Vibiana is a dazzling piece of Italian Baroque-inspired architecture that once served as the city’s very first archdiocese cathedral. The magnificent building survived massive earthquakes and near-demolition before experiencing an incredible, award-winning revitalization.
Today, the pristine white interior and soaring marble details offer the ultimate, luminous backdrop for elegant classical string quartet performances, weddings and more. The crystalline acoustics in this historic sanctuary carry every single note with absolute purity, making it perfect for music videos like The Weeknd’s ‘Save Your Tears’, which was filmed there. Everything Everywhere All At Once even filmed scenes in the Main Hall!
A Resurrection of Los Angeles History
The road to becoming a cultural oasis wasn’t easy. Inspired by the L.A. bishop’s childhood church in Spain, the cathedral was originally modeled by W.J. Matthews and Ezra F. Kysor. In 1922, it was further enlarged with a stately Indiana limestone facade. However, after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the structure was decommissioned and nearly lost forever to the wrecking ball.
In 1999, developers Tom Gilmore and Jerri Perrone stepped in to save the Los Angeles Cultural Monument. They utilized the city’s Adaptive Reuse Ordinance to transform the space into the centerpiece of downtown’s revival. After a painstaking seismic retrofit and the 2007 reattachment of its iconic bell tower lantern, Vibiana was reborn. In 2019, the site received the Los Angeles Conservancy’s highest honor, the Chair’s Award, for its creative and persistent preservation.
An Urban Oasis
A lush, six-thousand-square-foot outdoor courtyard sits quietly adjacent to the main hall. It functions as a literal urban oasis in the middle of the city’s bustling concrete grid. It’s a gorgeous, atmospheric setting for starry-eyed, pre-show conversations right beneath the cathedral’s iconic limestone bell tower.
Candlelight concerts
The Candlelight concert series brings a pair of unique, atmospheric musical experiences to Vibiana, a stunning historic cathedral-turned-event space in Downtown Los Angeles. Performed by the Orchid Quartet, the first event celebrates a legendary discography by the glow of thousands of candles. The second event offers a contemporary twist with ‘90s Hip-Hop on Strings, reimagining iconic tracks from artists such as 2Pac. With Redbird restaurant just next door, you can reserve a table and go straight from the concert to something tasty.
Candlelight Downtown LA: Tribute to The Beatles
Candlelight Downtown LA: 90s Hip-Hop on Strings
Dinner at Redbird and a Show
Foodies will absolutely swoon over the culinary magic right next door at Michelin-recognised Redbird. Chef Neal Fraser meticulously transformed the cathedral’s former 1934 rectory into a magnificent modern American restaurant.
The kitchen focuses on multi-cultural seasonal flavors, allowing you to spend hours enjoying the legendary Everything Parker Rolls with sweet date butter, sharing a perfectly crisp Red Wattle Pork Chop, or sipping a bespoke cocktail. The bar program is a destination in itself, offering original creations that pair perfectly with the bold, New American plates. From the marble-topped bar to the intimate lounge, Redbird is the final, delicious piece of the Vibiana puzzle.
Al Fresco Dining Under the Stars
The Main Dining Room features a brilliant retractable greenhouse roof, creating an airy, electric atmosphere where diners eat directly under the open sky. Whether you are there for a sophisticated dinner or their popular weekend brunch featuring Ricotta Pancakes and Chilaquiles, the setting is unmatched.