Los Angeles Downtown History and Food Tour

If you want to truly understand LA, you need to visit downtown. This is where it all began! Over 3 hours, you'll learn so much about LA and the downtown area. We'll discuss history, architecture, food, city planning, shopping, art, and more! Guests frequently walk away from the tour amazed by how much they underestimated downtown LA.
This tour focuses on a few major parts of DTLA. We will cover the Historic Core, Little Tokyo, the Civic Center, and Bunker Hill. These areas will give you a deeper understanding of how much variety there is in downtown. Every block in downtown has its own unique feel.

In Little Tokyo, you'll get to try traditional Japanese sweets from a family owned confectioner that has been around since 1903! This is the only tour in LA that visits this legendary institution.

See LA in a Day offers the best walking tours in LA, heavily researched and delivered by guides with a passion for sharing the city they call home. See you on the tour!

Meeting Point

341 S Hill St

341 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013, USA

We meet at the BOTTOM of the Angels Flight trolley. This is right across from Grand Central Market. Your guide will be standing off to the side, near the stairs.

What to expect:

Duration: 3 hours

Angels Flight Railway

351 S. Hill St, , Los Angeles, 90013-1003, California

Start the tour by learning about the shortest train in the world! We will discuss Angels Flight and its connection to Bunker Hill. The tour will end by riding Angels Flight down to our meeting point.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Pershing Square

Boundaries are South Hill St, South Olive St, West Sixth St, and West Fifth St, , Los Angeles, 90015, California

The architecture deep dive begins at Pershing Square. The historic core in DTLA is home to some of the best art deco, beaux arts, and modern architecture in the world!

Pass by without stopping

The Last Bookstore

453 S Spring St, Ground Floor, Los Angeles, 90013, California

Go inside one of LA's coolest hangouts! The Last Bookstore is a readers paradise, but it is also full of great spots to take an amazing photo. You'll head upstairs and discover that the building used to be a bank for the wealthy in downtown.

15 minutes

Bradbury Building

304 S Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, 90013-1224, California

The Bradbury is one of the most magnificent buildings in the world. Discover the incredible story behind this 1893 masterpiece!

10 minutes

Little Tokyo

Los Angeles, California

The Japanese communities have shaped California in an incredible way, and LA especially. One of the oldest bakeries still open today is a Japanese candy store from 1903! The tour includes mochi from this one of a kind stop. The tour will break here for about 20 minutes for the bathrooms and snacks.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

City Hall

200 N. Spring St. between First and Temple, , Los Angeles, 90012-4801, California

Back to architecture and civic history! The tour is beginning to wind down with a visit to the political heart of LA. You'll walk right through Grand Park and discover how LA morphed from a town of just 44 into a city of millions.

Pass by without stopping

Walt Disney Concert Hall

111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, 90012-3034, California

Discover some of LA's incredible modern architecture and the struggles to develop one of LA's most striking buildings.

Pass by without stopping

Grand Central Market

317 South Broadway, , Los Angeles, 90013-1222, California

This foodie destination is a treat for locals and visitors alike. This historic food hall has been operating for over 100 years now and shows no signs of slowing down!

10 minutes