Black Owned Businesses, Arts & Culture in Los Angeles

In celebration of Black excellence past and present, we’ve curated this guide to discovering Black owned businesses, arts and culture in downtown Los Angeles. This list is definitely not exhaustive, but a few favorites from our team, and meant to support you in discovering some of the city’s gems. Know one we’ve missed? Drop us a line – we love receiving our guests’ personal recommendations.

Thumbnail photo courtesy of @comfort_la


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Photo courtesy of @postandbeamla @Erica Allen

Learn about the history of African American cuisine at Post & Beam LA

20 minutes from downtown LA you’ll find live music and Southern California comfort food in a space designed to make customers feel at home - open kitchen, spacious warm-hued main dining room, and a verdant garden patio. For an extra special experience, book ahead for a seat at Black Pot Supper Club – an intimate outdoor dinner series celebrating historic African American cuisine where you’ll enjoy an 8 course Heming & Hercules dinner by Chef Martin, as seen on Netflix’ High on the Hog. Post & Beam LA.


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Photo courtesy of @kaistble

Take comfort in DTLA at Kai’s Table

New to the DTLA scene and conveniently located minutes from Level, Kai’s Table’s globally inspired menu of classic comfort foods features fan-favorites like Lobster Tail & Grits, the Better Burger, and Jerk Chicken with Waffles, all delivering a flavor-packed culinary experience you won’t soon forget.


Celebrate a fusion of flavors at Woodspoon

If you need a definition for a fusion kitchen, Woodspoon is a perfect example. Woodspoon, a neighborhood favorite for over ten years, and home away from home for many DTLA residents, serves Brazillian fare inspired by the African, European, and Indian culinary influences specific to the Minas Gerais region of Brazil, where chef/owner Natalia Pereira hails from. Come hungry and be sure to try favorites including the croquettes, pastels Portuguese, and pichanha.


Enjoy a lazy Sunday brunch at Comfort LA (DTLA)

With two locations in Los Angeles, including one in DTLA, Comfort LA takes a clean eating approach to Southern cuisine with healthy cooking techniques and fresh, locally-sourced organic ingredients. Not to miss? Their Lazy Sunday Brunch of chicken and waffles, plus take home a bottle of their signature ‘That Sauce’ sauce.



Agnes Baddoo
Photo courtesy of @Agnes Baddoo

Shop handmade leather goods from Agnes Baddoo

Designer and stylist Agnes Baddoo creates leather investment pieces – bags, totes, belts – that are handmade in Los Angeles with a focus on quality product and craftsmanship. Find stockists in Venice, LA and Culver City or order online for direct to home retail therapy.


View a tribute to an MLB great at Dodger Stadium

If you are a sports fan, Dodger Stadium is a must-visit as home of the LA Dodgers. Here, you can also find the statue of Jackie Robinson - the first Black man to play Major League Baseball, breaking the MLB’s color barrier. Robinson was the first Black player to win Major League Baseball’s most valuable player award in 1949 and the first to be honored with a statue at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.


Learn local history at the California African American Museum

Known as CAAM – the Californian African American Museum, located close to the USC Campus and about 15 minutes from Level LA, is a hub for exploring African American art, history, and culture, with a focus on California and the West. This museum is the first African American museum fully supported by a state, celebrating how Black communities have influenced the Western part of the country.


Spend time finding your next great read at Eso Won Books

Calling all literary lovers – visit Eso Won Books in Leimert Park, a veteran bookshop spotlighting a range of titles about & written by African Americans and one of the nation’s oldest Black-owned bookstores. This bookshop has seen a parade of prominent Black authors, including Muhammad Ali, President Barack Obama, Toni Morrison, and Ta-Nehisi Coates.


Celebrate the power of music in social change at the Grammy Museum

Songs of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom Inside Grammy Museum, examines the role music has played in informing and inspiring social consciousness throughout American history. Recently, the exhibit has been updated to include the Black Lives Matter movement, songs that fight for LGBTQ + rights, and how music from artists like H.E.R., Dave Specter and Mickey Guyton continue the traditions of using music as an agent and catalyst for social change.