Once home to the recording studio of Ray Charles, Mid City is a sprawling neighbourhood west of Downtown Los Angeles. It’s a popular residential area with an abundance of restaurants and retail stores, as well as an entertainment venue dating back to the 1930s.
Things to do in Mid-City
Musicals and plays are presented at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, which encompasses a theatre, a rehearsal studio and an open-air lobby. From the outdoor patio, there are wonderful views across the Hollywood Hills. Also of note is the Del Mar Theater, a 1939-built performance venue with an iconic neon facade. It now hosts changing art exhibitions.
For a retail fix, head to Midtown Crossing, a large shopping complex where you’ll find a Ross Dress for Less and a Lowe’s Home Improvement store. It’s a short walk from Queen Anne Park, a popular recreational destination with both indoor and outdoor sporting facilities. Along West Pico Boulevard are plenty of places where you can grab a bite to eat, including Tacos El Compita and Tom's Number 5 Chiliburgers.
Mid City makes an excellent base for visiting the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which houses more than 150,000 works dating from ancient times to the modern day. It is particularly renowned for its collections of Latin American, Islamic and Asian art, with Japanese works housed within a Bruce Goff-designed pavilion. Visit after dark to experience the monumental “Urban Light” sculpture, which features street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s.
Getting around Mid-City
Mid City is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Los Angeles and 45 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect to Mid City, although renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore the area.