Grand Central Market: a downtown LA food-stop guide

Grand Central Market is at 317 South Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. It occupies the ground floor of the Beaux-Arts-style Homer Laughlin Building, which opened as a market in 1917.

The market began in October 1917 as the Wonder Market, filling the building’s entire ground floor. It describes itself as Los Angeles’ largest and oldest public market. Today, its mix includes legacy vendors and newer businesses; China Cafe has been open since 1959.

From Casa Bella Inn Downtown LA, Grand Central Market is about 8 minutes by car. Metro is another option: use Metro’s Trip Planner to plan transit directions and check routes.

You can take the A or E Line to Historic Broadway Station, or the B or D Line to Pershing Square Station, which the market describes as about one block away. Several Metro bus lines also stop nearby; use Metro’s route-planning tools to choose a bus connection.

The parking garage is at 308 South Hill Street. Parking costs $5.50 for the first 90 minutes, then $2 for each additional 15 minutes, with a $40 daily maximum. Rates and transit details can change, so check the official site before you go. Angels Flight Railway is a nearby sight to pair with your market visit.

Start by deciding whether you want to browse several stalls or make a beeline for a particular vendor. The market has 40 stalls and more than 40 vendors, including longtime businesses and newer arrivals. China Cafe, open since 1959, is one of its legacy vendors.

If you have a specific vendor in mind, check its hours directly before planning your visit: individual vendor hours vary. For a less fixed plan, the market is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., though the hours of individual stalls may differ.

For a day that starts in Westlake and continues through downtown, a one-day Los Angeles route from Westlake offers another way to shape the outing.

Angels Flight Railway is one nearby stop to combine with lunch at the market. Downtown LA’s visitor listing also places MOCA and the Music Center within walking distance of Grand Central Market, making it possible to link a food stop with other downtown sights.

Little Tokyo is another neighborhood to work into a downtown day; its character and visitor highlights are covered in this Little Tokyo neighborhood guide.

The market is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Its information desk is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vendor schedules vary, so contact a specific stall directly if its hours matter to your plans.

Opening hours

• Monday to Sunday: 8 AM–9 PM

Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.

Holiday hours differ from the regular schedule: the market closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Parking rates and operating details can change, so check the official site before you go.