Where is Olvera Street located?

Olvera Street, known as “the birthplace of Los Angeles,” is a Mexican Marketplace that recreates a romantic “Old Los Angeles” with a block-long narrow, tree-shaded, brick-lined market with old structures, painted stalls, street vendors, cafes, restaurants and gift shops. Olvera Street was created in 1930 “to preserve and present the customs and trades of early California."

Situated in the midst of Downtown in the area where the city was born in 1781, Olvera Street is a pedestrian mall is a block-long narrow, tree-shaded, brick-lined marketplace where merchants sell their colorful 'piñatas', hanging puppets in white peasant garb, Mexican pottery, 'serapes', mounted bull horns, and 'sombreros' leather products and folk art. Its a popular tourist attraction.

Many of the merchants on Olvera Street today are descended from the original vendors. Visitors from around the world stroll around the marketplace smelling the ever-present taquitos and tacos at the outdoor cafes, listening to the strolling mariachi music, and watching Aztecs and Mexican folkloric dancers.