Living in Los Angeles: Downtown LA

The glaring stainless steel of Walt Disney Concert Hall’s Frank Gehry-branded blobitecture shines as testament to Angelenos’ investing faith and billions into downtown slipping out of its cultural coma. Once home to the homeless and a decaying business district, downtown Los Angeles is going glossy with a solid cultural center and arts district, pushed with city efforts to make it West Coast’s Manhattan.

Grand Avenue plays home to Los Angeles Philharmonic (the Walt Disney Concert Hall), LA Opera (Dorothy Chandler), Broadway musicals (Ahmanson Theatre), the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and blueprints for future Frank Gehry-designed apartment buildings.

Just south is the Arts District, one of the first downtown neighborhoods to have its old brick opened into live/work lofts. Organic coffee shops and Euro bistros stay open late, and a few blocks over Little Tokyo’s ramen houses and sushi dives welcome red eyes as well.

Downtown LA’s Location in Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles is east of West Lake and Mid-Wilshire, west of East LA and the San Gabriel Valley, north of Los Angeles proper, and south of Los Feliz and Hollywood.

Downtown LA’s Weather

Downtown Los Angeles warms up to 85°F on average (July-August) and downtown Los Angeles chills lowest at about 48°F (December-January).

Current weather in Downtown Los Angeles:

Living in Downtown Los Angeles

Average rental rates for downtown Los Angeles, CA, by rental style:

Downtown Los Angeles, CA apartments average price, by number of bedrooms:

Downtown Los Angeles Apartments

Search downtown Los Angeles lofts and apartments available for rent right now

$650/mo Studio Apartment in Los Angeles, CA 90007 No appliances are included. Please call for details & appointment to view. … more details »

$650/mo Studio Apartment in Los Angeles , CA 90007 Spacious single, near USC school. 1 enclosed/gated parking space. Carpet, large windows, room. and kitchen. Washer/Dryer in building. There is… more details »

$725/mo Studio Apartment in Los Angeles, CA 90005 Move In Special $500 Deposit and First Month Free Rent! Incredible Charming Original Building! Hardwood Floors Original Tile, Original Baths… more details »

$775/mo Studio Apartment in Los Angeles, CA 90005 Move In Special $500 Deposit and First Month Free Rent! Incredible Charming Original Building! Hardwood Floors Original Tile, Original Baths… more details »

$799/mo Studio Apartment in Los Angeles, CA 90005 Laundry , Gate , On-site Management , On-site Maintenance , Elevator , High Speed Internet Available , Near Public Transit… more details »

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Downtown Los Angeles’s Transportation

Ride Los Angeles’ MTA buses throughout downtown Los Angeles, throughout Los Angeles County, or hop on Los Angeles Red Line and Blue Line subways that run as far as North Hollywood to Long Beach. If you’re in downtown Los Angeles, you’re likely a few blocks away from the Harbor (110) Freeway and the Santa Monica (10) Freeway, which connect with major freeways the 101, 405, and 5. Union Station, Los Angeles’ major train station, is also located downtown, near the historic Olvera Street.

Downtown Los Angeles’ Education

Downtown Los Angeles is serviced mostly by arts and trade schools, such as fashion design schools FIDM and Otis in the fashion district, and the Colburn school of performing arts in Bunker Hill.