DTLA's Colorful Corazón

A Walking Tour of El Pueblo de Los Angeles

Olvera Street is always filled with pageantry, and the historic district of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, the birthplace of Los Angeles, is worth strolling anytime to sample traditional Mexican culture and foods and to better appreciate the city’s heritage.

Start in the Old Plaza. Gaze upon the plaza statue of King Carlos III of Spain, who ordered the founding of El Pueblo de Los Angeles in 1781. Pop inside the quaint Placita Church across the street, founded roughly 200 years ago and still an active parish. Check out the three-story Pico House nearby, constructed in 1870.

Next, dive into El Pueblo’s bustling heart: Olvera Street, a tree-shaded pedestrian avenue lined with Mexican eateries and craft shops selling all manner of Mexican tchotchkes and traditional garb. Troubadours roam its brick-tiled pathways. Many old buildings flanking the paseo contain restaurants or small museums illuminating the Pueblo’s rich social history. Stop by the Avila Adobe. Built in 1818, it is the city’s oldest standing residence. A tranquil inner courtyard sports a cactus garden and lovely views of Union Station.

Your most surprising discovery on Olvera Street might be América Tropical, a large fresco by David Alfaro Siqueiros, one of Mexico’s greatest muralists. The once-controversial work has been restored and can be viewed from a rooftop platform.

BONUS: Olvera Street contains several Mexican eateries. Try Las Anitas, housed in Italian Hall since 1951, which serves the “world famous” beef taquitos of neighboring Cielito Lindo (same owners), not to mention delectable carne asada waffle fries. They also pour margaritas and Mexican beer. For a more informal option, try La Noche Buena, a highly rated food stall with tacos and burritos, situated closer to the plaza.

El Pueblo de Los Angeles is located just west of Alameda St. across from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View