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La Plaza at Olvera Street
Category: Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
845 N Alameda StLos Angeles, CA 90012
Neighborhood: Chinatown
(213) 680-2525
13 reviews for La Plaza at Olvera Street
13 reviews in English
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Review from Denise L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/1/2012
What is there not to love about this place. Yes it is full of tourism and vendors, but it is also full of culture and history... birth place of Los Angeles, The Chinese American Museum, Calle de los Negros where the Chinese massacre took place, the place where Brown Buffalo and many others rallied during the Chicano Movement, The Italian Hall where you can see Siqueiros controversial mural, La America Tropical, Casa Avila Adobe, I can go on and on...
At first glance this place seems like a place in a touristic part of Mexico but there is so MUCH more to this place and every time you go you will have a different experience.
Chinatown is about two blocks away. Union Station is across the street and so is La Plaza de Cultura y Artes. Lots of restaurants, vendors, music, performers, culture, and so much more. -
Review from Melissa G.
North Las Vegas, NV
9/29/2011
Beautiful Little LITTLE Street of Mexico. Over priced items, But nice to look at.
China town is near and is walking distance. I would go back again, because you can find an item or two at a reasonable price. This street is next door to the station and convenient. Also Dodger Stadium is Close.
A little down side is that it closes way early. It was 8 pm and more than half the shops were closed. Booooooo..... -
Review from Frank S.
Rowland Heights, CA
2/3/2012 1 photo
A lot of history here written on the plaques and it's a much better experience doing the free tour with the guide to really get the whole story. His office is next to the old firehouse and he does tours every hour. Probably 2 stars without him.
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Review from Jennifer P.
Cerritos, CA
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great central Olvera spot for music, performances, and shows. Can get crowded but if you're in the area anyway to roam the historic area, why not? If you don't like it, you can walk across the street to Union Station and take the Metro to Chinatown or Little Tokyo...or pretty much anywhere in Southern California. If you're looking for parking, you can find some cheap deals for 5-7 dollars to park the entire day. Don't park at Union Station, where parking is $2 per every 20 minutes with a max of $14.
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Review from Mike H.
Visalia, CA
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
was in china town area and walked over here, nice to look around, most of the prices were way to high for what you were getting. Did have a person palying in the court yard area and had free restrooms which were clean and stocked. better then the restroom in the china town area, a quarter no light, no paper.
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Review from Alfred V.
Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA
Olvera Street is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles, otherwise known as El Pueblo Historic Monument. The colorful village features 27 historic buildings with a traditional Mexican style plaza area. Wander around the marketplace and shop for souvenirs including handcrafted Mexican wares typical of old Mexico. There are also free docent tours by Las Angelitas.
Stroll through this beautiful street and stop for the popular taquitos or tacos at the outdoor cafes. Olvera Street also offers a variety of traditional authentic Mexican cuisine, with delicious enchiladas, mole and other native dishes.
On weekends you can enjoy outdoor entertainment by strolling bollero musicians, Mariachis music and performances by Aztec Indians and folkloric dancing.
The original pueblo was built by the 44 settlers of Los Angeles in 1781. Today Olvera Street is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the City of Angels, located right across the street from Union Station, La Placita Church and one block from Chinatown. -
Review from Cesar A.
Santa Ana, CA
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love coming here with my family. Sundays is super crowded as you can expect, but you will most likel have more performers to entertain you at the plazita.
If you never visited, try some mexican candies from the street venders or eat at one of the many restaurants. There's nice sit down places or you can try one of the awesome taquito joints where you can score some horchata (cool rice drink). Viva! -
Review from Jenn T.
Los Angeles, CA
10/9/2010
This was one of the stops for the mini "Amazing Race" rip off for Los Angeles I competed in with my partner in crime... really made us take a closer look at Olvera Street.
Although, I would still be pretty wary of going there at night, on the weekends or during appropriate cultural holidays it is a great place to visit that can be rich with live performers,music and vendors. It's really a great place of interest for the culturally and historically deprived. -
Review from liz c.
8/4/2010
Here's what I would do:
Grab some Chinese food to go from up the street. Grab a seat on the plaza benches and savor your cheap food and live music.
This is a great place to take groups, especially groups of kids. There are informational signs around the area explaining the history of Los Angeles' Chinatown, Olvera Street and nearby Union Station. Leave the books at home and give them a taste of the real thing!
Support your local historical sites - they create the enduring vibrancy of our cities. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Chicago, IL
6/27/2007 2 photos
Mexican fiesta flares in the middle of down town LA!
As I walked out of Union Station, I danced across the street to the sound of guitars and drums playing joyfully. I had to find where and why these amigos were playing to the small crowd gathered around in this small gazebo courtyard surrounded by both wooden and concrete made benches.
After reading a worn and torn historic sign wrapped around a lamp post, I learned that this Mexican park is part of the historic district in LA and is one of the sights this city of angels was founded on back in the late 1800s by the Spanish. The sign quickly told how the city was established by immigrants and how it continued to attract different people from several ethnic backgrounds even to this day.
As I waited for my friend to pick me up, I sat under the trees and listened to the Mexican classic guitars strummed to the flapping of the colorful fiesta flags strung through the trees. So instead of waiting at the Station, join the party in this little courtyard park and appreciate the cultural mix. -
Review from Ashley B.
South Gate, CA
12/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
The plaza is so gorgeous, when I was a kid I used to run around it and then sit and eat my food on the steps or the seats around the plaza. I also remember how amazing it is when they have performances out there, on any major cultural day, they usually have performances out there, mariachis, native american dances, dances from Mexico and live music. It's really an experience and gorgeous when it happens
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Review from romeo s.
Kenmore, WA
9/13/2010
Don't hang out there past 11 pm. There are a lot of roaches that come out of the bushes at NIGHT.
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Review from E. S.
San Jose, CA
3/8/2010
Lots of neat statues & plaques to read about how old & important this area is. Even more plaques just seconds away (but outside the official plaza area- it's all kinda one in the same though ;) Liked the red lanterns everywhere!* Bathrooms, restaurants (on carts) & minimal homeless weirdos. You can even take a picture with a realistic looking fake DONKEY (but again that's towards O st. are there boundaries? lol!) Neat place- would like to come back during an official celebration!*(I think a Chinese one was coming up & that's why the lanterns were there).
