Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles is the business and administrative center in Los Angeles, California, with tall office towers, courthouses, and several theaters on a grid of wide streets. The blocks include commercial districts, residential high-rises, and open plazas connected by walkways and intersections.

The area developed into a commercial center from the mid-19th century as new roads and rail lines reached the early settlements. After the 1950s, high-rise buildings and office complexes rose, changing the old cityscape and creating new residential and business districts.

Street vendors sell tacos and fruit on many corners while commuters move through wide sidewalks between office towers and food stalls. Locals often gather in the plazas for lunch or after work before heading back to surrounding neighborhoods.

Several subway lines cross the area and connect different blocks with stops within walking distance of each other. Most streets have sidewalks and crosswalks, making it easier to move between districts on foot.

A small funicular car runs up and down the side of Bunker Hill, connecting two street levels over a short, steep track. The ride takes just a few minutes and ends at an upper station with views over the surrounding blocks.