Where to eat and drink near L.A. Live

Downtown nightlife entrpreneur Cedd Moses' experiment wth a private bar charing $2,200 in annual dues didn't exactly come at the right time, and so the precious cocktail museum that was the Doheny soon morphed into something more Latin and vibrant. Caña Rum Bar features 140 gourmet rums for cocktails that include mojitos, Tiki drinks and margaritas. The sense of exclusivity isn't gone, but the $2,200 membership is. It's now only $20.

The original El Cholo opened 1923, and as Los Angeles' oldest continuously operated Mexican restaurant, it probably hasn't been at the cutting edge of cuisine for something like 80 years. Still, the Mexican comfort food is fantastic and the atmosphere is historic in a way very few other LA eateries can manage. El Cholo Downtown opened in 2010, and people coming and going from L.A. Live and the Staples Center are continuously lured in with the eatery's must-have guacamole (made tableside), green corn tamales and the famous margaritas, by which all others are judged.

At Faith & Flower, a contemporary restaurant Downtown that focuses on California cuisine, the aim is to merge 1920s and modern day aesthetic. Executive chef Michael Hung, who previously helmed Michelin-starred La Folie in San Francisco, evokes the grandeur of the '20s with today's trend of elevated casual fare: deviled jidori eggs with kimchi, new potato salad, steak tartare—you get the idea. There is homemade cavatelli and dungeness crab risotto, and oysters if you're stopping by for a happy hour snack. Speaking of happy hour: Don't forget to order the Milk Punch, which has been featured in multiple "best cocktail" lists across the country.

Cedd Moses is also behind this Downtown haunt, a perfect mix of upscale cocktailery and comfortable dive, where you can come for a quick PBR or stay with a fancy, well-made cocktail. Prices are reasonable, the jukebox is stocked with oldies-meets-Coachella, and an old school arcade (think Pac-Man) allows for friendly drinking games. Do note, however, that dress code is enforced. A dive with a dress code—how very LA.