Also known as (take a big breath) El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula, El Pueblo is a historic neighborhood located in the oldest part of Los Angeles. In the nineteenth century, this area saw a succession of Spaniards, Mexicans, and Americans who had been competing for the area since 1781, the year the city was founded.
Today it is a colorful and lively area that awakens your tastebuds, thanks to Mexican specialties such as churros and tacos, and fills your ears with mariachi music echoing in the air.
Contents
Location and Directions
El Pueblo and Olvera Street are located in Downtown Los Angeles, a short walk from Union Station. If you don’t have a car (although it is not the recommended option in Los Angeles. Read our tips on how to get around Los Angeles, just go to the Union Station metro station.
Simply type in your GPS the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument (125 Paseo De La Plaza) or Union Station and park nearby. There is a paid parking lot:
- El Pueblo Parking
- 171 St Arcadia Parking
- 5 Star Parking
- El Pueblo de Los Angeles Parking Lot 4
You can find all addresses on the map above
Main Attractions
Old Plaza
Old Plaza was built in the 1820s and served as the hub of the city’s economic and social life. Today it contains three very important statues dedicated to prominent figures: King Charles III of Spain (who ordered that the city be founded in 1780), Felipe de Neve (the Spanish governor of Spanish California), and Junípero Serra (founder of several missions in Upper California).
In addition to the statues, the square includes the following points of interest:
- Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church: also called La Placita, this church was founded in 1814 and then rebuilt in 1861. It was one of the first three Historical-Cultural Monuments in Los Angeles and is now part of the city’s archdiocese. Masses are celebrated in both English and Spanish.
- Fire Station/The Los Angeles County Fire Museum: the oldest fire station in Los Angeles is located in Old Plaza. The Old Plaza Firehouse was built with just over $4,000 in 1884 and was in operation until 1897, the same year that saw the beginning of a succession of short-lived businesses ranging from hotels to saloons. Visit any day of the week (Mon-Sun, 10:00 am-3:00 pm) to browse through helmets, photographs, and objects from the 19th and 20th century Los Angeles firefighters.
- The Blessing of the Animals at the Biscailuz Building: under its arches, the Biscailuz Building displays a great work that narrates the scene of the blessing of the animals by St. Francis. Every year on Easter, the Archbishop of Los Angeles blesses animals on Olvera Street.
- Pico House: as early as 1870, Los Angeles began to have shiny luxury hotels and chic places where wealthy businessmen would meet. This is the case with the Pico House, a three-story hotel with 82 elegant rooms and lit by large windows. There is an inner courtyard with a fountain and even tropical birds where guests can relax. Unfortunately, it is closed to the public and you’ll have to hope to find a public event to attend there. It is indeed a very beautiful building. Its style, which imitates Italian architecture, originated in the nineteenth century in the United States and England.
Olvera Street
In front of the square you can enjoy the rich Mexican culture (even more so) by walking down Olvera Street, the most famous shopping street in the area, perfect for buying original souvenirs such as terracotta items, sombreros, bags, and blankets with Aztec legends.
Olvera Street is colorful during the day and enchanting in the evening. It is also full of authentic restaurants (get ready to eat spicy food!) and there are two historic houses that you should definitely visit:
- Sepulveda House: this is a small museum that is worth going to even for a short visit (admission is free) to learn about the first inhabitants of Los Angeles during the colonial era. You will immediately recognize it thanks to the green and white awnings outside.
- Avila Adobe: this is the oldest house in Los Angeles and it was built by Francisco Avila in 1818. It takes its name from the adobe or adobo used to build this house, which is a mixture of clay, straw, and sand that is dried in the sun. The original structure was much larger than the one you will see and extended all the way to the center of Olvera Street. Admission is free here as well.
Monument of Antonio Aguilar
The 10-ft tall statue is dedicated to the famous Mexican singer and actor Antonio Aguilar, who died at the age of 88 in 2007. It was unveiled in 2012 and aims to commemorate Antonio Aguilar, who made more than 100 films and 150 albums during his extraordinary career.
Neighborhood Museums
- Chinese American Museum: the CAM is the first museum in Southern California dedicated to the history of the Chinese in the state. It is located inside the Garnier Building, the oldest building still standing in Southern California. It has three floors, but you can visit it in about half an hour (look for it because it’s a bit hidden). Make sure to stop by the acupuncture and herbs room. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. It is optional to pay for admission and the suggested donation is $3.
- The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles: let’s step away from Mexican culture for a moment. The IAMLA is dedicated to the history of Italian Americans in the United States and California. It is a relatively new museum that opened its doors in 2016 and has interesting permanent exhibits (which you can see here) and other temporary exhibits throughout the year. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and admission is free.
- LA Plaza De Culturas y Artes: of course, there is a museum of Mexican American culture! Like the other two museums, this one retraces the history of an ethnic population in California, in this case, Mexicans, through films, photographs, music, and stories. You can’t miss it because it is located next to the church. LA Plaza is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and admission is free.
Events: Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Cinco de Mayo
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the dead) is not a day to be sad. In Mexico, it is celebrated over the course of multiple days (November 1 and 2) with dancing, parades, music, and food like pan de muerto and calaveras. The festival is renowned throughout the world and is just as significant in the U.S., especially in states with a large population of Mexican origin. In El Pueblo, Dia de los Muertos festivities begin on October 25th at 7:00 pm with a procession on Olvera Street.
If you are going to Los Angeles in May, plan to go for Cinco de Mayo (5 and 6). This is another very popular Mexican festival that, of course, includes traditional dancing and food and there is also the Taco Madness Festival in LA Plaza De Culturas y Artes. As the name suggests, this festival features tacos.
Where to Eat
The whole area, especially Olvera Street, is perfect for eating Mexican food. These are the best restaurants:
- El Paseo Inn: since 1930, El Paseo Inn has satisfied the palates of Americans, Mexicans, and tourists from all over the world. As a popular establishment in this area, it is usually crowded on weekends. Don’t worry, just be patient and once you’ve taken your seat, accompany your meal with a margarita.
- La Noche Buena Restaurant: although it has plain decor and simple traditional dishes, it is definitely one of the best in the area. It serves excellent food, especially for breakfast.
- Juanita’s Café: Juanita’s Café is also a very casual and popular restaurant (try the guacamole).
- Mr. Churro: are you in the mood for dessert? For $7 you can eat two stuffed churros. I recommend the cream-stuffed churros.
Other restaurants you should consider are Cielito Lindo, El Paseo Inn, and El Rancho Grande.
Where to Stay
If you were hoping to stay overnight in the El Pueblo district you will probably have to give up. There are not many accommodations in the historic district, but you will find several in the surrounding area. The neighborhood is not far from Downtown Los Angeles, which is one of the best areas to stay in Los Angeles both because of its strategic location and because of the vast selection of accommodations.
To search in this area, you can read our article in which we provide tips to help you find a hotel in Downtown Los Angeles and a complete overview of all the best areas to find accommodations and recommended hotels. Please click on the button below to read our guide:
Our tips for staying in Los Angeles
Photo Gallery: Faces from El Pueblo
Photo gallery curated by Giorgio Nardini