How to Spend a Day in Los Angeles

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Recently, I visited my hometown, Los Angeles, for a combustion conference with a colleague who had never been to Los Angeles and we didn’t exactly have a ton of time to wander around and take the days as they come. Instead, we had a day or two to explore the area…which is typical for conference travel. Luckily in this case, I’m a native Angeleno, so I was in my hometown! That meant that when I traveled with my colleague who hadn’t been to LA, I knew we had to capitalize on our free day at the beginning of the trip. Here’s how to spend a day in Los Angeles seeing as much as possible in a short time!

One day in Los Angeles highlights

Map of this day in LA itinerary

Original Farmer’s Market

The best way to start your itinerary is at the Original Farmer’s Market on 3rd Street and Fairfax. That’s because this historic market features some of the best eats in town and you can try a bunch in one go!

I took my colleague there in the late morning, but I’d recommend getting an earlier start to maximize your itinerary time. However, be sure to check the hours of the places where you want to eat as they can vary individually.

Now, I had been to the Original Farmer’s Market before, but never to actually eat. Why? No one knows. We landed on Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts and man, oh man. I already LOVE donuts, but this place was fantastic! We were there in the month before Easter so they had bunny shaped donuts. They also have blended iced coffee!

Charlie’s Coffee Shop and Phil’s Deli are also great breakfast picks!

I highly recommend you start your day at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts. Grab a bite to eat, get some caffeine (it’s going to be a packed day sightseeing) , and lean in to the West Coast chill vibes by perusing the vendors.

For an idea on where to go, feel free to follow us as we continued walking around the farmer’s market and tasting whatever came our way. Honestly, everything is so delicious. You can’t really go wrong.

We tried some perfect toffee at Littlejohn’s English Toffee, which you should definitely try, even if you aren’t a candy person!

Magee’s House of Nuts also makes the best peanut butter, so stop there to try some!

Nonna’s Empanadas is always a good idea, but they don’t open until 9am. If you need to kill some time, walk around the Grove, which is a big outdoor mall right outside the Original Farmer’s Market. The stores are more high-end than your average mall, but they have one of the largest Barnes and Noble stores.

Even if you’re visiting Los Angeles on a budget, the Grove is still a nice walk with a fountain in the center! They also sometimes have author events, pop-ups, and a movie theatre.

We made it back to the Farmer’s Market where I got my empanadas. One was carne asada and the other was Nutella Oreo. They were both so delicious! Highly recommend!

Some notes on the Farmer’s Market:

• Bring cash! Some newer stalls accept cards, but the older ones only take cash. This included Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts. There are ATMs but they are neutral to specific banks so it costs ~$3 to withdraw cash.
• Get a map. There are so many great places in the Farmer’s Market but without a map, it can be hard to actually find them. It’s sort of like a maze in there. Every side entrance has them!
• There is a parking lot on 3^rd Street and Gilmore Street. It was relatively empty when we went on Saturday morning at 10am, but this was before the summer crowds. Make sure you ask to validate your parking ticket at any of the stalls in the Farmer’s Market. This will bring the parking cost way down. We were there for 2 hours and paid $3 for parking.

Chinatown

Next up, Chinatown. It wouldn’t be a trip to Los Angeles without an exploration of the many cultures and neighborhoods that make up the city.

Walk through the narrow indoor markets, where you can buy anything including clothes, suitcases, kitchen gadgets, and more. It’s seriously a maze in there (and probably a fire hazard), so keep your bearings and use your phone’s map should you need to navigate out and can’t find your way.

We strolled through the Central Plaza that is adorned with hanging red lanterns. Everything is beautiful; the buildings, the fountains, and the statue of Bruce Lee!

Learn about the history of Chinatown and read the signs as you go through. It’s a really interesting and culturally rich part of town.

Olvera Street

Less than half a mile walk from Chinatown is Olvera Street, one of the oldest and most historic streets in the city. It features a Mexican marketplace where some of the vendors are decendents of the original vendors on the street from the mid-1800s.

Closed off to vehicles, Olvera Street contains old structures, street vendors, and restaurants along a narrow, brick-lined street. You can buy authentic Mexican food, candy, and toys here!

For lunch, I highly recommend dining at one of the restaurants on Olvera Street. We went to Cielito Lindo, a taquito stand. We got a combo of three taquitos in an amazing avocado sauce served with cheesy beans. And, it only cost $8! I also went on a hunt for a churro, which I ended up getting from Mr. Churro in one of the side-alleys. They had filled and flavored churros.

If you want another option, Philippe The Original is across the street. They claim this is where the French dip sandwich was created in Los Angeles and I can vouch that they are insanely good. As a dessert lover, I absolutely have to recommend the chocolate cake, too. I’m still thinking about it years later.

Aside from the shopping and food, Olvera Street is home to the Avila Adobe, which is LA’s oldest house that still stands. It was originally built in 1818 and still holds some original furniture and artifacts.

I really enjoyed this little area. Inside the adobe is an open quad. It provided a much-needed mini escape from the crowds on Olvera Street, and it’s free!

The Last Bookstore

Since we’re already downtown, there’s lots to see and do here that’s within walking distance.

Make your way to Last Bookstore, located in the heart of historic downtown LA. The Last Bookstore is famous for its sculptures made of books, including a tunnel and window!

The Last Bookstore is really fun and well designed. It’s perfectly set up for taking pictures and the book collection was extensive, including my personal favorite: a literal vault with horror, paranormal, and true crime novels!

The Last Bookstore is one of the most Instagrammable places in LA, so don’t forget a camera and a smile…and some patience (the book window and tunnel are very popular).

Bradbury Building

Since we were around the corner (and so are you, now), we visited the Bradbury Building next, which has been featured in many movies, like 500 Days of Summer and Blade Runner.

It was built in 1893 and has an incredible Victorian interior with intricate ironwork, open-cage elevators, and marble staircases! As a tourist, you can only go up the first staircase but honestly just going inside is an experience, not to be missed!

It’s free to visit and within walking distance of the Last Bookstore.

Other things to do in Downtown LA

While you’re here and before dinner, if you have time and energy, there’s a few other things to do in downtown Los Angeles to keep you busy.

The Broad (pronounced brohw-d) is a modern art museum that’s free to visit. They have one of Kusama’s Infinity Mirror rooms, which you need advanced (free) tickets for.

@periodicadventures

Expect to pay $15 for parking! #dtla #thingstodoinlosangeles #thingstodoinla #losangeles #losangelesfood

♬ son original – Deejay_FDB

The Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry, is also right here. You can walk the exterior to admire the architecture and find the little zen garden maze.

Finally, Angel’s Flight Railway is the worlds shortest railway and it only costs $1 each way (less if you have a Metro card). It brings you up to a quad with some great views of the city.

Dinner in downtown Los Angeles

I would visit Grand Central Market for dinner where there are over 20 food vendors!

I love DTLA cheese for the best grilled cheese and tomato soup and Sarita’s Pupuseria for authentic and delicious pupusas. Don’t forget dessert at McConnell’s Ice Cream.

This is also a good spot for drinks because there is a brewery and bar here as well.

Drinks in Burbank

To close out our day, my colleague and I actually got some pizza for dinner and went to Castaway in Burbank to sit at the fire pits, sip on a drink, and overlook the Los Angeles city lights. If you want to get away from the potential crowds of downtown and you have a car, Castaway is a really nice spot to end the day.

It’s a bit of a drive, but worth it.

Alternatively, pop into Musso and Frank Grill in Hollywood, one of the oldest restaurants and bars in Hollywood. This is a great option if Hollywood is on your bucket list and you want to get a feel for the old-timey golden age of Hollywood.

FAQ’s about visiting Los Angeles

Where to stay in LA

I personally love the Burbank area to get away from downtown a bit, but still be around all the best restaurants and just a hop, skip, and a 20 minute drive from all the best Los Angeles has to offer. I’d go with the Tangerine, a retro, boutique hotel for $170+ per night (a great price and location in LA!).

Alternatively, the Mid-Wilshire area, right next to the Original Farmer’s Market is quite nice and near lots of the top museums in Los Angeles.

For a fun, on brand stay, consider the Beverly Hills Hotel where famous movie stars once stayed like Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, and Grace Kelly. It’s farther from the things on this itinerary, but it’s a fun opportunity!

How to get around Los Angeles

It’s true that having a car is just easier in Los Angeles. Especially for a one day itinerary, I’d recommend one even if you theoretically could get around without one. That’s just so you can maximize your time, so you aren’t waiting on buses or getting stuck in traffic on a fixed route.

If you’re on a tight budget and want to avoid a rental car and associated transportation costs (parking and gas), you can get around on the orange line buses. Just note that it may take you an hour or longer to get from point A to B even if it’s only 8 miles.

How much it costs to visit LA

I’m a firm believer that Los Angeles doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, I think some of the best things to do and places to eat are quite reasonable.

The most expensive things to account for in your travel budget aside from getting to LA, is parking, gas, and food.

Here’s an estimate of how much this one day itinerary will cost:

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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