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 🤭) 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
40 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
108 games played
“We had an amazing time at Amityville yesterday! As a Long Island-born gal, I always jump at the chance to see any Amityville movies or attractions, and this one did not disappoint! While the room was fairly easy for us, it was still very enjoyable and had great ambiance. A number of reviews mention the low light conditions, but we felt that it was very well executed, with just enough light to keep the environment spooky but still explorable. If you struggle in low-light environments, this may not be for you, but if you like a spooky escape room and don't mind low light, you'll love Amityville!”
a
ariket
36 games played
“An instant classic for me!! The narrative was great, and the game had some elements I’ve never gotten to do before that totally rocked and really upped the stakes. I was laughing, I was horrified— it was everything I want in an escape room. A must-do!!”
madiescaped
50 games played
“Wow! We loved this one! A great challenge, lots to do for our group of three. The set decoration was so good, very tactile satisfying puzzles. Fantastic puzzle chains! Our GM Sam was amazing too! We came back here after doing Black Dragon, which is one of our top favorite rooms. The Atlantis room is so cool, and the ambience is top notch. We are pretty experienced and if you’re pretty new to escape rooms, I’d say think about having more people as there is a LOT to do. We can’t wait to come back for the rest of their rooms!”
kestrelredfern
38 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
572 games played
“This is a very immersive and highly decorated escape room. We entered as three people but would be helpful to have more people in this room as multiple puzzles are present at the same time. The NPC was good at acting, making the experience even more immersive.”
chenhaoq
34 games played
“For the space that they had, they packed a whole lot of puzzles and I always rank highly having more puzzles in my experiences. They have more puzzles in this room than Black Dragon (at least it seemed like it). The puzzles were also deviously creative in using the simplest of resources! This is a great room to bring a bigger group. You could split the group up and it will allow for everyone to have something meaningful to do. I still remember laughing at a the bookcase puzzle so look out for that if you want a good chuckle. The premise is that we are helping an old lady find her cat, Whiskers. We get story, we get set design, and high puzzle count! Very cute and an added bonus if you are a cat lover like me 🐱”
deniecee
264 games played
“This was a fun escape room. The live actor definitely added a bit of thrill. I enjoyed the puzzles and the whole room was fairly linear and straight forward. We escaped with about 25 minutes to spare, so it was a bit simple for a team of 8.”
mishlepley
37 games played
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 🤭) 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
40 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
108 games played
Amityville
60Out
- Escape room
- IRL
“We had an amazing time at Amityville yesterday! As a Long Island-born gal, I always jump at the chance to see any Amityville movies or attractions, and this one did not disappoint! While the room was fairly easy for us, it was still very enjoyable and had great ambiance. A number of reviews mention the low light conditions, but we felt that it was very well executed, with just enough light to keep the environment spooky but still explorable. If you struggle in low-light environments, this may not be for you, but if you like a spooky escape room and don't mind low light, you'll love Amityville!”
a
ariket
36 games played
Case '93
60Out
- Escape room
- IRL
“An instant classic for me!! The narrative was great, and the game had some elements I’ve never gotten to do before that totally rocked and really upped the stakes. I was laughing, I was horrified— it was everything I want in an escape room. A must-do!!”
madiescaped
50 games played
![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
“Wow! We loved this one! A great challenge, lots to do for our group of three. The set decoration was so good, very tactile satisfying puzzles. Fantastic puzzle chains! Our GM Sam was amazing too! We came back here after doing Black Dragon, which is one of our top favorite rooms. The Atlantis room is so cool, and the ambience is top notch. We are pretty experienced and if you’re pretty new to escape rooms, I’d say think about having more people as there is a LOT to do. We can’t wait to come back for the rest of their rooms!”
kestrelredfern
38 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
572 games played
Black Dragon
Escape Room LA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This is a very immersive and highly decorated escape room. We entered as three people but would be helpful to have more people in this room as multiple puzzles are present at the same time. The NPC was good at acting, making the experience even more immersive.”
chenhaoq
34 games played
Here, Kitty Kitty
Escape Room LA
- Escape room
- IRL
“For the space that they had, they packed a whole lot of puzzles and I always rank highly having more puzzles in my experiences. They have more puzzles in this room than Black Dragon (at least it seemed like it). The puzzles were also deviously creative in using the simplest of resources! This is a great room to bring a bigger group. You could split the group up and it will allow for everyone to have something meaningful to do. I still remember laughing at a the bookcase puzzle so look out for that if you want a good chuckle. The premise is that we are helping an old lady find her cat, Whiskers. We get story, we get set design, and high puzzle count! Very cute and an added bonus if you are a cat lover like me 🐱”
deniecee
264 games played
Zombie Lab
Horror Escapes LA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This was a fun escape room. The live actor definitely added a bit of thrill. I enjoyed the puzzles and the whole room was fairly linear and straight forward. We escaped with about 25 minutes to spare, so it was a bit simple for a team of 8.”
mishlepley
37 games played
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!