The beating heart of LA has a new lease on life: once rundown, this is now a vibrant, urban neighborhood.
Downtown has a high violent crime rate and an above average property crime rate for Los Angeles.
It wasn't so long ago that Downtown LA was a dirty, unwelcoming, uninteresting cluster of office buildings that emptied out in the evening, leaving the streets to be ruled by people best avoided at night. It's still a bit dirty and there are still pockets of homeless encampments, but in all other ways it's enjoyed a complete renaissance. This is now a cool, desirable neighborhood to live in for Angelenos looking for more of an urban lifestyle.
Many of its buildings have been turned into spacious loft apartments, some of which are located in beautiful Art Deco buildings. New development is adding to the mix of city living, cool boutique hotels have moved in, and the streets are full of great restaurants and bars. The Arts District is a cool, industrial section of Downtown that's become a haven for foodies.
Downtown LA is bordered on the north by Echo Park and Chinatown, on the east by Boyle Heights, on the south by Historic South-Central, and on the west by Pico-Union and Westlake.
Commute:
Burbank: 12.8 miles / 20-40 minutes by car / 50-55 minutes by transit
Century City: 11.5 miles / 30-70 minutes by car / 65-70 minutes by transit
Santa Monica: 15.2 miles / 40-75 minutes by car / 60-65 minutes by transit
Downtown Los Angeles LOCAL schools
Downtown Los Angeles Local Flavor 
The name alone will grab your attention, but this counter at the entrance of a historic food court wows patrons with their egg sandwiches.
A famous architectural landmark that's partially open to the public, the Bradbury was built in 1893 and has been featured in many notable films.
Tucked away in the Little Tokyo section of DTLA, Daikokuya is known as one of the best ramen restaurants in Los Angeles. Expect a line for this tiny spot.
Photo Credits: Thanks to @dtlawanderer, @dtlaartsdistrict, @dtla_everyday for your great photos of this neighborhood!
