Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles
As we wrap up the summer season at The Hollywood Bowl, the L.A. Philharmonic flies south (about 17 minutes) to their winter home at The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles.
This is an amazing venue, and certainly one of the most photographed structures for visitors coming to L.A. This Frank Ghery designed building must be seen in person and on foot. We recommend walking around the entire building to fully understand the dimensions and architecture. Opened about this same time back in 2003, it’s become an incredibly iconic building, not only in DTLA (Downtown L.A.) but all of Southern California.
The LA Phil, with Gustavo Dudamel as their Music and Artistic Director, never disappoints. As we say with the Hollywood Bowl, see anything to say you’ve been there—-same thing goes with the concert hall. The experience is all about the venue, the entertainment, and the people.
Upcoming shows include Mirga Conducts Mahler, October 19-21. Chicago Symphony Orchestra October 22. Brahms & Hillsborg, October 24. M. Ward-Rhiannon Giddens, October 25, and Symphonie Fantastique with Susanna Malkki, October 27-29.
This is actually the 4th installment to The Music Center in DTLA. The others include the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (home to The Academy Awards for many years), The Mark Taper Forum, and The Ahmanson Theater. The entire complex attracts about 1.3 million visitors per year.
If going to any of the above, you’ve got a handful of choices for food and drink prior and after your shows. The on-site locations include Patina, Kendall’s, The Boardroom, Pinot Grill and Pinot Bar. There’s also spots for authentic Mexican tacos, and a coffee bar with pastries. Some of our nearby favorites include Little Sister, Bottega Louie, and Clifton’s Cafeteria.
Don’t have time to actually see a show at Walt Disney Concert Hall? Glitterati Tours provides a tour of Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills with a taste of DTLA, called the Essential LA, Plus Downtown, which touches off on many of the most popular sightseeing destinations in the DTLA area.