From music playing in Mariachi Plaza to neighbors gathered at El Mercadito, Boyle Heights is an established Mexican American community in eastern Los Angeles focused on bringing people together. Shops and restaurants sit between vibrant murals on Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, showcasing local businesses that have served the community for decades. Illustrating the local culture, events like Día de Los Muertos and the annual Mariachi Festival bring performances, vendors and more to the neighborhood.
Musicians performing at Mariachi Plaza.
El Mercado in Boyle Heights has numerous shopping stalls and first opened in 1968.
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A legacy of local businesses and restaurants
On Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, a Main Street-style business district, residents can stop by family businesses that have been passed down through generations. Candelas Guitars, run by third-generation guitar maker Tomás Delgado, has brought music to the neighborhood since 1947. “All the restaurants are on First Street. It’s restaurant row,” says Realtor Jesse Stamps, who works with Stamps Real Estate Group and has over a decade of experience in the area. Of these eateries, Al & Bea’s Mexican Food is a popular, no-frills taqueria with outdoor picnic table seating. El Mercado, also known as El Mercadito, is a shopping center filled with vendors and stalls selling everything from cowboy boots to classic Mexican desserts. It’s a community staple where locals gather to shop, eat and catch up with one another. Boyle Heights also has several local markets, as well as chain stores like Food 4 Less and Vallarta Supermarket, for everyday grocery shopping.
Many restaurants in Boyle Heights are decorated with vibrant murals.
Shops along the street in Boyle Heights make shooping fun and easy.
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Festive Mexican events
Boyle Heights’ Mariachi Plaza is a longstanding hub for community events as well as a gathering place for mariachi musicians. The Mariachi Festival, celebrated together with the Festival of Santa Cecilia, starts with a procession led by mariachi musicians dressed in their signature charro suits. The procession ends in the plaza, which marks the start of performances and other festival events. The annual Día de Los Muertos celebration starts in Mariachi Plaza and features an art market, performances and more. Libros Schmibros, located right next to Mariachi Plaza, hosts book clubs, children’s story time and other programming. For community plays and art exhibits, residents can visit Casa 0101, a theater on First Street.
Mariachi Plaza has been a gathering place for local mariachi musicians since the 1930s.
Casa 0101
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Diverse housing on compact lots
Located on the Los Angeles River, Boyle Heights is a dense urban neighborhood composed of grid-style blocks of homes on small lots often bedecked with palm trees and fences. Prospective buyers can find an assortment of single-family home options, many in the Spanish-style, which is also displayed in the community’s many Catholic churches. There are also options like Victorian homes, condos and townhouses. “Everywhere in LA has limited inventory, but Boyle Heights is a more affordable neighborhood,” Stamps says. Spanish-style homes range from $778,000 to $900,000, while Victorians start from $1.3 million and go up to $1.35 million.
homes
Bungalow homes are commonly found in Boyle Heights.
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Convenient public transportation
Bordered by major Los Angeles highways and connected to the Metro through Mariachi Plaza’s station, commuters have a variety of ways to get to downtown LA — only 2 miles away from one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. “Most people move there because it’s an up-and-coming area. It's also close to the Arts District, which is a really big plus,” Stamps says. The East Los Angeles Interchanges give access to interstates 5 and 10, plus Route 101 and State Route 60. For public transportation, residents can hop on the Metro Gold Line at Mariachi Plaza Station or opt for Metro and LA DASH buses. The closest medical center is White Memorial Hospital, and the nearest major airport is Hollywood Burbank Airport.
Metro Mariachi Plaza Station in Boyle Heights.
Boyle Heights has many bus stops.
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LA Unified Schools
Students in the area go to the Los Angeles Unified School District, which earns a B-plus rating according to Niche. Schools include First Street Elementary School, Hollenbeck Middle School and Theodore Roosevelt High School. The elementary school has a C rating, while the other schools earn B-minus grades. The high school offers the unique Academy of Music and Digital Production to help students prepare for careers as musicians or audio designers.
First Street Elementary School in Boyle Heights
Theodore Roosevelt Senior High in Boyle Heights
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A lake park and sports recreation
Hollenbeck Park features paved pathways around a man-made lake ideal for relaxing strolls. For those seeking out heart-pumping thrills, the park has a skate plaza designed by California Skateparks. It also has a playground, basketball courts and a picnic area with BBQ pits. At Hazard Recreation Center, athletes can play in ballfields or opt for handball and basketball courts. Residents who prefer exercise equipment can use the center’s indoor gym.
Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights
Hazard Recreation Center has skate park.
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Written By
Anna Anderson
Video By
Daniel Quattro
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