Mariachi Plaza: What to Know Before You Visit

Mariachi Plaza sits at 1st Street and Boyle Street in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Metro’s station map also identifies the station on 1st Street, making transit part of the plaza’s immediate setting. From Maywood Inn, it’s about a 10-minute drive.

The plaza’s story is closely tied to the neighborhood’s mariachi musicians. In the 1930s, musicians began gathering near the Boyle Hotel to seek work; that informal meeting place became associated with the plaza. The Boyle Hotel, also known as the Mariachi Hotel, dates to 1889 and stands beside it.

Take a look at the Cantera stone kiosk and the plaza’s 17 wrought-iron benches. Their number has a specific meaning: the benches symbolize the 17 municipalities of Jalisco, Mexico. The kiosk and the surrounding streetscape give you a sense of how the plaza’s public space, neighborhood history and musical identity come together.

The plaza itself does not have established public opening hours, admission fees or an official recommended visit duration in the available information, so plan around what you want to see rather than a set itinerary.

You can reach Mariachi Plaza by car from Maywood or plan a transit trip using the Metro station there. Metro says the station opened in phases in 2003 and 2016.

Metro line 108 travels through Maywood via Slauson Avenue, but the available information does not establish a direct line 108 connection from Maywood to Mariachi Plaza. Check Metro’s official schedule page before you go for current departures and a suitable transfer.

If you’re planning other outings around Maywood, the Vincent Price Art Museum guide covers a separate destination.

Mariachi Plaza has a Metro station, but it is not listed among the E Line stations with parking in the station-connection information. Indiana and Atlantic are listed as E Line parking stations.

If you plan to leave a car near the plaza, pay close attention to the signs on the street you choose; parking rules can vary by curb and block.

• Red, white and blue curb regulations apply around the clock unless a sign says otherwise.
• Yellow curbs are generally for commercial loading. Restrictions usually apply Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., unless posted otherwise.
• Green curbs are for short-term parking, generally 15 or 30 minutes as posted. Restrictions usually apply Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., unless posted otherwise.
• Some streets may have Preferential Parking District rules that limit parking by vehicles without permits. Follow the signs where you park.

Metro also provides electronic bike lockers at Mariachi Plaza. You can access a locker through the BikeLink app or directly at the locker with a payment card.

Before you go: For current transit schedules, check the official site before you go, and follow posted parking signs. The available information does not establish regular public hours or accessibility details for the plaza.

Mariachi Plaza is also associated with community gatherings. Metrolink describes processions for the feast day of Saint Cecilia as one type of event connected with the plaza. The available information does not establish a regular event calendar, so treat that as context rather than a promise of something happening during your visit.

Keep your plans flexible: the plaza has a distinctive kiosk, benches and a long-standing connection to mariachi musicians. You can take in those details at your own pace, then use the station or nearby streets to continue your day in Boyle Heights.