Three Recommended Local-Only Souvenirs Around Downtown Los Angeles

Los Angeles has many attractive tourist areas, and at the same time, it offers a wide variety of unique and appealing souvenirs. This time, we’ll focus on Downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods to introduce some recommended souvenirs.

1. Ace Hotel Limited Goods (Downtown)

If you are looking for a souvenir that is unique to Los Angeles and hard to find, how about the limited goods from Ace Hotel? Located in Downtown, Ace Hotel is different from a typical luxury hotel, possessing a unique charm. It’s a little difficult to describe in words, but it has a playful Los Angeles vibe, giving off a distinctive atmosphere that can be perceived as both modern and nostalgic. It’s a popular hotel loved for that reason.
The limited goods sold at Ace Hotel are perfect as souvenirs. You can buy items such as Boston bags, tote bags, original shirts and hoodies, and stationery—simple, practical American-style products. They are not sold in Japan, and buying them online can be quite pricey. Receiving one as a gift would surely make anyone happy. They definitely work well as souvenirs. As a hotel, they also offer bath products, so if you enjoy using them during your stay, you can purchase them as souvenirs too.

2. The Soap Kitchen Handmade Soaps (Pasadena)

If you’re searching for souvenirs around Downtown Los Angeles, how about the handmade soaps from The Soap Kitchen in Pasadena? It’s about a 30-minute drive from Downtown, but Old Pasadena, where you can enjoy the old-town scenery, is a must-visit charming city. Compared to the Westside, it might not be as well-known, which makes it a bit of a hidden gem for sightseeing.
The Soap Kitchen’s soaps are made from natural ingredients like olive oil, essential oils, and herbs. Since they don’t use chemical materials, they are gentle on the skin, which is a big plus. They come in a wide variety, many with cute designs, making them delightful as souvenirs. In addition to sets, they also sell travel-size soaps, which are perfect for small souvenirs to hand out. There are also men’s soaps available, making them a great gift for a partner or a close male friend. Definitely worth considering.

3. Trader Joe’s Snacks and Eco Bags

For those who have finished sightseeing in Los Angeles and are thinking, “Now I just need to buy souvenirs…,” I recommend Trader Joe’s eco bags and snacks. Trader Joe’s can be thought of as a stylish supermarket that carries a variety of items, including food and daily necessities. But for souvenirs, the eco bags and snacks are the top recommendations.
Foreign snacks are different from Japanese ones, often with a unique flavor, which makes many people curious to try them. The snacks sold at Trader Joe’s often have stylish packaging and are delicious. They also offer store-brand original products, which make excellent souvenirs.
While buying snacks, be sure to grab an eco bag as well. They have recently become popular in Japan, and eco bags from the U.S., especially from Trader Joe’s, are quite trendy. They are affordable, well-loved by women, and have become a staple item for American souvenirs.

◎ Summary

We introduced recommended souvenirs from around Downtown Los Angeles. Many people may not have a clear image of what an “American souvenir” is, but everyday items that are commonplace in the U.S. can be rare and exciting for Japanese people. Eco bags, for example, are not limited to Trader Joe’s—many supermarkets have their own original products, so buying one from each store can be fun. Original goods from stores not found in Japan, like Ace Hotel, also seem to be popular gifts. Downtown has many stores that haven’t expanded to Japan, so products from these places make for great souvenirs. Hopefully, this serves as a helpful reference.