The 12 best escape rooms in Downtown Los Angeles
From the mysteries of Atlantis to whimsical fairytales, where to play the most fantastical escape rooms in DTLA.
“Note: My boyfriend and I personally thought that this room was SPOOKY because of how dark it is and because of certain audio noises. As somebody who gets scared pretty easily, I got spooked somewhat often and don’t consider this a “not scary” escape room. Other than that, I absolutely LOVED this escape room! The Houdini theme was definitely on POINT with the props and puzzles in this escape room. It’s a somewhat challenging room for two people, but luckily we were able to escape with 1 hint (we’re very stubborn with accepting hints & try not to unless we absolutely need it đź¤) and 9 minutes to spare! All of the puzzles flowed pretty well and it was a lot of fun! I highly recommend trying this escape room out!”
missmisschelle
27 games played
“This room feels like a fun house. It just keeps going and going and going. In the best way possible. My favorite escape games are the ones that make you feel like a kid running around wanting to explore things. That’s this room. It’s BEAUTIFUL and huge. But not massive where you couldn’t do it with a smaller crew. I don’t remember much of the puzzles but I remember walking out of there having a really amazing time.”
Acoalfang218
93 games played
“Had some serious scary moments. They were predictable, but still effective somehow! There was an element that was missing, but our GM handled it beautifully and we still made it out with time to spare! My piece of advice would be to volunteer as tribute!”
KrystalKurio
56 games played
“We've done several Atlantis themes before and this one is the best one yet! Our GM was fantastic she didn't make it weird being in the room. She kept to herself reading a book and was available when we were stuck.”
SignalDisruptors
101 games played
“This is an excellent Mayan pyramid room (and not Egyptian pyramid as I had initially thought before coming in). The whole room gives off an Indiana Jones vibe that adds excitement and curiosity into the puzzled and set. The puzzles were creative, fun, and logical. Made us feel super smart! The last room, in which we were in a time crunch as a group of 2, was frustrating though. It made our escape sweeter! GM was in our room the whole time helping us out and making interesting comments and observations regarding the room as if she were witnessing it for the first time. She was nice and fun to have around! It’s a worthy adventure for fans of good puzzles and large sets, and you can count on it!”
Panda
434 games played
“I really enjoyed this room, right from the beginning when you have a rather unique interactive introduction, all the way through the large number of well-constructed puzzles. The set design is also excellent. Highly recommended.”
mollems
499 games played
Horror Escapes LA
Mostly Negative
1041 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
Houdini
60Out
- Escape room
- IRL
“Note: My boyfriend and I personally thought that this room was SPOOKY because of how dark it is and because of certain audio noises. As somebody who gets scared pretty easily, I got spooked somewhat often and don’t consider this a “not scary” escape room. Other than that, I absolutely LOVED this escape room! The Houdini theme was definitely on POINT with the props and puzzles in this escape room. It’s a somewhat challenging room for two people, but luckily we were able to escape with 1 hint (we’re very stubborn with accepting hints & try not to unless we absolutely need it đź¤) and 9 minutes to spare! All of the puzzles flowed pretty well and it was a lot of fun! I highly recommend trying this escape room out!”
missmisschelle
27 games played
Hyde Circus
60Out
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room feels like a fun house. It just keeps going and going and going. In the best way possible. My favorite escape games are the ones that make you feel like a kid running around wanting to explore things. That’s this room. It’s BEAUTIFUL and huge. But not massive where you couldn’t do it with a smaller crew. I don’t remember much of the puzzles but I remember walking out of there having a really amazing time.”
Acoalfang218
93 games played
Amityville
60Out
- Escape room
- IRL
“Had some serious scary moments. They were predictable, but still effective somehow! There was an element that was missing, but our GM handled it beautifully and we still made it out with time to spare! My piece of advice would be to volunteer as tribute!”
KrystalKurio
56 games played
Wicked Witch
60Out
- Escape room
- IRL
![The Fantastic LA Race 1 [Outdoor]](https://res.cloudinary.com/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_654/f_auto/v1/store/s/bcc9c66a-50fd-479e-83bf-ce33618566c7.jpeg)
The Fantastic LA Race 1 [Outdoor]
Fantastic Race
- Escape room
- IRL
- Other
![The Fantastic LA Race 2 [Outdoor]](https://res.cloudinary.com/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_654/f_auto/v1/store/s/95d88d1c-0a39-4c2c-b1f4-8730df01782d.jpeg)
The Fantastic LA Race 2 [Outdoor]
Fantastic Race
- Escape room
- IRL
Atlantis
Escape Room LA
- Escape room
- IRL
“We've done several Atlantis themes before and this one is the best one yet! Our GM was fantastic she didn't make it weird being in the room. She kept to herself reading a book and was available when we were stuck.”
SignalDisruptors
101 games played
The Pyramid
Escape Room LA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This is an excellent Mayan pyramid room (and not Egyptian pyramid as I had initially thought before coming in). The whole room gives off an Indiana Jones vibe that adds excitement and curiosity into the puzzled and set. The puzzles were creative, fun, and logical. Made us feel super smart! The last room, in which we were in a time crunch as a group of 2, was frustrating though. It made our escape sweeter! GM was in our room the whole time helping us out and making interesting comments and observations regarding the room as if she were witnessing it for the first time. She was nice and fun to have around! It’s a worthy adventure for fans of good puzzles and large sets, and you can count on it!”
Panda
434 games played
Black Dragon
Escape Room LA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I really enjoyed this room, right from the beginning when you have a rather unique interactive introduction, all the way through the large number of well-constructed puzzles. The set design is also excellent. Highly recommended.”
mollems
499 games played
Zombie Lab
Horror Escapes LA
- Escape room
- IRL
Captive Chamber
Horror Escapes LA
- Escape room
- IRL
Insomniac
Horror Escapes LA
- Escape room
- IRL
More Escape Rooms
About Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles, or DTLA as it has come to be known, used to be one of the least desirable parts of the city. But DTLA has seen a wave of revitalization over the past decade that has helped transform it into one of the most exciting and attractive areas in all of Southern California. Today, DTLA is known for its trendy restaurants, diverse cultural experiences, and, of course, incredible escape rooms. On your next visit to Downtown LA, be sure to grab a bite at the Grand Central Market, take in a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, or catch a game at the Crypto.com arena (formerly known as the Staples Center) in LA Live.
Learn More About DTLA Escape Rooms
If you’re looking for the epicenter of escape rooms, look no further than DLTA. Since the first escape rooms arrived in Los Angeles in 2016, the film capital of the United States hasn’t stopped crafting these immersive puzzle experiences. In fact, Los Angeles proper is home to 49 different escape room venues and DTLA has emerged as the arguable heart of the LA escape room scene. Stash House is a perennial hit with players across all levels of experience. Lab Rat at Hatch Escapes continues to win award after awards. And if experiencing a healthy fright is your thing, then Quest Room’s Project Minotaur is for you. With over 170 escape games in the entire area, the possibilities are nearly endless — you’ll find games with themes of horror, adventure, crime, espionage, and plenty you may not expect.
How Do Escape Rooms Work?
Remember those point-and-click adventure games where you’re locked in a room and have to solve puzzles to find the key and escape? Those online games were the original inspiration for the live escape rooms you’ll find all across the world today. An escape room is an immersive experience where you (and your team of 2 or more people) are locked in a room with a series of puzzles for 60 minutes. To escape and win the game, you have to look for clues, solve the puzzles, and find the key. While most escape rooms only give you 60 minutes to complete the challenge, others may have shorter or longer time limits. Many venues are private rooms where you and your team are the only players. However, some places may pair you with other groups who booked a slot at the same time. And don’t worry about getting stuck, asking for hints on a difficult puzzle is totally normal. While the original escape room (created by SCRAP in 2007) had a fairly simple aesthetic, today’s escape games often take you into a different world. Artistic set designs, secret doors, and unique interactive elements are all part of the fun. It’s like an adventure game that you can interact with in real life. But if you’re hoping to preview any rooms before you book a game somewhere, detailed images and videos can be hard to find. To keep the puzzles a secret and preserve the experience of seeing the room for the first time, most venues only offer a few photos or a short trailer about the room’s theme or narrative. The only way to know what it’s like is to go and try it for yourself!
Find the Best DTLA Escape Rooms with Morty
There are plenty of awesome escape rooms to choose from in DTLA. The goal of Morty is to make escape rooms more accessible for everyone to find and play. With Morty, you can: - Browse escape rooms anywhere in the country - Read reviews and ratings from other community members - Book a room together with your friends Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned escape room enthusiast, our aim is to help you play more escape rooms and visit more immersive attractions.
Frequently asked questions
How Do I Book an Escape Room in DTLA?
Most escape room venues don’t accept walk-ins, and time slots for popular games may fill up fast. Besides that, not every escape room is the same — some have varying difficulties, and you don’t want to get stuck playing a room that’s beyond your experience level. That’s why the best way to book an escape room in DTLA is through the Morty app. You can get updates on new games, read reviews, compare details (including difficulty, theme, runtime) and plan an outing with friends, all on the same platform. You can even coordinate games with your friends collaboratively. Download the Morty app and book your adventure today!