Dressed in their traditional charro suits, Mexican mariachi musicians have been descending on Boyle Heights' old-school zócalo (public square) since the 1930s, trolling for work. Competing for attention is the entrance to Mariachi Plaza metro station, with its colored-glass main canopy evocative of a Mexican folk dancer's fan.
Mariachi Plaza
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
6.73 MILES
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1.86 MILES
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Nearby Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights attractions
1. Southern California Institute of Architecture
0.82 MILES
The surrounding area got a nod of respectability when this institute moved into the former Santa Fe Freight Yard in 2001. It’s a progressive laboratory…
0.91 MILES
The LA outpost of internationally acclaimed gallery Hauser & Wirth has art fiends in a flurry with its museum-standard exhibits of modern and contemporary…
3. Japanese American National Museum
1.13 MILES
A great first stop in Little Tokyo, this is the country’s first museum dedicated to the Japanese immigrant experience. The 2nd floor is home to the…
1.13 MILES
Built on the site of LA’s original Chinatown, Union Station opened in 1939 as America’s last grand rail station. It’s a glamorous exercise in Mission…
1.14 MILES
MOCA showcases its big names and blockbuster exhibits at its main building on Grand Ave, freeing its original site in Little Tokyo to focus on more…
1.19 MILES
The unusual-looking tower is a yagura, a traditional fire-lookout tower typically found in rural Japan. It’s the gateway to this kitschy outdoor mall,…
1.23 MILES
Across the LA River is LA’s largest artist colony, housed in a former brewery. Most lofts and studios are generally closed to the public except during the…
1.23 MILES
El Pueblo’s central, magnolia-shaded square is crowned by a pretty wrought-iron gazebo. Sleepy and a little sketchy during the week, it often turns into a…