Lucky you, you’re headed to the LA Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats movie series. Want to make a night of it but not sure where to dine? Here are a few suggestions from a local.
I try to get to at least one of the Last Remaining Seats movies because stepping in to one of these classic old Hollywood movie palaces is like stepping into a time machine. If you’ve been on Handlebar Bike Tours’ Downtown LA bike tour, it’s an opportunity to finally get inside these architectural treasures we feature on the tour.
Dinner and drinks close to Broadway in DTLA
Downtown LA offers several standout destinations that complement the glamour and history of Broadway’s theater district.
For pre-show cocktails, The Wolves is hard to beat. Housed in a restored 1900s-era building on Spring Street, the space feels like a European grand salon, filled with antiques, dramatic lighting, and craft cocktails. Walking into The Wolves feels like stepping into another era, making it the perfect introduction to an evening centered around historic Los Angeles. Plus they’ve got great elevated pub food.
For a quick bite, pizza or share-ables new kid on the block Florentine offers a modern rooftop setting and a menu designed for lingering conversations before or after the theater. Located right across from the Los Angeles Theater, it is a little tricky to get inside since the door to the place is off the alley in the back of the building, the signage is a little neon flower. IYKYK
Locals love Kippered. Its chill atmosphere, excellent wines and tinned fish make it a favorite destination for those who want a little nosh before the show. It is less than a Block from the Million Dollar Theater I love to combine Kippered with Maccheroni Republic, put your name on the list across the street, and wait at Kippered with a lovely glass of Cremant for your text from LA’s pasta Mecca.
If you’re looking for more of a proper meal try the excellent French cuisine at L’Appart in the Spring Street Arcade. Great food, twinkling string lights, drifting jazz and wonderful wines it’s the kind of place that turns a movie night into a memorable occasion.
These recommendations are within walking distance to all the theaters hosting Last Remaining Seats.
What is Last Remaining Seats?
Each summer, the LA Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats series opens the doors to some of Downtown Los Angeles’ most magnificent historic theaters for screenings of classic films. The series has become one of the city’s most beloved cultural traditions, drawing movie lovers, preservation enthusiasts, and architecture fans from across Southern California.
The screenings take place in Broadway’s celebrated movie palaces, including the Orpheum Theatre, the Los Angeles Theatre, and the Million Dollar Theatre. Many events also include special opportunities to explore these venues and learn about their extraordinary history. I’m hitting up LA Confidential at the Los Angeles Theater and Elmore Leonard is speaking before the movie, based on his book. That’s the kind of special evening the Conservancy puts together. If it wasn’t for the Conservancy there would be no Handlebar Bike Tours!
These aren’t ordinary movie theaters. Built during the golden age of cinema, they feature soaring ceilings, ornate chandeliers, lavish decorative details, and grand staircases designed to make every moviegoer feel like a star. Experiencing a classic film inside one of these spaces is as much about the building as it is about the movie.
See the Theaters on a Downtown LA Tour
Guests on Handlebar Bike Tours’ Downtown LA bike tour already get an up-close look at Broadway’s legendary theater district. Along the route, riders learn the stories behind these architectural masterpieces, but from the exterior.
The Last Remaining Seats series provides the perfect follow-up experience. After seeing the theaters from the street and learning their history during the tour, visitors can return to walk through the doors and experience these spaces as generations of Angelenos once did.