3 Off the Grid Spots in Downtown LA
What do a taco window, a cocktail bar, and a streetwear store have in common? Well, they're all hiding in Downtown LA, waiting for you to find them.
Downtown is a polarizing topic for Angelenos - some people love it, some people avoid it at all costs. All that to say: you simply cannot deny that DTLA is the place to be these days when it comes to food and art culture. Countless restaurants and bars have opened in the Arts District and its surrounding areas in the past year. Downtown also houses some deep history for the city of Los Angeles, and is home to a number of iconic buildings - the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Central Library, The Broad, Grand Central Market, and beyond! Although we love all of these major points of interest, today we’re zooming in and focusing on a few smaller, off the grid spots. Read on to uncover some downtown secrets!
Ditroit Taqueria
The download: Run by Casamata, the same hospitality team behind Damian and Pujol in CDMX, Ditroit is a walk up window with top tier tacos. The setting is casual and unassuming, the food is anything but! Don’t sleep on the fish flauta and the suadero taco, and I highly recommend grabbing an agua fresca to complement your meal as well.
How to get there: Walk down past the rows of cars on either side of Mariposa St into the alley. Look for a parking lot with high gray aluminum doors - peek through and you’ll spot a simple yellow “D” (pictured above) - Ditroit lies just beyond this wall!
The Varnish
The download: Cole’s French Dip is an LA institution, and it’s speakeasy The Varnish is equally as revered. You can expect dark, sexy interiors and excellent cocktails at this small bar in the back of Cole’s. I recommend Bartender’s Choice with your favorite spirit.
How to get there: Walk straight past the front bar + tables and find an unassuming door at the back of the restaurant - this is your entrance to Varnish!
Bodega
The download: This location is Bodega’s second outpost, following in the footsteps of their original Boston location - where you enter via a Snapple vending machine. Here you will find 3 floors of sneakers, streetwear, and a rotating pop up shop. This stop is perfect for your favorite sneakerhead visiting town - they’re destined to find something unique to take home as a souvenir.
How to get there: Located inside Row DTLA, walk down past Banks Journal and Splendid and find what looks like the back of a produce market warehouse. Walk past the rows of produce cartons and enter through the warehouse door to your left.
What’s your favorite secret spot in Los Angeles? Tell me all your secrets by replying directly to this email ;)
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