Mystery Box

Let’s all be honest here. Most of DTLA is a dirty, dilapidated shithole. The streets in this particular area are lined with cockroaches (seriously, there are so many goddamn disgusting cockroaches outside this venue), and the neighborhood is beyond sketch.
It would have been 5 stars had this been located in Orange County. Anaheim, Fullerton, or even Santa Ana would have been perfect. But alas, the Mystery Box is located right in the middle of an it-​needs-​to-​be-​fully-​gentrified-​yesterday dump.
We came here to see the technical glory that is Archspire for the third time. Overall, the pricing was fair, and the show was worth the drive.
The venue itself is a gorgeous industrial loft that also happens to have great acoustics. The space is divided up into three distinct sections: the first is the check-​in area with a unisex bathroom (meh) and really neat lighting; the second room is where the stage is located; the third is an outdoor yard where merch displays, fresh air, and cheap tacos are available.
I wish I could say I’d return, because it’s probably one of the best small venues I’ve been to in all my years of headbanging. But holy fucking shit, those cockroaches are going to give me a panic attack if I come back.

When you go to a venue of any sort in LA you’re likely to find the same sort of experience. Doesn’t matter if the bar is tended by an aspiring actor or some chick who laughs more than she mixes drinks — the prices are bound to be high, there will be plenty of dudes with finger tattoos and the bathrooms will be vandalized and missing toilet paper by the end of the night. Some of these things can’t be helped, it’s the nature of the beast, but for a space that is still very new, the Mystery Box is already standing out as a place with character. (I mean, the mascot is an interdimensional wizard lizard named Mr. E. Box.) You can tell these guys are having fun which definitely bleeds over into the vibe.
The warehouse itself provides plenty of space for any sort of purpose, be it a comedy night, music performance, art show or anything else you could need. In addition to two separate indoor rooms with different vibes, there is an outdoor patio out back that can be covered or not depending on the time of day. They have recently added a custom-​made bar that can be moved anywhere in the building. Another plus is that they sell drink tickets (called mystery bux) which really cuts down on the line hassle at the bar.
Another thing that sets it apart is that there’s plenty of free parking around the area! If you go around the side of the building there’s a parking lot that won’t charge, in addition to all the street parking surrounding the space. (woo!)
The main attraction of this place though HAS to be the hidden wardrobe in the greenroom which leads to this pretty cool place where this guy with goat legs hangs out. If you avoid the Ice Queen it’s a blast. But don’t be surprised if time ends up running away from you! You know what they say… Time makes fools of us all!
Overall this is a great space whether you’re looking for a place to rent or just attending one of the many shows. I will definitely be coming back to the Mystery Box in the past and future, and you should too!

Pretty good, parking was solid and the venue was fun. Not much of a bar and no working bathroom though.

This venue is a hidden gem in DTLA. I just performed in the brand new monthly Graffiti Comedy show here on Friday, June 6^th and had a blast. The front room is large enough to hold a cocktail party, showcase art or just hang out, while the back room — with it’s hanging swings, high tables and graffiti walls are where the main events take place. The owners were great and super fun to talk to and very supportive of hosting live comedy in the space. Plus there’s a donation-​based bar. Overall, a great event spot and place to consider doing your event or a shoot. It’s right around the corner from Tony’s, Church and State and Pizzanista, so grab your hipster you found on Tinder, grab a bite and then check out whatever cool thing is happening at the Mystery Box!

Went to the Heavy Meta release party here… Mystery Box is a really interesting event space in the downtown LA Arts District. Huge indoor and outdoor spaces with a stage and plenty of room to party/​mingle. The space always has great art and interesting décor pieces. Hosts a variety of shows so I’ll be sure to keep up with the Facebook page. Excited to see what’s next!

Great location for events, been to a few art shows and comedy nights and love the space! It gets really busy so it’s best to come early to the big events. Tons of parking behind the building and lots of places to eat in the area.