Leimert Park is one of Los Angeles's most important Black cultural districts, centred on a walkable village of galleries, bookshops, performance spaces, and small restaurants. It is not polished in the way the west side can be, which is part of the point: the neighbourhood feels local, political, musical, and lived-in.
Time a visit for an event, a market day, or an evening performance if you can. The nearby Baldwin Hills viewpoints make an easy add-on, with wide views back toward downtown and the basin.