies (at Fat & Flour I enjoyed some incredible bourbon-chocolate chip cookies!) grandcentralmarket.com, @grandcentralmarketla
For movie buffs, just across the street from the Market, is landmark Bradbury Building. Built in 1893, it still stands the test of time, with its Italian renaissance interior design, featuring a skylit atrium of access walkways, stairs, elevators. It’s been seen in film classics such as Blade Runner, Double Indemnity, and others. While it does not technically accept visitors, you can still walk inside to grab a snap or two. laconservancy.org
A HOTEL THAT HISTORICALLY REVERES WOMEN: HOTEL FIGUEROA
In 1926, a group of 11 women with the local YWCA financed and founded the Hotel Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles, to create a safe space for women traveling alone. It was helmed by Maude N. Bouldin, the only female hotel manager in America at the time. Today it is one of city’s premier hotels, with the only ground- floor pool in DTLA (a coffin shaped one, illuminated at night by torches!) flanked by two spots where guests can dine or drink poolside-the dim lit and chic Italian restaurant Sparrow, as well as La Casita, where you can enjoy a refreshing cocktail.
Hotel Figueroa’s iconic pool, also DTLA’s only ground pool. Photo: Robbie Ziegler
For the past five years, hotel manager Connie Wang has been a lighthouse, navigating the business through the pandemic. During the 2022 election, Hotel Figueroa’s restaurant, Sparrow, was a makeshift election site, in a testament to the importance of women voting, and to get others to register and vote.
At Hotel Figueroa, indulge in pampering with a stay in the Rest & Recovery Suite, where you can customize pillows, sleep in an eight sleep mattress, have an in-room workout, and more. Photo: Tanveer Badal.
From every facet, the restored Spanish Colonial style Hotel Figueroa celebrates women. It features 268 rooms and suites, all with personalized touches, decorated with artwork by female artists. I had the opportunity to stay in the spacious Rest and Recovery Suite, that featured an incredible shower, with a massaging stone floor, and a lovely selection of Italian brand toiletries.
Leah Smithson is Hotel Figueroa’s Featured Artist in Residence in 2024.
TO CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, there was an opening night celebration for Hotel Figueroa’s Featured Artist 2024, Los Angeles contemporary artist Leah Smithson. Be on the lookout for her bold-colored pieces celebrating women innovators! Her exhibit will remain up through the remainder of the year. The next morning, I enjoyed an incredible breakfast at Cafe Fig, an elegant spot serving up Mediterranean, Southwestern and Continental cuisine. Make sure to make reservations, this place fills up quickly! Hotelfigueroa.com, @hotelfigueroa
AS A LIFELONG MUSIC FAN, I had to see the Sunset Strip, about a 25 minute ride out of DTLA, and made a stop at the iconic Whisky a GoGo club. It’s been a key venue for artists from Janis Joplin, to Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and countless others, open since 1964. Also nearby are other key music spots such as The Troubadour (where Van Halen got its start, and others such as Elton John, Tom Waits) on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. @thewhisky_agogo, @thetroubadour DTM