LA’s newest contemporary art museum, known as the Broad, is absolutely mindblowing. From the architectural design to the featured art to the fashionable hipsters enjoying it all inside, you will see just what makes DTLA tick. Learn everything you need to know when visiting The Broad with this handy dandy guide.
If you live in Los Angeles, you know that The Broad is the go-to art spot. Opened on September 20th, 2015, The Broad is a contemporary art museum with over 2,000 pieces of art housed in a “honeycomb like” exterior. While the Getty and LACMA may be cool, The Broad offers a new, trendy perspective for diehard (or occasional) art lovers.
Transportation and Parking
The Broad museum is located across the street from the Walt Disney Concert Hall on 221 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Major freeways nearby include the 110, the 101 and the 10.
Like anywhere else in LA, getting around by car is best. Although I might make an exception in downtown. Filled with one-way streets, crazy drivers and lots of traffic, it might just be best to take a bus or bike!
There is a parking lot right below the museum should you decide to drive. Make sure you validate before heading back downstairs into the lot or else you’ll have to pay $22.00 for parking!
Getting Tickets
Tickets to The Broad are free to the public! But obtaining them is slightly trickier compared to other museums in the city.
Free tickets to the museum must be reserved in advance online. And the wait is usually pretty long (think, about 1 month)! However, if you’re feeling spontaneous and want to visit the museum the day of, you can always wait stand-by. Just remember that stand-by entrance isn’t always a guarantee. Make sure to check with the museum’s site/Twitter account to see if standby is available that day.
Special exhibitions, like this season’s Cindy Sherman exhibit, costs $12 entry. The price of rotating exhibits depends on the artist and works available. Most of the time, you can count on the price being free unless the artist is very famous or the works are extensive. Yayoi Kusama’s famous Infinity Mirrored Room is always free.
Bloggers, vloggers and writers! If you want free admission to the museum for almost anytime, including the price special exhibits, apply for a press pass!
What to See
Is everything an answer? To get through the museum and exhibits quickly will take about 1 hour. If you love to casually meander and discuss the artwork with friends or family, give it about 2 hours.
The Infinity Room is probably the most talked about exhibit at the museum. The wait in line took us about 20 minutes and allows for 45 seconds alone in the tiny, spacelike room.
Where to Eat
The Broad’s attached restaurant is called Otium, a contemporary restaurant run by Chef Timothy Hollingsworth who blends Napa Valley cuisine with his Angeleno experience. Otium is located adjacent to Grand Avenue, a street known for its upscale restaurant scene.
Hours here are:
Lunch: Tuesday – Friday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brunch: Saturday and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: Thursday through Saturday 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Bar: Thursday through Saturday, opens at 5:30 p.m.
If you’re looking for something away from the art crowd, here are a list of my favorites nearby!
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The Eggslut
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Bottega Louie
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Perch
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71 Above at Skyspace LA
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Faith & Flower
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Church & State
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Bäco Mercat
Why You’ll Love It
There are a ton of reasons to love this museum! First of all, it’s small compared to The Natural History Museum, The Getty, LACMA, the Getty Villa and the Museum of Contemporary Art. That makes this museum so much more approachable for people who want to appreciate the artwork quickly and not feel overwhelmed.
Second of all, it’s beautiful! Enjoy the museum from the outside while waiting in line. Enjoy the cave like wonder on the first floor. Or simple enjoy the bright light shining down around you on the top floor.
Finally, it’s a contemporary art lover’s dream! With featured artists like Cindy Sherman, Jeff Koons, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, and Roy Liechtenstein, you’ll have an afternoon with plenty to think and talk about.
