Recommended Free Tools
You can visit many of the real places shown in La La Land, but “visit” does not always mean going inside: the list includes public landmarks, working businesses, private residential exteriors, a fictional venue’s filming location, and a studio set that is not a public café. TripSavvy’s guide, updated September 10, 2024, counts 23 numbered entries; several entries group more than one site. Treat business details as leads to confirm, not guarantees of current hours or access.
The locations span Hollywood and Burbank, Griffith Park and Los Feliz, Downtown Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach, Pasadena, Long Beach, and Watts. Plan by area rather than as a single walking tour, and never stop on a freeway to recreate the opening scene.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![La La Land [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-msMGMq6L._SL160_.jpg)
|
La La Land [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD] | $9.56 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![La La Land UHD Blu Ray [Blu-ray] [2019] [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nwdV-0vaL._SL160_.jpg)
|
La La Land UHD Blu Ray [Blu-ray] [2019] [4K UHD] | $31.03 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![LA LA LAND Collector's Edition (2 Discs) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51J6qC13j1L._SL160_.jpg)
|
LA LA LAND Collector's Edition (2 Discs) [Blu-ray] | $76.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![La La Land 4K Ultra HD [Blu-ray + Digital HD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51GktTSDTyL._SL160_.jpg)
|
La La Land 4K Ultra HD [Blu-ray + Digital HD] | $17.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
La La Land (2016) (Blu-ray) | $23.96 | Buy on Amazon |
Hollywood and Burbank
These stops range from restaurants and music venues to streetscapes and film locations that are not themselves open attractions. Check each business’s current hours and visitor rules before setting out.
1. The opening freeway traffic jam
The opening number was filmed on the eastbound transition from the 105 to the 110. This is an active freeway connection, not a safe viewing point: do not stop, walk, or stand on freeway infrastructure. TripSavvy suggests viewing from the Harbor Freeway Metro station area instead. The scene’s scale and choreography are cinematic; the road is not a place to recreate them. (TripSavvy’s location guide)
#1 Best Overall
- From Summit Entertainment. In this modern take on the Hollywood musical from Damien Chazelle, the Academy Award-nominated writer and director of WHIPLASH, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. But as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they wor
2. Mia’s job at Warner Bros. Cafe
The café where Mia works was a Warner Bros. backlot set, not a normal public restaurant. A Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a separate, ticketed visit, and its current offering may not include or reproduce the café set. Check the studio’s official tour information before planning around it; do not assume the film location is on view.
3. Mia’s apartment exterior
TripSavvy identifies the El Cordova apartments, 1728 Third Street in Long Beach, as the exterior location for Mia’s apartment. It is a condominium building, not a visitor attraction. View it from public space without entering, disturbing residents, or treating the building as a film set open to visitors.
4. The neon-montage restaurants and clubs
The montage groups four real places: Paty’s, Musso & Frank Grill, Formosa Cafe, and the Roxy. They are separate businesses, not a single stop; confirm each one’s current operating status, hours, and entry terms before adding it to an itinerary. (TripSavvy’s location guide)
5. The walk home after the party
The sequence uses Vine Street, Castle Argyle, and a mural at Hollywood Bowl Self Storage beneath the freeway. Think of this as a streetscape and exterior walk, not a controlled visitor site. Be mindful of traffic, nearby businesses, and people who live or work in the area.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →6. The “You Are the Star” mural
The mural is at Hollywood Boulevard and Wilcox Avenue. In the film, it is presented as though it were the restaurant exterior; the mural’s real location and its fictional role are different things. It is an outdoor landmark to see from public space, not the restaurant depicted in the story. (TripSavvy’s location guide; Visit California)
Rank #2
7. Smoke House
Smoke House, at 4420 West Lakeside Drive in Burbank, is the restaurant identified with Sebastian’s Christmas-carol scene. It is a working restaurant, so check current opening hours and dining policies before making it a meal stop. Discover Los Angeles also describes its role in the film. (TripSavvy’s location guide; Discover Los Angeles)
8. The fictional Van Beek
Van Beek Tapas & Tunes is fictional. TripSavvy identifies a location near the former Retro Dairy Mart in Burbank as the filming location used to represent it. You can look for the real-world setting, but you cannot visit Van Beek as an actual bar or restaurant.
20. El Rey Theatre
This Mid-Wilshire venue supplied the interior for the Messengers’ concert. It is an event venue, not a film-tour attraction: entry depends on its current event schedule and ticketing. Check the venue’s listings before going.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
21. Chateau Marmont
The Sunset Strip hotel appears as Mia’s arrival destination. TripSavvy says the interior shown in the film was actually shot at Orcutt Ranch. Chateau Marmont is a hotel, not a general film-tour stop; do not expect access to private guest areas.
22. The former Black bar
TripSavvy identifies the former Hollywood bar’s exterior as the exterior of Seb’s club and describes the business as closed. This is an exterior filming location, not an open bar to visit.
Griffith Park and Los Feliz
9. Cathy’s Corner overlook
The overlook on Mt. Hollywood Drive in Griffith Park is the setting for Mia and Sebastian’s “A Lovely Night” dance. Discover Los Angeles identifies the sequence as filmed at Cathy’s Corner. It is a park viewpoint reached on foot; do not assume vehicle access or expect the nearby house party from the film to be part of the visit. Check current park access and trail conditions. (Discover Los Angeles)
14. Griffith Observatory
The Observatory appears in the couple’s date sequence, but the film’s planetarium scene was recreated on a studio set and does not exactly match the present planetarium. The Observatory’s official visitor information says admission to the building and grounds is free; its hours vary, nearby parking is paid and limited, and congestion can lead to road closures. Transit is an option the Observatory recommends considering. Check its live hours, notices, and getting-here guidance before you go. (Griffith Observatory: Visit; Griffith Observatory: Getting Here)
15. Fern Dell Trail
The trail in Griffith Park appears in the dating montage. The flowers visible in the film were added by set decorators, so the present-day trail is not an exact recreation. Check park and trail conditions before setting out.
Hermosa Beach
10. Lighthouse Cafe
The Lighthouse Cafe at 30 Pier Avenue is a real music club associated with the film’s jazz scenes. Discover Los Angeles says the venue has presented jazz since May 1949, though its current programming also spans other genres. Check the club’s calendar, entry rules, and any age requirements before visiting. (Discover Los Angeles)
11. Hermosa Beach Pier
The pier is the public coastal landmark associated with “City of Stars,” a short walk from the Lighthouse Cafe. Set decorators added lights for the movie; expect the real pier, not a permanent recreation of the film’s look. (TripSavvy’s location guide)
Rank #4
- From Summit Entertainment. In this modern take on the Hollywood musical from Damien Chazelle, the Academy Award-nominated writer and director of WHIPLASH, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. But as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they wor
Pasadena
12. Rialto Theatre
The 1925 South Pasadena theatre is not a standard public cinema: TripSavvy says it is now a church. Visit Pasadena advises checking current hours and rules. Do not count on ordinary public interior access; confirm directly with the venue if you have a specific reason to enter. (TripSavvy’s location guide; Visit Pasadena)
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute16. Colorado Street Bridge
The bridge is a real Pasadena filming location from the twilight walk. Visit Pasadena suggests viewing it on foot or driving over, while warning visitors to read street signs and not cross the roadway on the bridge. Use the sidewalk where permitted and follow local signs; do not walk across traffic lanes to get a photograph. (Visit Pasadena)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Downtown Los Angeles
17. Grand Central Market and Sarita’s Pupuseria
Mia and Sebastian eat at Sarita’s inside Grand Central Market. Discover Los Angeles dates the market’s opening to 1917 and includes Sarita’s within its market guide. Confirm current vendor status and market hours before visiting, since individual food counters and the market can have different schedules. (Discover Los Angeles)
19. Angels Flight
The railway at 351 S Hill Street appears in the film. Angels Flight’s official page identifies the movie appearance and currently posts daily operating hours of 6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. Service can be interrupted, and Visit California’s older article described the railway as not open to the public at the time it was published. Confirm operating service with Angels Flight close to your visit date before planning a ride. (Angels Flight: Angels Flight in the Movies; Visit California)
Long Beach and Beverly Grove
13. Jar
Jar in Beverly Grove is the dinner location identified by TripSavvy. It is a working restaurant; check current service, reservations, and access details directly before planning a meal there.
Best Value
23. Blind Donkey
TripSavvy identifies the Long Beach bar interior as the set for Seb’s club interior. The source does not establish current operating details, so verify whether the business is open and check age and entry requirements before directing a visit there.
Watts
18. Watts Towers
The landmark appears in the montage. Discover Los Angeles has described the site as undergoing renovations while guided tours remained available Thursday through Saturday; that schedule is time-sensitive, not a standing guarantee. Check the official Watts Towers Arts Center page for current tour availability and visitor information before travelling.
How to plan a La La Land location visit
Do not try to treat all 23 entries as a compact itinerary. They are spread across the Los Angeles region, and some are exteriors or businesses whose access depends on the day. Group nearby stops, then check the conditions that matter for each one:
- Hollywood and Burbank: Combine the mural, streetscape, Smoke House, and nearby venues only after checking business schedules and how you will reach each site.
- Griffith Park and Los Feliz: Pair the Observatory, Cathy’s Corner, and Fern Dell only after checking current park access, trail conditions, Observatory hours, and road or parking notices.
- Downtown: Grand Central Market and Angels Flight are distinct visitor stops; confirm market and railway status separately.
- Hermosa Beach, Pasadena, Long Beach, and Watts: Treat each as its own regional outing rather than assuming it is close to the Hollywood sites. Confirm venue, tour, or business access in advance.
TripSavvy reports that the film features more than 40 locations, and Visit California has separately described more than 40 sites around Los Angeles County. These are each publisher’s framing, not a verified production-company count. The 23 here refer to TripSavvy’s numbered entries, some of which include multiple places. (TripSavvy; Visit California)
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
