Hollywood Bowl Food, Seating, and Parking Guide
Nestled in the picturesque Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, CA is a concentric-arched band shell that is distinctive to the Hollywood Bowl. This legendary outdoor venue opened in 1922 and is the largest natural outdoor amphitheater in the United States. Set against the backdrop of Hollywood Hills and the famous Hollywood Sign, visitors to the Bowl enjoy a night of music beneath the stars surrounded by a natural landscape.
This venue guide serves to provide you with everything you need to know about the Hollywood Bowl, from insider tips on security to historical facts. Plan a visit and see why it's been named Pollstar magazine's Best Major Outdoor Venue for the 13th year in a row!
Hollywood Bowl Fast Facts
| Owner: | Los Angeles County |
| Operated By: | Los Angeles Philharmonic Association |
| Home to: | Los Angeles Philharmonic (summer), Hollywood Bowl Orchestra |
| Architects: | Frank Gehry, Lloyd Wright, Myron Hunt |
| Seating Capicity: | 17,500 |
| Opened: | July 11, 1922 |
| Address: | 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068 |
Hollywood Bowl Ratings
| Yelp: | 4.5 |
| Trip Advisor: | 4.5 |
| Google: | 4.7 |
Hollywood Bowl Features
- The Hollywood Bowl Museum, which celebrates artistic greatness in the music industry and encourages emerging artists and discovery.
- Patina at the Hollywood Bowl, a seasonal rooftop steakhouse with vegetarian options.
- The Plaza Marketplace is a newly built restaurant located in the main Plaza. It sells picnic necessities like sandwiches, salads, desserts, as well as beer and wine. Guests have the option of pre-ordering a picnic for pick-up.
- Bowl Store for souvenirs like hoodies, totes, hats, etc.
- A public park that surrounds the venue, with rolling hills and 14 picnic grounds for patrons to immerse themselves in the natural landscape.
- Iconic concentric arches form a band shell that acts as the symbol for the venue.
- Tucked in the foot of Hollywood Hills for scenic views.
- Large video screens on both sides of the stage for an intimate experience regardless of seating.
Hollywood Bowl Insights
Hollywood Bowl Parking Tips
Parking at the Hollywood Bowl is extremely limited, with a total of four lots that open four hours prior to the start of the event. The lots are stack parked, so plan to stay throughout the entire duration of the performance as you won't be able to leave early. Lot A is the main Bowl parking lot and costs $22 the day of ($21 in advance). Lot B costs $20 ($19 in advance), Lots C and D cost $18. You can pay with cash or card.
Lot B (also known as the Odin parking lot) is located on the west side of Highland Avenue and features several levels. At the top, there are accessible parking spaces near the pathway to the Box Office Plaza. The entrance is located at the intersection of Odin St. and Highland Avenue. Lot B offers electric cart services and is the Ride and Share pick up and drop off location. Lots C and D are located on the east side of Highland Avenue, with the latter featuring group picnic areas. Because of the Bowl parking's high prices, limited availability, and inconvenience of not being able to leave early, we suggest exploring other options for getting to the bowl.Here are a few alternatives:
- The Bowl offers shuttles that are $6 per person. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or by phone two weeks prior to the event. If want to pay in person, only cash is accepted.
- You can also use the Park & Ride service from Lot B, which costs $7 per person round trip when pre-purchased online and $12 cash only at the lot. Make sure you arrive 10-20 minutes early so you don't miss your ride!
- Avoid traffic altogether with LA's Metro public transport system, which includes rail or bus! A roundtrip fare costs $3.50. Pay an extra $1 for a reusable TAP card, good for the whole day.
- If traveling by rail, take the Metro Red Line to Hollywood/Highland and catch the Hollywood Bowl Shuttle at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard or go for a short walk north on Highland Avenue. You can also take the Red, Purple, or Gold Line to Union Station and transfer onto the Hollywood Bowl Shuttle at Patsaouras Transit Plaza.
- If you're thinking about bussing it, you can take the Metro Local bus 237/656 from L.A. or San Fernando Valley. If you're coming from West Hills, Burbank, or Hollywood, take the Metro Local 222 to get to the Bowl.
Hollywood Bowl Security
Hollywood Bowl patrons have said that security at the venue is helpful and quick. There are metal detectors when you first walk in so be prepared to remove anything that isn't permitted to go through them. Because this process delays the amount of time it takes to enter the venue, we suggest arriving 30 minutes early to avoid long lines for entry.
What can you bring to the Bowl and what should you leave at home?
Food and drinks are allowed with the exception of alcohol, glass containers, and reusable bottles. Coolers, picnic baskets and large containers no bigger than 15" wide, 15" high, or 22" long are allowed. They must fit beneath the seats so that aisles can remain clear.
Hollywood Bowl Prohibited Items:
- Cameras with detachable lenses, camera stands
- Recording devices, selfie sticks
- Computer tablets
- Laser pointers
- Umbrellas
- Drones
Hollywood Bowl Seating
Visitors have reported that the view of the stage and sound quality is good from any seat. If you want to enjoy a picnic with a view while you watch the show, the elevated garden boxes on the Terrace level feature tables for an enhanced experience. The box seats are canvas-covered collapsible chairs in groups of 4 to 6 surrounded by wooden partitions.
The bench seats start next to the Terrace boxes and trail down to the front of the theater. Visitors have said that they are not very comfortable, so we suggest renting a seat pad for only $1.
SuperSeats are plastic stadium-style seats with built-in cup holders and a great alternative to bench seats. They're set in the center of the audience for the ultimate concert experience.
Hollywood Bowl Food & Concessions
Each level at the Bowl has restrooms, onsite memorabilia stands, and concession stands for your convenience.
It has been reported that the lines for concession food can get extremely long and difficult to get through. In addition, the menu is expensive, so we recommend bringing your own food and beverages to enjoy.
Hollywood Bowl Weather
Depending on the time of year, Los Angeles weather can be warm during the day and cool at night. We recommend bringing a blanket or sweater to cover up if the temperature drops.
10 Closest Hotels Near the Hollywood Bowl
Best Western Hollywood Plaza Inn
2011 N Highland Ave, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90068-3238
0.3 milesHoliday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hollywood Hotel Walk of Fame
1921 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90068-3236
0.4 milesHilton Garden Inn Los Angeles/Hollywood
2005 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068-3238
0.4 milesBLVD Hotel & Suites
2010 N Highland Ave, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90068-3239
0.4 milesLexen Hotel - Hollywood
2018 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068-3276
0.4 milesHollywood Hills Hotel
1999 N Sycamore Ave, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90068-3782
0.5 milesMagic Castle Hotel
7025 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90028-8603
0.6 milesHollywood Orchid Suites
1753 Orchid Ave, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90028-4302
0.6 milesHollywood Celebrity Hotel
1775 Orchid Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028-4302
0.6 milesLoews Hollywood Hotel
1755 N Highland Ave, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90028-4403
0.6 miles
