Olvera Street: Shopping & Dining at Downtown Los Angeles' Birthplace

Olvera Street is the birthplace of old Los Angeles. Here you can go back in time without ever leaving downtown L.A. Located one block from Chinatown, the original pueblo was built near here in 1781. Today, you can wander the cobblestone streets serenaded by a strolling mariachi band.

Open daily from 10 am- 7pm, Olvera Street attracts 2 million visitors each year. Check for scheduled concerts, parades, and festivals on site. One favorite is the Blessing of the Animals, held the Saturday before Easter every year since 1930. Humans bring their animals to be blessed by religious authorities, followed by an animal parade.

Olvera Street is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. This includes 27 historic buildings lining Olvera Street plus the Mexican marketplace.

Admission to Olvera Street is free.

Shops and stalls are bulging with an eclectic mix of Mexican blankets, fine leather goods, guitars, painted masks, woven handbags, sombreros, handcrafted jewelry, t-shirts, and flags.

Food ranges from Mexican candies and baked goods, to sit down restaurants scattered amongst the wares. On a trip here this summer, we enjoyed dining at El Paseo Inn, open since the 1930s.