Westlake & Koreatown
It might look like an extravagant Spanish baroque villa, but this complex began life as one of the first drive-in markets in the western US. Opened in…
Westlake & Koreatown
Once a glamorous enclave for silent-film stars and tycoons, Westlake is now Downtown's raffish western neighbor, tempered by lake-studded MacArthur Park, the very one that ‘melts in the dark’ in the eponymous Jimmy Webb song made famous by Donna Summer. Despite the faint whiff of gentrification, the neighborhood remains a gritty bastion of working-class Latino vida. Further west, Westlake spills seamlessly into vast and vibrant Koreatown, a platter of sizzling BBQ joints, 24-hour spas and karaoke bars, all splashed with a dash of glorious art-deco architecture from the area's gilded past.
Attractions
Must-see attractions for your itinerary
Westlake & Koreatown
Clad in terracotta tiles and adorned with copper decorative motifs, this 1929 art-deco diva was the country’s first department store designed for shoppers…
Westlake & Koreatown
The construction of this Byzantine-revival behemoth was overseen by Edgar Magnin, dubbed 'Rabbi of the Stars' due to his numerous Hollywood pals. Movie…
Westlake & Koreatown
The centerpiece of MacArthur Park is its 14ft-deep lake. Originally a swamp, the lake reached 6th St before the extension of Wilshire Blvd sliced right…
Guidebooks
Purchase our award-winning guidebooks
Get to the heart of Westlake & Koreatown with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.