There was a time when it was an open question whether Los Angeles even had a true downtown. Sure, there was an area that went by that name, but when you live in a city as sprawled-out as L.A., the idea of a central business district that acts as "the heart of the city" loses some of its significance. (The area's decades of economic decline and blight didn't help.)

But today downtown is a destination again. Thanks to ambitious projects like the L.A. Live entertainment complex and the acclaimed Walt Disney Concert Hall, there are plenty of appealing things to do in downtown L.A. these days. In fact, downtown is home to some of the top places to go in L.A. to take in a concert, enjoy some history, or grab a craft cocktail. Here are the activities you should do when you're there:

Go Bar-Hopping

L.A. doesn't enjoy the open-all-night reputation that New York does (thank a state law that forces bars to close at 2 a.m.), but the city's nightlife has flourished regardless. Downtown in particular is home to a number of notable craft cocktail destinations, not to mention the occasional dive bar. Here's where to head:

• The Crocker Club - Walk right through the vault door at this former bank building, which now features a dance floor and DJ booth. Get admission and bottle service for four starting at $150.
• The Down and Out - Celebrity mug shots deck the walls here, and you can even take your own at the photo booth before tossing back drinks like the Dodgers Faderade (Ketel One vodka and blue Gatorade). Get deals on food and drinks starting at $12.
• The Edison - Don't miss the lounge filled with turn-of-the-century generators at this former power plant, which found new life as an ultra-fancy steampunk cocktail bar.
• Seven Grand - Whiskey's the word here; the menu features hundreds of varieties that range from cask-strength Irish spirits to single malts from Japan and India.
• Club crawls - Skip the lines and get the VIP treatment with services like L.A. Club Crawl, which shepherds partiers from one hotspot to another during all-night events. Book a club crawl starting at $20 for two people.

See a Performance

Downtown L.A. hasn't always been the cultural destination it is today. In fact, it wasn't long ago that the area was mainly identified with a protracted narrative of decline and urban decay.

Things changed in 2003, when architect Frank Gehry unveiled his $130-million-dollar Walt Disney Concert Hall. With striking curves of stainless steel and an acoustical quality that Frommer's says "equals or surpasses those of the best concert halls in the world," the building would come to symbolize downtown's 21st-century renaissance, and it easily ranks among the best Los Angeles attractions. Here are some other great places to catch some culture downtown:

• Music Center - Walt Disney Concert Hall is only one piece of this celebrated cultural center, which is also home to Mark Taper Forum, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and Ahmanson Theater. That makes the center the place to see all manner of performing arts companies, including the Los Angeles Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Center Theatre Group.

• Theaters on Broadway - Yes, L.A. has its own Broadway, and yes, it's also lined with theaters, many of which were originally built as opulent movie palaces. Today venues like the Orpheum Theater and the Million Dollar Theater still host occasional film screenings, plus you can sometimes see concerts, comedy, and other performances.

Visit L.A. Live

Together with Walt Disney Concert Hall, the L.A. Live complex stands as the most prominent symbol of downtown's 21st Century makeover. Developers and taxpayers spent billions to grow the area north of the Staples Center, which today comprises movie theaters, clubs, music venues, and restaurants. Highlights include:

• Grammy Museum - Check out four floors of interactive exhibits and artifacts that range from Stevie Ray Vaughan's battered Fender Broadcaster to Michael Jackson's sequined gloves.

• Conga Room - Owned by a celebrity cohort that includes Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Smits, this nightclub welcomes top salsa and Latin jazz artists, not to mention superstars like Justin Timberlake and Jamie Foxx.

• Microsoft Theater - Major musical acts and comedians are always playing this 7,100-seat venue, which often hosts awards shows including the Emmys, the ESPYs, and the VMAs.

Sample the Food

With all the attention that L.A. Live and other new additions garner, it's easy to overlook the institutions that have flourished in downtown for decades. Two of the area's eateries feature rich—if conflicting—histories. Phillipe the Original and Cole's have both been open since 1908, and both claim to have invented the French dip. It hardly matters who's right, as both restaurants serve prime specimens of the sandwich, piled high with beef, pork, lamb, or turkey.

Here are a few other must-try spots:

• Grand Central Market - This public market has been in operation since 1917, but it's only become a true culinary destination in recent years with the addition of hip vendors like Horse Thief BBQ and Eggslut.

• The Little Easy - This cozy gastropub nails upscale Cajun, and even has a popular lunch buffet on weekdays. Get Cajun and Creole fare starting at $15.

• Ice Cream Lab - Choose a flavor, then watch it appear as if by magic (but really by science) thanks to an almost-instantaneous liquid-nitrogen process. Get ice cream starting at $8.

• Chado Tea Room - Sip your choice of more than 300 teas while munching on scones and sandwiches in this charming tea room. Get afternoon tea starting at $31.50 for two.

• Walking food tours - If you really want to get a sense of the downtown food scene, schedule a tour that will take you to many of its most buzzed-about spots. Book a tour from Sidewalk Food Tours of Los Angeles starting at $49.

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