Boy oh boy we hope you’re up for a part this year because DTLA is popping off along with the champagne this year!  There are so many events to choose from, but here are some of our top picks for an incredible last night of 2017.

Bootie L.A.

Forget the pomp and circumstance of fancy soirees at Bootie L.A., this is the place you go to dance the night away!  A down-to-earth crowd paired with mash-ups and mixtapes that will have you dancing your face off in Bootie L.A.’s playful NYE bash.

N.Y.E. LA

Grand Park

N.Y.E. is truly a unique event that celebrates the community of downtown LA (and the closest thing we might have to Times Square!)  A midnight countdown will be projected on the exterior of City Hall followed by music and dancing!

Prohibition NYE

Union Station

New Year’s Eve will forever be reminiscent of the roaring 20s with champagne flowing and flappers swinging to the music.  Prohibition NYE set in Art Deco Union Station is just the place to celebrate on-theme.  The Main Concourse sets the stage for a stunning backdrop and the event will feature live DJs, jazz musicians, burlesque dancers,  and craft cocktails (and champagne of course!).  Formal attire is required, so get your feather headband and pearls out and get ready to swing dance your way into the New Year!

Dita Von Teese New Year’s Eve Gala

The Theater at Ace Hotel

Does ringing in the New year with some seriously seductive burlesque showcases sound about right to you?  Queen of Burlesque Dita Von Teese is sure to delight your senses with a one-of-a-kind show and some sparkly costuming!

No Cover New Year’s Angel City Brewery

If you want to avoid the fuss and paying for an expensive cover fee, head over to Angel City brewery where there will be no cover for the night!  Angel City has live entertainment, food trucks, some of LAs best craft beer, games, and more.  Can you head out on the town and still have a low-key New Years Eve? We think so, Angel City is the spot!

Everyone has holiday traditions, and for some of us — that means reserving a table at a restaurant where we can sit back, relax, and savor culinary experiences.  DTLA is a hotspot for world-class food, and this holiday season brings some truly delicious meal options to LA diners.  From the conventional holiday offerings to the unconventional like Chinese — here’s our top picks!

Fogo De Chao

800 S Figueroa St

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Can you think of a better way to celebrate the holidays than endless carved meats delivered to your plate?  Fogo De Chao offers a churrascaria experience complete with 16 different types of fire-roasted meats and seasonal side offerings.  If you’ve never experienced the magic and tradition of a Brazilian steakhouse, there’s no better time to treat yourself, and Fogo De Chao is the king of their domain.  Open Christmas day till 9pm!

Hop Woo BBQ & Seafood Restaurant

845 N Broadway

Los Angeles, CA 90012

If you don’t celebrate Christmas the traditional way, Hop Woo is the place for you.  Standard chinese fare and seafood (try the lobster!) alongside some pretty out there offerings like duck tongue, rocky mountain oysters, and chicken knuckles are to be expected.   Hop Woo will make for an unforgettable holiday feast!

Le Petit Paris

Le Petit Paris is preparing a special gift for Angelenos this Christmas, the perfect opportunity to add a little french je ne se quoi to your holiday.  Christmas Day at Le Petit Paris features a special brunch buffet with chef Baptiste Grellier and pastry chef Stephane Carriere.  Don’t fill up on pastries out of the gate though — Le petite Paris’s Christmas day menu offers oysters mignonette, king crab, and a complementary amuse buche. Bon apetit in DTLA!

Redbird

Redbird features modern American cuisine tailored to reflect Los Angeles’ diverse culinary scene.  Redbird is an award winning restaurant located in the historical Vibiana building, once a cathedral.  They are hosting a Christmas eve feast complete with traditional dishes like roast turkey and some holiday interpretations like scallop crudo and rack of lamb.  Oh, and the cocktail list?  To die for.  The Redbird dining experience will have you lit up like a Christmas tree!

Eat, drink, be merry!

We’re in the home stretch for Christmas shopping, time to get everyone checked off your list!  Lucky for us Angelenos, we have some of the world’s best shopping at our fingertips.  In fact, you can walk to almost every one of these DTLA shopping hot spots.  Here’s our guide to holiday shopping in DTLA!

The Last Bookstore

For the bibliophiles in your life, look no further than The Last Bookstore.  Home to rare books, records, and everything in between, you’re guaranteed to find something of interest for everyone in your life.  Plus, that book tunnel always makes for a great photo — who says holiday shopping can’t be fun!?

The Arts District Co-Op

The Arts District Co-Op is an eclectic mix of retail concepts that joined forces to create a communal environment.  It’s creative commerce at its finest located in the heart of the DTLA arts district.  This is a great place to find unique gifts specific to Los Angeles for friends and family.

Mr. G’s Toys

Want to be the favorite aunt/uncle?  Mr. G’s Toys makes kids dreams come true a great retro selection of toys, games, stuffed animals — you name it.  Not only a kids store, Mr. G’s has some cool stuff adults will love too.  This is a great mom and pop gift shop to help you check a few people off your list!

Poketo

Oh how we love Poketo!  Perfect for the design-conscious people on your list, Poketo is filled with all kinds of beautifully crafted goodies from toys to chic clothing in Little Tokyo.  Stylish accessories, clothing, and homewares are the name of the game here so you should have no problem finding some lovely gifts (and perhaps a few things for yourself too!)

May the odds ever be in your holiday-shopping favor!

Los Angeles is brimming with culture, street art, and glitzy hangs — so it’s no wonder it makes for one of the most ‘grammable cities in the country.  Not that you’d go anywhere solely for the Instagram photo ops (okay maybe sometimes), but these are super cool places to hang out and take in DTLA’s particular brand of creative eye candy.  And sure, get a photo for the gram while you’re at it!

The Last Bookstore

A multi-storied (and story-ed) building in DTLA housing thousands upon thousands of books and records makes it a bibliophile’s dream.   A tunnel made entirely of books on the upper floor has caught the attention of many Angelenos and visitors alike, quickly becoming a must-gram location when exploring DTLA.

The Broad

The Broad houses some of the country’s finest contemporary art and installations, but the building’s architecture alone makes The Broad visually striking and well-worth planning a day to see the space.  Plus, they often have really cool rotating exhibits that allow you to interact with the art!

Perch

Rooftop cocktails and the best view in town — can’t beat it.  From your perch at Perch, you’ll have a 360 view of the LA skyline from above, and a direct view into Pershing Square in the evening. Great for people and city watching!

 

The Ace

This historic LA building is now a hip downtown destination that is both a hotel, bar, lounge, and theater for all kinds of high-society LA events.  From the black and white tile and industrial design in the lobby to the rooftop pool and bar with spectacular city views, let’s just say The Ace doesn’t have a bad angle.  

The Museum of Ice Cream

Perhaps the most over-grammed spot in all of Los Angeles, The Museum of Ice Cream is a pastel-packed gramfest in DTLA.  This one takes some planning, you’ll have to reserve tickets in advance.  Once you’re in, the world is a dream sequence made of sprinkles and ice cream — doesn’t get much more insta-worthy than that.

 

Bradbury Building

If you ever saw 500 Days of Summer, Tom meets Autumn in the Bradbury Building at the very end.  This historical architectural gem has been around since 1893 and was also featured in Blade Runner!!  Try to soak up some historical significance between shots.

 

Besides the slew of destinations in DTLA to serve as insta-eye-candy, don’t forget to sneak in a few of DTLA’s  famous angel wing murals while you’re at it!